I pray the divine Goodness, through the intercession of His Holy Mother and of our Blessed Father, to pour on you all the abundant treasures of His grace, so that generously and cheerfully you may continue to walk on this road, gaining by it the fullness of all perfection in this life and in the next the prize of a blessed eternity. Pardon the great length of this letter and its confidences, and obtain from the divine Mercy eternal salvation for her who wishes you God's best graces in abundance and who is, with unbounded affection, Devotedly yours. FOOTNOTE: [A] Saint Jane Frances originally intended this letter to serve as a Preface to the Book of Customs, but deeming that she had spoken with too much authority therein, and also in order not to give any pretext for the calumnies of those who accused her of desiring to pose as General of her Order, the holy foundress kept back its publication, and never in her lifetime gave it to the Institute. Amongst her sisters she would not accept any other title than that of Eldest Daughter of the Family. LXVI. _To Sister Anne Marie de Lage de Puylaurens, Assistant and Mistress of Novices at Bourges._ Vive [+] Jésus! ANNECY, 1626. MY VERY DEAR DAUGHTER, God has indeed favoured you in giving you His holy light and strength to extricate yourself from the dangerous temptation against your good, virtuous Mother. It is the devil's doing, in the hope of upsetting you both by disuniting you. God be blessed who has delivered you. Take great care never to fall into it again and keep invariably united to your written Rule, and to the living rule which is your Superior. For it may be that God will permit you to be under a very imperfect Superior, and, if so, endure it. The spirit of God is there for you, and think of nothing save that. Most assuredly, if faithful you will never come to grief by this road.