Chapter VIII: 1635-1640
Vincent de Paul: 1635
January 20: Vincent makes an official visitation of the Monastery
of the Madelonnettes (I:187, 368; XIIIa:101).
February 21: Nicolas Le Camus, secretary of Michel de Marillac,
gives the Congregation a farmhouse in Grigny (Anales.1983, 426).
March 15: The Holy See approved the Congregation of the Mission
to take charge of Saint-Lazare, but the Papal Bulls were not formalized
until 1659. Thus, on August 7, 1659 Vincent formally took
possession of this house in the name of the Holy See (I:257 note).
March 19: Vincent asks Rome for permission to grant a plenary
indulgence to those who make a general confession. At the
same time he seeks the faculty to establish the Forty Hours Devotion
(XIIIa:306-307).
March: Monsieur Portail spends time on this missions. We
find him in Cevennes in May, August and October (I:275,289,304).
May: Foundation of the house at Toul (I:417).
June 11: Vincent is at Liqancourt for a trial (X:102; [translator’s
note: the Spanish text refers to document 43: SAN VICENTE EN LIANCOURT,
Domingo 11 junio 1635; I have been unable to find this text volume
XIII of the English edition, therefore I simply not the Spanish
reference)
July 23: Madame de Herse and Mme. Charotte de Ligny give
the Congregation two farmhouse, one in Frénaeville and the
other in Mespuits. Vincent is that invited to organize missions
on the lands of these women (!:290, note 2; Anales.1983, 427).
July 25: Mother Chantal arrives in Paris (I:301-303).
August: Vincent thanks Jean de Fonteneil (I:268) for the
help that Messieurs de la Salle and Brunet (missionaries in Bordeaux)
have given him (I:279) . He also thanks him for the help
that was given to his brother Gayon, who was brought to trial and
fined (I:291-292).
September-October: writes to the Bishop of Béziers to explain
how the missionaries are conduct themselves. This was done
because a priest who been dismissed from the Bons-Enfants went
to the Bishop saying that Vincent had sent him, and then succeeded
in deceiving the bishop who employed. His disedifying conduct
gave the bishop a poor opinion of the Missionaries (I:297-298).
December: At the year came to a close Vincent counsels the
missionaries with regard to their community life, the rules, and
the missions (XI: Advice given during the annual retreat of 1635).
Plans the establishment of a Confraternity
of Charity at the Court (XIIIb:441).
Etienne Meyester is ordained a priest...
a great missionary who the following year (1636) left Vincent to
join Jean-Jacques Olier (I:278).
The oldest son of the De Gondi family,
Pierre, was removed from his position as General of the Galleys and
replaced by his nephew, Richelieu, the Marquis of Pont-de-Courlay. Philippe-Emmanuel
de Gondi is forced into exile in Lyon where he remained until 1642.
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Louise de Marillac: 1635
April: Louise visits the Confraternities at Beauvais, Bulles
and Liancourt. In Liancourt, the Ladies want to establish
a hospital rather then visit the sick in their homes and in their
villages. (I:281-288)
June: Many vocations begin to arrive (I:299), but the majority
of them are unable to read or write (I:306-307). A woman
from Italy joins them (I:305), and some of the young women want
to dress elegantly (I:203).
September 29: Louise has problems with her son who wants to give
up the clerical state. He is at the Bons-Enfants with Jean
Dehorgny [a person with whom Louise seeks to collaborate in giving
missions] (I:301).
--------: A Confraternity of Charity
isd established in the parish of Saint Laurent (I:283, 294-295). Her
good friend and relative, Isabelle de Fay dies (I:24; IX, Conference
to the Daughters of Charity, February 24, 1653; SWLM:5-6)
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Vincent’s Letters:1635
Remember (Antoine Portail), we live in
Jesus Christ through the death of Jesus Christ, and we must die in
Jesus Christ through the life of Jesus Christ (I:276).
Our Lord had to predispose with His love
those whom He wished to have believe in Him (I:276).
