Selected Letters of Saint Jane Frances de ChantalChantal, Jeanne-Françoise de, Saint
Religion
Selected Letters of Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
Chantal, Jeanne-Françoise de, Saint
Chantal, Jeanne-Françoise de, Saint, 1572-1641 -- Correspondence
I think it would be well some months hence, when you have given yourself
time to test your perseverance, that you should give testimony of it to
the houses of the Institute by some humbly written note, to make
satisfaction for your past misconduct. You have done well, dearest
daughter, in giving yourself unreservedly to God. His Providence will
not fail you nor permit you to be in want of anything. If the good
sister who used to serve you is worthy of the favour you desire for her,
most willingly can it be granted, but not till she has proved her
perseverance in well-doing for some years. I pray God to shed abundantly
upon you the assistance of His grace.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] "Labour the more that by good works you may make sure your calling
and election." 2 Pet. i. 10.
"With fear and trembling work your own salvation." Phil. ii. 12.
[B] In the early part of the summer of this year, 1632, says the Mother
de Chaugy, "it pleased God to open the eyes of the Benefactress of our
monastery of Moulins by means of a dream. One night she dreamt that she
saw a torch suddenly extinguished by someone at the moment it seemed to
be trying to give forth more light. Taking this as a divine warning that
her life would, when she least expected it, be thus suddenly
extinguished, it evoked a keen remorse for her past conduct. She sought
her Superior, and with every mark of genuine sorrow begged, for God's
sake, to be permitted once more to enter the novitiate, of which
petition the good Mother warmly approved. Sister Marie Aimée, now
desiring to make public reparation for the scandal she had given, asked
to do so at the open grille. This was allowed, and having there renewed
her profession, she tore up the document containing the list of
privileges which had been granted to her as Benefactress and
Co-foundress with Madame de Gouffier. At the same time she begged to be
allowed the favour of living as a simple religious, while confessing
herself unworthy of such a grace. From this time she became the
consolation and the edification of all her Sisters, an example of
fidelity to the holy Rule, and for fifteen months her obedience,
mortification, and piety were all that could be desired. At the end of
that time the dream which had wrought her conversion was verified. She
was taken suddenly ill, and had only time, before passing from this
life, to implore the mercy of Him who came to save the repentant
sinner."
LXXXIX. _To M. de Coysia, Counsellor to the Royal Senate of Savoy._
Vive [+] Jésus!
ANNECY,
_19th March, 1633._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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