Letter 100

From Quebec to her son. 11 October 1646.
She speaks to him of notable changes in the congregation of St. Maur. The need for a Bull from Rome to confirm the Ursuline union in Canada. How to maintain a humble familiarity with God.

My dear and well beloved son,

I had written to you the news of what God was doing in this country before I had received any of your letters. The ships arrived late, it was thought they were lost and people were beginning to feel the famine so your letters brought me great consolation and I found in them a great cause of thanking God for the zeal He has given you for the salvation of the infidels. That made me believe that you remember them in the presence of the loving source of help that we await for the evangelisation of all people. Continue to offer them to His Divine Majesty and you will gain more in your oratory than if you were actually employed in their conversion. You are very kind to tell me of the success of the business connected with your congregation - may God be eternally blessed for giving you peace. I believe that those poor Fathers who caused such disturbance would like to begin again, but they have what normally comes to people who undertake enterprises beyond their strength: they fall into the nets meant to catch others. I think you are happy to be as you are but when will the powers of the world stop meddling with affairs that do not concern them and leave the servants of God in peace. I was longing to know the result and now that I know it I am filled with joy that your congregation is flourishing after the persecution. These are the fruits of the cross and without doubt they are great.

As for our affairs, we are not in a hurry with our constitutions but there are certain circumstances about our union that we have sent to Rome to be inserted in the Bull that we have asked His Holiness for. Only for the troubles in Italy and France we believe that we would have it this year, the Queen regarded favourably that we wrote to her last year on this subject. Her Majesty answered through the Countess of Brienne that she would take care of anything concerning us in times of peace, but at the moment nobody could contact Rome about any business. As regards the confirmation of our constitutions it is difficult. We are subject to our Bishops and they make changes in the constitutions, when and as they like, unless they are confirmed by the authority of the Holy See. Then they had regulations that change the whole spirit of the community. There is talk of getting a Bishop in Canada; I don’t know how the French would like that. Last year Monsieur Gauffre, a man of eminent piety gave 30,000 livres to establish a Bishopric. Those to whom he gave the money, thought there was nobody more capable of the dignity than himself. They made him the offer at the Royal ecclesiastical council, presided over by Cardinal Mazarin. The Cardinal said they must make no decision on the point without consulting the Jesuit Fathers. Fr George de la Haie and two other Jesuits were called and they gave evidence that Mons Gauffre would be very acceptable. This great servant of God had no idea of their proposal but because he was a man of extraordinary humility he did not refuse. He asked the advice of his director to make a retreat. During this time of preparation he got a stroke and was dead in three days; so the will of God was clear and the project upset. As for me I think God does not want a Bishop in Canada yet without anybody going contrary to His designs.

But are you telling me the truth, my dear son? It seems to me you are not telling me all that is in your mind. Why are you not treating familiarly a God who is so good and so loving? I am telling you that regarding Him as a judge to be feared we would have to hide in the depths of the abyss or even under the feet of Lucifer. If you consider Him as Father, that demands respect and obedience. But He is our spouse and as such, as St. Bernard says, He demands a return of love. Our hearts dictate this lesson of love and we must be changed into Him who is love. Oh, what a lesson! It holds the disciples in a perpetual dialogue; if through human weakness or the necessity of business they fail somewhat, the heart awaits in gentle peace the sight of its one object to begin again with greater steadfastness its conversation with the Well-Beloved. How can we live so long in this world without the sight or the perfect enjoyment of this Unique Good? If His Goodness does not allow Him to take possession of the soul, to feel that lovely life, life would be death. Let us take courage to approach with confidence Him who is the most beautiful of the sons of men - that is a passage from the Prophets that is capable of touching the heart. My mind is much occupied with the great secrets I find in the double beauty of the Incarnate Word, my very dear and only Good. If I were speaking to you directly I would say more to my dear son from whom I don’t want to hide anything of the dispositions of my heart or of God’s graces to me or of my I infidelity towards Him.

Last year I was very ill which nearly caused my death but thanks to Our Lord I am no way weak I have little experience of illness yet I prepared for death for my illness was a violent kidney and stomach infection accompanied by high fever. For the present I am better than ever and am ready to go wherever obedience sends me.

I am extremely consoled to see you so poor, aren’t we rich enough if we possess Jesus? Don’t trouble to send me anything. If you are a man of desires like Daniel, open the mouth of your heart and Our loving Jesus will fill it. I am not asking you to pray for me, I know you are fond of doing that. Ask God that I may be faithful to His inspirations and that He will annihilate whatever displeases Him.

From Quebec. 11 October 1646.
Kelly, Sr St. Dominic, O.S.U. Marie of the Incarnation 1599 - 1672 Correspondence, (translated from the French edition by Dom Guy Oury Monk of Solesmes), Irish Ursuline Union, 2000, p. 114 - 115.