I cannot but believe, my dearest daughter, that there is more artifice than martyrdom about our N., and I assure you I find it very difficult to think otherwise. If she were reproved, or passed over, I expect it would cure her. There will be nothing but trouble if God does not put His hand to the work. May His divine Goodness apply the remedy. I enclose her letter, and my reply. What a strange thing is this spirit of the world! You must remain patient and firm under its hard criticism. As you will see by my answers all your letters have reached me.
It certainly is a rare thing, my child, in a large community not to find someone who is a trial, but that so many are good is a great subject of consolation. For the love of God, I pray you don't imagine that it is through your fault that others do not advance. That is not so, thank God. They will be very happy, my dearest daughter, if they follow your advice, and do as you do. In a word I am of opinion that in this (the support of feeble souls) consists in great part the cross of poor Superiors. The strength of mind God gives you to reprimand will be of great service to them. Persevere in allowing nothing contrary to perfection. For zeal combined with gentleness is of great force in animating hearts, and the like of us women need to be perpetually egged on and kept up to the mark.
I feel I must just simply tell you the truth. All you say about yourself gives me great cause to praise God. It is all excellent. Go always, as you now do, to God alone. I had much consolation in reading your letter and above all in seeing what courage God has given you. Verily, my dear Sister, he who loves not, he who trusts not, he who rests not wholly in the arms of divine Providence must be hard as flint and altogether insensible. In these arms, then, at His mercy, let us dwell so that He may do as He pleases with us.
I cannot tell you how grateful I feel to God for the graces that I see and know you to have received, and it seems to me that for this I am under a great obligation of gratitude to Him.
Instruct, and speak continually to your daughters of the sweet, sure, abundant mercy of God towards those souls who hand themselves over to Him, trusting Him out and out. I am very glad about little de B. I think she will be a good child if she can bear mortification, but the gentleness which is practised with us will make it easy for her. Goodbye, my dearest daughter; I am truly overwhelmed here with visits and writing. I salute all my friends and above all our poor Sisters of Villeneuve.
Show these letters to the Rev. Father. It only needs a little time to get the postulant away. We must do this, and say nothing, except that as the Chapter has not received her she cannot be kept, and we must bear the consequences patiently. God will direct all and you will draw profit from it. The good Father who brings you these letters is a great friend of our Institute, and we are under many obligations to him.
LI.
To Mother Marie Jacqueline Favre, Superior at Dijon.
Vive ✠ Jésus!
Lyons,
8th December, 1622.