If you act in that manner (with love
and compassion), God will bless your labors; if not, you will produce
noise and fanfare, but little fruit (I:277).
You think about yourself too much. You
must go along in a simple and ordinary way (I:301-302).
Meekness would be cruelty if it led us
to disobey the rule (I:304).
How I fear large numbers and expansion
(I:304).
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Vincent de Paul:1636
May: Vincent travels to Pontoise and later to Beauvais to visit the Ursulines...
it seems like time wasted for a man who owes all of it too the
poor (I:317).
June: Jean Jacques Olier, together with the Missionaries
give missions in Auvernia and Cevennes (I:324, 331).
June 13: Asks Lambert Aux Couteaux to speak to the Bishop
of Toul and help him understand that being confessors for religious
women is contrary to the ends of the Company (I:323)
August 15: In order to respond to an attack by the Spanish,
Saint-Lazare has become a place where the King has assembled an
army and is training the soldiers (72 companies). People
are terrified and running away to other cities but Vincent is not
afraid (I:331-332, 334).
August 16: Vincent sends Monsieur de Saint-Martin a little picture
that was pained by Monsieur Brentel. It depicted the flight
of the holy family to Egypt (I:332-333).
September 1: The King asks Vincent to send missionaries who would
accompany the army as chaplains. Vincent is able to send
10. Late Monsieur Robert de Sergis will join this group (I:342-347). Vincent
gives these chaplains certain regulations (XIIIa:307). They
served as chaplains for a period of six months and did some wonderful
work (I:330, 331, 334-335, 338, 342-347),
As the missionaries leave for the war,
the food supply at Saint-Lazare is limited. This fast will
continue into the future (IX:Conference to the Daughters of Charity,
August 20, 1656).
October: The plague afflicts many people in Paris. Vincent
goes to Orleans and on his return trip in November, spends time
in Freneville (I:349) and considers going to Grigny (I:350).
December: Vincent travels again to Freneville (I:365).
The school at the Bons-Enfants becomes
a seminary for young boys. There they are taught the Humanities
(II:172, 505-506).
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Louise de Marillac: 1636
April-May: Louise puts into writing the Rules and Regulations
for the Daughters and sends them to Vincent so that he can review
them (I:318).
May: Louise and the Ladies from the Hetel-Dieu spend time
looking for a larger house for the Daughters. There are now
20 Sisters and they are living on one floor in a house on the Street
of Versalles. They decide on a house in the neighborhood
of La Chapelle. The house is rented and the contract is signed
by Madame Goussault. They continue, however, to occupy the
house at Saint-Victor (I:308-313, 314-315, 339-340).
Louise visits the Confraternities at
Grigny, Villenueve-Saint-Georges and later on, the Confraternity
at Gournay (I:318-321; SWLM:729).
When Louise sets out on her trip, she
leaves Sister Marie Joly and Barbe in charge of the group. They
in turn are assisted by Madame Goussault and another Lady (I:331). The
young woman from Normandy leaves the house after she had been told
not to bring young men into the house (I:320).
May 26: The Duchess d’Aiguillon requests the presence
of a Daughter of Charity in her house. Marie Denyse refuses
to go and so Barbe goes in her place. Upon her arrival, however,
she is saddened when she sees the size of the house. She
tells Vincent that she did not become a Daughter to become involved
in such a work. Vincent listens to here and accepts here
decision (I:320-323).
Sister Barbe spends this years in the
Parish of Saint-Paul, “where it is important not to give occasion
to anyone to gossip” (SWLM:12)
September: Louise has problems with here son Michel. He
is thinking about his vocation and has ruled out a military career
(I:312). He decides to study theology (I:349); he will defend
theses in general philosophy (I:355), but then decides to look
for a university outside of Paris (I:363). Vincent advises
Louise to make the Jubilee but not to fast. She has to get
well and strengthen herself (I:341).
October: The plague again strikes Paris and one of the Ladies
of Charity, Madame Ligin dies. Word spreads rapidly that
she was infected at the Hotel-Dieu.
