Letter 129

From Quebec to her son 1650 September 17th.
The return of the Jesuit Fathers to France after the defeat of the Hurons. The merits of Frs. Liomes and Jérome Lalemant.

My dear Son,

I didn’t like to let Fr Liomes leave without begging him to visit you when passing through Rouen. He has promised to do it and to give you news of us. You will see not only him but all the returning missionaries have promised me the same favour. Please receive these holy persons as so many living martyrs who have undertaken works and suffered crosses incredible to those who have no experience of the Huron missions. Talk to them about these and I am certain that you will feel consoled and bless God with these servants of His.

They are returning to France while awaiting the settlement of their affairs. This man however will return to the Mission. He was my confessor for a year which meant spiritual communications with him. So he will be able to tell you of my dispositions, as I have asked him to do. But the affairs of the Church are in such a state that we think the Father Superior of the Mission will feel obliged to go to France himself by the last ship. He has been my director and Superior for more than five years. If that happens and I’m sure it will you will have the consolation of seeing him because he will pass through Rouen if he does not go directly from La Have to Paris. He knows me better than anybody and knows everything that took place since I was born, both good and bad. I beg you to welcome him with the respect due to his great sanctity. He has lived six years with the Hurons and nearly as long here.

We owe him more than anybody else in the world - he has drawn up our constitutions and set our community in order. In a word he is our Father. It is he too who has organised the Church in Quebec with as much dignity as if it were in the middle of France, As well, for the Church and for the affairs of the country and for ours in particular, if he does not return the loss will be irreparable. He is the brother of Fr Charles Lalemant and the uncle of the holy martyr Fr Gabriel Lalemant. For the rest, though our affairs are upset don’t be uneasy about me, I am not speaking of martyrdom though in your affection you desire it for me; I am thinking of other outrages that we can expect from the Iroquois. I see no reason to fear and if I am not mistaken I hope that the crosses the Church is suffering now will be its exaltation. All the talk I hear does not discourage me and to prove it to you, see the age at which I am studying the Huron language and in all our affairs we behave as if nothing were happening - we behave normally. Pray well to Our Lord for my perfection that he will have mercy on me, that His adorable designs be fulfilled in me because I fear my infidelities may be an obstacle. On my side I continually ask Him to make you a Saint, that’s the only thing I want for you.

From Quebec. 17th September 1650.
p. 157-158.