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Documentation

for the General Chapter of 1972

FICHIER

OF THE WRITINGS OF MARY OF THE PASSION

SOURCE 3 - CUSTOMS BOOK: CHARGES

DocumentationFor the General Chapter Of 1972

F I C H I E R

OF THE WRITINGS OF MARY OF THE PASSION

SOURCE 3 - CUSTOMS BOOK: CHARGES

CT/2: 1 Chapter 1

Themes

Unity 87 Supernatural Spirit 64 Francis 65 Responsibility 79 Word of God 73 Formation -Contemplation/action 27 Prudence 89 Holy Spirit 61 Authority 79

Mission 69

The office of Novice Mistress is always an important one, but especially so with us. The Institute sends its members to the most remote quarters of the globe; we must therefore endeavour to give our Novices an intensive formation so that the same spirit may be preserved everywhere.

I would like the Novice Mistress to be a living model for all her daughters, and the very ideal of the Franciscan spirit which is nothing else but the spirit of the Gospel.

Her nomination must be made with great discretion by the General Council after a careful study of the subjects proposed for the office. Above all, God’s help must be sought in prayer; the Holy Spirit must be asked to direct the choice himself.

Having said this, it is unnecessary for me to recommend you not to regard the matter from a purely human point of view. Before giving your vote, consider the greatness of your responsibility before God.

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CT/2 : 2 Chapter 1

Themes

Poverty 75 Salvation of souls 81 Francis 65 Authority 79 Charity 24 Mary 68 World - Sanctity - Unity 87 Grace -

Up to the present, God has given us so large a share of poverty that we have been found worthy to be adopted by Francis, the Seraphic Patriarch of Assisi, and to become the daughters of that glorious Lady Poverty he loved so well. We have inherited another treasure which was his; I refer to charity. So far

God has preserved us from petty jealousy, scandal-mongering and occupation with worldly interests all of which destroy concord, or at least greatly impair it.

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It is for the Mistress of Novices to ensure that these inestimable treasures are preserved intact in the Institute; any more, according as we gain experience and receive more graces, the Institute must increase and perfect those gifts which have been received from God and for the salvation of souls.

These should be the only motives guiding the Councillors when they come to cast their vote. As soon as she hears of her appointment, the newly-elected Novice Mistress, overwhelmed that God’s choice has fallen upon her, will put herself directly under the protection of Mary, our Immaculate Queen, whose missionaries we are.

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CT/2 : 3 Chapter 1

Themes

Humility 89 Mary 68Abandonment 22 Obedience 71Authority 79

Having humbled herself before God, like Mary at the time of the Incarnation, let her join with Our Blessed Lady’s Fiat, though she is permitted to do as Mary did, and make known her difficulties to those in authority.

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CT/ : 4 Chapter 1

Themes

Mission 69 Respect for persons 24Authority 79 Formation

-

I would like her to have spent a few years in the Missions, and occupied a fairly important office such as that of Superior or Directress of some work which has given her the opportunity of being with young people.

It might be a good thing to let her remain for a time in the Novitiate as Sub-Mistress, but this arrangement will depend on her own character and that of the Novice Mistress whose place she is to take. I will do more than mention it as a possible means of testing her suitability.

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CT/2 : 5 Chapter 1

Themes

Body/Soul 28 Strength 89 Common life 91 Fidelity 89 Charity 24 Renouncement 29 Authority 79 Duty 89 Order 89

The health of a Novice Mistress should be good, or at least reasonably good. A Superior General or Provincial may sometimes have to miss community exercises; everyone knows they have to travel much, so their absence is regarded as nothing unusual, but it is not the same for a local Superior, and still less for a Novice Mistress. She must be present at all exercises performed in common. She has to keep her eyes open and observe a whole host of details, noting any who absent themselves, and keeping a watch on those who show signs of discouragement.

When exercises are over she cannot use her time as she likes; she has to interview the Novices, visit the different departments of work, and prepare her religious doctrine classes and other instructions. For this reason she must always be on duty.

Obviously good health is necessary for the fulfillment of all her duties, and it will be energy of mind and good order that will help her to preserve it.

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CT/2: 6 Chapter 1

Themes

Woman - Fidelity 89 Strength 89 Sanctity -

Renouncement 29 Prudence 89 Order 89 Time -

An energetic woman gives in less easily; she does not get worried or disconcerted, and she prevents others from becoming troubled and indulging in the luxury of self-seeking.

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An orderly woman is punctual, giving to everything the necessary time and no more; she performs each action at its appointed time, rises with the community, and goes to bed according to the Rule.

May God give us Novice Mistresses who are likewise virgins with their lamps always burning, and capable of keeping alight the lamps of others with the oil which feeds the flame of religious perfect.

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CT/2: 7 Chapter 1

Themes

Formation - Woman - Faith 64 Priests60 Mission 69 Fervour

89 Charity 24

A Novice Mistress belonging to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary should be well-trained, nay, more as far as possible; she should have had a solid and careful education.

This point may sometimes be waived in the case of individual subjects and even for certain posts of authority, but it would be imprudent and unsatisfactory to forego it in the case of the Novice Mistress. She may have to deal with priests and with the families of our Sisters, and will necessarily find herself in situations requiring tact; moreover she has the task of training girls drawn from every walk in life, and it is she who gives the tone to the general spirit of them all.

The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary are the auxiliaries of missionary priests, and it is their duty to inspire respect among the peoples to whom they teach the Gospel spirit, and to bring them not only charity but that learning and true civilization which will enlighten their minds.

An ignorant and uneducated Novice Mistress could not give what she did not possess, and thus the moral and intellectual standard of the Institute would most certainly be lowered.

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CT/2 : 8 Chapter 1

Themes

Prayer 77 Obedience 71 Judgment - Supernatural Spirit 64 Union with God 86 Order/Hierarchy 71

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Strength 89 Francis 65 Respect for persons 24 Mary 68 Heart of Jesus 67 Authority 79

Discernment of spirits -

She needs to have the gift of discernment of spirits, and this she must seek to develop by prayer, reading and observation.

Good judgment is one of her indispensable qualities; her piety and intercourse with God must be the source of her strength, and she must have the gift of transmitting this solid devotion to all, according to the measure of God’s grace and the particular path He calls each to tread.

Her spirit of obedience with regard to the Superior General must be limitless, for it is only right that she should love her Mother and inspire the young people around her with a similar veneration. This must not be a natural type of affection, but one which elevates the soul and it must extend to the Very Reverend Father General whom the Church has charged to guide the Mother of our religious family.

She should share the filial devotion of all the children of St. Francis towards Holy Church and the Pope. Inspired by the stigmatized heart of St. Francis, let her tend ever upwards to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and finally take her repose deep in the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

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CT/2 : 9 Chapter 2

Themes

Contemplation/action 27 Francis 65 Authority 79 Word of God 73 Mary 68 Salvation of souls 81 Devotions 77 Formation -

After hearing of her nomination, the Novice Mistress should consecrate herself to Our Blessed Lady, Guardian of the Child Jesus, and put herself under her special protection. Under the patronage and direction of the Blessed Virgin she should ask to spend a few days in retreat during which time she will review under the eye of God the responsibilities her new office imposes upon her.

Let her read her Customs Book and that of the Superior, much of which regards her also.

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She should promise God to devote herself to the souls entrusted to her, by seeking to imitate Mary in the care she took of the Child Jesus.

Let her beg St. Joseph to teach her the spirit of the Immaculate Mother and of her Divine Son. She must take St. Francis as her chief guide in the spiritual life, and ask him to assist her in the acquisition of the evangelical virtues which he lived in all their purity here on earth, and which it is her duty to teach to others.

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CT/2: 10 Chapter 3

Themes

Contemplation/action 27 Union with God 86 Detachment 29 Live in God 86 Offering - Mary 68 Formation - Example 63 Common life 91 Supernatural Spirit 64 Abandonment 22 Authority 79

It will only be means of her relations with God that the Novice Mistress can hope for success in her apostolate. Her own life, the training of her subjects and the whole direction of the Novitiate must be founded upon her self-forgetfulness and the total sacrifice of her entire person to God.

As I said before, she should follow all the spiritual exercises of the community as far as possible, but it will be very difficult for her to manage anything more.

She must, nevertheless, possess a particularly strong interior life. This she will acquire if deep in her heart she keeps a sanctuary where she adores her God and Creator uninterruptedly, always remaining united to the Divine Lord, His Blessed Mother, St. Joseph and the Seraphic Patriarch.

Let her be so supernatural that without strain or effort she always looks solely to God, thinking only of His good pleasure, and doing everything for Him alone.

She will thus keep herself and others in intimate union with God, at the same time neglecting none of her duties.

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CT/2 : 11 Chapter 4

Themes

Presence of God 86 Formation - Union with God 86 Contemplation/Action 27 Love of God 23 Mission 69 Renouncement 29 Live in God 86 Fidelity 89 Power of God -

Body/soul28

Besides keeping in God’s Presence and communing with Him, the Novice Mistress must make her daughters familiar with the practice of the constant Presence of God and the interior life from which springs genuine piety. Let her cultivate the riches of God’s love within her so that they may increase by means of her faithfulness to the Rule and her spirit of sacrifice. Those she trains cannot fail, as a consequence, to be persons of deep interior life.

It is not to be thought that our missionary life necessitates a diminished degree of contemplation. On the contrary, all the good that the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary may do in the Missions finds its source in their relations with God.

It has been my experience that persons who may be very intelligent but too exclusively given to outward activity, produce swift but transitory results, while those who are solidly pious can do a great deal with slender resources because it is not they who act but Jesus Christ Who lives in them.

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CT/2: 12 Chapter 5

Themes

Formation - Authority 79 Time -

The Mistress of Novices has little time for reading, so it is important for her to enlist, if possible, the offices of a Sister with a good memory who is acquainted with books useful for the direction of souls in the paths of the spiritual life and in our Institute. Nevertheless the Novice Mistress should have at her own disposal, books specially intended for Superiors, so that she may consult them in case of need.

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CT/2 : 13 Chapter 5

Themes

Time - Imitation 63 Word of God 73 Mission 69 Francis 65 Law -

Should it happen that the Novice Mistress has a few minutes to spare, she should read by preference the New Testament, the Imitation of Christ and the Lives of our Seraphic Father and the Saints of the Order. She will find it useful to glance through any new books, specially Lives of the Saints and anything dealing with the Missions, but in any event she ought to look at all the books contained in the Novitiate library, or at least have them run through by someone else, and all must have ecclesiastical approbation.

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CT/2 : 14 Chapter 6

Themes

Order - Hierarchy 71 Traditions - Example 63 Simplicity 89 Obedience 71 Frankness 89 Priests 60 Authority 79 Common life 91 Jesus 67

Unity 87

The Mistress of Novices is subordinate to the local Superior and the Provincial; by imitating her submission of the Child Jesus let her be an example to her Novices.

If she comes into contact with Bishops and priests, let her respect towards the priesthood be a lesson for all.

With the Mother General in particular her attitude must be like that of an elder daughter entrusted with the upbringing of her Sisters in the absence of their Mother, and commissioned to transmit the family spirit to them, and also the love she bears in her heart for the Mother placed at the head of the Institute.

The Novice Mistress should realize that her task is not one of inauguration, and her personal ideas must nowhere be imposed. Others have been charged to establish principles and to interpret them; it is for her to hand on the family heritage to the newly-arrived children without adding or omitting anything. With the Mother General the relations of the Novice Mistress should be open and candid;

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she should thoroughly acquaint her with the character of all her subjects, and possess the art of making them love the Mother who is in charge of them all.

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CT/2 : 15 Chapter 6

Themes

Order Hierarchy 71 Authority 79 Respect for persons 24 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Obedience 71

When the Mother General visits the Novitiate, let the Novice Mistress show herself the most respectful and affectionate of daughters, drawing all her little family to follow her example, and infusing in them the desire to get to know their first superior. She should make them consider it a favour to write to her, speak to her, and keep in touch with her in whatever way.

No want of respect or obedience, no unfavourable remarks in her regard are to be tolerated, and let the Novice Mistress be extremely vary of those who seek her company with a show of affection, but who have little love for their Mother General. Such conduct betrays bad spirit, and should be treated accordingly.

The same deference and good spirit are to be shown towards the Provincial and the local Superior in a degree corresponding to their rank.

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CT/2: 16 Chapter 7

Themes

Francis 65 Priests 60 Respect for persons 24 Sacraments - Prudence 89

The office of Confessor in a Novitiate is an important one, so it is essential that his relations with the Novice Mistress be harmonious. It is better that the Confessor for the convent restrict himself to that office alone, and that the general direction be given by a Friar Minor that thus our young subjects may acquire the spirit of St. Francis more thoroughly. The ordinary Confessor should be a priest of the Order whenever possible. If not, he should be a Tertiary with a good understanding of the Franciscan spirit.

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The Novice Mistress should acquaint the Franciscan Father who is director of the Novitiate with our Rules, Constitutions and Customs. Let her not try to find our views or force him to speak. If he does no more than listen to what she has to say, he will be able to make use of the information given without being hampered in his dealings with souls. He will know whether to say a word or two to a Novice, of if it is better to send her to her Mother Mistress, but the latter must be most prudent and never try to make the Director speak about the Novices, thus putting him to a difficult position.

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CT/2 : 17 Chapter 7

Themes

Sacraments - Humility 89 Charity 24 Supernatural Spirit

64 Frankness 89

The Novice should be taught to go to confession in a Franciscan and missionary way, in other words without transgressing the virtue of charity, accusing themselves and not others, and never mentioning anyone by name. Further on we shall see how Confession can be misused; particularly is it to be noticed that those who invariably remain a very long time in the confessional with every confessor and at every confession, are not possessed of our spirit and are not meant for our Institute.

Let us observe here that the Novice Mistress should accustom all to make the accusation of their faults clearly, follow it up by mentioning some sin of their past life, listen with a spirit of faith to the confessor’s advice, and then concentrate.

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CT/2 : 18 Chapter 7

Themes

Repentance - Sacraments - Penance 76 Sanctity - Humility 89 Frankness 89 Nature 70

Our Novices must learn to be genuinely sorry for their faults when they confess them, and be resolved not to commit them again. They should take the habit of making amends, asking pardon and admitting that they have wronged one of their Sisters. Nothing conduces better to perfection then the reparation of

11

faults. This is not agreeable to human nature, but if it is practiced whenever possible, faults become less serious and less frequent.