October 21: One of the sisters is ill in the hospital. Louise
has also been ill (I:293-294). Vincent is also ill during
this same time. Another sister dies and Louise is deeply
affected. Vincent is unable to be there but sends his advice
and makes available all that is necessary for her burial (I:314-315).
December: The Daughters of Charity rent some rooms near the
Hotel-Dieu and form a separate community (I:363).
Madame de Beaufort intends to form a
Confraternity in the parish of Saint-Etienne. The ladies are
very eager to undertake this work (I:359).
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From Vincent’s Letters: 1636
I am going to visit the Ursulines....how
this annoys me and seems like time wasted for a man who owes all
of it to the poor (I:317).
Regarding the visit to Louise: I shall
do so from the altar, where I hope to see her more perfectly in Our
Lord than at your house....if you weep, let it be little (I:328).
Sick minds need to be cared for more
delicately and charitably than people who are physically ill (I:332).
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From Louise’s Letters: 1636
Invite her....not to become weary of
experiencing within herself the needs of our masters, the sick poor,
for assistance, cordiality and gentleness. It is in this state
that she can show her fidelity in loving the holy will of God (SWLM:12).
I am telling you this so as to save time.....I
believe we must strike while the iron is hot. However, please
tell me if you want something different from what I propose (SWLM:13).
I beg your Charity to say a few words
to me about this. The poor are satisfied with little. I
will consider myself most fortunate since I gave myself to God through
you (SWLM:14)
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Vincent de Paul: 1637
May: Vincent travels to Pontoise and then to Dourdan (I:377-378).
May 19: Louise A. de la Fayette enters the Visitation Ordere. The
King will visit her on June 30. On July 22, she makes her
profession at Saint-Marie. Anne of Austria is present for
this ceremony that is presided over by Monsieur Caussin.
June: The Internal Seminary is established at Saint-Lazare
(I:421-422). He speaks about its necessity and the way in
which it will function (III:211-212; VI:174-176) and also lists
the qualities of the Director (V:443). Monsieur Jean de la
Salle is the first Novice Director (I:30-31; II:371; XI: Repetition
of Prayer, June 26, 1642).
August: There is an epidemic at Saint-Lazare and many are
ill with dysentery (I:380).
Vincent visits the Abbe De Saint-Cyran. There
are many factions in the Abbey and Saint-Cyran is angered because
Vincent speaks on behalf of those who are against him. The
meeting is a tense one but they continue to speak to one another. Vincent
offers Saint-Cyran a horse for the trip that he is about to make
to Poitiers (I:392-396; XIIIa:104-110).
August 18: The establishment of a house at Notre-Dame de la
Rose on the land of the Duchesse d’Aiguillon (I:589, note
1).
Vincent and the missionaries visit and
give missions in the churches and parishes that belong to the Order
of Malta and that are directed by Bailiff de Sillery (I:380).
November 8: Foundation of the Confraternity of Charity at Saint-Vallier
(Drome) (XIIIb:5).
November 20: Saint-Cyran writes to Vincent. This letter
speaks of theie meeting in August. This letter will become an important
part of the interrogation of Saint-Cyran when he is taken prisoner
(I:392-396).
November: Vincent visits Madame de Herse and remains there
for four or five days (I:385-386).
December 10: Monsieur Caussin is dismissed as the King’s
confessor. He attempts to make peace with Richelieu and puts
moral pressure on the King. He was exiled to Rennes and later
to Quimper (SWLM:565).
December 24: At the age of 24, Monsieur Almeras (1613-1672),
against the will of his father, enters the Internal Seminary of
the Congregation of the Mission. He is the nephew of Madam
Goussault and a Councillor in the Great Council (I:529).
-----At the request of the Archbishop,
Vincent agrees to accept, with monetary assistance from the Company
of the Blessed Sacrament, mendicant priests into the house at Saint-Lazare
(I:273-274; VII:618-619; VIII:417, 419; IX: Conference to the Daughters
of Charity, January 22, 1646).
The first urban coaches are put into
service in Paris. The people call them “Fiacres” because
their drivers come from the Impase of Saint-Fiacre.
