Letter XXXVI. To Mother de Chantal

Questions and instructions as to the visiting of the houses and the foundation of Dijon. His opinion on the case of the Abbess of Port Royal. Description of the sisters whom he is going to send.

Early in 1622.*

THE thought has come to me while writing to M. Berger, that perhaps my Lord Cardinal will make him your spiritual Father at Paris, since he is going to be made a cleric at the Ash Wednesday Ember days, and I think that the House would be well and willingly served by him. I beg you to take occasion when you enter or leave Orleans to see the Mother Prioress of the Carmelites, eldest daughter of Sister Mary of the Incarnation. When I was in Paris, twenty years ago, she was not only my spiritual daughter, but my favourite; aged about thirteen, of a good, open, ingenuous disposition, as was also the mother superior,t who at that time made her first vow of virginity and her general confession to me. I am mistaken if you do not find at Moulins some sort of temptation on account of the singularity of Sister Marie-Ayme'e, but still I think it will only be a human temptation and requiring charity. M. Boucher, chancellor and theologian of Orleans, is my old schoolfellow, and has always had a great love for me.

Since the course of your journey from Paris to

• The French has " 1614," an obvious error. [Tr.] t The word "superior" seems to be a French editor's mistake. [Tr.]

LET. xxxvi.] Later Letters to Visitation. 235

Dijon, passing through the monasteries, requires that you go to Moulins, and that the sisters drawn from here and from Grenoble meet you there, it is necessary to know exactly the time when we must send them, and what arrangements will be made; that is, where the notice which we shall require will come from; but all the same it seems to me that as it is only forty leagues from here to Dijon it will greatly lengthen the journey to go to Moulins. I do not quite know how far it is from Moulins to Montferrand, but if it be convenient enough I think that it would be a consolation to these daughters that you should go to receive from them their superior [Mother Favre] for Dijon, whom, as I foresee, there will be a difficulty in taking away, as you will see by the letter which she has written to me, and which I send with this. I have already given notice to Sister Marguerite Milletot, besides whom it perhaps would be good to send there also Sister Bernard Margaret, who has improved so much that at last she has been received to profession.

I am of the opinion of M. de Marillac that our sisters when going through the country should carry their crucifix with them.

I have seen the account of the consultation held about our very dear daughter, Madame de Port Royal, upon which there is nothing to say except that I think it marvellously punctilious to determine that on account of length of time and of superiorship, despite an interior protest and increasing distaste, this daughter is so strictly obliged to stay that she can not do otherwise; for although this may be probable as a matter of conscience, yet it is not acknow ledged by all, and besides, the Pope can dispense from it. I also consider the comparison of the perfection of the rule of St. Benedict with that of the Visitation somewhat narrow and unfair; for the comparison should be made between the rule of St. Benedict and the rule of St. Augustine, and although perhaps the rule of St. Benedict might still remain superior in perfection, yet the comparison would remove all contempt for the Visitation, that is, all temptation to contempt. But all this that I tell you about this consultation is by no means to be brought forward, but simply to be considered with humility, and the decision to be left with sincerity to Rome. Hence you must take care to tell this good daughter that she must not with her impulsive spirit defend herself or answer back, but in this at least she must follow the institute of the Visitation, and in any case she will be able from time to time to console her spirit, since she has leave to go to the Visitation; and I also hope that when she accommo dates herself sweetly to the good pleasure of God, he will comfort her at last.

If you knew, my dear mother, how much I am occu pied and distracted in this town through the departure of M. Holland, you would not be surprised that I do not write to the dear souls whom my soul and yours love so much. President Amelot's lady knows well, I am sure, that my heart is all hers before God and his Angels; I rejoice with her for the honour and happiness which her dear daughter Mary will have at this feast of Easter in making her first Communion. If I were there I should take it as a great favour to be her instructor in this action, which in truth is very important; the little book of Father Fulvius Androce on Confession and Communion contains many little points

LET. XXXVL] Later Letters to Visitation. 237 suitable for this, but since, as I think, the Rev. Father Suffren is at Paris, nothing can be wanting.

We will send then, when you tell us and when you so direct, sisters to accompany you to Dijon, according to the number which you may tell us to be necessary. We have thought for this purpose of Sister Marie-Adrienne Fichet, who has a good head and a good heart, as you know; of Sister Frangoise- Augustine, from Moyran near Saint-Claude, whom I confess to be a daughte* much to my liking, and if I mistake not entirely irreprehensible as to the interior and the exterior; of Sister Margaret Scholastica, of Burgundy, who is gentle, tractable, and sensible, a cousin-german of your assistant; of Sister Margaret- Agnes, who is from near Vienne, of good family, of good observance, and of an agreeable simplicity; of Sister PeronneMarie Benod, a serving sister (sceur domestique), very gentle and willing, besides Sister Mary-Marguerite Milletot, who is to come from Grenoble, whom you know, and Sister Bernard Marguerite, the one from Dijon whom you sent us, about whose capacity there was indeed a doubt for some months, but who has since given full satisfaction. It must be considered whether you will think it better to have her professed here, or to have her sent to Dijon to be professed on the guarantee which would be given as to her capacity; for we thought that perhaps it would give satisfaction to have this done in the presence of her parents and friends, and so make her the first daughter of that monastery. So it will be for you, my very dear mother, to give us notice whether you want more or fewer sisters, and when they ought to start.