Many in religion make no progress because their confessions become a matter of routine. They expose themselves to the danger of using this Sacrament as a means of self-seeking; or else they recite their list of sins like a lesson learnt by heart, without taking the trouble to be really sorry or resolving to seek means of making satisfaction.

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CT/2 : 19 Chapter 8

Themes

Unity 87 Authority 79 Order - Hierarchy 71 Mission 69 Body/soul 28 Time - Responsibility 79 Obedience 71

As we are a world-wide missionary Institute our union will be better safeguarded if we do not have too many Novitiates, and on this account they will always be large, and the Novice Mistress will find all her time taken up with her work.

Hence she will not hold several offices if it can be avoided. In her religious life she is subject to the Superior who will exert her authority in matters regarding her soul and her health. For everything else it is obvious that the Superior must allow her free scope. If a Superior gives her work to do or hinders a Mistress of Novices in the fulfillment of her duties, she exceeds her rights.

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CT/2 : 20 Chapter 8

Themes

Formation - Struggle 26 Body/Soul 28 Family - Authority 79

The Novices are being trained, and therefore the devil does not leave them in peace; their requests, their desires and even their health are often closely connected with the state of their soul, and anyone not knowing their temptations might judge quite erroneously what would be for their good.

12

A Novice, for example, who is tempted to discouragement or depression, pretends to have a headache and asks to go to bed. The devil would certainly be with her in her cell. The Novice Mistress know this, so makes her go to recreation and tries to turn her attention to other things. The Superior, not being aware of the situation, might sympathize with this imagined indisposition, and unknowingly allow her into the sole company of her worst enemy.

The Novice Mistress knows that another Novice is brooding over the loss of her family. She will accordingly reduce the number of times she goes to the parlor, perhaps send a companion with her, allow her to write fewer letters and only to certain specified persons. The Superior might not be so well-informed, and could easily run counter to this line of action.

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CT/2 : 21 Chapter 8

Themes

Authority 79 Unity 87 Obedience 71 Formation - Responsibility 79 Common life 91

Let no difference of opinion ever be observed between the Superior and the Novice Mistress; each will do all she can to support the other’s authority and make it revered by everyone in the Novitiate house. The Mother Provincial and the Mother General, too, will comply with these same principles.

It is evident that if the Novice Mistress is responsible for training her little company, she must be aware of everything that goes on, and be able to watch over them in every particular.

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CT/2 : 22 Chapter 8

Themes

Order - Hierarchy 71 Formation -

The Assistant of the house supervises the Novices at their various employments, but she can neither give them work nor take it away from them without first telling the Novice Mistress.

She may correct a Novice in matters bearing on this work, and teach her how to perform it, but she must be careful not to encroach on the authority of the Mother Mistress in any way whatever.

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Never must she give any permission to the Novices. If special circumstances called for it, or the Novice herself made some request, the Assistant should write a note or ask the Novice Mistress in person for the necessary permission. No arrangement must be made for the Novice without the knowledge and approval of their Mistress.

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CT/2 : 23 Chapter 8

Themes

Woman - Respect for persons 24 Order - Hierarchy 71 Prudence 89 Gentleness 89 Responsibility 79 Formation -

Women sometimes seem to take pleasure in complicating matters. Obviously a Novice must not be left to drown while the onlookers run to ask for permission from the Mother Mistress to pull her out of the water! But in similar cases everything that has happened must be reported as soon as possible.

Professed Sisters who have Novices working under them must not interfere in their spiritual life, but show them how to do the work, and gently correct them if they do wrong.

Should complaints have to be made concerning their character or conduct, it would be better for these to be addressed directly to the Novice Mistress rather than allow the Sisters in charge to take the law into their own hands or administer reprimands, perhaps injudiciously.

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CT/2 : 24 Chapter 9

Themes

Order 89 Respect for persons 24 Prudence 89

If she (the postulant) leaves, the articles will be given back to her in the state in which they are. She must be made to understand that she has no right to make any claims with respect to them.

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The Novice Mistress is also responsible for seeing that the papers or documents belonging to each Novice are kept in the Novitiate Archives. She may look after them herself, or entrust this work to another.

Lastly, if she has one or more secretaries working for her, let her only give them what they are capable of doing. Nothing of importance must go unobserved by her, and she must be absolutely sure of their discretion.

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CT/2 : 25 Chapter 11

Themes

Liberty - Renouncement 29 Time - Supernatural Spirit 64 Respect for persons 24

The Novice Mistress should read and put into practice what is said in the section of the Superior’s Book of Customs dealing with this subject. She will accustom the Novices to approach her without timidity, but there must be no waste of time. She should not allow protracted interviews to a few so that there is no time left for the great number, though it would not be wrong to see intelligent and well-educated Novices a little more frequently, since they have more need of guidance.

Let her have a real dread of favouritism, and not become lost in admiration for gifted characters. Attention should rather be paid to those who are not so attractive, or who draw back through shyness, discouragement or a feeling of inferiority.

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Themes

Sentiment - Strength 89 Prudence 89 Supernatural Spirit 64 Respect for persons 24 Humility 89

Never must the Novice Mistress allow herself to be caressed. It is for her to judge if it is opportune to give some little mark of affection to a Novice who needs encouragement and support. But prolonged and frequent manifestations of the sort would only lead to softness and sentimentality.

15

When visiting the sick she must be still more reserved. She can bless and give a little kiss to those who are suffering, but here specially always with religious propriety. I do not like foolish indulgence in which the supernatural finds little place. A sick child might crave to be spoilt in such a way, and too tender a mother’s heart might be carried away to excess.

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Themes

Formation - Respect for persons 24 Sentiment - Suffering 82

If it is the Novice Mistress who is sick, let her endeavour to interview briefly those who have something necessary to say to her. Should this be impossible, let her not permit three or four to have the privilege of invading her room and taking up their abode there. This would be too unfair to those who are deprived of their Mother’s presence. It is a great sacrifice in a Novitiate when the Novice Mistress is not longer present, but it must be shared by all equally, otherwise jealousy and dissatisfaction will make their appearance. The Novice Mistress is looked after by those whose duty it is. If they are Novices (which it would be well to avoid), she should keep them with her for as short a time as possible, in order not to upset the others.

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Chapter 12

Themes

Respect for persons 24 Charity24 Supernatural Spirit 64 Fidelity

89 Family - Sentiment- Formation -

The Mistress of Novices sees that they write regularly but not too often. It will be a good thing indeed if she can train her Novices to write only once a month and not at all during Lent and Advent. Exceptions could be made when there is the possibility of doing good to souls, but only in the case of close relations, and moreover, if a Novice has to write more than once a month, the letters are not normally addressed to the same person.

If there is some family sorrow or joy, particularly the father’s or mother’s Feast-day, she will see that her subjects are extremely considerate and never hurt those who miss them at home. Sometimes she

16

could add a little word herself so that by degrees the families get to love the Institute. But though she must be firm about stopping correspondence more frequent than is customary with us, she must also insist that the Novices write at the proper times to their families so as not to cause them anxiety.

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Themes

Frankness 89 Mission 69 Simplicity 89 Time - Francis 65 Order 89

As far as possible the notepaper will be faintly lined so that the Novices may learn to write clearly and evenly. I do not like to see words so squeezed together that they are illegible; it looks as though the writer is trying to make up for being allowed to write four pages only. Our nuns should get used to saying much in a few words in Franciscan and missionary style, thus avoiding waste of time all round.

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CT/2: 30 Chapter 13

Themes

Respect for persons 24 Nature 70 Authority 79 Order - Hierarchy 71 Responsibility 79

The Novice Directress will see that the Novices write often to the Provincial and the Superior General, especially those who are likely to hold positions of importance in the Institute later.

This seems to me to have a number of advantages. It obviates the serious danger of the Novice Mistress becoming the sole centre of interest for her daughters; by getting them to write to the Provincial and especially to the Mother General, she keeps before their eyes the authority which is higher than her own, thus preventing them from becoming the exclusive in her regard.

Furthermore, she prepares an aid to herself. If a Novice becomes too humanly attached to her Mistress is reduced to her own resources, she will find it very difficult to uplift this soul; it is hard to be both the occasion and the remedy at the same time. But if she had accustomed her Novices to reveal themselves to the Provincial and to the General, it is then that they will come to her aid and help her Novices in a multitude of delicate occasions.

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Themes

Unity 87 Charity24 Nature 70 Order - Hierarchy

71 Sentiment -

With us, all are destined to go far from the center of the family, and our evil nature is inclined to isolate itself from the center so as not to be troubled by anything except the nest we inhabit and that which falls under our senses. Instead of tending towards God who is perfect unity, we tend towards self, that is, to the separation of the union of charity.

The correspondence with our Major Superiors and with all our Houses will be for the Institute, the means to combat that evil nature and bind us to the entire family.

The Novices, who have developed this habit in the Novitiate, will easily follow it the rest of their lives and will be, by this, saved from a multitude of dangers.

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Themes

Nature 70 Evenness of character 89 Sentiment - Supernatural Spirit 64 Mission 69

I have always noticed that self-knowledge is a great safeguard, and I want my daughters to realize that it is very easy for us to become attached in a material selfish and exclusive way, to those with whom we live. This will be one of the most useful pieces of knowledge in their missionary life and their surest protection.

I would like to add that it is usually good religious, wholly given to God and their Institute, who keep a regular and uninterrupted correspondence, without indulging in inconstancy where famine follows superabundance, or vice-versa.

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CT/2: 33 Chapter 14

Themes

Order - Hierarchy 71 Responsibility 79 Respect for persons 24 Formation - Authority 79

If the Novitiate is large, one or two Sub-Mistresses will be necessary. Their sphere of work will be fixed by the Mistress of Novices in agreement with the Superior General, the Provincial and the Superior of the house, always taking their abilities into consideration.

One might be entrusted with the correspondence, the reading of letters and the Novitiate books in general. Another could see to the order of the rooms and the general equipment, and be health-supervisor. A third could have the studies under her control, give the doctrine lessons instead of the Novice Mistress occasionally, help the Novices over their little perplexities, and even grant them small and unimportant permission.

No strict ruling can be made in this connection. Everything depends on the number of Novices, the intellectual and physical capacity of their Mother Mistress, also the number and aptitudes of those who help her.

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Themes

Humility 89 Renouncement 29 Responsibility 79 Devotions 77 Order - Hierarchy 71 Authority 79

It is desirable for them to have the same qualities as a Mistress of Novices, but with a special touch of humility and tact in such wise as to leave her the entire control of the Novitiate. All the initiative must come from her, and she must have unhampered influence, whilst her assistants help her as inconspicuously as possible.

On the occasions when their assistance is required it should be as though one mind thinks and directs, but avails itself of two or threefold channels of action. It can be imagined what self-renunciation is needed by those who are called upon to play this subordinate role. They will gain great insight by studying St. Joseph, the most pure Spouse of Mary, who certainly helped her in every way, but did so with such perfect self-forgetfulness that this virtue seems to be his especially-treasured secret.

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Themes

Unity 87 Obedience 71 Authority 79 Prudence 89 Order - Hierarchy 71 Humility 89

There must be great mutual understanding between the Sub-Mistresses, and still more between them and the Novice Mistress. They must manifest no difference of opinion, and always uphold her views. Should they wish to make any remarks, they must do so discreetly and with humility, abiding by her decision.

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Themes

Traditions -

Whatever the scope allowed her in the past or given to others at the present time, no Sub-Mistress must take advantage of it to enlarge her sphere of action, for the extent of her authority is dependent upon the personnel, the health of the Novice Mistress and other circumstances, and therefore varies as the case may be, and must be adapted as necessity demands.

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Themes

Renouncement 29 Sentiment - Respect for persons 24 Detachment 29

The Sub-Mistresses must see that the Novices do not dance attendance on them. Those who are well-acquainted with young people know that this always happens to a greater or lesser extent. Someone who thinks she is not regarded with sufficient favour by the Novice Mistress will turn to her Assistant, and soon others will follow suit. A good Sub-Mistress will put a speedy end to such futilities, never

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showing preferences, or having special friends nor permitting herself to be the object of similar attentions.

She will abstain from calling the Novices my Child or my Daughter, as this only befits those who have the care of souls.

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Themes

Example 63 Respect for persons 24 Silence 89 Fidelity 89 Obedience 71 Sanctity - Order 89 Sentiment -

The Admonitress must be a model for the whole Novitiate by being the most exact, silent, obedient and pious of its members. She must give good example to all, and inspire the Novices to follow in her steps.

The Admonitress has nothing to do with the direction of her Sisters, and, even more then another; she must keep the silence with all, except when she has to make remarks about points of exterior order.

( … )

The Admonitress is a real apostle by her good example, and must have a dread of special friendships, dislikes and cliques. If she is faithful in following these directions, she will have a solid influence for good in the Novitiate and will herself advance along the path of perfection.

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Themes

Nature 70 Gentleness 89 Silence 89 Peace 72 Respect for persons 24 Charity

24

On bother sides this admonition must be made with the greatest charity, in as few words as possible, and in view of the other’s spiritual good. If anyone feels that fallen nature or anger has even the slightest

21

influence on what they want to say, it would be better to remain silent and leave it for another time. The admonition must always be made in a quiet and suitable way so that the receiver is never offended, and that both are left with an impression of peace and charity. If the number of Novices warrants it, half may be taken at a time.

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Themes

Mission 69 Formation - Faith 64

We are called to help priests in the spread of the Faith, so we must develop the minds of our subjects, and give them adequate instruction that they may be better able to help in our active apostolate. This applies also to the Novices.

It has been decided that we shall not accept an aspirant who can neither read nor write, but if an illiterate Postulant were admitted on account of her virtue, the Novice Mistress would be strictly bound to see she receives instruction in reading and writing.

It is her duty, too, to supervise with extreme care, the religious instruction of all the souls entrusted to her.

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Themes

Formation - Mission 69 Faith 64 Authority 79 Time -

Those of our Sisters who do not know the small catechism must study it, specially on Sundays.

It must be ascertained that they understand the meaning of the lessons given to the whole group, and that they have the knowledge of their religion befitting a Christian and especially a Franciscan Missionary of Mary.

22

More will be expected of those whose religious education has been of a higher standard or who show greater capacity for learning. They must be thoroughly tested and examined, and if they are not sufficiently instructed they must read a little each day from one of the Catholic doctrine books used in the Institute. Care must be taken to see that they do not waste their time and gradually acquire the degree of religious instruction needed by missionaries who will be in charge of apostolic undertakings.

Even for the reasonable guidance of one’s own conscience, religious instruction is always most useful and often a necessity. Our Superiors cannot be too attentive in this matter with regard to the Novices and young professed nuns.

