Letter 24. To Madame De Chantal

ON THE DEATH OF JEANNE DE SALES.*

My Dear Daughter, Nov. 2, 1607

Is it not reasonable that God's Holy Will be done, in the things we prize as in all else? But I must at once tell you that my dear mother has accepted this cup with a most Christian courage, and highly as I always thought of her goodness, it has gone beyond my expectations. On Sunday morning she sent for my brother the Canon, and having noticed the night before that he and my other brothers were all very sad, she began by saying, “ I have been dreaming all night that my daughter Jeanne is dead. Tell me, I intreat you, is it so?" My brother had sent for me (for I was on a Visitation tour), and

• Mme. de Chantal had taken this young girl with her into France, at the earnest request of the Bishop and his mother, Mme. de Boisy. Jeanne died very shortly afterwards of a severe and rapid illness.

waiting till I should come to tell our mother, but when so good an opening arose, he answered that it was true, and then he was unable to say any more. My dear mother only said, “ God's Will be done,” and then she wept freely for some time, but after a while, calling Nicole (her maid), she said, ‘‘ I must get up and go to the chapel to pray for my dear child.” And so she did. No one word or look of impatience, nothing but giving God thanks, and resignation to His Will. I never saw a more tranquil sorrow; — ^plenty of tears, but all flowing from mere tender grief, without a shadow of bitterness, and yet this was her very dear child. Have I not good reason to love such a mother?

Yesterday, being All Saints' Day, I was confessor to all the family, and sealed my mother’s heart against all sorrow with the Blessed Sacrament Meanwhile she thanks you exceedingly for the care and motherly love which you showed to the little one that is gone, as much in truth as though God had willed that it should have saved her. All the family join in this expression; they have all shown the utmost good feeling in this sorrow, especially de Boisy, and I love him all the more for it

I know that you want to ask how I have borne the sorrow? Alas, my daughter, I am a mere man, and nothing better — ^and my heart has melted more than I should have looked for. In truth my mother^s grief and yours have touched me; I feared for you both. But as to the rest, Hail, Jesus I I bow to God's Providence, Which does all things well, and disposes everything rightly. Surely it is well for the dear child to be “speedily taken away, lest that wickedness should alter her understanding, or deceit beguile her soul.” * Some fruits are gathered earlier than others — ^let us leave God to reap His own harvest in His own field. He takes nothing out of season.

You may imagine, my dear daughter, how dearly I loved this child. I was her father in the Lord, for I baptised her fourteen years ago, with my own hand. She was the first on whom I exercised my priestly office. I was her spiritual father, and I looked to making a very choice creature of her; I loved her too, because she was your charge. But amid all my earthliness, which feels this death so keenly, there is a sweet restful peace in God's Providence, which comforts me not a little.

Tell me how you have borne the trial. Has your magnet pointed all through to its guiding star, its God? What has your heart done? Have you given any scandal to those who have seen you in this affliction? Tell me honestly, my daughter..... No, my dear daughter, we must not merely be willing to accept * Wis. iv. 1 1.

God’s stroke, we must also be willing that He shall strike where He pleases. We must leave the choice to God, it is His right David offered his life for Absalom, but it was for his soul’s sake, and that is different In temporal losses, let God strike what chord He will in our lute, the harmony can never be amiss. Lord Jesus, Thy Will be done in father, mother, child, in everything and ever3nvhere; without a reserve, without a BUT, an if, or a limit Indeed I do not say that we may not wish and pray for their preservation, but as to sa)ring to God, Take this, and leave that, my daughter, it must not be. Nor will we say so, by the help of His Grace.

I can see you, my dear daughter, with your vigorous heart, loving and willing strongly; and I am glad that it is so, for withered, half-dead hearts are good for little. But you must make a special practice, at least once a week, of accepting and loving God’s Will more heartily, more devotedly, in all things, supportable and insupportable. You will find much help in the “Spiritual Combat” which I have so often recommended to you.

It is an exalted lesson, my daughter, but God, for Whom we leam it, is very Great You have a father, brother, children, a spiritual father whom you love. They are all dear to you, and rightly so. But if God were to deprive you of them all, were it not enough los that you would still have God? and if we had nothing save Him, is it not enough? The Son of God, our Dear Jesus, had scarcely that, when hanging on the Cross; through love and. obedience He was forsaken of His Father. One with the Father, Hii Human Nature lost the sense of that Presence for a brief moment; — z. trial never laid on any other soul, for none beside Jesus could endure it.

If God were to take all else from us, He will never deprive us of Himself so long as we desire Him. And, moreover, all our losses and separations are but for a moment. Surely we may well be patient. •.

As to Jeaime^s burial let it be very simple.... You know that I like simplicity both in life and in death. • • • •

[*39.1 XXVL