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
Here we have truly shed many tears and prayed much for our dear one who
is taken from us.[A] I have, however, much consolation; for could there
have come a greater happiness to this pure and innocent soul than to
meet her Saviour? Rejoice in her repose, my dearest daughter.
In order not to lose this opportunity of writing to you I am doing so
without having given myself time to look over your letters again.
Believe me, daughter, that if we are faithful to our vocation, and if in
our little efforts we seek only the pure glory of God, His majesty will
raise us up.
His Lordship wishes us to make another attempt before sending to Rome M.
de Sainte-Catherine, who will be an admirable agent. God will help us,
daughter, but we must keep lowly and patient and let ourselves be
trampled under foot. His Lordship hopes that this new petition,
supported by our Rules and the testimonials, will settle the matter. If
the Archbishop thinks well to write a new letter of recommendation, from
himself, to this gentleman who is acting for him, it is quite as it
should be, so long as this gentleman acts in unison with the Father
Procurator of the Barnabites. But to ask him to send these attestations
to the house of Lyons would, I think, be loss of time, as they have
already been sent here. The Prince, on his side, has heard that the
matter is being taken up warmly. Ah! well, we have done what we can, and
the success of it we must leave to the Providence of God and ask Him to
guide and fashion this work according to His holy will. I hope we shall
have some news in a few weeks.
His Lordship left us yesterday, and he asked me to send you his
apologies for not having written to you, but he will write from
Grenoble. He is absolutely overwhelmed with business. We spoke of our
vow of obedience, and he believes it to be pleasing to God. He asked me
how you bore that sharp mortification; but alas! I could not tell him.
Yes, my dear daughter, we read the Catechism to the Sisters four times a
week,[B] and if any one wants to know over and above what is in the book
I check her, saying that she and I must submit our understandings to
what we read without questioning beyond, and this I find does much
good, for such as we are very ignorant.
Thank you a thousand times for the beautiful wax candles. They are most
acceptable, but one lasts for a whole year. We have never seen the
blessed grains of incense.
Please forward the packet from Dôle at once, and securely. There is one
from his Lordship from Paris. My darling, I am wholly yours and salute
you all.
This St. Catherine's Day.
FOOTNOTES:
[A] Madame de Thorens, the Saint's daughter.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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