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Themes

Formation - Respect for persons 24 Sanctity - Authority 79 Mission 69 Responsibility 79

It has been determined that after the Novitiate, subjects insufficiently instructed or those capable of receiving higher education will be sent to a special House of Studies. Here they can either proceed with their general education, or specialize in some particular branch. Certainly, in the Novitiate spiritual advancement is the most important thing to be considered, but some preparation can be made, nevertheless, for what is to be effected afterwards in the House of Studies.

Thus it is desirable to promote the further studies of those whose knowledge is incomplete, and to foster any outstanding gifts where these can be developed to a greater degree. The Mother Mistress will arrange with the Major Superiors who is to study and how much time is to be devoted to this. Certain Novices might profitably be called upon to give these lessons in order to provide them with practice in teaching.

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Themes

Respect for persons 24 Mission 69 Formation - Unity 87

23

Those who play the piano will always learn the harmonium, such a useful acquisition on the missions, but they must not be allowed to forget the piano on that account. Those who can sing will practice to improve their voice, and similarly those who can paint or draw will be given occasions to exercise their art.

French must be known by all. English and Italian are to be learnt by those who are able, because along with French they are the language of the Institute.

All those who have some notion of any language should try to perfect it if they have the chance of meeting a person of that nationality.

Those who know how to embroider or make artificial flowers or church vestments must not forget what they have learnt, but rather improve their skill.

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Themes

Humility 89 Sanctity - Nature 70 Obedience 71 Glory of God 66 Struggle 26 Service - Hidden life

68 Formation -

There are two dangers to be avoided in the matter of studies. The Novice Mistress will come across young Novices obsessed with a desire to acquire knowledge. They will consider the ordinary work of the community, particularly manual labor of the humble kind, beneath them. Work in the fields, the garden or the poultry-run they will detest. It is very important to be firm and make them understand that the love of God is not identical with secular learning, and that it is for the Superiors to decide in what way subjects can best work for His greater glory, for their neighbor and the surer salvation of their own soul. They must be made to realize that obedience is their safest path, and that everything else is simply an evil delusion arising from their unsatisfied self-love. Recall to them for their consolation that God often reveals to the humble what He hides from the wise and haughty, and let them be very sure that the greater the obscurity in which Our Lord keeps us, the easier it is to live for love of Him alone.

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24


Themes

Humility 89 Body/Soul 28 Respect for persons 24

I myself accepted an intelligent girl who from the beginning of her novitiate evinced the greatest repugnance for housework. It seemed to me that I was justified in permitting her to follow her bent, so she was allowed to study as much as she liked. But for this single handicap, she had very pleasing qualities and gave us every satisfaction, Yet, what happened? A brain sickness brought her to death’s door, and she lost her vocation. I shall always feel that her small attachment and lack of humility gave the devil his chance, and were the origin of the great trial which came to her and which she caused us.

Let this be a lesson to the Institute not to let brains be overtaxed, especially at the beginning.

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Themes

Formation - Glory of God 66 Supernatural Spirit 64 Salvation of souls 81 Obedience 71 Courage 89

Duty 89

The Novice Mistress will meet with another problem in the matter of studies (…) The second difficulty is laziness. There are persons who do not try to learn, or learn badly what the Superiors wish to teach them. This results in a thousand pretexts to get out of this duty, and a thousand imperfections in its performance. The Mother Mistress must make her subjects understand that in the religious life we do all things for God, and if our Superiors so decide, we please the Divine Master much more by obeying and learning all that can procure His glory and the good of souls.

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25


Themes

Authority 79 Formations -

If there are Sub-Mistresses, it would be a good thing to hold a small Council every week, during which the Novice Mistress could tell them anything she thinks would be of service to all, and give any general advice she deems opportune.

When studies are discussed at the Council, those who give lessons could be present.

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CT/2 : 48 Chapter 21 Themes

Enclosure/Openness - Charity 24 World - Supernatural Spirit 64

They (the Novices) are not sent into the visitor’s quarters, nor do they leave the enclosure unless they are with one or several professed Sisters. They must be kept away from the world as is possible; it is not yet the time to give them any work which would put them in contact with it. They must be entirely separated from it so that they lose every vestige of it spirit, and learn to live according to the spirit of Our Blessed Lord. Only when this process is well in hand will they be qualified to do anything for the betterment of their neighbor.

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Themes

Frankness 89 Respect for persons 24 Simplicity 89 Fidelity 89 Prudence 89

Novices must never have the use of cupboards which can be locked. If it was observed when visiting the cells that someone had papers or any other objects hidden in her bed or elsewhere, a severe reprimand must be given. We must have a dread of deceitfulness in all its manifestations. Franciscan simplicity must reign supreme in our houses.

26

Though the Novices must be candid in God’s sight and that of their Superiors, it is important that they avoid being indiscreet. For this reason they are strictly forbidden to open the drawers and look at the papers which may be there or left on the tables. They must be equally discreet with regard to objects in the cells or the places where they work. Absence of inquisitiveness, mutual respect and love of the Rule will constitute, as it were, a trusted key to guard safely all the papers and whatever else is committed to the care of those who live in the convents of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

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Themes

Vocation - Respect for persons 24 Obedience 71 Responsibility 79

With the agreement of the Superior, the Mother Mistress will be careful to keep in touch by letter with the persons who are considering entering with us, or to get someone else to undertake this correspondence. It might even be well sometimes to cultivate the dispositions of those who seem likely to have a vocation but have not yet put in into words. As soon as an application has been made either by letter or in person, the Novice Mistress will send the usual form. When this has been filled in, it will be passed on to the Provincial, as has been said, and if any dispensation has to be obtained it will be transmitted to the Superior General. The Novice Mistress appends her own opinion of the applicant’s merits. If the person does not seem suitable for our Institute, let her not hesitate to say so and even to urge the rejection of the application, though she must always be ready in the end to obey the Major Superiors in everything they may decide upon.

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Themes

Respect for persons 24 Order/Hierarchy 71 Authority 79 Prudence 89

These notes (about Novices) are sent yearly to the Superior Provincial and to the Superior General. They will be of great assistance to help them to know both the subjects and the Superiors under whom they have been, for it would indicate little competence in a Superior if a subject succeeded everywhere but not in one particular place; similarly it would be strange to find nothing but praise given to someone who is well known to be little worthy of it. The deterioration of a considerable number of subjects

27

would not speak well for the local Superior or the Novice Mistress, while good progress in the majority would be in their favour.

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Themes

Responsibility 79 Frankness 89 Authority 79 Humility 89

Every fortnight at the Community Council, the Novices and their progress will be discussed. The Mother Mistress listens to the remarks and opinion of the members, and humbly makes clear to them the character of the subjects, since later on they will have to make a pronouncement on the likelihood of their perseverance.

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Themes

Respect for persons 24 Order - Hierarchy 71 Authority 79 Unity 87 Responsibility 79

If the Novice Mistress and the local Council are convinced that a subject is not called to be one of us, either because she has not our spirit, or on account of her health or her infringement of the rules, they must inform the Superior Provincial and the Superior General at once. Should there be no time to await the reply and if the case seemed urgent because of possible harm to the rest of the Novitiate, the Superior Provincial or even the Novice Mistress, with the consent of the local Superior and her Council, could send the subject away, and explain the whole matter to the Superior General afterwards.

However, when it is a question of sending home a Novice, it is best to wait at least for the directions of the Superior Provincial.

The Novice Mistress has to be more severe in the case of those whose defects have a harmful influence on others and threaten to undermine the general good.

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28


Themes

Duty 89 Formation - Authority 79 Sanctity -

The Mother Mistress accustoms the Novices to the practice of the virtues corresponding to the three vows which they will be called on to pronounce; she makes them realize the importance of their future obligations, explains them in detail, inspiring such a regard for them that the Novices are steadfast in

their fidelity for the love of Jesus Christ. Her instructions are based on the Catechism of the vows which she will make sure is thoroughly understood by the Novices.

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Themes

Body/soul 28

Health should be so well supervised that sickness is avoided as much as possible. Those who are inclined not to eat must be watched and make to take sufficient food.

The required laxatives should be given to newcomers not yet accustomed to their new mode of life. Staying up late is forbidden, and only permitted on the very rarest occasions.

When the Sisters have a malady even in the slightest degree contagious, they will be isolated in rooms set apart for that purpose.

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Themes

Authority 79 Body/soul 28

The Mistress of Novices will seek by every possible means to render the cross of sickness less heavy, often visiting the patients and carrying out with even greater exactness the directions given in the Superior’s Customs Book under this head.

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Themes

Fidelity 89 Common life 91 Fervour 89 Authority 79 Formation -

It is unbelievable what delusions there are in the religious life on this point. By going about it the right way, it is almost always possible to assist at all the exercises, and the solitary occasions when they have to be missed will be very infrequent.

Given a little slackness on the part of the Superior and the subjects, you will soon find a crown of dispensations. A firmer Superior takes her place, and she will once more enforce punctuality at exercises yet find the means of getting through the same work, which goes to show that regular observance does not depend on the work which has to be done, but on the zealousness of whoever directs it.

When something happens to prevent us being present at an exercise, we should return to it with equal fervor as soon as the obstacle disappears or diminishes. The Novice Mistress should put this counsel into practice, and accustom the Novices to make it their rule of conduct.

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Themes

Mission 69 Strength 89 Gentleness 89 Fidelity 89 Perseverance 89

In the missions, we must expect to encounter obstacles, and on foundations there will certainly be difficulties to overcome if we would lead our religious life in all its fullness, but I have been a missionary for many years, and I can assure my daughters that they will always succeed in the end, if they persevere with quiet determination. One never achieves what is deemed impossible, and one makes no effort to do so; but I do not believe that there are situations which render the Rule impossible of observance in the missions, and if our Novices have a real love for the kind of life which is theirs, they will succeed in acquiring exactness in the carrying out of our religious exercise.

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30


Themes

Formation - Priests 60 Faith 64

Twice a week the Novices will be given an instruction on the Constitutions and the spirit of the Institute; once a week Catechism or a lecture on Christian Doctrine, and once a week Chapter.

At least one of the two first-mentioned exercises will be devoted to reading the Book of Customs which is explained by the Novice Mistress, who should also ask questions to make sure that it has been well understood.

The Catechism lesson and the Christian Doctrine instruction could be given by a priest, preferably one of our Franciscan Fathers. The Chapter is always held by the Novice Mistress.

For the Novices these exercises take the place of the spiritual reading in common.

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Themes

Example 63 Peace 72 Respect for God - Silence 89 Body/soul 28 Fidelity 89 Cult 77

She herself must give the Novices the example of the reverence which is due to God. If they show levity in His House and Oratory, or at any exercise, she must reprimand them, and, more important still, make them change their attitude by placing before their minds the obligations they have towards God. If they are fully conscious of His claims on them, they will perform all acts of worship seriously and with religious propriety.

If the Novice Mistress were not firm in this matter, great harm would be done to souls and to the Institute. A frivolous, distracted nun who does not conform to religious usages is a burden in whichever convent she may go to; she disturbs its peace and prevents devotion.

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Themes

Unity 87 Duty 89 Law - Faith 64 Formation - Fidelity 89

The Rule, Constitutions, Customs and all that imparts the distinctive spirit of the Institute must be known and constantly borne in mind by the Mother Mistress so that she may teach others to put them into practice.

Novices need to be even more closely watched than professed Sisters in this matter, since they are going through their training and education in the religious life. The Novices Mistress must ascertain that they know every point of the Rule, and never forget to practice it. She must observe and question them on this subject, and during her instructions and at Chapter take pains to make them understand their obligations and the way in which they have to be fulfilled.

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Themes

Silence 89 Authority 79 Time -

It would be well for the Novice Mistress to have fixed times for seeing her little company, and to keep to them, apart from rare exceptions. It is a bad habit to give these young people immediate satisfaction whey they desire to speak, and it is not often that they cannot reasonably wait for a short while.

The Mistress of Novices will be very strict about talking during the great silence. To do so would be most detrimental both to herself and to her Novices.

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Themes

Love of God 23 Strength 89 Formation - Gentleness 89 Detachment 29 Contemplation/action 27 Order – Hierarchy 71 Authority 79 Renouncement 29 Holy Spirit 61

As has been said in the Superior’s Customs Book, in her spiritual intercourse the Mistress of Novices will seek to efface herself and count for nothing, inspiring in souls the love of God, the Institute and its Superiors.

The best means of influencing others supernaturally will be her own self-renunciation. She must not overlook anything and can often point out what is to be corrected by means of short, concise notes. These are useful in two ways: firstly, they can be referred to by the person in fault; secondly they avoid provoking scenes or opposition which can sometimes be embarrassing.

Kind yet firm, a Novice Mistress will have recourse to prayer in moments of doubt and know when to consult her Superiors. She will depend upon the Holy Spirit and not upon herself for the solution of her difficulties.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Authority 79 Prayer 77 Formation - Fervour 89

Particular examination of conscience constitutes a valuable weapon in our battle here below, but in the Novitiate it is an even more precious means of stimulating fervor and of helping the Novices to know their failings and perceive if they are genuinely zealous.

As soon as a Postulant is admitted, the Novice Mistress or her assistants see that she understands the difference between the particular and general examination of conscience. Unless this precaution if taken, Postulants will remain a long time without doing anything during the two daily examinations of conscience.

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Themes

Respect for persons 24 Prayer 77 Cult 77 Fervour 89 Formation -

Sometimes it is a good thing to keep the same subject for the particular examination a long time; at other times there must be a change in order not to weary the soul; or it is possible to concentrate on the same point but from different angle, and thus spur the soul on to greater fervor.

It may be that some particular subject is helpful temporarily, on account of a feast or the spirit of the season.

If all these circumstances are dexterously employed by the Mother Mistress they will aid her in passing on to souls a proper understanding of the particular examination of conscience, and making it of value to them during their time of novitiate and useful for the rest of their lives.

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Themes

Renouncement 29 Spouse 25 Struggle 26 Woman - Nature 70 Formation - Charity 24 Authority

79

Our Constitutions state that the Novices will be given the poorest clothing and the humble charges. They must be taught to overcome their repugnance for certain employments or certain changes of work. In a word, they should be made to overcome their evil inclinations by practicing the contrary virtues.

These few words summarise the whole work of a Novice Mistress. A Christian Mother, who teaches her daughter from childhood to subdue her evil inclinations and not to be a cause of suffering to those around her, has taken the initial steps in the training of a good Christian woman or a spouse of Our Divine Lord.

It is for the Novice Mistress to complete this work begun by a religious-minded family, or to commence it if the parents have been so worldly or deluded as to allow their child’s passions full play.

