LII To Mother Anne Catherine de Beaumont, Superior of the First Monastery of Paris
Vive ✠ Jésus!
Annecy, 1623.
My very dear Sister,
It is indeed true that the privation of the presence of my beloved Father is the greatest sorrow I could have: for it was my priceless privilege and my sole joy in this life. But since it has pleased God to deprive me of it I acquiesce in His good pleasure with all my heart, consoling myself in that I can now say with truth: “He is my supreme and only consolation.” Alas! my dearest Sister, ought not this to be enough and even all-satisfying? Truly that heart is too avaricious for which God is not enough: and miserable is the heart which is satisfied with anything less than God. I owe it to you, and it is my wish to tell both you and Sister Hélène-Angélique (L’huillier), since by the goodness of God you are so perfectly united, that this most holy soul, who in life gave us so many perfumes of virtue, gives us still the manifestation of them.A The greater part of the sisters here perceived numberless times and in divers places odours so sweet and extraordinary that we can but think it is our Blessed Father who visits us and makes us understand by these celestial perfumes that he is praying for us. How this penetrates me, dearest Sister! On Sunday I was quite overcome, for three distinct times I was conscious of them.
It would take too long to tell you how God is manifesting His most humble Servant. In a word there is much for which to thank and glorify Him. Do so then, my daughter, whom my soul loves, and let your gratitude be shown by faithful observance to all we have learnt. Oh! what honour and happiness is comparable to that of serving in humble and absolute submission the holy will of our good God! Let us only think of, only seek this glorious eternity, for there is our Sovereign Good, with whom we shall eternally rejoice. May He be blessed!
Yours, etc.
Notes
A We read in the history of the foundation of Annecy: “As soon as the blessed body (of St. Francis de Sales) had been carried into the first Monastery, celestial perfumes were perceived throughout the entire house, on account of which our worthy Mother forbade the Sacristan, who alone had in her keeping pastilles and perfumes, to use any of them, and a like obedience she gave to all the Sisters, forbidding them to handle or put any scented thing anywhere in the house. But all these precautions only served the better to make known the favour Our Lord had granted, for the cloisters, corridors, choir, oratories, and other places of the Monastery were perfumed with a most fragrant odour, which, like a heavenly unction, spread many interior graces upon the Community.”