Letter 1893

LETTER 1893 [No date.] Vive >h Jésus!

My very good and true Daughter,—May our souls eternally give praise to the divine Saviour, who is about to be born as a little child in order to raise us to the dignity of being children of God. And may He be blessed for all the mercies which He bestows on this little Institute, particularly by the manifestations [of the sanctity] of its holy Founder, which for us is so great a consolation.

Well does divine Providence know how to mingle all things! But in adversities, as in prosperities, may It be equally blessed. This affair that has been brought up against us drags on interminably at N. and at the neighbouring houses, and for this reason, principally, it is considered absolutely necessary that I should take our sisters there. Jealousy has a good deal to say to it, and they are very glad to throw discredit on us because we, they say, attract all the best and the rich girls of quality. In a word, the devil is at work in this affair under pretext of doing good; but I have a firm hope that God will take our cause in hand, and that it will all come to nothing. As to your election, I assure you, daughter, it is well to content oneself with those of one’s own community unless necessity oblige you to seek elsewhere—above all in your house, where I see nothing to fear while you remain there. But, alas!

how miserable and futile are our capabilities if not sustained and guided by God, the only source of all good. I beseech you and all our dear sisters often to recommend me to His goodness. I cordially salute them all. My God! daughter, what greater happiness can we have than peace in the family, and how worthy of respect is a community wherein the members are united and on good terms with one another. It is the grace of graces, after those that regard the divine worship, this of peaceable and cordial union within. Assuredly the more we keep united with our ecclesiastical superiors the better we shall fare.

I do not mean that it is not well to have an extraordinary confessor, for that is necessary to secure the fullest liberty of conscience; but believe me, dearest daughter, he must be very carefully chosen, and he should know our manner of life, and love and esteem it.

As to what you ask in regard to the fasts ordered by the Constitutions, and dispensing infirm sisters who have much to do from making more than half an hour’s prayer in the morning for some time, you can do this as you see their infirmities or natural delicacy may require it. And, what is more, you ought to take into consideration their health and condition of mind.

With all my heart I thank you for the prayers you have offered up for me. Continue this charity for my soul instead of for my body, for eternity instead of for the present life.