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Themes

Suffering 82 Renouncement 29 Mission 69 Formation - Nature 70 Strength 89 Respect for persons 24 Grace - Struggle 26

There exist souls who are good by their very nature, and who have less need of trials; they are like gems already cut and polished by the hand of their Creator. Nevertheless, it is good to put them to the test because sacrifice beautifies and perfects all things. They will be a good example for others, and furthermore, though their passions are not in evidence now, they will show themselves later on when the will and personality reach full maturity. Events, climate, the toil of the missions can easily accentuate them, and if the self- control of these good souls is merely natural and not founded upon grace, at some future time they may find themselves even more exposed to danger than others. The Novice Mistress must study closely and try to understand those with difficult or impetuous characters and those who are bad- tempered, endeavouring to find the root of the trouble. At all costs the remedy must be applied. If the sufferer can be led to desire her cure, that is already a great victory, but if she does not, it will be necessary to get her to perform acts militating against her evil inclinations without her even realizing it.

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Themes

Woman - Obedience 71 Humility 89 Authority 79

Unity87

I beg our Novice Mistresses to be careful that woman’s natural desire to be attractive does not betray itself in the Novices’ apparel.

They must be prevented from dressing themselves as they please and arranging their garments according to their own notions, but rather be made to conform to our customs in the matter.

If the Novice Mistress is not watchful, it will happen (as I have seen myself) that some persons will cover their whole forehead with their board, or wrap up their head or feet ridiculously. We cannot permit these eccentricities. On account of the cold, something warm can be worn underneath, but

35

nothing must show outside. If the Novice Mistress comes across similar peculiar tendencies which spring from vanity and show a want of obedience, she can very well oblige the Novice to do just the contrary to her own particular fancy.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Peace 72 Renouncement 29 Formation - Spouse 25 Humility 89 Struggle 26 Order 89

In the same way, the Novices must not refuse to wear old and suitably-mended garments. If anyone made objections, well-patched veils, linen and shoes, and a discoloured cord and crown should be chosen for her use. She must be taught to wear them humbly and simply, remembering that a Spouse of

Jesus Christ should be clean but is in no way disgraced by showing she is poor, since poverty was her Divine Master’s treasure.

Should anyone find a task distasteful or feel dislike for some Sister in charge, it would be good to make her overcome her feelings by employing her at this particular work or putting her in contact with the Sister in question.

There need be no hesitation about sending those who are touchy or difficult to get on with, to work in the company of professed Sisters or those of their companions who are somewhat strict or rough. There will be outbursts, that are sure, but this will be the occasion for the Novice Mistress to teach her daughters to practice self-control and to live together in peace, even if they have something to suffer.

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Themes

Nature 70 Struggle 26 Peace 72 Formation - Union with God 86 Strength 89

Authority79

36

It can be sometimes happen that Novice Mistresses are too fond of their own tranquility, they see to it that everything in the Novitiate runs very smoothly and there are no clashes of temperament. In this case, all will keep their own disagreeable little characters snugly intact, and when God allows the day of testing to come, they will be powerless to accept and bear the trial. The Mistress of Novices should often call to mind these words of the Divine Master: “I came not to send peace, but the sword”. Her daughters are not in the Novitiate to enjoy a sweet farniente, but to prune and cut away everything that stands in the way of their union with Our Lord. The Mother Mistress has to help them in this task by providing them with occasions for fulfilling it.

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Themes

Formation - Authority 79 Contemplation/action 27 Judgment - Holy Spirit 61 Body/soul 28

Renouncement 29

I have said how difficult it would be to indicate all the trials which aim to train the character of her subjects. The notes mentioned above may give ideas, but they provide only partial guidance, for something which has been a success once may fail on a subsequent occasion. It is above all prayer, advice from those commissioned to give it, and the light of the Holy Spirit which will direct the good judgment of a Novice Mistress, a quality which is strictly necessary for her.

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Themes

Respect for persons 24 Renouncement 29 Time - Formation - Glory of God 66 Authority 79 Prudence 89 Will of God - Goodness 24

1. Characters cannot be refashioned: they have to be modified and transformed, but one must not try to crush them.

37

2. One must be able to recognize the God-given moment; a particular trial may be accepted perfectly by a soul under certain conditions, while at another time it would be beyond her powers of endurance. The Mother Mistress must never try her daughters according to her own preconceptions and whims, but only to promote God’s glory and the good of souls. If it is realized that this result will not be obtained, the trial becomes purposeless, and wisdom will direct us to await a more favorable opportunity. “A timely admonition is the best,” says the Holy Spirit. (Eccl.)

3. Trials must not be repeated too often, especially in connection with the same fault, for to do so would either play on the nerves, or become too commonplace. When a young Novice had done wrong on several successive occasions, it will be better to overlook some of her failings.

4. Recourse should rarely be had to trials that are out of the ordinary, as they might in a subtle way increase a subject’s self-esteem, or else discourage her. On the contrary, preference would be given to trials which are advantageous and inherently mortifying, such as a certain type of work, contacts with uncongenial persons, genuine detachment and so on.

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Themes

Jesus 67 Formation - Sentiment - Word of God 73 Goodness of God 23 Authority 79

I am glad to be able to end by offering a perfect Model to our Novice Mistresses, and reminding them with what skill the Divine Master trained the souls of His Apostles. Peter is led away by his natural affection for Our Lord, or he trusts too much in his own strength. Jesus gives a severe reply in the one case, and reminds him of his weakness in the other, but retains such an ascendancy over the heart of His Vicar that a single look is sufficient to enlighten and raise him up again so that he bewails hiss fault for the rest of his life.

The enthusiasm of the Beloved Disciple and his brother carries them away and they want fire from heaven to destroy the whole city; Jesus reproves them and calls them “Sons of Thunder”, a name which remains theirs as a reminder to them of their innate tendency which is capable of sweeping them off their feet.

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Themes

Word of God 73 Glory of God 66 Nature 70 Sanctity - Respect for persons 24 Holy Spirit 61

Authority 79 Detachment 29 Transformation in God 84 Sentiment -

The artless Philip calculates how much it would cost to feed the multitude who is with Jesus. The Master seems to smile, and without answering, teaches him by a miracle to trust in Providence. To him and to the others, their characteristic tendencies are disclosed, clearly indicated and corrected, but not crushed.

Jesus shapes the character of His disciples and trains their souls, but He leaves them their personality and individual temperament which He transforms little by little and uses for their spiritual advancement and the greater glory of God.

This is what Novice Mistress must do. The Holy Spirit must be her Teacher, the evangelical and Franciscan spirit her light, selflessness the effective force of her activity. She should be moderate in her use of the affection she inspires, and endeavour to make Jesus the prime mover in all that takes place with herself and those around her.

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Themes

Sentiment - Prudence 89 Unity 87 Authority 79

Common life91

The Mistress of Novices will take care to arrange the groups in such a way that those who are inclined to sadness may find encouragement by being in the company of a cheerful and strong-minded Sister.

One or more members of a group will often be changed, including the guardian herself, in order to promote fraternal affection and the harmonious association of different temperaments.

39

Lastly, if a Novice Mistress is clever and prudent, she will find this a very simple method of supervision and a preservative against a crowd of small defects.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Formation - Sentiment - Authority 79

The infallible means of preserving souls from this danger and curing their illusion, is the practice of obedience whereby personal judgment gives place to that of Superiors.

Let the Novice Mistress pay little heed to religious sentimentality, and be on her guard against those who always want to be with her and whose love of God is chiefly manifested by loading her with attentions, flattery and marks of affection.

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Themes

Woman - Renouncement 29 Frankness 89 Sentiment -

Some women are wonderfully clever at attracting notice. A relation dies, a cousin goes bankrupt, a Sister says a sharp word, their health is not too good, no more than this is sufficient to upset and cast them down; a passage in a book, a word from a confessor or a Superior has caused them unbearable pain, so everyone around must needs busy themselves comforting them and restoring their calm.

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Themes

Frankness 89 Obedience 71 Woman - Charity

24 Sentiment - Renouncement29

40

Will - Purity 89 Abandonment 22 Peace 72

All types of delusions are false and are a real plague in a community. An experienced Novice Mistress always seeks after the truth, and little by little leads her subjects to it; she knows how much can be accounted for by imagination, feminine wiles which are sometimes unconscious, and bad habits often acquired, unfortunately, in the world through defective upbringing.

When this storm of the imagination has cleared away there finally remains little, if anything.

It is the same thing with these loud-voiced expressions of love, this exuberance of devotion and consolation; they very superabundance inspires distrust. Genuine virtue is proved by deeds not by feelings; its criteria are submission to God’s Will, abandonment to divine Providence, obedience to lawful authority, and charity.

In her own case and that of others, the Mistress of Novices should take little notice of sensible consolations and self-renunciation, and preserve an untarnished conscience; she may be at peace, for God is certainly with them.

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Themes

Incarnation/Redemption 67 Eucharist 62 Struggle 26 Sanctity - Humility 89 Prudence 89

Grace-

God is everywhere and needs neither words nor apparitions in order to manifest Himself to us. Our Divine Lord, Prisoner in the tabernacle, ceaselessly offers to every soul and enduring treasures of His Incarnation and Redemption.

Thus great holiness can be attained without God doing more than offer to a soul the ordinary graces confided to His Church.

Apparitions of God or the saints in which the posture and the garments count for much are to be held in suspicion, as also lengthy discourses with the Divine Master and the heavenly court.

Equally to be mistrusted are pointless diabolical influences which have to be minutely described, waste hours of time, and necessitate great attention being paid to the visionary.

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Themes

Word of God 73 Jesus 67 Holy Spirit 61 Presence of God 86

Jesus in the Gospel, and the Holy Ghost throughout the whole of Sacred Writ, did not indulge in long discourses, not even in the institution and administration of the Sacraments which are the source of man’s life of grace, yet there is an outpouring of the supernatural from every one of their teachings and from each of these divine gifts. I can hardly imagine heaven readily and frequently changing its normal ways of communicating with humanity, and I think that when communications do occur, they are usually as brief as a lightning-flash, penetrating both mind and heart. Often here is no form of words, but light comes in a way impossible for human tongue to describe.

It is the same with intellectual visions where the soul undoubtedly perceives a presence but cannot explain in what ways it appears.

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Themes

Simplicity 89 Obedience 71 Love of God 23 Authority 79

In what concerns the supernatural, accept simply and let others accept everything that is a help towards knowing and loving God, but never act upon the lights which have come to you in a supernatural way without first submitting them to the test of obedience. If they are approved, then you can go ahead, placing your chief reliance on lawful authority.

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Themes

Authority 79 Obedience 71 Prudence 89 Humility 89

Judgment - Sanctity - Gentleness 89 Respect for persons 24

42

Abandonment 22 Strength 89 Formation

-

The second piece of advice is for Superiors, especially Novice Mistresses. Do not pay much attention to anything which is outside the ordinary; unless you have to, do not be anxious to make or receive any ruling on the matter; the best thing is to leave it alone, and expect greater charity and abandonment, and complete obedience from those who receive or think they receive special graces.

See also that they remain in perfect humility, and find occasions for them to make acts of this virtue.

However, I do not like procedures that are too harsh or spectacular humiliations which may be degrading to the recipient, or on the other hand, may foster secret self-esteem. Act prudently, and if a soul is really called to special sanctity, God will see to it that she has opportunities for practicing self-abasement, and He will provide you with the chance of humbling her for love of Him. Seem outwardly to pay less attention to those souls and to show them less affection; be brief with them and treat them firmly. If God is showering His delights upon them, they can very well do without consolations from you.

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Themes

Authority 79 Francis 65 Obedience 71 Word of God 73 Humility 89 Detachment 29

Abandonment22

The third counsel your poor Foundress gives you is to seek spiritual advice usually from the Major Superiors of the Institute. Accustom your Novices to do this, and at the hour of death they will thank Our Lord for having taken this sanctifying and beneficial habit. It is not difficult to understand: good work needs to be done in a consistent manner by one and the same artist and according to a single ideal. Our ideal is that of the Seraphic St. Francis, and it is fostered by evangelical simplicity, complete detachment, and abandonment to Providence.

Our old experienced Fathers can sometimes help us considerably along this path, but we cannot always have them near us.

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Themes

Mission 69 Humility 89 Sacraments - Priests 60 Judgment - Unity 87 Nature 70 Prudence 89

On account of our vocation as missionaries we are scattered to the four quarters of the globe. We have to go to confession to priests of all nationalities and to religious of every Order. We may come across confessors who are young, or inexperienced, or whose judgment may be erroneous or arbitrary, and even sometimes those who do not act in a supernatural way, from whom may God preserve us!

I ask you, what will become of an unfortunate soul directed for six months according to the principles of a certain founder of an Order, then for another six months in accordance with the ideas of some theologian?

Now do not imagine that such direction will form, as it were, a mosaic; the small separate stones remain, and while these differing modes of direction may each be good, they usually prove superficial, and provide earth and heaven with women who are filled with self-love, real nests of those miserable little failings peculiar to their sex.

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Themes

Sacraments - Abandonment 22 Simplicity 89 Detachment 29 Frankness 89 Love of God 23 Francis 65 Salvation of souls 81 Word of God 73 Priests 60

Confess your sins simply without mentioning other people; be absolutely frank in acknowledging your weaknesses; do not make a fuss when the confessor is changed; absolution is always the same; if you would leave the holy tribunal with a perfectly clear conscience, the responsibility rests with you, whoever the minster of Our Lord maybe. A missionary should be straightforward, concise and at the same time very sincere in her accusation.

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If you are trained from the beginning of your religious life always according to the same spirit, you will become genuine daughters of St. Francis, simple, evangelical, abandoned and detached from all, as he was, and so, like him again, all about you will speak only of the love of God and of souls.

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Themes

Sacraments - Woman - Mission 69 Priests 60

Prudence89

From this moment I give a special blessing to those who thus deny themselves the satisfaction of speaking at the tribunal of Penance about matters other than their sins; what trouble they will save their Bishops and missionary priests, and also the Superiors of the Institute, and what good results they will obtain in their work! To women of greater levity who do not avail themselves of the advice I am giving, which is more necessary for a missionary Congregation, I foretell that they will acquire little virtue, occasion much annoyance to themselves and to others, and experience great difficulty in doing serious and lasting good to those around them.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Respect for persons 24 Word of God 73 Suffering 82 Spouse 25 Authority 79 Judgment - Peace 72

The devil goes about us like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He is ever the cunning serpent lying in wait to make us his prey, but he intensifies his assaults to prevent a soul from consecrating herself to the practice of the evangelical counsels and becoming the Spouse of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Hence temptations sometimes break over the heads of Novices like a hailstorm, and it is not always wise to form a definite opinion on the character of the person who suffers them wholly on their account. One comes across every type of temptation, and each day brings new ones. The Novice Mistress must not get alarmed but keep calm amid the storm, otherwise she will not be able to bring

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peace to the unhappy victim, and if she is afraid, it will be difficult to prevent others from sharing her fear.

