Letters 158–180

Letter 158

To Archbishop de Médavy of Rouen. In justification of the Feast of the

Sacred Heart of Jesus

[About 1672]

It is true, my Lord, that any innovation in matters of faith is extremely pernicious and utterly damnable. But I beg of you to consider, my Lord, that it is not the same thing in matters of devotion, for there are many feasts in the Church which were not established at the outset and are new ... Certainly if those innovations were bad, the Church would not allow them.

Please consider, too, that all our prelates have given us their approbation and permission i n this matter. That is why I beseech you very humbly, by this most adorable Heart which is the source of everything holy and venerable in all the feasts which the Church celebrates, by the love with which It is inflamed for you, and by all the effects of that love which you have experienced and want to experience at the hour of your death, not to prevent this feast from being celebrated in your seminary as it is celebrated in others. If you refuse me this favor, which I request of you with all possible respect and submission, I must confess that I shall be deeply pained; but should you grant i t to me, as I trust you will, in your kindness, you will afford me much joy and infinite gratification. Do not, then, reject this most humble and earnest prayer addressed to you by one who is, in truth , with all his heart, and with deepest respect....

Letter 159

To An Unidentified Person. On the plan of His Lordship Henry de

Maupas du Tour, Bishop of Evreux, to appoint St. John Eudes his

coadjutor with right of future succession

[1672]

I do not even presume to write to his Lordship, for I am so filled with astonishment, confusion and fear, in view of the frightful danger confronting me, that I do not know where I stand. I feel like one who has lost his mind and power of speech, except that, if I dared, I should cry out that I desire no benefice save the one my Saviour chose for Himself, which is the Cross. My only consolation is that I have an enormous confidence in the incomparable goodness of my most amiable Jesus, and of His most bountiful Mother and mine, that they will direct all things in the manner most pleasing to them. That is my only prayer to them, save that they grant me the grace to do their most holy will everywhere and in all things. I see all that our dear Mr. de ... fears for me, and it causes one's nature to shudder and tremble. But my spirit embraces all for the love of our adorable crucified Saviour and i n reparation for my sins, the least of which merits infinitely worse, for I have the greatest confidence that my good Mother will not abandon me.

Letter 160

To The Same Person. On the same subject

[1672]

The fear I have had up to now of resisting the will of God in that matter of which you are aware, Sir, obliged me to endure what was being said and done to further it; but at last the crystal - clear view I have of my great, my very great, my almost infinite unworthiness, and the fear of seeing myself compelled to answer to God for the salvation of so many souls, oblige me to tell you, sir, that I declare openly and from the bottom of my heart that I want no benefice other than the

one my Saviour chose for Himself, that is, the Cross. This is the benefice I desire, that I embrace and love with all my heart for the love of my most amiable Crucified Saviour, Who loved and preferred i t to all that the world loves and esteems more highly. I want no other, unless God absolutely wills it. I implore you to read this letter to his Lordship and to the vicar-generals, as well as to Monsignor de ...

Letter 161

To Father Simon Mannoury. On the request of His Lordship Henry

de Maupas, Bishop of Evreux, to make him his coadjutor

[September 1672]

This news has not caused me the slightest disturbance, both because I am quite certain that, no matter what may be said, nothing will come of these proposals, and because, if it did happen, it would assuredly be God Who had so willed it. Tell his Lordship of Evreux plainly that I desire no benefice save the one chosen by my Saviour Jesus Christ for Himself, that is, His Cross. So far I have had all manner of them, and by the grace of God I have not bent beneath their burden; but as for this new cross which threatens me, I have no fears at all. I know men, and I feel quite sure that this is the cross they will most willingly spare me.

Letter 162

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond. On the same subject

September 17, 1672 Here is still another matter that I urge you to keep very secret: his Lordship of Evreux wishes to have the nonentity of nonentities as his coadjutor. He has consulted several bishops and doctors about it, and other religious of outstanding piety, as well as his two vicar-generals,

all of whom have encouraged him in it ... He has drawn up a petition to present to the King and has written in this regard to Father Ferrier.(1) Monday he is to send Father du Vaucel, his vicar - general, to Paris, and he, accompanied by Father Cyprien, a Discalced Carmelite, will call on Father Ferrier to request him to present the petition to the King.