The Hospital of the Incurables is established
in Paris. It is inaugurated on March 11, 1640 (I:371).
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Louise de Marillac: 1637
The Confraternity of Charity is established
in La Chapelle (I:377).
Begins retreats for lay people at the
house in La Chapelle [Madame Liancourt, Larny, Goussault]. Louise
puts into practice the instructions she received from Vincent (I:373-374).
Louise continues to have problems with
her son (I:363, 371, 397-398).
Louise encounters some difficulties in
the formation of the young women who come to here: Marie (I:412);
Barbe (I:371, 386-387, 398; SWLM:17); Jeanne (I:560-563); Nicole
(I:274, 390-391, 537); and others (I:408-409, 484-485).
Madame Goussault is ill (I:386, 391-392,
398-399, 401).
December: Plan the establishment of a house in Richelieu which
will be realized the following year (I:401-402).
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Vincent’s Letters: 1637
If the gentleness of your spirit needs
a dash of vinegar, borrow a little from Our Lord’s spirit. How
well he knew how to find a bittersweet remark when it was needed! (I:383)
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Vincent de Paul: 1638
January 1: The Ladies at the Hotel-Dieu meet te deal with the
question of the foundlings. They give a report on the house
where they are presently taken care of , the Couche, which is located
near the Port of Saint-Landry (Mainard, III:331, reference here
is made to the Spanish edition).
February: The Ladies rent a house on the rue des Boulangers
and begin their work with 12 children (I:407, 426, 301, 435-437).
A. Le Maitre asks the Archbishop to send
Vincent to him so that he [La Maitre] might clarify certain rumors
that are circulating about him (X:105).
The “Solitaries of Port-Royal” are
formed: A. Le Sericourt and De Sacy. They will be joined by Claude
Lancelot who was at Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet and a priest, Nicolas
Singlin (IV:593n). They met in a house beside Port-Royal (a
house build by the wife of A. La Maitre) and there they live and
pray and study the writings of the Fathers of the Church. Later
on they will take in some young men whom Monsieur Singlin gathered
together during the summer of 1637. They will become the “Petites
Ecoles” and will take up lodging in Port-Royal (X:105 [translators
note: the Spanish text makes reference to document 45: DE ANTOINE
LE MAITRE A JUAN FRANCISCO DE GONDI, ARZOBISPO DE PARÍS,1638...
I have been unable to find this document in the English edition and
therefore simply site the Spanish reference]).
January 4: establishment of the houses at Richelieu (I:402,
419) and Luçon (I:403, 556; II:48; III:145, note ; XIIIa:317-321). Monsieur
Lambert is organizing the house and on the 31st of the
month, five missionaries will arrive (I:417-419).
January 30: Vincent requests the community to pray for the Queen’s
pregnancy (I:422;).
January 30-February 4: The participants in the Tuesday Conferences give
a mission in Saint-Germain-en-Laye where the court is residing. Monsieur
Pavillon, using the little method, talks about the low-necked dresses
that became popular at that time. (I:411, 421, 439, 440, 441-442)
February: Robert de Sergis gives a mission in Agen
and Toulouse (I:430). Later on he will travel to Angouleme
to fulfill the contract with the diocese (I:486-488).
Monsieur Antoine Lucas is giving missions
in Champagne: Marchais, Mensil, Soude, Bergues and later in Montmirail
(I:421, 441)
Messieurs Greno and Savinier bring the
missions to the duchy of Aiguillon in Gascony (I:442).
At the insistence of Noël Brulart
d’Sillery, Vincent labors to open a seminary in Temple (I:424).
The work of the ordinands is extended
to the clerics of other dioceses. This work is supported economically
by Madame Herse, Maignelay and the Queen of Austria.
March: Vincent inform the Duc d’Atri about the process
that he has undertaken with regard to his daughter, Marie-Angelique
(I:459-463).
March 20: The house in Troyes is established. In the
beginning the missionaries resided in Sancey, a town near
Troyes (I:415n, 444; II:541).