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CT/2 :: 88 Chapter 41

Themes

Struggle 26 Body/soul 28 Sentiment - Responsibility 79

Will of God - Abandonment22 Liberty - Peace

72 Fidelity 89 Joy89 Authority

79

If the Postulant or Novice in question is strong-minded and generous, the devil will find himself caught in his own snares. The subject is made to understand that she is in no way responsible for feelings of repugnance, disgust and even of revolt; her will always remains her own, and it is the will alone which can render her imperfect, unfaithful or guilty. The best way is to get the Novice to submit to the temptation. (With generous persons I have often succeeded at the first attempt by this means). Let her make an act of abandonment to God’s Will, consenting to undergo the trial even for the whole of her life, but never ceasing on that account to be faithful to her vocation and the Rule, preserving a calm and even joyous exterior.

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Themes

Nature 70 Woman - Struggle 26 Suffering 82 Humility 89 Renouncement 29 Obedience 71

There are, unfortunately, other Novices who are less supernatural than those we have just mentioned, and these I will divide into two categories. The first comprises those who do really have temptations, but they are weak in resisting them. They enter into discussions both with the devil and their Superiors, sometimes they regard the deceits of their worst enemy as useful guidance, and the advice they receive

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they follow only partially or not at all. Temptation then becomes dangerous. If they were humble they would soon see clearly and realize that only in obedience can direction be found in times of difficulty, and that good inspirations can never come amid such a quantity of imperfections.

The second category consists of those who exploit their temptations in order to get notice, and often create them for the sake of talking about them. This is the worst kind. Here is the daughter of Eve with all her failings well-displayed, in spiritual matters, rather like those affected women who cannot resist trying to capture the doctor’s interest by an account of all their maladies. Alas, one cannot play with fire without getting burned, and often temptations which were merely imaginary and which we used as an excuse to satisfy our self-love, end up by captivating us so that we cling to them and refuse to surrender them. They then become a serious reality and bring about the ruin of the poor soul thus beguiled by the devil.

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Themes

Strength 89 Renouncement 29 Love of God 23 Struggle 26

Formation-

How then are we to deal with such mean-spirited and self-centered persons? In the case of those in the first category, their love of God has to be made stronger, they must be taught self-denial which sustains the soul and fortifies it for the struggle; they should acquire the habit of sounding their motives and seeking for any imperfection which may give the devil a hold.

Generally this can be discovered. It will be a particular friendship or a strong dislike, breaches of silence to the detriment of charity, insinuating remarks about the rule of Superiors, small acts of

disobedience, things taken or done without permission, the desire to be thought well, of little devotion or exactness at religious exercises, laziness, greed, avoidance of mortification, some worldly memory cherished or dwelt upon.

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Themes

Woman - Frankness 89 Prudence 89 Formation -

Discernment of spirits-

With those true daughters of Eve who belong to the other category, who take pleasure in being tempted and converse with the devil, my God! What prudence and discernment are needed to get them out of such a situation! It would be their undoing if you believed them or attached importance to what they say.

An attempt must be made to convince them that they are the victims of delusion. Never will you find these souls faithful to their obligations; even to a greater extent than the afore-mentioned persons, you will find that they fail on some of the points we have indicated.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Formation - Woman - Authority 79

Something that makes it extremely difficult to direct women in time of temptation is the fact that almost always the difficulty they disclose to you is not the real cause of their trouble.

For example, a Novice may have too natural an affection for a Superior, her confessor, or some special work. If it should happen that the Superior did not call her for an interview, the confessor did not keep her long in the confessional, or that another Sister has been given this particular work to do, the Novice begins to be jealous of someone she thinks I s preferred to herself, or of another who has been given an occupation she had wanted. Do not imagine that a woman who is tempted will come and tell you her real temptation. Perhaps she does not even realize the cause of her trouble. Her self-esteem would be put to shame if she admitted to herself the reason for her disturbance. She must, nevertheless, get some relief by confiding in her Superiors, so she brings forward a completely different cause: the Rule is too severe on her health; in another Order she could fulfill her vocation better; she was of more use when she was in the world; she was able to help her family; in the Institute she is not understood, and so it goes on!

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Themes

Sanctity - Woman - Frankness 89 Authority 79

For a well-disposed person, self-knowledge is an infallible means to perfection and therefore the spirit of lies continually seeks to deceive us; we imagine that one of our completely healthy members is diseased, while another which is devoured by cancer; we believe to be perfectly sound.

I have been entrusted with the care of souls for many years now, and circumstances have given me considerable experience in knowing them very thoroughly. Well, I can say with perfect truth that throughout my time of office, I have very rarely, hardly ever, been able to tell anyone the whole truth as I saw it before God.

This is because women shrink from acquiring self-knowledge, and they always think that they know better than those who give them charitable advice.

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Themes

Judgment - Humility 89

How often have I not seen good and pious Sisters who possess splendid qualities and are really faithful in the service of Our Lord, yet are known in all the houses they have been in, to have one big defect! In such cases, given a little humility, the judgment not only of one person but of all, could bring enlightenment, but no, such Sisters admit in a general way that they have their faults; about this particular failing, however, they will brook no reproof, and sometimes, while allowing that they have many others, they will loudly deny that they have the suspicion of this one.

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Themes

Frankness 89 Humility 89 Charity 24 Renouncement

29 Reign of God 78 Struggle26

It need not be thought that delusions only concern grave matters. Sometimes the spirit of falsehood takes refuge in something insignificant. Someone reads in a ridiculous way, sings out of tune, is too rough to do a delicate piece of work, or maybe too slow in other circumstances, drags behind at Office, or again sings too quickly, or adopts peculiar attitudes, yet she will never admit the unfortunate defect when it is charitably pointed out to her.

The reason is easy to see; the devil is determined to get a foothold however slender it may be. He is fully aware that his presence hinders the reign of Jesus in a soul, and sometimes in a whole convent or undertaking; making use of our self-love, he blinds us in order to keep us in his power.

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Themes

Humility 89 Formation - Judgment - Simplicity 89

It is to be noticed that cultured and intelligent Sisters are perhaps less open than others to facing the truth. Unsophisticated souls who remain somewhat in the background listen to it more readily, and this is understandable. The former have more natural and maybe legitimate confidence in their own judgment, and therefore when they have to go against it, they put up a stronger resistance and are more stubborn.

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Themes

Nature 79 Sanctity - Joy 80 Liberty -

Obedience 71 Prudence 89 Respect for persons 24 Authority 79

This undue resistance may have various causes. Sometimes it is part of a person’s character which may be bad, sensitive, and therefore mistrustful. Such are very difficult to change, and after having made several attempts producing no appreciable result, it would be better to send such subjects out of the Novitiate. In this matter let us adopt the illustrious St. Teresa’s Attitude. Morose and gloomy characters, impervious, therefore, to their Superiors’ influence, are not capable of adjusting themselves to our spirit, nor to hers.

There are also persons whose shyness makes it difficult for them to speak about themselves. If they are obedient they can gradually be corrected. Without violating their liberty of conscience, they must be assisted and made to feel at ease. Sometimes they will find written communications a tremendous help. By degrees this will get them used to opening their heart to their Superior with less difficulty.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Supernatural Spirit 64 Nature 70 Courage 89 Holy Spirit 67 Obedience 71

The devil seeks to discourage a particular Postulant or Novice. Yet she entered religion led by a certain measure of love for God and with the pious desire of devoting herself to His service. However, her fallen nature is not dead. Her enemy sees that the guidance of obedience will lead her onwards little by little to give herself irrevocably to the Holy Spirit, so he makes her remain silent in the presence of her Superiors and persuades her that they do not understand her. She, therefore, resolves to say nothing: she is quite capable of directing herself. In all other matters she will be wholly submissive, but do not ask for her to open her heart to them.

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Satan has won the day and he now remains master of this soul. She is blind and alone in total obscurity; she refused the support and guidance of her Superior who holds God’s place in her regard, but unknown to herself she is subjected to the powerful direction of the sworn enemy of her spiritual advancement. Conducted by him she will become deluded on point after point and lose her vocation, or, if she does remain in community, she will be but a miserable specimen of a nun.

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Themes

Nature 70 Obedience 71 Struggle 26 Detachment 29

It can happen that Novices are so light-minded that they go along without feeling the need of any serious direction; but if they abstain from having recourse to their Superiors, they leave themselves open to becoming attached in too natural a way to persons or things or even to some memory of the past. Whatever it may be, this creature separates them from the Creator and so their vocation is in danger.

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Themes

Judgment - Order - Hierarchy 71 Struggle 26 Authority 79 Humility 89 Renouncement 29

This good soul who withdraws herself from the influence of the Novice Mistress, has naturally implicit trust in her own judgment, which the spirit of darkness falsifies by means of his deceits. Not content with deluding her, he seeks to use her as an instrument to deceive others. She induces her Sisters to confide in her, gives advice, makes remarks about the Superiors. It is not very much at first, but little by little this Novice tries to usurp their place. She has no commission to act thus, and souls are unsettled and disturbed through her uncommon self-esteem.

Preserve your daughters from such a peril, and let no one in our convents presume to direct her Sisters. Sometimes this is done with the good intention of helping someone in difficulties, but experience is there to prove that this encroachment on the powers of lawful authority produces in the end calamitous results.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Authority 79 Order - Hierarchy 71 Fidelity 89 Obedience 71

It can also happen that the person whom the devil has prevailed upon to be uncommunicative with her Superiors, has not enough force of character to influence others. Besides her natural need for confiding in someone, she also feels the necessity of moral support. She chooses some Sister with a more energetic and resourceful character than herself, and begins to confide to her that she cannot speak her heart to her Superiors, that she is suffering from such a difficulty, temptation or repugnance, that she has fallen into such and such a fault.

What will be the result? Either the listener will succumb to the temptation last mentioned and will direct her foolish companion without having any insight or authority for doing so, or else she will share her weakness and soon suffer from similar temptations. Both will avoid the Superiors, for how can they avow all that has been going on? The devil is now sure that he will meet with no opposition and quickly pursues his desired end: to make one or both unfaithful to grace, and perhaps lose their vocation.

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Themes

Liberty - Obedience 71 Sacraments - Supernatural Spirit 64 Priests 60 Humility 89 Frankness 89 Grace - Nature 70

A person, who has not the uninhibited and trustful attitude towards her Superiors of a child that knows she has to be trained in the ways of the spirit, may make up for this restriction in the confessional. Instead of approaching the Sacrament for the purpose of humbly confessing her faults, she will use it in order to criticize her Sisters, and so far deceive Our Lord’s representative that he may seem to give his approval to her in this false path she has chosen and which she takes care to conceal. Wrong remains wrong for all that, but the devil continues his deception, and with his help, some sign of sympathy or a

53

word of apparent approbation is given. Firm in her too human outlook, this unfortunate person walks amid these delusions with head held high; she is not all she should be in her relations with her neighbor, and her self-seeking betrays itself on every occasion. My daughters, beware of these unhappy dispositions which would poison this life-giving spring where religious souls can develop and abundantly increase sanctifying grace by cleansing themselves in the Blood of their Spouse.

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Themes

Priests 60 Mission 69 Sacraments - Common life 91

Be merciless in banishing from our midst mischief-making, gossiping, and self-centered people who will talk to every priest without rhyme or reason, staying hours in the confessional whoever the confessor may be, and each time coming out a little more enamoured of themselves and a little more pitiable than they were before. Do you honestly believe that an earnest person can have so much to say and explain to every single confessor? Unquestionably such a mentality does not suit us.

It is bad enough in Europe, but in the missions people with such an attitude of mind would be a plague and a burden to the missionary priests who have care of our convents, and very often they would cause the spread of idle stories and disunion.

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Themes

Priests 60 Fervour 89 Sacraments - Fidelity 89 Sanctity - Common life 91

Have a real dread, my Daughters, of seeking direction from several priests. It is annoying for them and hinders them from doing any good to your souls. Courtesy and discretion prevent them from finding fault with advice you have received from another, and if they do not agree with it, they can take no effective steps to help you.

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Another objection to seeking the advice of many is that, when all is said and done, one has to choose which to follow. The result is either uncertainty of mind or else the decision to direct oneself which puts an end to all hope of spiritual progress.

I beg you once more, my Daughters, to grant me this request during my lifetime and still more after my death - never open the door of our Institute to those everlasting penitents who spend limitless time with every priest and want to try every possible director, but who are distinguished neither by their fervor nor their fidelity in community life.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Respect for persons 24 Strength 89 Unity 87 Formation - Authority 79 Courage 89 Abandonment 22

Who would believe that human respect could exist in the religious life? Yet it does. A Sister is too cowardly to leave another with an overbearing and masterful character who makes a bad-spirited remark. The she listens to her criticizing Superiors, speaking uncharitably, talking about unseemly subjects; she even adds a few remarks to the same effect, or at least she makes no attempt to show

disapproval. She allows herself to break the Rule, to be loud or frivolous etc. not because she wants to behave like this, but because she is weak and just follows the other’s lead.

If the devil did not send into religious houses domineering characters who lead the others on to do wrong, many by themselves would never commit the faults they do.

The Novice Mistress must get her Novices to be firm and courageous, so that their love of God is strong enough to make them refuse to take part in anything that is wrong or even imperfect. A word from them spoken in a charitable manner but plainly and fearlessly should put an end to all that might displease God.

Let her make them understand that charity makes it a duty for them to tell their Superiors anything of this kind that they may have met with. She will teach them to inspire so much respect in others that when they are present no one would dare to offend Our Lord in the slightest degree.

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CT/ 2 : 106 Chapter 45

Themes

Silence 89 Duty 89 Union with God 86 Formation - Fidelity 89 Time -

Authority79

It is in this matter (failings in silence) that human respect is perhaps to be feared the most. The temptation is extremely common and often leads to sin, and yet it is impossible to become a soul of prayer without the habit of silence. If there were no failings in silence almost certainly all other faults would be eliminated. What wonderful possibilities this opens up to those who keep the silence almost certainly all other faults would be eliminated. What wonderful possibilities this opens up to those who keep the silence, and yet how few they are!