Since I learned this piece of news, which is known only to Father Mannoury, I have not troubled myself about it, as much because I believe that the whole project will go up in smoke, as because I am afraid of resisting the divine will, in case this affair is proceeding from God. But as soon as I learned of the disclosure of his Lordship of Evreux, I wrote to Father Mannoury that I desired no other benefice except that chosen by my Saviour for Himself, that is, His Cross; that this was the sole cross I was seeking, which I embraced and loved for the love of this most amiable Redeemer Who preferred it to all that the world most loves and esteems; and that I begged him to make that avowal to his Lordship of Evreux and his vicar-generals. I see nothing but crosses heaped upon my head if this does not succeed. As for the others, that is, those who are connected with such a high place, I do not fear them so much because I cannot convince myself that the thing will happen. (1). A Jesuit, the King's confessor.

Letter 163

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond. On the same subject

October 18, 1672 Father du Vaucel, Vicar General of Evreux, will arrive in Paris to.morrow for the affair we have been discussing, my dearest brother. It makes me tremble and would cause me to die of fright i f it were not for my great confidence in the incomparable goodness of my most benign Saviour and m y most bountiful Mother.

I beg of you, my dearest brother, to have a novena of Masses said at

our house in honor of the most Holy Heart of Jesus and Mary, but for this novena have no other Mass said save that of the Divine Heart of Jesus. Then please write for me to Coutances, Rennes and Lisieux, telling them to do the same; and to Rouen, that they should make a novena of Masses to St. Joseph, all for my intentions. Ask our Carmelites also to make a novena of their own chosen devotion, in honor of the Blessed Virgin and St. Teresa.

Letter 164

To Sister Mary of St. Agnes des Champs. On her convalescence

Paris, October 23, 1672 J. M. J.

I give infinite thanks to our most adorable Saviour and His most amiable Mother for the solace they have granted you, my dearest daughter. There is no credit due me, for nothing can be expected from one who is merely a nonentity. It is solely an effect of their bounty; may they be eternally praised and blessed for it.

Give yourself to them with your whole heart, my dear daughter, in order to serve and honor them with joy, love and confidence. Be very careful to suppress all thoughts that can trouble you, and to appeal to the most bountiful Virgin in all our trials, as a daughter having recourse to her most sweet mother. She has never yet rejected anyone, and she will not do so the first time in your case.

Be satisfied to make your confession as usual during your retreat. Then too, do not speak to his Lordship of Bayeux about it; it is your superior who should settle these things. My most cordial greetings to her, as also to her niece, Sister Mary of the Nativity and to your brother. I remain with all my heart, in Jesus and Mary, my dearest daughter, Devotedly yours, JOHN EUDES, missionary priest.

Letter 165

To Sister Mary of St. Agnes des Champs. The Saint encourages her

to put her trust in the Blessed Virgin Mary

J. M. J.

I am extremely sorry, my dearest daughter, that I cannot go to see you, but have recourse to our Holy Mother. She has never rejected anyone, and you need not fear that she will do so in your case. She is all mercy, charity, goodness, meekness and kindness. You are her daughter, and she i s your Mother-a mother who loves you so much that, if the love of all the mothers who ever existed, are now living and will yet be, were gathered into a single heart, it would form only a tiny spark i n comparison with her love for you. Then go to her with full and complete confidence. Implore her aid with all earnestness, and you will feel the effects of her incomprehensible goodness.

With my whole heart do I beseech her and her beloved Son to grant you their holy blessing.

Nos cum Prole pia benedicat Virgo Maria. Live Jesus and Mary. My most cordial regards to the whole Community.

Letter 166

To Mother St. Gabriel, a Religious of Montmartre. On the death of

Father Blouet de Than, ( 1 )the founder of the Caen seminary

Caen, January 19, 1673 We are about to bury a manifest angel. He was one of our dearest brethren, the founder of this house, who lived like an angel and died (1). Father Blouet de Than (1628-1673) was a nephew of Mr. Blouet de Camilly. He donated an annual income of 4,000 livres and 3,000 livres, of arrears for the founding of the Caen Seminary. On August 15, 1644 he entered the Congregation of Jesus and Mary. For more than twenty years he was in failing health and could leave his room only to offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He died on January 14, 1673. Cf. Les Fleurs de la Congrégation de Jésus et Marie, 1, 36; Georges, Saint lean Eudes, p. 85.

yesterday as an angel might die if he were subject to the law of death. We must not neglect to pray for him, however, as we should do for anyone else. I am asking you, my dear daughter, to communicate this to Madame.(2) He had an unparalleled devotion for the Blessed Virgin, from whom he received extraordinary favors. He suffered for more than twenty years, and during that time he never left his room except to say Holy Mass, spending all his time in prayer, in having Sacred Scripture and the holy Fathers read to him, and in making collections of all their beautiful sayings in praise of the incomparable Mother of God, with which he filled several huge hand- written volumes. Help us, m y dearest daughter, to thank our most amiable Mother for the many graces she obtained for him from her beloved Son. (2). Madame de Lorraine. See Letter 149, note 1.