May 14-15: Saint-Cyran was arrested and imprisoned in the Chateau
de Vincennes. Judge Laubardemont, an ally of Richelieu, takes
charge of the process on June 15 (I:392n).
May 9: Vincent leaves to give a mission at Brie-Comte-Robert
(I:465).
May 29: The Archbishop expels the “Solitaries” from
Port Royal in Paris. This group was living in an abbey that
had been abandoned for about 12 years (X:105 see translator’s
note above).
May-June: Jean Becu accompanies Abelly and Le Breton in giving
missions at Montmirail. Abelly is named Vicar of the Diocese
of Bayonne (I:466-467).
June 10: Vincent is ill and at Freneville (I:473, 476). Later
he travels to Limouron where he deals with some economic problems
and the contract for some farmland. He then goes to Le Bourget
(I:473, 477).
July 1: Judge Laubardemont expels the “Solitaries” from
Port-Royal. After spending some days in Paris, LeMaitre, Lericourt
and Lancelot took up residence in the town of La-Ferte-Milon. They
remained there for three months and then returned to Port-Royal.
July 17: The Confraternity of Charity is established at Blanzac
(Clarente) (XIIIb:5).
September: Andre Duval dies (I:113 note; II:256).
October 29: Vincent gives a conference on Perseverance in One’s
Vocation (XI: On Perseverance in One’s Vocation, October
29, 1638) and also holds a Chapter in which he deals with various
subjects: respect for the Prior Adrien LeBon, punctuality, preserving
secrecy about what is said in Chapter, murmuring (XI: Chapter,
October 29, 1638).
December: Vincent travels to Richelieu and visits the new house
of the Daughters which has just been completed and where many wonderful
things are happening (I:515).
December 7: Chapter: deals with the following topics: sighing
and groaning during devotional exercises, praying to know our faults
and the need to ask permission of the Superior before inviting
strangers to eat in the refrectory (XI: Chapter, December 17, 1638).
-----various charitable works are begun
at Saint-Lazare.
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Louise de Marillac: 1638
January: The Ladies of Charity at the Hotel-Dieu decide to
make an experiment with two or three abandoned children in the
house at La Chapelle (I:407; XIIIb:420).
February: As a result of the mission that is given by the participants
of the Tuesday Conferences to the Court, a Confraternity of Charity
is established at Saint-German-en-Lay. The Sisters go there
immediately and Sister Barbe is placed in charge of this group
(I:411, 419, 600).
February: The decision that the Ladies of Charity made in January
is now concretized and expanded: they rent a house on the rue des
Boulangers and take in 12 children (I:423, 428, 435; Echos:1987, note7). The
work is directly under the leadership of the Ladies but they elect
their own Treasurer (I:537).
Difficulties arise with Madame Pelletier
(I:352, 429, 438, 449), with regard to her management (I: 414-415,
436) and also many of the children die and have to be buried (I:472).
March: Louise undertakes the formation of the Daughters....
and encounters certain difficulties: Marie from Saint-Laurent is
readmitted (I:412), Jeanne slapped Jacqueline in the face (I:449),
the young woman from Nogent seems to be a good woman but “how
that poor creature deceived me” (I:409, 485), and the parents
of the woman who died at the Hotel-Dieu want her clothes (I:409).
July: An epidemic begins in Paris and so the Hotel-Dieu
suspends its work until September and the snacks are discontinued
(I:496).
August: Louise continues to have problems with her son. He
does not wish to be ordained and if he is ordained it is only to
please his mother [he does not do so freely]; Louise and
Vincent seek a solution to the situation and look for a benefice
for him (I:427-428). Louise becomes ill and has fainting spells
(I:506, 508, 509).
September: Louise spends seven or eight days at Saint-Germain-en-Laye
(I:495).
October: The house in Richelieu is established and Barbe
takes charge of the house (I:401-402, 436-440, 493-494, 499-505). In
December Vincent visits the house and speaks about the marvels that
are done there (I:503-504).
