CVI.
To St. Vincent de Paul at Paris.
On the Arrival of the Lazarist Fathers at Annecy.
Vive ✠ Jésus!
Annecy, 1640.
My very dear Father,
Praised be our divine Saviour who for His great glory and the salvation of many souls has brought your dear children happily here. Their coming is a subject of thanksgiving to Our Lord from everyone, but most of all from the Bishop of Geneva and myself, to whom it is an unbounded consolation. We look upon them as our true brothers, with whom, in simple openheartedness and confidence we are as one, and they too feel this. I have had a conversation with them, and truly they speak as if they were daughters of the Visitation. All are full of goodness and candour. The third and the fifth need a little help to get out of themselves. I shall tell their Superior, M. Escarts, of it. He is a Saint, and a man truly equal to his charge. I have given them each a practice of virtue. With God's help, for our mutual consolation and to obey you, I will always lovingly continue so to do, for indeed, my dear Father, there is much to speak of to these dear souls. The good Father N. has manifested his own difficulties to me with the utmost simplicity. He has an upright heart and a good judgement, but it will be difficult for him to persevere. I have begged of him to put aside all thought of either leaving or staying, and to apply himself in good earnest to do God's work, leaving himself trustfully to His Providence. I wish he could settle down, as he is a soul of great promise. In fact they are all charming and have already given great edification in this town during the three or four days that they have been here. Their spirit is very like that of my dear and good Father.