Letter 167

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond, in Caen. On the mission at

Saint-Germain-en-Laye, ( 1 ) given at the command of Louis XIV

Saint-Germain-en-Laye, April 2, 1673 Immediately upon my arrival I greeted their Majesties, (2) his Lordship the Dauphin(3) and Monsieur, the King's brother,(4) all of whom received me very graciously.

Father Blouet and Father de Launay(5) preach in the morning at 6:oo, and at 2:oo Father Paillot conducts the catechism instruction, which the Queen herself attended on one occasion. As for myself, I have been preaching every evening, with as much strength as ever, on very moving topics. Everyone gives evidence of being highly gratified with our (1). This city is in the district of Versailles. The royal palace there was then the usual residence of the King and Court. (2). King Louis XIV and Queen Mary Teresa. (3). Louis, son of Louis XIV (1661-1711). (4). Philip I of Orleans (1640-1701). (5). Father John Baptist de Launay was a secular priest of the diocese of Bayeux, who assisted the Saint in his missions. He later became vicar general of the Bayeux diocese.

work, thanks be to God, and all assure me that their Majesties share the same sentiments. The Queen told me yesterday that I should continue to preach all the remaining days of this week. In short, everyone tells us that the King and Queen are well pleased.

Letter 168

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond. On the mission at Saint-Germain-en-Laye.

Paris, April 21, 1673 Yesterday the Queen called on the Carmelite nuns here while I was at Montmartre. She evinced such great satisfaction over the mission and the preachers that it defies expression. She said that other sermons were only speeches, but that ours penetrated the depths of the heart, that everyone was moved by them, and that she could see a change in the King's behavior. Beg God to bless our small efforts. Finally, she demonstrated such enormous benevolence, such enormous friendship (those are the words of our good Sister Teresa, who made the account as glowing as possible), toward the nonentity of nonentities that it is impossible to imagine. And she earnestly enjoined Sister Teresa not to allow the day to pass without telling me all these things. Blessed are they who are loved by the Queen of Heaven!

Letter 169

To Mother St. Henry, a Religious of Montmartre. On a marvelous oc

currence which took place during the mission at Elbeuf.(1)

[June or July 1673]

I am now conducting a large mission in which Our Lord Himself deigned to deliver the third sermon by a fearful clap of thunder ... I cannot tell you what marvelous effects were wrought in the hearts of those present by this manner of preaching. (1). A small town on the Seine in the diocese of Evreux.

Letter 170

To Mother St. Gabriel, a religious of Montmartre. Concerning his ardent desire to see Jesus and Mary live and reign in the hearts of the abbess and her daughters.

[1673]

I implore our Blessed Mother to impress a perfect image of her most amiable Heart on the heart of her beloved daughter, Frances de Lorraine, and on all the hearts of her dear daughters of Our Lady of Montmartre, at whose feet my mind and heart will always remain, crying out unceasingly: Live Jesus and Mary in the hearts of my dear daughters! May they and they alone for ever dwell therein, and may they inflame and consume their hearts completely in the sacred flames of their divine love I Once again I send my greetings to our good, our excellent Madame, whom I pray God to preserve, bless, sanctify and make as great a saint as I should like her to be. I beseech this of Him now and for the rest of my life. Oh, how ardently do I wish her in the utmost depths of the sacred furnace of the divine Heart of Jesus and Mary, together with all her daughters!

Letter 171

To Sister Mary of the Nativity Herson. On the government of the House of the

Charity Sisters of Bayeux.( 1 )

[1673] J. M. J.

Enclosed, my dearest and beloved daughter, are two books for you which have been most useful to me. Please read them carefully and put them even more diligently into practice, particularly their teach (1). This community was founded by Margaret Morin when she left the Monastery of Out Lady of Charity in 1644. See Letter 16, note 2. When the foundress died on October 1, 1657, the Religious of the Hotel Dieu of Caen took over the government of the Community. Sister Mary of the Nativity succeeded the Hotel Dieu Sisters.

ings concerning meekness, for a hard, harsh, dry, haughty and domineering disposition serves only to spoil everything, ruining the filial affection, confidence and tenderness which should be present i n the hearts of those in our charge, and tends to fill them instead with fear, terror, contempt, aversion and hatred. In a word, it is good only for destroying a Community and putting the head of the superior on the block. I do not think, my dearest daughter, that you are behaving in this way, nor has anyone said so to me, but since I know from ex_ perience that being a superior ruins many persons by giving them that haughty, domineering, hard, bitter, dry and harsh spirit, I am always afraid. Strive, therefore, I entreat you, to guide your daughters with all possible gentleness, kindness, cordiality and tenderness. It is the spirit of Our Lord and His most Holy Mother; pray to them frequently to grant it to you and me, and ask one of the Sisters to tell you of your shortcomings in this respect.

