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
We must charitably bear with N., and employ both the green wood and the
dry to keep her brothers and sisters away from her, and to induce her to
curtail her correspondence. She is in bondage to these things, and never
will she have courage to break her chains if she is not helped. May God
in His mercy take her by His good hand and lead her out of all
superfluous cares. His grace the Archbishop has acted prudently in at
once settling that her sister is not to be received, to do otherwise
would have been inexpedient. She ought not to put upon us these great
obligations to _Madame la présidente_ Le Blanc[A] who is one of those
women of the world whom I greatly admire. A thousand cordial salutations
to her.
My darling, for the love of God always write quite openly to me about
all your little affairs, and don't take the trouble to copy your
letters. I say this not only for myself but also on the part of our
good Lord, and it will suffice to write only to one or other of us, for
we are as one by the grace of God, and I see that so much writing gives
you headaches. This too will economize your time. You will easily be
excused by everybody, except perhaps by the dear brother de Boisy[B],
for the rest they must write to you and not expect answers unless you
have time and want to recreate yourself. I am undecided whether or no to
write to M. Austrain, but in any case be sure to offer him my respects.
His little daughter[C] is indeed very happy. Three of us have the
special care of her. She is very charming, but M. and Mme. Austrain
ought to inculcate obedience, and tell her that they always hold it in
reverence. I am very fond of her and so are all our Sisters. Assure them
of this, and that I greatly desire to serve them and to give them
satisfaction in regard to her. In reference to this over affection that
you have for me, you are doing quite right. Alas! dearest daughter, I am
not exempt from these feelings. In such things be very generous in the
guard you keep over yourself; hardly ever speak of it, still less think
of it: feelings of this kind should be borne with silently and sweetly,
taking, as it were, no notice of them.
How consoled I should be if M. D. is caught in the net. May the good God
do this mercy. I want you to get news of the temporal affairs of our
late good Sister Marie Renée (Trunel) from the General of the
Feuillants, and to ask his opinion; the first paper which Sister Péronne
Marie (de Châtel) sent was a rough draft; you will have received what we
wrote to you by M. Voullart. For God's sake, darling, do all you can
soon to procure the money that should come to us for Sister F. A., as we
are in great necessity, and nobody wants to pay us. M. Voullart has the
authority for receiving it (illegible lines)....
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