66 66 "he was going, might he not with good reason have "answered: I go not, 'tis my Mother that goes for "me: and if one had said to him: But at least do "you not go with your Mother? Might he not reasonably have replied: No, I do not go, or if I "go whither my Mother carries me, I do not myself "walk with her nor by my own steps, but by my Mother's, by her, and in her. But if one had "persisted with him, saying: But at least, O most "dear divine child, you really will to let yourself be "carried by your sweet Mother? No, verily, might "he have said, I will nothing of all this, but as my "entirely good Mother walks for me, so she wills for 'me; I leave her the care as well to go as to will to go for me where she likes best; and as I go not "but by her steps, so I will not but by her will; "and from the instant I find myself in her arms, I 'give no attention either to willing or not willing, turning all other cares over to my Mother, save "only the care to be on her bosom, to suck her "sacred breast, and to keep myself close clasped to "her most beloved neck, that I may most lovingly "kiss her with the kisses of my mouth. And be it 66 66 66 66 66 "known to you that while I am amidst the delights "of these holy caresses which surpass all sweetness, "I consider that my Mother is a tree of life, and "myself on her as its fruit, that I am her own heart "in her breast, or her soul in the midst of her heart, so that as her going serves both her and me with"out my troubling myself to take a single step, so "her will serves us both without my producing any "act of my will about going or coming. Nor do I ever take notice whether she goes fast or slow, "hither or thither, nor do I inquire whither she means to go, contenting myself with this, that go "whither she please I go still locked in her arms, "close laid to her beloved breasts, where I feed as 66 66 66 'among lilies. . . . Thus should we be, Theotimus,1 "pliable and tractable to God's good pleasure."2 The Church abridges for us far better than we could, the life of St. Jane Frances de Chantal: Joanna Francisca Fremiot de Chantal, Divione in Burgundia clarissimis orta natalibus, ab ineunte ætate eximia sanctitatis non obscuras edidit significationes. Eam enim vix quinquennem nobilem quemdam Calvinistam solida supra ætatem argumentatione perstrinxisse ferunt, collatumque ab eo munusculum flammis illico tradidisse in hæc verba: En quomodo hæretici apud inferos comburentur, qui loquenti Christo fidem detrectant. Matre orbata, Deiparæ Virginis tutelæ se commendavit, et famulam, quæ ad mundi amorem eam alliciebat, ab se rejecit. Nihil puerile in moribus 66 66 "A great servant of God informed me not long ago that by "addressing my speech to Philothea in the Introduction to a "Devout Life, I hindered many men from profiting by it: "because they did not esteem advice given to a woman, to be worthy of a man. I marvel that there were men who, to be thought men, showed themselves in effect so little men.... "Nevertheless, to imitate the great Apostle in this occasion, "who esteemed himself a debtor to everyone, I have changed my "address in this treatise and speak to Theotimus; but if "perchance there should be any woman (and such an unreason"ableness would be more tolerable in them) who would not read "the instructions which are given to men, I beg them to know "that Theotimus to whom I speak is the human spirit desirous "of making progress in holy love, which spirit is equally in "women as in men."-Treatise on the Love of God, Preface. 2 Treatise on the Love of God, Book ix., chap. xiv. (We have preferred the translation by Dom. H. B. Mackey, O.S.B.) nothing childish in her manners; she shrank from worldly pleasures, and thirsting for martyrdom, she devoted herself entirely to religion and piety. She was given in marriage by her father to the Baron de Chantal, and in this new state of life she strove to cultivate every virtue, and busied herself in instructing in faith and morals her children, her servants and all under her authority. Her liberality in relieving the necessities of the poor was very great, and more than once God miraculously multiplied her stores of provisions; on this account she promised never to refuse any one who begged an alms in Christ's name. Her husband having been killed while hunting, she determined to embrace a more perfect life and bound herself by a vow of chastity. She not only bore her husband's death resignedly, but overcame herself so far as to stand godmother to the child of the man who had killed him, in order to give a public proof that she pardoned him. She contented herself with a few servants and with plain food and dress, devoting her costly garments to pious usages. Whatever time remained from her domestic cares she employed in prayer, pious reading, and work. She could never be induced to accept offers of second marriage, even though honourable and advantageous. In exprimens, a sæculi deliciis abhorrens, martyriumque anhelans, religioni ac pietati impense studebat. Baroni de Chantal nuptui a patre tradita, virtutibus omnibus excolendis operam dedit, liberos, famulos, aliosque sibi subjectos in fidei doctrina, bonisque moribus imbuere satagens, Profusa liberalitate pauperum inopiam sublevabat, annona divinitus non raro multiplicata quo