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Vincent’s Letters: 1638
Judge whether the prickly thorns of our
human nature do not produce fine roses; they blossom as soon as the
sun of justice sheds the rays of its grace upon them (I:404).
You must beware of falling into the vice
of singularity because it is rooted in vanity, and vanity, in pride,
[is] the vice of all vices (I:409).
Bad results occur when something is done
precipitously (translators note: in Spanish the quote reads: “No
veo nada tan común como el mal resultado de las cosas que
se han hecho con precipitación.” The Spanish reference
is I:443 which corresponds to page 422 in the English edition....
this quote is not found there. As a result I have no idea how
to cite this quote).
Allow God to lead him [Michel]; He is
more his Father than you are his mother and loves him more than you
do (I:506).
You never tire of doing good things for
us and do, I am afraid, more than you are able. I thank you
most humbly, Mademoiselle, and beg you not to act in that way any
more (I:513).
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Louise’s Letters: 1638
I do not know what the Lord is telling
me....but I hope that your Charity will let me know (SWLM:15).
I believe it is necessary to attend promptly
to this poor girl who has so won the hearts of the local people that
rumor has it that they will not accept another if we remove her (SWLM:17).
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Vincent de Paul:1639
January 8: Monsieur Dufestel is ill at Troyes and several missions
will have to be postponed until he gets better ... how happy if
the chalices were sold to restore his health...(I:521).
At Toul, Messieurs du Coudray and Boucher
are helping those afflicted by the war. They are caring for
40 people in their house and feeding 150 outside the city (I:528). In
March and December others will come to help them in this work.
February 3: Vincent gives a mission In Joigny and considers
remaining there for two or three months. Messieurs Pavillon,
Perrochel and six other missionaries are also working in this area
(I:526, 528).
Monsieur De Sergis gives a mission in
Muret [near Toulouse] and establishes there a Confraternity of Charity. Vincent
admonishes him for his style of dress, his pride and his self-sufficiency
(I:518, 524-527, 543-544).
Three or four missionaries are giving
missions in the parishes that are under the care of the Order of
Malta, thus fulfilling the agreement made with Noël Brulart
Sillery (I524-529).
March 31, April 1st and
2nd: After refusing
to appear before the civil judge Laubardemort, Vincent is deposed
by judge Lescot in the case of Saint-Cyran (XIIIa:104-110).
April 29: Monsieur Bourdoise of the community of Saint-Nicolas-Du-Chardonnet
requests to spend some time at Saint-Lazare and make his retreat
there. Both communities are in accord with this request (I:535-536).
May 10: Organized assistance is offered to the people
of Lorraine. Centers are established in Toul, Metz, Verdum
and Nancy.... Paris helps the refugees who are fleeing there: they
are offered food, housing and work. Three missions are given
in the area of La Chapelle. Mathieu Regnard (I:456) [called “the
fox” by the people] organizes the work in Paris and Lorraine
(I:541-542, 582, 589-590).
May 14-31: Judge Lescot questions Vincent in the Saint-Cyran
affair (more than 200 questions) (XIIIa:110-136).
June 3: A contract is signed with Commander Sillery to establish
a house at Annecy. The missionaries were unable to go until
January 1640 (I:552 note, 566 note, 578; II:19-23, 31n).
July: Vincent travel with Commander Sillery a Troyes. He
will remain there during the month of July and a few days in August
(I:551).
July 14: Vincent writes to Jane Frances Chantal and describes
the life of the missionaries at home and during the time of the
missions (I:552-557).
July 16: An uprising of poor salt miners and farmers takes
place at Normandy. The rebellion is put down in December.
August 22: Bishop Nicolas Pavillon is ordained a bishop at Saint-Lazare. He
will take charge of the Diocese of Alet (I:159, 413, 580note).
September 20: Madame Goussault dies (I:586). She leaves
a will (XIIIb:390-396).
September 28: Cardinal de la Valette dies and Cardinal Richelieu
requests that Masses be offered for him at Saint-Lazare (I:583).
