XCIII.
To Sister Bonne Marie de Haraucourt at Nancy.[A]
Vive ✠ Jésus!
Annecy, 1633.
God bless you, my dearest daughter, for the good news you send me of the convalescence of the good prelate....
To return to yourself, whom I so dearly love. Repose in peace in your state of spiritual poverty. Blessed are the poor, for God will reclothe them. How happy should we be if our hearts were stript of all that is not God, and if we loved so to be. What a blessed thing it is to be in obscurity, with no devotion, no spiritual enlightenment, no consolation from creatures. Oh, my daughter, when a soul finds herself in this state, what can she do save hide herself like a little fledgeling, and nestle under the wing of her good mother Providence, remaining hidden there, not venturing to come out for fear the kite might capture her—this, then, is your place of repose where there is naught to fear, and in what better place could you be? And what richer clothing could you have than to be covered beneath the shelter of the sweet providence of your heavenly Father? Dwell there, and be well content to possess this singular privilege. You know, my daughter, that you have a place in my heart from which no one can ever dislodge you.
Yours, etc.
[A] Sister Bonne Marie de Haraucourt, whose memory is venerated in the Visitation Order, spent her youth in the midst of the gaieties of the Court of Lorraine without ever reflecting that she had a Jesus to imitate or a heaven to gain. On terms of intimacy with the Duchess Nicloe, wife of Charles IV., this girl became intoxicated with the flattery by which she was surrounded because of her beauty and her wit, when of a sudden the same words that converted the great Arsenius, "Fuge, Tace, Quiesce,"* fell upon her ear. The arrival of St. Jane Frances in Lorraine at the moment (1626) was propitious, and the young Court favourite made no delay in answering the call. With mingled feelings of joy at the thought of the great sacrifice, and of dread of what it entailed, she offered herself to the Saint. Soon after the arrival of Mademoiselle de Haraucourt at the Visitation of Pont-a-Mousson, the flower of the younger ladies of the Court, captivated by her example, followed her there, where, regardless of the opinion of the world, they led a life hidden with God. After seven years of solitude and prayer, Sister Bonne Marie was sent to help Mother P. J. Favrot in the reform of the Penitentiary at Nancy, and she obtained leave to found there a Convent of her own Order, with the holy desire to perpetuate in this town, where she feared to have so much offended in the past, a homage of unceasing reparation.
The Princes of Lorraine, and the Court, cherished and protected the new foundation, but soon after, the horrors of the Swedish war and the consequent departure of the Princess, left the little Community in a most pitiable state of destitution. Elected Superior at this critical time, Sister Bonne Marie, by the heroism of her faith, wrought wonders equal to those of great miracle-workers amongst the Saints. When no longer Superior, this holy Nun, by the force of her example, was the life and soul of her Convent at Nancy, as she had been the joy and support of Mother Favrot at Pont-a-Mousson. She died February 26th, 1666. (Année Sainte, Vol. II).
* Fly, be silent and be at peace.