The Novice Mistress must work assiduously to make silence appreciated and loved. She must at least insist that it be respected, and that the Novices get into the habit of observing it.

The most faithful must be constituted its guardians, making no reply if they are addressed during silence time, and stopping the talkers by pointing out to them that it is not the time for speaking and that they fail in their duty if they break the silence.

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Themes

Strength 89 Love of God 23 Sentiment - Charity

24 Formation-

There are some good but jelly-like creatures who seem to be nothing but a composition of glue. They always have to stick to their Superiors, to their Sisters, to the confessor and often, even to their spiritual consolations.

The Novice Mistress will also have to deal with others who, far from being soft, are positive volcanoes of passions alarming in its intensity and whose heat is the more vehement the more hidden it is. Beware of the explosion! It may not happen till the time of remedying matters is well-nigh past.

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Let the Novice Mistress inspire everyone with a dread of particular friendships which are a serious enemy to the love of God and neighbor.

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Themes

Sentiment - Fidelity 89 Silence 89 Joy 89 Fervour 89 Struggle 26

A certain Postulant or Novice used to be exceedingly fervent and completely faithful; she made swift progress in the religious life, but she meets some less faithful Sister who seeks her company, little by little she responds to the attention paid to her and begins to feel affection for this Sister who attracts her. A bond which is not supernatural, forms between them; soon the two Sisters make their meditation and religious exercises listlessly, they break the silence together, and the soul that was once a joyous Spouse of Our Divine Lord, makes her first acquaintance with repugnance.

She begins by sharing the troubles of her friend, then her temptations, dislikes, defects, transgressions of the Rule, and even her sins, and if she does not stop short on this downward path, the result is loss of her own vocation and often that of others.

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Themes

Courage 89 Renouncement 29 Frankness 89 Fidelity 89

Struggle 26

Among Novices there is found a certain kind of human respect which hinders them from having the courage to speak in this strain to their Sisters: “You talk during silence time, I am always beside you at recreation and have these private conversations - these are all against the Rule and I am not going to lend myself to it.”

There is a particular dread of acting in this loyal and straightforward way because of the fear of reprisals. The little Sister, who runs after us will perhaps make us pay for refusal, and with the devil’s assistance, will find means of making us suffer.

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Petty persecution is more painful than it would appear, especially in the case of certain characters and those with some sensibility.

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Themes

Sentiment - World - Spouse 25 Struggle 26 Nature 70 Suffering 82

Presence of God86

Almost all will undergo this temptation in the Novitiate because likes and dislikes are bound to make themselves felt. Let the Mother Mistress make her Novices understand how important it is for them to go seriously about the task they have set themselves when they embraced the religious life, that is, to give their heart to their Divine Spouse. Our Lord will not accept a divided heart, and as soon as you set up a creature as His rival or give it the first place (and this we do every time we fail in our duty, even in a slight way, for the sake of something created) Jesus ceases to speak to the heart, and often He who is our Heavenly Light, leaves the soul in darkness, deprived of His presence and His guidance.

Then the devil has a free hand to tempt us in all sorts of ways.

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CT/2: 111 Chapter 64

Themes

Sentiment - Judgment - Struggle 26 Liberty - Formation - Respect for persons 24 Authority 79 Discernment of spirits -

Sometimes this too natural attachment will be of a more embarrassing nature; the stumbling-block may be some Superior, the Novice Mistress herself, or the spiritual director.

If the good Father or Mother perceives the trouble it will be greatly reduced because they can take means to recall the sufferer to a sense of duty.

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It is here that the grace of discernment of spirits is so useful for a Novice Mistress. In certain cases she can allow her lambs greater liberty because she knows they have only the simple and pure affection of children toward their mother; in others she realizes that she must withdraw from doubtful attentions bestowed for the purpose of self-satisfaction.

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Themes

Contemplation/action 27 Nature 70 Detachment 29 Sanctity - Supernatural Spirit 64 Sentiment - Authority 79 Struggle 26

You have the care of souls, pray earnestly that you may not become the object of such attachments, but rather be the instrument for bringing those under you closer to Our Divine Saviour. Disregard of yourselves and indifference to your own interests will help you efficaciously to obtain the inestimable gift of keeping supernatural.

Be on your guard against the compliments and little attentions of those for whom you are a sole topic of conversation.

Accustom your Novices to come to you when they have need and to leave you in peace if their motive for approaching you is self-satisfaction.

If Superiors enjoy being made a fuss of and flattered, they will easily get what they want, for it is natural to try to please those in authority, and the devil will take great care not to let the danger be realized. Yet this natural tendency in themselves and their daughters will put a stop to all spiritual progress, and produce listlessness throughout the community, the cause of which they may be at a loss to understand.

My Daughters, Sursum corda! The Franciscan Missionaries of Mary must breathe the atmosphere of Heaven, all our hearts must rise aloft to God.

Let us love each other with a wide, all-embracing love, not with an affection which is particular and exclusive; this has nothing heavenly about it. Let us moderate our affections and keep them regulated.

God must be the object of our love, above all else and in all else.

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Every other affection must lead us to Him, and have Him as its inspiration, its nourishment and its final goal.

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Themes

Silence 89 Formation - Respect for the Hierarchy 71

Bad spirit is contagious; those afflicted with it are chatterboxes, talking when they should be silent, with tongues which seldom allow an opportunity for criticism to pass unnoticed.

It is chiefly they who are disrespectful towards authority, and by their tale-bearing, exaggeration and calumnies they try to set at variance their fellow-Novices, subjects and Superiors, the community, as well as priests and lay people.

In the case of someone extremely young afflicted with this terrible malady, who always has on the tip of her tongue some critical remark or a piece of bad advice with its dangerous consequences, try to show her the seriousness of this deplorable vice, and if there is no improvement, send her away without further delay.

If the person is rather older, make your decision still more expeditiously, for without a miracle you will not be able to cure her.

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Themes

Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Judgment - Supernatural Spirit 64 Obedience 71 Law - Authority 79

Order - Hierarchy71

All legitimate authority regarded in a religious light has something divine about it, coming as it does from God Who chose a Vicar to represent Him or earth.

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From the Sovereign Pontiff down through descending degrees of hierarchy, God’s authority is exerted over us. It is to Superiors that Jesus said: “He that heareth you heareth Me”.

If we kept this truth in mind, what reverence and love should we not have for those in authority!

Accustom your subjects to obeying because it is God Who commands through the instrumentality of lawful Superiors, and not because they find the order in accordance with their own judgment.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Silence 89 Sanctity - Formation - Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Respect for persons 24

Cultivate the virtue of obedience in every soul confided to your care, for it is like a powerful locomotive drawing souls to perfection, or rather, like wings which carry us swiftly and surely towards holiness.

Tolerate no disobedience in the Novitiate, and accustom your subjects to have a dread of the slightest word criticizing or censuring Superiors whoever they may be, or even the Sisters in charge of sections of work.

There must exist such an aversion for this fault in our houses and specially in the Novitiates, that our respect for each other will reduce to silence any who might be tempted to introduce into our midst this habit which is a poison in the religious life.

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Themes

Family - Faith 64 Struggle 26 Vocation - Spouse 25 Nature 70

Both before and after entering the Novitiate, the ties of flesh and blood are used by the devil as powerful arms against us.

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God chooses and destines a soul to be His Spouse. What happiness this is for her, and what an honor for all her relations, if they have faith enough to see it! But faith is dim in our days, and most families do not recognize this as an honor, nor do they realize the grace God gives them when He chooses for Himself one or more of their members.

What a commotion this question of vocations is constantly causing! No step must be taken till Father wins his promotion, Mother is cured of her sickness, Sister gets married, Brother returns home, - in fact, until everyone gives their consent!

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Themes

Nature 70 Love of God 23 Family - World -

And yet, if an earthly king or even some rich man asked for this girl’s hand, the whole family would hasten to make the sacrifice, even though it meant she would be taken so far away that they would never

see her again. They would do for a man what they refuse to God. You will not give your daughter to Our Lord, but what can a human being give her in comparison? As with all earthly things, she will only find emptiness, while the Divine Spouse would have satisfied every need of her heart.

These parents are selfish; they never dream that God will probably take them out of the world before their child, and that she will be left lonely, without a mission or aim in life, or perhaps she will be faithless to God and give to a man the love which the Divine Master had intended for Himself alone.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Absolute power of God - Family - Nature 70 Supernatural Spirit 64 Suffering 82

One frequently meets souls who suffer and are convinced that their troubles arise from a lost vocation.

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The Novice Mistress must fight this evil by calling to her aid the spirit of faith when dealing with the relations, reminding them that God has supreme rights over all because it is from Him that all has been received; the family must necessarily take the second place.

Since it is natural that their daughters leave them to start a new family, to which they every willingly acquiesce, are not parents under a still greater obligation to allow them to give themselves to God, Who is the Lord of nature and the Giver of all graces?

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Themes

Faith 64 Struggle 26 Fidelity

89

An appeal to faith destroys all the obstacles which are placed these days before girls who want to embrace the religious life.

Sometimes spiritual directors take the parent’s side in these unfortunate episodes. The position of the Novice Mistress is then more difficult, but if she bases her arguments on the truths of faith, her words cannot fail to clarify the question and encourage those who desire to do the right thing.

If they are not yet in the Novitiate, let her urge them to stand firm no matter how violent the struggle, and not to defer for a single day the time appointed for their entry.

If they have reached the goal, let her impress upon them that, at all costs, they must not look back, nor take away from Our Lord what is His own.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Justice of God - Frankness 89 Detachment 29

Struggle26

Sometimes the way is paved for temptations in this matter before entry into the religious life. There are some pious people who will advise an aspirant to hide from the community the existence of a sum of

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money laid up secretly or some stock. Certainly when dealing with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary such proceedings are unnecessary, as we are scrupulous in giving back to any subject who leaves us the dowry she brought in with her. Moreover, we often only take part of the boarding fees to which we have a right according to the Constitutions. God may not treat these poor souls as severely as He did Ananias and Saphira, but they will certainly be of a suspicious character, ill at ease and exposed to telling lies, and frequently their trials and discouragement begin by this first act of deceit.

If there is the likelihood of such unscrupulousness, let the Novice Mistress help the girl to admit it, and then explain the arrangements she has to make with impartiality as well as fairness.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Frankness 89 Peace 72 Justice of God -

Authority79

Every Novice who is in a position to do so owes the Institute her boarding-fee and her dowry. It is a sacred debt with she has contracted in accordance with the decisions of the Church. If she had married she would certainly have taken to her new family not only her dowry but all her possessions.

However, for the sake of preserving the peace or because a Novice’s family is in straitened circumstances, the Novice Mistress may suggest to the Mother General that a reduction be made in the amount due to the Institute. Whatever is decided upon must be adhered to family though gently. This manner of procedure will benefit both the family and the subject, for God can never bless injustice.

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Themes

Prudence 89 Poverty 75 Family

-

It is always prudent to wait and to examine seriously before God alone what should be done with her possessions. The condition of different members of her family may change and there should be no haste

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in making decisions that she may later regret. Holy Church has prudently prescribed that a will has to be made before profession so that in the case of unexpected death no difficulties may arise.

I would say that generally a Novice belonging to a poor family who has brothers and sisters etc. should give them their share.

If the subject is rich and her fortune would only go to supplement unnecessary luxury, I should encourage her, unless there were some reasons against it, to devote her property to good works, for the spiritual benefit of those we love.

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Themes

Detachment 29 Charity24 Poverty 75 Abandonment22 Jesus 67 Suffering

82 Francis 65 Contemplation/action27 Holy Spirit 61

The Novice Mistress must greatly assist souls who are enduring such moments of perplexity. The detachment of Jesus at Bethlehem and Nazareth, and the spirit of detachment of the Seraphic Patriarch must be placed before their eyes. They must be encouraged to pray a great deal, and made to realize that agitation and un-charitableness never proceed from the action of the Holy Spirit.

In addition to these temptations against Poverty, one can also be attached to such small things as objects, places or work; there can be self-seeking in the matter of clothes and food, the desire for comfort, the habit of taking and disposing of things without permission, the failure to be abandoned to Divine Providence.

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Themes

Abandonment 22 Respect for persons 24 Detachment 29 Providence 22 Francis 65 Formation - Absolute power of God - Poverty 75

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The Novice Mistress must slowly habituate her subjects to live in this spirit of loving abandonment by making them sacrifice everything to God, and teaching them how to be detached. The spirit of St. Francis must be so strongly impressed on them that they will allow Providence to despoil them of anything at all, clinging to nothing in the certitude that, as they are God’s children, they will always have what is best for them, and this will always suffice, if they really make Our Lord their All.

Severity must be shown to those who take advantage of their work to serve themselves better than others. I have known Novices remove the mark from linen not their own and mark it with their number because it was better than what they had been given to wear. This is dishonest because in the Novitiate the trousseau is still the Novice’s personal property; moreover it is a kind of behavior which recalls the conduct of Judas. Subjects who behave like this or who show in any other way that they have no love for poverty should not be kept with us.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Renouncement 29 Strength 89 Mission 69

Novices ought to love poverty so much that they would be willing to go out and beg bread for their religious family, and practice generosity and self-renunciation so perfectly that they can bravely face the privations to be met with on the missions.

As soon as they arrive in our houses, Novices and Postulants hand their money and even any stamps they have to the Assistant or the Bursar; this sum is noted at the end of the trousseau list, which has already been checked by the subject, and she then signs. If the Novice should spend a little money, the sum will be subtracted from the total and she must sign again just as she does when she disposes of one of the other items on the list.

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Themes

Family - Gratitude 89 Justice of God - Unity 87 Poverty 75 Nature 70

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Prudence 89 Detachment 29 Humility 89

The Novice Mistress may allow her daughters to ask their family for something occasionally, but she must use great discretion in the matter so that the parents are not wearied by frequent requests, and also that there may not be too marked a difference between those who can make gifts to the community and those who are not in a position to enjoy this consolation. Whatever the case may be, no one must imagine herself more loved or esteemed because she can make certain gifts of procure certain assistance for the community.

When it is thought suitable to accept something from a subject or her family, let all be done with circumspection and humility in such wise that the donor is made aware of our gratitude, but without at the same time flattering the person who makes the gift and mortifying those who cannot make it.

A Postulant or Novice must not be allowed to procure all sorts of commodities for her work, or to make personal presents to any particular companions. All this would be contrary to the spirit of detachment, and savour of what is purely natural and worldly.