October 8: The newly ordained Bishop Nicolas Pavillon is accompanied
by Monsieur Blatiron to his diocese. Monsieur Blatiron will
take charge of the seminary which will close in 1642 (I:580, 581-583;
see also Pastor, XXXIX:174 [this is a reference to a spanish work]).
October 9: Jean de la Salle dies (I:579n, 581-584, 586n). Vincent
will speak about the virtues of the deceased missionary and thus
begins a practice that will continue for many years (I:586-587).
November: An epidemic takes place in Paris. Vincent travels
to Richelieu (November and part of December) and Freneville (December)
(I:591-592).
November 15: Vincent reviews the Petition that Monsieur Lebreton
sent him from Rome and which will be presented to the Holy See
requesting vows for the Congregation (I:590).
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Louise de Marillac: 1639
May 16: Louise writes a letter of protest to the Mother
Superior of the Benedictines at Argenteuil because it seems that
they are trying to persuade some of the young women to enter the
convent rather then work with the poor (SWLM17-18).
July: Louise is sick and has constant headaches. Vincent
proposes a change in the place where she is living (I550-551). She
will be ill for most of the year.
Her son continues to cause her problems:
he is going out with a young libertine (Comte de Mauny) and “going
about town”. At last, we see him preparing to take the
examinations for Orders (I:548-549, 573).
September 20: Madame Goussault, born Geneviève Gayet dies. Marie
de Tremblay, the widow of Maximilien Grangier, Seigneur de Souscarriere,
becomes president of the Ladies at the Hotel-Dieu, succeeding her
sister-in-law (SWLM:18; I:495, 586).
October: Louise and the other Sisters in her house aid the
refugees from Lorraine who are settled in La Chapelle (I:582)
Louise writes to Barbe Angiboust and
Luise Ganset and praises them for the work they are doing with sick
and the instruction of young women. At the same time she admonishes
them for not taking care of the other Sisters in the house (SWLM:18-20).
Some problems develop in the houses:
some of the young women are admonished and others like Jeanne leave. Jeanne
will continue to be problematic up to the time of her departure. All
of this, together with her own illness, the death of Madame Goussault,
and the death of several Daughters leaves Louise feeling discouraged
and guilty for what has happened (I:561-563).
November 30-December 6: Louise travels to Agners where she will establish
the Hospital of St. John, a project that had been begun by Madame
Goussault. She continues the trip that Vincent had proposed
(I:593-595) and arrives at Angers. She stays at the house
of Guy Lashnier, the Abbe of Vaux who was the protector and counselor
for the Daughters of Charity (I:591-592, 599-600).
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Vincent’s Letters: 1639
On care for the sick (in this case Monsieur
Dufestel): I would be delighted if word were sent to me from somewhere
that someone in the Company had sold chalices for that purpose (I:521).
Jeanne slapped another (I:449, 450, 451)
A grain of charity suffices to calm many
anxieties and easy many differences (I:572)
I have imposed on myself the law of not
coming to see you unless I am summoned for some necessary or very
useful matter (I:576)
We must act against what is painful and
either break our heart or soften it to get it ready for anything
(I:579)
How fortunate you are to possess the
antidote for eagerness! The works God Himself is accomplishing
are never spoiled by the inactivity of men (I:588).
Remember that Our Lord will be your guidance
and your guide and that you can do all things with Him (I:589).
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Louise’s Letters: 1639
I have learned what I have always greatly
feared. Your work, which has been succeeding so well for the
relief of the sick and the instruction of girls, has done nothing
for your advancement in perfection (SWLM:18)
Should you not always keep before your
eyes the awareness that when you command something you are doing
so by obedience, and that of yourself you have no right to order
anything.... Courage, my dear Sister! (SWLM:19).
Place your faults clearly before your
eyes without making excuses because in reality nothing outside of
ourselves is the cause of the evil we commit....I believe that the
cause of most of the faults you commit.....is that you have money
and have always like possessing it....It is the love that God gives
me for each of you that causes me to speak in this way. Courage,
my dear Sister (SWLM19-20).
True humility will regulate everything (SWLM:20).
