Letter 1839. To Mother Marnie Augustine @ Avoust

Superior at Mamers. Paris, 6 October, 1641. Vive HK Jésus!

My dearest Daughter,—I have just been conversing with the Prior, who has gone to Moulins. He gave me all your news. He has a very great regard for your house; but he said nothing about the six hundred livres you owe him, so I had no opportunity of suggesting that he should make an alms of it: 1t would not have done. We must wait till God inspires him so to do. The letters you thought you had sent by him I received at Moulins.

I thank God for what you tell me of your dear community being so greatly blessed in its advancement. You are quite right in thinking that I have a particular affection for it, for indeed I have. It is a great blessing when the daughters of the Visitation give their entire confidence and love to their Superior. But take care, I beg of you, dear daughter, that the testimonies of gratitude the sisters show you be increased punctuality to their holy observance, and not the doing things that savour of flattery, admiration, or such like, which are only too common with sisters when tolerated. I am very glad the Blessed Virgin has relieved the invalids. T return her thanks for this favour with all my heart. Above all do I thank our good God that you yourself are better and able to assist at the community exercises: for it is well-nigh impossible for communities not to receive great prejudice through the absence of superiors from the ordinary exercises.

As to your interior state, I have only this word to say: Souls who give themselves entirely to God ought to make no return on self to see what is passing within them. They should receive alike all that comes to them from God, be they sorrows or joys; in everything let them submit to His adorable will, and do all the good in their power. See, daughter, how I desire you should act, while you and all our sisters pray to the good God for me. I salute them all, and am, with great affection, yours, etc.