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Themes

Renouncement 29 Body/soul 28 Woman -

The worst of being old maidish is that a person ends up by being interested only in herself. Those who are already inclined that way become constantly anxious about their health, and in the Novitiate they seem to have no other idea in their poor heads.

They are always feeling their pulse; nothing suits them. They say they have a vast esteem for their vocation, but their health is endangered by this, that or the other; they pine away with worry, and so great is their apprehension that finally they do really become ill.

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Themes

Strength 89 Courage 89 Love of God 23 Respect for persons 24 Offering - Body/soul 28 Reason - Sanctity - Obedience 71

If they are persons with character, capable of loving God heroically, advise them to make a generous sacrifice of their life: appeal to their reason to look the danger squarely in the face. After all, death has

to come, and is not death in God’s service an enviable lot? If they agree to this and proceed blindly along the path indicated by obedience, they will soon be delivered from the temptation, their health will improve, and they will see their vain fears vanish like smoke before their eyes.

Those who have not the courage to envisage sacrificing their life must be converted by means of obedience. Tell them to do certain things simply because they are asked, assuring them that God will not allow something done through obedience to be harmful to their health.

Finally for those in still more pitiable plight, try to turn their thoughts from the subject, and choose a moment when their attention is distracted from this foolishness to induce them to do what they are frightened of, or imagine to be impossible. They have to be treated like little children learning to walk. They are persuaded to make one step, then another till at last they reach the objective and stand up by themselves, taken in by the loving artfulness of their mother.

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Themes

Woman - Body/soul 28 Strength 89 Fidelity 89

I was Superior in the missions for a long time, having to care for the sick Sisters myself, and I became firmly convinced that women can keep a strong hold over themselves by means of diet, will-power and resistance.

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I am not speaking of serious illness when the doctor’s assistance is required, but rather of those who suffer from slight or frequent indispositions, such as anemia, weakness, debility, slight fever and a hundred other little maladies peculiar to women. The remedy will usually be found in eating at the proper time, and taking enough even if one is not hungry; not staying in bed, but getting up even if feeling tired; occupy one’s mind when weariness seems overwhelming - all this sensibly and without exaggeration, but with resolute and constant effort.

This does not apply to serious illnesses, as I have said, but they can often be avoided if the foregoing advice is followed.

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Themes

Body/soul 28 Gentleness 89 Struggle 26 Common life 91 Strength 89

People who are afraid of getting ill should not be asked too frequently how they are. This is enough to make their trouble twice as bad.

In communities the devil starts these little health campaigns. Suddenly everyone’s attention is focused upon some particular Sister. The community is in a commotion, and to judge by the buzz of chattering, the patient must be at death’s door.

Do not laugh; a thousand times I have witnessed what I am describing here, and had to fight the battle single-handed, but by taking a gentle and very firm stand, I finally succeeded in putting sense into all the foolish heads.

If a Superior lends herself to attentions of this kind such ridiculous conduct becomes both more contagious and more common.

May God preserve us from this, my dear daughters. Let us leave the care of the sick to those entrusted with this work, and let neither our own health nor that of anyone else be the subject of our conversations.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Reason - Body/soul 28 Sentiment -

After all, what is the use of being cross and upset because we are ill, of crying because we feat that what we have been told to eat will make us sick, of being alarmed because we have to get out of bed and sit in an arm-chair? The very fact of being disturbed about any of these small matters shows clearly that this is a temptation, if only the sufferer can be made to use her common sense and reason.

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Themes

Simplicity 89 Obedience 71 Struggle 26 Formation - Body/soul 28 Frankness 89 Prudence 89

These remarks about temptations with regard to health would not be complete if I did not mention another which is just the opposite of those just dealt with. It consists in doing imprudent things, not telling the Superiors about small infirmities or even the first symptoms of illness, not obeying the doctor’s orders or those of the Novice Mistress and the Directress of Health. To act thus is blameworthy and with the devil’s help might lead to the loss of one’s vocation.

Novices prone to behave like this must certainly be corrected. They must be shown the danger to which they expose themselves, and made to understand that their health is not their own.

The same course must be taken with those whose misplaced zeal urges them to undertake excessive work or immoderate penances.

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Themes

Responsibility 79 Authority 79 Respect for persons 24 Goodness 24 Struggle 26

This complaint (repugnance-irksomeness) often comes at the beginning of the religious life, or when there has been a change of house or work.

It is here where the Mistress of Novices or the Superior can make use of her experience and be a powerful aid to the poor sufferer.

Newcomers from the world or from another house should have some absorbing occupation as far as possible. Active participation demanding a certain amount of responsibility and concentration usually succeeds in putting an end to feelings of disgust or sadness to which those not yet quite at home or the young are subject. If beginners are allowed to bend over their needlework or copying, the door is opened to feelings of repugnance and irksomeness.

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Themes

Charity 24 Respect for persons24 Generosity 89 Joy89 Mission 69 Authority79 Renouncement 29

The Novice Mistress must know those she has to deal with, and see which of the older Novices would be able to help the newcomers to settle down.

Let her use these little God-sent auxiliaries with charity and skill, training them to devote themselves to those newly-arrived. They can be made to realize that they are already missionaries in the Institute if they help to gain good subjects for it by their self-forgetfulness.

A competent Novice Mistress will make them see and understand that recreation presents a special opportunity for this little apostolate. Could they not make the sacrifice of being near their Mother Mistress and give their place to someone who seems timid or sad, seek out those who are shy or lonely and take an interest in them; cheering them and making them feel at home?

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Themes

Supernatural Spirit 64 Charity 24 Love of God 23 Abandonment

22

The Novice Mistress will be supernatural enough to cultivate the love of God in the young souls entrusted to her, and make them understand that this little piece of egoism is not worthy of a Franciscan

Missionary of Mary. She will get them into the habit of not seeking their own pleasure, but rather, for love of the Divine Master, doing what they know to be most pleasing to him.

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Themes

Abandonment 22 Renouncement 29 Force 89 Struggle 26 Suffering 82 Lamb -

It remains for me to say a word about those more advanced in the religious life who suffer from like temptations.

Sometimes it is a trial. God associates these souls with His own agony; the Novice Mistress must then inspire them with courage, prevailing upon them to be resigned and brave enough to say Fiat even at the most painful and sorrowful moments. They must lie down like lambs upon their Cross, and make no attempt to leave it, certain that in it they will find the greatest of treasures which consists in self-immolation and undivided union with their Beloved.

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Themes

Silence 89 Supernatural Spirit 64 Fidelity 89 Suffering 82

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Generosity 89 Charity24 Obedience 71 Respect of persons24

This cross comes to other souls through their own fault. They do not keep the Rule, their levity, disordered affections or unfaithfulness make the Lord’s yoke heavy for them to bear. If they are courageous enough, treat them with a firm hand and show them uncomprisingly the cause for their repugnance and disgust. If this remedy cannot be applied because they have too much self-love, try to turn their thoughts elsewhere, and encourage them little by little to be more faithful and generous. This will reduce their spiritual weariness.

It is a good thing to get them to make acts of resignation and love of God like those more advanced. If they have the slightest spirit of faith, this will be a great help for them as well.

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Themes

Church 60 Renouncement 29 Formation - Common life 91 Unity 87

The French language is that most generally used amongst us, but we are catholic and should desire our vocation to be universal like our Holy Mother the Church. To this end we should encourage the study of the other languages mentioned in our Constitutions.

It will be very much according to this principle if at recreation those who know several languages get near those who can speak them but who as yet understand French only a little, or not at all. Let them help their companions to pick it up slowly, talking to them and translating what they do not catch. They will thus find the means of relieving the hardship and irksomeness which may result from ignorance of the language spoken by the community.

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Themes

Mission 69 Charity24 Renouncement 29 Respect for persons24 Generosity

89

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In this connection let me tell you a little story. It was in another Congregation. A poor English Postulant had just entered, but understood nothing of what was said around her. A young nun, who hardly knew three words of English devoted herself to the Postulant, spoke to her slowly and succeeded in making herself understood. This charitable Sister was changed to another house. The English Postulant was in tears and said: “You are going away; all the others treat me as a stranger, you are the only one who has had the charity not to leave me alone. You gave me courage and helped me to do everything right.”

When the good angel had gone, the English girl’s courage failed her and she went back to the world.

How sad it would be, my Daughters, if such a thing happened among Missionaries who, by their very vocation, have the whole world as their homeland! Do not forget that some Novice you have helped and encouraged by your loving devotedness may do great good in the Institute, and by aiding her to surmount her hesitancy and disinclination, increased by her ignorance of the language, you will have a share in all her future apostolate.

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Themes

Humility 89 Evenness of character 89 Courage 89 Joy 89

Struggle26

Discouragement is nothing else but secret self-love which leads us to refuse to know ourselves, or if we do, to be disconsolate at the sight.

We have made good resolutions which seemed capable of bearing us aloft on wings to God, and yet difficulties or even falls, have occurred cutting short all our enthusiasm.

One of two things will happen: either the magnitude of our self-esteem will make us refuse to acknowledge our feelings of rebellion and our faults, in which case we shall be invaded by deep sadness bordering sometimes on despair, or else, realizing our temptations and sins, we shall given way to dejection and lose all hope of correcting ourselves. Perhaps we shall think amendment impossible and make no further effort in that direction.

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Themes

Woman - Courage 89 Frankness 89 Sanctity -

Struggle26

Women are conspicuous for these two types of discouragement. Attacked by the first they will come to you in a state of agitation believing that they are lost beyond all hope of forgiveness. Their discouragement is boundless; they blame it on one cause or another, but take good care to conceal the real source of the trouble, and refuse to see that it lies in a certain fault to which they cling tenaciously.

Others will perceive their wretchedness and admit their feelings, but seeing that they are not yet perfect despite the pains they have already taken, they will not persevere and believe perfection impossible of attainment. Hence Lamentations and pitfalls of a different nature!

In the first case we do not wish to see the cause of our discouragement, and hide it from those who have care of our soul. If they are more enlightened and try to make us face the truth, we call heaven to witness that this matter, which nonetheless is vital, has nothing whatever to do with our present plight.

In the second eventuality, we do not wish to go forward and declare that it is impossible. In both cases it is the devil who is laying his snares and stopping us on our patch towards God.

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Themes

Humility 89 Obedience 71 Courage 89 Struggle 26

Grace-

Genuine humility is a preservative against discouragement. A humble person knows that God never abandons a faithful religious. If difficulties arise, she seeks their cause within herself, and if she does not perceive it, she believes the voice of authority which points it out to her.

A humble soul is not astonished at her failings; she knows that with a good will and the help of grace, it is always possible to get over them, and she resumes her efforts each time she fails, trusting in God’s help and not in herself.

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Themes

Struggles 26 Courage 89 Obedience 71 Sanctity - Lamb - Humility 89 Jesus 67 World - Eucharist 62

We must say at least a word about those temptations to discouragement which come to holier and more advanced souls.

They are crushed by their own wretchedness and overwhelmed by their unworthiness; they believe themselves deserving of every king of chastisement, sometimes they feel incapable of doing good and without hope of reward. What then can they do? They are assailed by the powers of evil whom God permits to treat like another Job.

Sometimes it happens that the resemblance is almost complete; human beings and events ally themselves with the devil to tempt them.

Their only anchor is obedience in the darkness which surrounds them. They must believe what those in authority say, judge matters as they judge them, and imitate the Lamb of God Who, because of His love, was crucified and remains hidden under the veils of the Blessed Sacrament.

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Themes

Fidelity 89 Obedience 71 Humility 89 Priests 60

Will of God-

Change of Institute - This is another temptation which the Novice Mistress must expect to meet with.

( …)

When a Novice is attacked with this kind of malady she must try to become faithful to the Rule and humble, understanding that obedience to wise guidance is a great security. If she places herself in the

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hands of her Superiors or some holy priest, she will be delivered from the danger, but if she acts according to her own ideas, her self-will bring about her downfall.

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Themes

Providence 22 Humility 89 Contemplation/action 27 Authority 79 Sanctity - Obedience 71

As a general rule it is safe to suppose that God has led us to the place where He wishes us to be; it is such a great privilege to have the doors of a convent opened to us that we should not believe too readily that we have made a mistake.

This corresponds with the mind of our Holy Mother the Church; she puts difficulties in the way of subjects who have already tried their vocation elsewhere, particularly if they made vows, as can be different Constitutions approved by the Holy See.

As regards our own particular Institute, we lead a life both active and contemplative, and it is in this mixed life that we can find holiness. If one aspect was really more necessary for our soul than the other, and if we were open with our Superiors, let us be humble enough to concede that they would realize this and allow us to follow that way more assiduously, provided it be for our sanctification.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Jesus 67 Peace 72 Union with God 86 Humility 89 Sanctity - World - Struggle 26 Word of God 73 Poverty 75

Earth/Heaven83

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We are never forbidden to say what we think, but it might well be that our ideas came from the imagination; once we have mentioned them, let us be at peace for it is obedience which will make saints of us.

My dear daughters, should we be so proud as to regret that there is not more distinction of rank among us, such a worldly sentiment, which is wholly contrary to the spirit of the Gospel, must be energetically repressed. Jesus came to serve and not to be served; the lowly and the poor always attracted His special love. Let us consider it a privilege to be in a humble position as He was. It should be the aspiration of everyone to occupy the lowest rank in the house, so that while still on earth it may be said to us. “Go up higher”, in other words, advance in perfection that you may share in Our Divine Lord’s glory in Heaven, as on earth you have shared in His abasement.

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Themes

Humility 89

You will notice, my dear daughters, that really well brought up Novices coming from good families are usually those who most readily accept opportunities for practicing humility. All of you, then, show yourselves refined and well bred, and you will see that you love of being counted for nothing will greatly increase.

It is for the Novice Mistress to make this truth understood by the souls committed to her care, and to bring home to them that the arguments adduced by pride are a proof of foolishness and uncountness.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Renouncement 29 Courage 89 Suffering 82

Spiritual dryness is yet another trial met within the Novitiate.

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Before our entry into religion we had, perhaps, a certain taste for the things of this world, our family put obstacles in our way, we had no one to guide us along the path of generosity and courage, so Jesus, in His great love, came Himself to comfort us and give us the necessary strength of purpose to enter the convent.

The doors closed; the Divine Hunter of souls had caught His prey. Jesus then asked back what He had freely given; He wished us to serve Him deprived of all consolation. Drowsiness overwhelms us at meditation, distractions pursue us, a thousand anxieties weigh us down.