factum est, ut nemini se umquam Christi nomine roganti stipem abnegaturam spoponderit. Viro in venatione interempto, perfectioris vitæ consilium iniens, continentiæ voto se obstrinxit. Viri necem non solum æquo animo tulit, sed, in publicum indultæ veniæ testimonium, occisoris filium e sacro fonte suscipere sui victrix elegit. Modica familia, tenui victu atque vestitu contenta, pretiosas vestes in pios usus convertit. Quidquid a domesticis curis supererat temporis, precibus, piis lectionibus, laborique impendebat. Numquam adduci potuit ut alteras nuptias, quamvis utiles et honorificas, iniret. Ne autem a proposito castimoniæ observandæ in posterum dimoveretur, illius voto innovato, sanctissimum Jesu Christi nomen candenti ferro pectori insculpsit. Ardentius in dies caritate fervescens, pauperes, derelictos, ægros, teterrimisque morbis infectos ad se adducendos curabat; eosque non hospitio tantum excipiebat, solabatur, fovebat, verum etiam sordidas eorumdem vestes depurgabat, laceras reficiebat, et manantibus fœtido pure ulceribus labia admovere non exhorrebat. A Sancto Francisco Salesio, quo spiritus moderatore usa fuit, divinam voluntatem edocta, proprium parentem, socerum, filium denique ipsum, quem etiam vocationi obsistentem, sua e domo egrediens, pedibus calcare non dubitavit, invicta constantia deseruit, et sacri instituti Visitationis sanctæ Mariæ fundamenta jecit. Ejus instituti leges integerrime custodivit, et adeo paupertatis fuit amans, ut vel necessaria sibi deesse gauderet. Christianæ vero animi demissionis et obedientiæ, virtutumque denique omnium perfectissimum exemplar se præbuit. Altiores in corde suo ascensiones disponens, arduissimo efficiendi semper id quod perfectius esse intelligeret, voto se obstrinxit. Denique, sacro Visitationis instituto ejus potissimum opera longe lateque diffuso, verbo, exem order not to be shaken in her resolution of observing chastity, she renewed her vow, and imprinted the most holy name of Jesus Christ upon her breast with a red-hot iron. Her love grew more ardent day by day. She had the poor, the abandoned, the sick, and those who were afflicted with the most terrible diseases brought to her, and not only sheltered, and comforted, and nursed them, but washed and mended their filthy garments, and did not shrink from putting her lips to their running sores. Having learnt the will of God from St. Francis de Sales her director, she founded the Institute of the Visitation of our Lady. For this purpose she quitted, with unfaltering courage, her father, her fatherin-law, and even her son, over whose body she had to step in order to leave her home, so violently did he oppose her vocation. She observed her Rule with the utmost fidelity, and so great was her love of poverty, that she rejoiced to be in want of even the necessaries of life. She was a perfect model of Christian humility, obedience, and all other virtues. Wishing for still higher ascensions in her heart, she bound herself by a most difficult vow, always to do what she thought most perfect. At length when the Order of the Visitation had spread far and wide, chiefly through her endeavours, after encouraging her sisters to piety and charity by words and example, and also by writings full of divine wisdom; laden with merits, she passed to the Lord at Moulins, having duly received the Sacraments of the Church. She died on the 13th December, in the year 1641. St. Vincent de Paul, who was at a great distance, saw her soul being carried to heaven, and St. Francis de Sales coming to meet her. Her body was afterwards translated to Annecy. Miracles having made her illustrious both before and after her death, Benedict XIV. placed her among the Blessed, and Pope Clement XIII. among the Saints. Pope Clement XIV. commanded her feast to be celebrated by the universal Church on the 12th of the Calends of September. plo, et scriptis etiam divina sapientia refertis, ad pietatem et caritatem sororibus excitatis, meritis referta, et sacramentis rite susceptis, Molinis,anno millesimo sexcentesimo quadragesimo primo, die decima tertia Decembris, migravit ad Dominum, ejusque animam, occurrente sancto Francisco Salesio, in cœlos deferri sanctus Vincentius a Paulo procul distans adspexit. Ejus corpus postea Annecium translatum est: eamque miraculis ante et post obitum claram Benedictus Decimus quartus beatorum, Clemens vero Decimus tertius Pontifex Maximus albo sanctorum adjecit. Festum autem ejusdem die duodecimo calendas Septembris ab universa Ecclesia Clemens Decimus quartus Pontifex Maximus celebrari præcepit. The office of Martha seemed at first to be destined for thee, O great Saint! Thy father, Francis de Sales, forestalling St.Vincent de Paul, thought of making thy companions the first daughters of Charity. Thus was given to thy work the blessed name of Visitation, which was to place under Mary's protection thy visits to the sick and neglected poor. But the progressive deterioration of strength in modern times had laid open a more pressing want in the institutions of holy Church. Many souls called to share Mary's part, were prevented from doing so by their inability to endure the austere life of the great contemplative Orders. The Spouse, who deigns to adapt his goodness to all times, made choice of thee, O Jane, to 2 K PENT. IV. |