Devotedly yours, JOHN EUDES, missionary priest.

Letter 172

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond, in Rome. On the difficulties he was encountering

in his efforts to obtain approbation of the Congregation

[1673]

I always implore God in His goodness to destroy our little Congregation completely if it does not exist for His greatest glory, and I embrace with my whole heart all the mortifications and humiliations which would consequently be mine. Thanks to my Saviour, it seems to me that I have no desire in the depths of my soul save that of seeking in all things what is most pleasing to Him. Let us take courage and rejoice in two things which ought to cause us to die of joy:

First, that all the enemies of our great God can never keep Him from being what He is. "Know ye that the Lord He is God,"(1)says the (1). Ps. 99, 3

Prophet David; and in the words of the most Holy Mother of God: "My spirit hath rejoiced in God m y Saviour." (2)

Secondly, that all the powers of earth and hell can never hinder us in our sole and all - important occupation, that of serving and loving our most adorable Jesus and His most Holy Mother. Let us lose all rather than lose the least particle of trust we should have in their incomparable goodness toward our Congregation, of which they have given us such abundant proof.

We have never transacted any business that was not accompanied by some cross, which is the true character of all God's affairs. The more they are thwarted, the greater are the fruits and blessings that result from them. I have high hopes for this affair, since there are so many difficulties in connection with it. I am confident that Our Lord and His most Holy Mother will, in their goodness, remove these obstacles. Finally, my dearest brother, one would never accomplish anything in God's work if he were easily rebuffed by obstacles and difficulties. Even if you gain nothing, after having done everything possible, I shall be as happy, God willing, as if all were accomplished. For what is i t that I seek? My own interests and gratification? By no means, thank God; only His will! (2). Luke 1, 47

Letter 173

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond, in Rome. On the necessity of having the Superior-General of the Congregation(1)appointed by the Sovereign Pontiff.

October 28, 1673 Above all, it will be necessary for the Bull to nominate and establish the superior of the Congregation. I should be overjoyed if it were James de la Haye de Bonnefond. There is only one thing that worries me, and that is the possibility of your dying before me, although it seems not at all likely. (1). The Congregation of Jesus and Mary founded by the Saint in 1643

Letter 174

To Sister Mary of the Nativity Herson. On the consolations that ac

company crosses, and on several things regarding the house of the

Charity Sisters of Bayeux, where she had been sent

Paris, February 16, 1674 J. M. J

I thank you with all my heart, my dearest daughter and good niece, for your kind letter so full of charity and cordiality.

It is true that *our most amiable Saviour is loading me down with crosses, but at the same time He is granting me such a great abundance of graces that all my afflictions are turned into consolations. Many lies and calumnies(1) about me have been widely circulated, but God will use them for His greater glory, while the father of lies, who is their author, will be put to confusion.

I give infinite thanks to my dearest Jesus and His Holy Mother for all the blessings they arc bestowing upon your work in the house where you are at this time, and I beseech them to increase these spiritual favors more and more, in you as well as your dear companion, to whom I send m y most cordial regards.

I am most grateful to Reverend Father Guardian, of whom you wrote me, for his charity toward you and his kindness in my regard; I thank him over and over again.

My affairs are progressing very well, thank God. The falsehoods are being exposed, and I hope that Our Lord and our gracious Mother will soon show us the effects of their special protection.

It is not enough for you to have revealed your reasons and difficulties to the Mother Superior; you should also acquaint his Lordship of Bayeux: with them, and beseech him to keep in mind his word to you. Over and above all else, I entreat you, my dearest daughter, to implant deep in the hearts of all your daughters a tender and cordial devotion to the most Holy Mother of God, who is an inexhaustible source of (1). These Were Circulated by the Jansenists, his enemies.

every manner of blessing, and an infallible means of attaining eternal salvation. I implore her with all my heart to bless every one of them, and to shower her holiest and most precious blessings i n everlasting abundance upon you, my dear child, together with your beloved companion, my dearest daughter. Nos cum Prole pia benedicat Virgo Maria.

