Letter 37. To Madame De Chantal

ON HIS MOTHER’S DEATH.

My Dear Daughter, March n, 1610.

Must we not in all things and everywhere adore God’s Holy Providence, every act of which is loving, gracious, and blessed? And even so now that it has pleased Him to call firom out this miserable life our most excellent and dear Mother, taking her, as I trust, to be ever with Him, at His Own Right Hand. Let us, my beloved daughter, confess that ‘‘ He is gracious and His Mercy endureth for ever: ” ‘‘Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and true is Thy judgment.” His Will is “ good, acceptable, and perfect.” ‘

And yet for my part, daughter, I own that I feel this parting deeply. I must needs confess my own weakness, while I confess the Goodness of God; nevertheless, it has been a very peaceful, though a keen grief— * Rom. xii. 2.

I can say with David, I became dumb, and opened not my mouth, for it was Thy doing." But for that I should doubtless have cried out beneath the blow, but how could I presume to murmur beneath the Fatherly Hand Which has taught me to love Its dealing from my youth upwards?

Probably you would like to hear how that excellent woman ended her life. I will tell you, — ^you, to whom I have given her place in my daily memorial at mass, without taking away the place you already filled. My dear mother came here this winter, and during a month’s stay she made a general review of her soul, renewed her aspirations with most earnest love, and went away full of affection for me, saying that she had got more comfort from me than ever before. She continued in this happy mind until Ash Wednesday, when she went to the parish church at Thorens, where she made her confession and communion most devoutly, and heard three masses and vespers. When she went to bed, my mother was not able to sleep, and she bade her maid read three chapters of the ‘‘Vie Devote" to her, in order to keep up devout thoughts in her mind, noting the protestation^* which she meant to make the next morning. But God accepted the will for the deed, and ordered it otherwise, for the next morning she rose, but while dressing, she suddenly fell as one dead.

My poor brother, your son,* was still asleep, but he was summoned, and hastened to our mother. He had her lifted up, and tried all sorts of remedies, so that she was roused, and tried to speak, but almost unintelligibly.

I was sent for, and went at once with the doctor and apothecary, who found her paralysed on one side, and very lethargic; but it was easy to rouse her, and when roused she had full possession of her mind, as was proved by the words she strove to say, and the motion of the hand that was not struck; for she spoke most clearly of God and her soul, and felt about for her crucifix, (she was unable to see,) and kissed it. She took nothing without making the sign of the cross, and thus she received Extreme Unction.

When I arrived, although she was blind and half asleep, she caressed me tenderly, and said, “ This is my son and my father; ” ® and kissed me, putting her arm round my neck, first kissing my hand. My mother continued in this state for nearly two days and a half, after which we could not really rouse her at all, and on March ist she gave up her soul gently and peacefully to our Lord; her countenance was more lovely than ever before, and she was the

^ Bernard de Thorens, who had married Madame de Chantal’s eldest daughter.

® *Cest mon fils et mon pire, ccttui-cl”

most beautiful of any dead I ever saw. I must tell you that I had courage to give her the last blessing, and I closed her eyes and gave her a last kiss of peace directly after she departed; after which my heart swelled within me, and I wept over this dear mother more than I have ever wept since I took Holy Orders, but, thank God, it was without any bitterness of spirit This is all that took place. By the way, I must not forget to speak of the admirable goodness of your son, who gratified me exceedingly by the care and devotion he showed to our mother. I should have been struck with it, even if he were not my brother. I think he is greatly improved, both as to worldly matters, and above all, those which concern the soul

[*09.1 XXXIX.