May I venture to add a very humble prayer to our Sisters the Superiors, that they will keep in mind this word of the Rule: "Let us be before God under the feet of all our Sisters"? Ah! my God, if we treat them so, if we love our Sisters with a truly maternal love, which is solicitous, vigilant, zealous for the welfare of its children; if we govern them not according to our own views we shall draw upon our family all manner of blessings. Let them feel that you have a mother's heart and solicitude for them, keeping their minds tranquil and contented, and you can do what you like with them.
All I have said above, very dear Sisters, I have said solely moved by love and desire. I reiterate it all with the most emphatic and tender entreaties from the depth of my heart. All our happiness is shut up in it. We are obliged to it by vow. It is our way of perfection of which we shall have to render an account at the hour of death. Think well on this.
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.
[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.