I remain, in the holy love of the most amiable Heart of Jesus and Mary, my dear daughter, Devotedly yours, JOHN EUDES, priest of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary.

Letter 175

To Colbert (1)

Sunday morning, April 15, 1674 My Lord, Yesterday evening I received an official letter which was delivered to me from you, ordering me to retire' to the seminary at Caen. I immediately made arrangements to obey. I will presently leave Paris and will await, along the way, a coach which is to be sent to me from Evreux, since I was unable to reserve a seat in the public coaches and my age does not permit me -to go on horseback o r on foot. I felt, my Lord, that I was under an obligation to you to inform you of my prompt obedience, and to protest that I remain, my Lord, with profound respect, Your most obedient and humble servant, JOHN EUDES, priest. (1). Colbert (1619-1683), was statesman and general controller of finance under Louis XIV. (2). When Father Boniface, mentioned in preceding letters, saw that he could not obtain from Rome the approbation of Our Lady of Charity, he filed a petition in St. John Eudes's name with the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars, requesting that his Congregation be permitted to make a vow to uphold the authority of the Sovereign Pontiff, even in matters which might give rise to doubts. The petition came to nothing, and St. John Eudes, not knowing that it had been filed, did not even suspect its existence.. His enemies succeeded in getting their hands on it and using it to discredit him with King Louis XIV, who banished him to the seminary of Caen.

Letter 176

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond, in Rome. Concerning Father Boniface's petition.

(1)

[1674]

Whatever you do, my dearest brother, we must labor to clear ourselves of the accusation of having drawn up that petition, which is altogether contrary to the truth. Father Boniface has given me a statement in writing to the effect that he wrote me, when he was in Rome, to ask if I wanted him to handle our business, and that my answer was no. But they are not satisfied with that. In short, the whole success of our affairs depends on this justification. (1). Cf. Boulay, op. cit. Appendix to vol. 4, P. 40, for copy of the original Latin text.

Letter 177

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond. On love for Jesus and

Mary, and the trust we must place in them

[About 1674]

Where can one find a faithful friend? It is the easiest thing in the world: let us love Jesus, the Son of Mary, and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, placing all our trust in them, and they will manifest their power and incomparable goodness.

Letter 178

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond, in Rome. The Saint asks

to resign as Superior-General in order to calm the tempest

[1674]

I have no attachment for anything save the most adorable will of my God, which will be revealed to me through that of our most Holy Father, the Pope.(1) As for my own self, let them cast me into the sea so that this tempest may cease. Let them annihilate me and put another in my place. What difference does it make who governs the Congregation, provided he does it well? What do I desire, what do I seek, save that my God be glorified? Yes, with all my heart do I resign, at the feet of His Holiness, from all superiority. (1). Clement X (1670-1676).

Letter 179

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond, in Rome. The Saint ex

presses his joy on having obtained indulgences for the missions

Caen, August 21, 1674 I received your two parcels containing the indulgences(1) for the missions, and they have given me inexpressible consolation, for never before had we been able to obtain such a favor. I thank you a thousand times for it, my beloved brother. (1). Father de Bonnefond obtained many benefits for the Congregation during his stay in Rome. Among the privileges was a Bull permitting St. John Eudes to give missions in all parts of France with a plenary indulgence. Boulay, Op. cit., VOL 4, P. 293.

Letter 180

To Father James de la Haye de Bonnefond, in Rome. On the ingrati

tude of one of his children who had turned against him

[October 1674]

I can truthfully say to you, my dearest brother, that since I came into the world I have not suffered such a bloody persecution as this one. What grieves me most is that it is one of my own sons(1) who used to live here, and who never received anything from me but every possible mark of friendship, who has been my most relentless persecutor. "He ... rendereth evil for good." (2) . . . judge for yourself, my dearest brother, what sorrow and anguish is mine! It was in consequence of this that I fell sick. (1). The name of this disloyal son is not known with certainty. Perhaps it was an ecclesiastic i n minor orders, named Aude, who sometimes acted as St. John Eudes's secretary, and who handed over the Saint's notes on Mary des Vallées to Father Dufour, the Abbé d'Aulnay, who used them i n circulating the odious libel which forms the subject matter of this letter to Father de Bonnefond. Cf. Annales de la Congrégation de Jésus et Marie, 1 , 7, n. 21. (2). Prov. 17, 13