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Themes

Detachment 29 Francis 65 Sentiment - World - Sanctity - Struggle 26 Jesus 67 Joy 89 Word of God 73 Church 60

Earth/Heaven83

There may even be Novices who miss the Vespers and High Masses they attended in the world which were a little grander than community exercises, their pilgrimages and society sermons, and I know not what else.

These souls must be made to realize that sanctity is not attained by means of sensible consolations and brilliant flights of the imagination; the fact that they feel no devotion is not an indication that they have gone back.

The way to the Promised Land is the path of perfection whose goal is the happiness of Heaven. It is often a desert, though a favoured one, since those treading it belong to God’s people, and has been chosen to lead the very same life as that of Jesus. Their code of laws is contained in the Gospel with its wonderful commentaries in the example of St. Francis. Nothing on this earth can equal the merits acquired by those who walk through the desert of self-renunciation, and most foolish would be the soul who returned to the world imagining that it is easy to serve God there.

Let the Novice Mistress make it very clear to her daughters that every suggestion of the kind is always false, whether it arises from the depth of the soul or comes from outside through the voice of others, and it is used by the devil to make us retrace out steps and lose our vocation.

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Themes

Suffering 82 Obedience 71 Judgment - Struggle 26 Humility 89

These instructions for Novice Mistresses would be incomplete if I did not say a word about scruples, a painful and harassing temptation which is sometimes of a passing nature and for other souls persistent or even chronic.

Scruples may arise from a person’s natural temperament, or they may be the culminating trial of a whole series of temptations.

In the first case they are almost always caused by secret pride, a tendency to be independent and over-confident in one’s personal judgment.

Those who are naturally scrupulous need to be assisted to mistrust their opinion and to obey blindly. They are easily inclined to pass judgment on everything, so the temptation must be counteracted by great humility in the practice of obedience.

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Themes

Suffering 82 Gentleness 89 Sanctity - Lamb - Power of God - Eucharist 62 Struggle 26 Jesus 67 Strength 89

Other souls are overwhelmed by scruples after they have been through a temptation, or even without any apparent reason. To purify them God plunges them into darkness. They are blind and can no longer judge what pleases the Devine Master or what offends Him; they cannot now perceive the state of their conscience and are continually wondering if they are in a state of grace. The more they seek for light,

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the darker does the night become; in vain do they try to pierce the veil, for He Who keeps them in obscurity is more powerful than they are. It may be that the powers of hell are at work with God’s permission, or perhaps the Creator Himself is trying them thus.

We must have great compassion for these poor souls, and induce them firmly but kindly to stay upon their cross like the Lamb of God. Imitating Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament they must allow themselves to be annihilated, obeying the authority which has power over them and acting only according to its indications. If they succeed in resembling our Divine Saviour thus far, they will be closely associated on earth with His martyrdom of love, and in Heaven with the triumph of the Incarnate Word.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Priests 60 Prudence 89 Sacraments -

On all scrupulous persons must be enjoined absolute obedience to the orders of a confessor who has known them well and whose experience has indicated the path they should take. They must follow his instructions when they make their confession to other priests who do not know them or who are less enlightened and experienced.

Disclosing one’s soul to the first priest who comes along, reopening questions which have already been settled at this results in a person simply becoming her own director and assuming responsibility for her soul, a disastrous state of affairs to which the scrupulous above all cannot expose themselves.

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Themes

Supernatural Spirit 64 Struggle 26 Obedience 71 Word of God 73 Sacraments -

The way Moses in the Old Testament was punished I have always found impressive: because he struck the rock twice he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. If we have a spirit of faith, why should

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we ask all over again for a decision which we have already received from God in the sacred tribunal through the medium of His minster?

If these various types of scrupulous persons come to their Superior for help and guidance, it would be dangerous to encourage them to make general confessions, especially if they have already made one or more to a devout spiritual director who has forbidden them to go back or what they have already confessed. Teach them to be so utterly obedient to their confessor that they never miss receiving Holy Communion contrary to the directions they have received to guide them in their scruples.

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Themes

Prudence 89 Providence 22 Sacraments - Peace 72 Mission 69 Priests 60 Struggle 26

I think it would be wise to see that all who leave have made at least once in their lifetime a good general confession and that in one or more succeeding confessions of a general nature they have been advised not to make any more, or even forbidden to do so.

One must have been to the missions oneself to realize how the devil can use as his cruelest instruments for stirring up the imagination, all that constitutes such a different type of life as well as the heat, the fatigue and feeling of isolation.

It must also be remembered that Providence may provide us with only limited opportunities to get direction. In the missions priests are scarce, and the Bishop may not always be able to give the convent an experienced confessor. By taking the precautions I have just indicated the devil is brought to a halt, souls are kept in great security, and priests, as well as souls, will have some assurance of tranquility.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Silence 89 Priests 60 Prudence 89 Sacraments - Earth/Heaven 83

One other thing that scrupulous people must be told is not to talk about their worries among themselves and not to read every book they can lay hands on which deals with their infirmity. This would only increase their anxieties because they will never find anything in them to dispel their doubts.

In conversation, too, let them not put leading questions to priests or anyone else. This kind of indirect consultation can only lead to chaos and utter confusion. If my daughters seek to follow these different counsels, they will thank God on earth and in eternity for the practical advice their poor Mother has left them.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Priests 60 Peace 72 Obedience 71 Silence 89 Sacraments -

If she has a delicate conscience and you are aware that she has nothing to reproach herself with and is simply going through a trial, she must be encouraged to go ahead calmly and placidly, setting aside all the wild thoughts which assail her, in the belief that she is at peace with God as long as she is not sure of having offended Him. It would even be well in certain cases to mention the matter to the confessor, and to get the experienced priest to give this person rules to follow as regards what she should confess so that she may then be at peace.

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Themes

Penance 76 Strength 89 Jesus 67 Courage 89 Body/soul 28 Formation -

Duty89

As a general rule both should be required to perform the penances prescribed by the Rule and no more. Extraordinary penances are not normally for those who have little courage or for those whose self-esteem would be increased by them. The prescribed penances are quite sufficient.

The Novice Mistress will make the faint-hearted understand that to imitate our crucified Master we must need suffer, and that the prescribed acts of mortification serve most advantageously to accustom our mind and body to voluntary suffering, so that when duty imposes it as an alternative to offending God, we shall have formed the habit and be capable of bearing pain courageously.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Obedience 71 Fidelity 89 Courage 89 Authority 79 Strength 89 World - Common life 91 Nature 90 Imitation 63

Spirit of Independence. Certain subjects are constantly pursued by this temptation. The prescriptions of the Rule seem to them insignificant and tiresome, so without more ado they omit some, or as many as they can, of the practices required by the Constitutions and Customs.

The Superior and Novice Mistress will make their daughters understand that the deeper an independent and worldly spirit has penetrated into a soul, so much the more need has she of the support the saints knew was necessary for the reform of human nature. The more repugnance they feel, the more submissive they must be, thereby putting a stop to the terrible temptation of independence, laxity and discouragement.

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Themes

Humility 89 Supernatural spirit 64 Struggle 26 Purity 89 Renouncement 29 Authority 79

The fear of Acting through Human Respect.

This is a fairly common temptation in the Novitiate. The poor souls who suffer from it fear to appear devout in chapel, to speak in a low voice, to be prompt and respectful, etc. They are afraid that their motive may be to win the good opinion of a Superior, to get notice, or even to be employed in some special work.

They must get into the habit of disregarding this temptation. What has been begun for God must not be given up at the devil’s instigation. If such thoughts cross the mind, we must simply seek to purify our intention saying: “My God, Thou knowest that it is for Thy sake that I desire to do what is right; if my motives are mixed, purity them”.

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Themes

Nature 70 Frankness 89 Respect for persons 24 Common life 91 Charity 24 Sentiment

- Earth/heaven83

Jealousy is one of the most common failings, yet the least agreeable to acknowledge.

So that we may feel less shame as we search our hearts, let us be assured that it is only right and natural that we should wish to be loved by those whom we hold dear. We love Our Divine Lord, and we desire Him to love us. Our Superiors are dear to us, and we aspire to a place in their affections. Our Sisters are congenial to us, and it wounds us if they do not feel the same towards us.

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If it should happen, then, that others seem, or actually are much more fervent and therefore worthier of God’s predilection, that certain Sisters are loved by our Superiors deservedly, that another has the gift of winning the love of her Sisters, in our heart arises a natural desire to possess the advantages of our more favoured companions.

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Themes

Sentiment - Struggle 26 Sanctity - Truth 88 Nature 70 Frankness 89

Obedience71

In itself, (jealousy) is not wrong, and could even be a great means of perfection. If the soul is afraid and thinks she is already jealous because of these first natural feelings, she will more easily fall into the temptation and actually become jealous.

To escape the snares of the devil nothing is more helpful to the soul than the truth, for God is truth, and the path of truth leads to Him.

On the other hand nothing is more perilous than falsehood which is the devil’s appendage, for he is the father of lies. Therefore, if we have any of these natural difficulties, let us reveal them candidly to our Superiors.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Humility 89 Frankness 89 Sanctity - Strength 89

Jealousy begins by the devil provoking us to judge rashly the persons who are preferred to us and those who accord them this preference. From rash judgment we go on to ill-will and sometimes get as far as wishing them harm.

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So long as the tumult remains interior and we withhold our consent to these suggestions, we are tempted but not guilty of sin.

It is above all at such moments that frankness will prove immensely valuable to the poor soul tormented by her passions. The mere avowal of them will be the saving of her. The remedy will be pointed out, and she will be fortified by the simple fact that she recognizes clearly that hell is at work.

But it is the moment, too, when self-love obscures the issue. How can one confess to one’s Superior that we have a grudge against her because she caressed Joan, confided something to Margaret, kept Louise in her room, gave Rose this or that work to do etc, etc?

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Themes

Struggle 26 Sentiment - Love of God 23 Imitation 63 Sanctity -

How can we dare let it be known that we count the time our companions, and even our Superiors remain in the confessional, that we note the help they receive from priests in their work, and that we resent them receiving the attention which we covet, with never a thought as to whether it is just as necessary in our own case?

All these movements, or some of them, stir up commotion within us, and we try not to see them, or if we do, we will not admit they are there. Why? What shame is there in owning that the devil is attacking us; for that is all that is happening. Have not the saints undergone the most fearful temptations which were often the very means whereby they proved the heroism of their love?

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Themes

Suffering 82 Frankness 89 Love of God 23 Simplicity 89 Renouncement 29 Silence 89 Struggle 26 Nature 70

87

For those who are naturally jealous it can be a terrible cross but not more shameful than any other. If this temptation is always with us, it can serve as a constant opportunity of showing our love for God and our self-renunciation.

So, my daughters, regard this temptation like any other. Be quite certain that if everyone prevailed upon themselves to be open and simple in the matter, they would hardly ever be tempted to jealousy, or at least they would never be led to commit serious faults. What causes our downfall is silence and shame.

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Themes

Woman - Authority 79 Struggle 26 Sentiment - Charity 24

It comes about, therefore, that in communities of women the base effects of jealousy are constantly to be met with. A person who refuses to know herself, or who will not reveal her temptation is already acting under its influence. She takes a dislike for the person of whom she is jealous and desires to see her humiliated. Maybe she works for this end and speaks evil of her poor victim, or even does her wrong. Sometimes no words will be used, but an attitude adopted or an affected silence will insinuate a worse accusation than if it had been formulated in words. Certain qualities which she does not possess will receive faint praise, while the existence of others which she really has will be denied or they will be made to look ridiculous. She will be thwarted, the affection of others will be torn from her, and the spontaneous turning of their hearts towards her will be hindered.

Before Superiors and even persons in the world she will be discredited and accounted of no importance. Obstacles will be pitilessly placed in her way, and she will be made to suffer without mercy.

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Themes

Body/soul 28 Suffering 82 Renouncement 29 Charity

24 Frankness 89 Supernatural spirit64 Struggle 26 Sentiment- Humility 89

88

When the jealous fit is on the person whose affection we crave for receives no better treatment - Our Lord Himself, priests or Superiors, all pass the same way. Then we have injurious words for those whom we love at the bottom of our hearts, and we do not hesitate to harm those to whom we really wish the greatest good. Jealousy renders both soul and body disordered. I have seen it going to such extremes as have to be seen to be believed.

Oh, my children, let us preserve ourselves from this by self-renunciation and filial candour. Those who humbly reveal their temptation need have nothing to fear from this dangerous enemy of theirs, and those who agree to be treated as they deserve by God, that is, as of no importance, will not think they have a right to any consideration, and will consent to be crucified because they love.

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Themes

Authority 79 Struggle 26 Justice of God - Respect for persons 24 Prudence 89 Sanctity - Duty 89 Strength 89 Goodness 24 Sentiment - Humility 89 Common life 91

In reference to this subject, I appeal to our Novice Mistresses and Superiors, nay more, I enjoin on them never to have or to show preferences.

It is only right that they should have a greater regard for the more virtuous Sisters, and sometimes it is necessary to employ them prudently more than the others, but let this never be done out of preference but simply as a duty. Thus no one can take offense without being unjust.

In the normal way they should be firmer and more exacting towards the more fervent, and give special encouragement to the less agreeable, the more timid and even those at fault. These must be helped to overcome their temptations and failings, and if nothing detrimental will come of it, let them be given special little duties to perform. It is sometimes an act of charity, even if some small inconvenience may

result, to employ someone at a task that another would do better, with a view to keeping the more capable person humble and encouraging the other.

Superiors must show their aversion for little gifts and attentions of a personal nature.

89

This is an excellent means of keeping minds at rest and stopping jealousy from prevailing in our Novitiates and communities.

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Themes

Charity 24 Renouncement29 Humility 89 Struggle26 Body/soul 28 Nature70

Selfishness

I will only say a few words about this temptation which in its form of self-love is unfortunately a fairly general malady; but there are some natures who only think of themselves, they are self-seeking in every possible way, and sometimes they expect everyone to pay attention to them on all occasions.

This is an ugly failing which is sometimes constitutional, and is then found in every walk of life. In other persons it has been developed by their upbringing, and is most marked in an only daughter, a younger or ailing child, and those always surrounded by their little suite of attendants.

The Novice Mistress must combat this tendency, and eradicate it as far as possible by the practice of devotion to duty.

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Themes

Judgment - Humility 89 Strength 89 Nature 70

Obedience 71 Body/soul 28 Will of God - Formation - Renouncement 29

Certain minds hold so fast to their point of view and their own way of doing things that it seems to them almost impossible to act in any other way.

90

This is a failing of narrow-minded persons with limited intelligence, and of the ill-educated who cannot imagine anyone seeing farther than themselves.

It can happen also that persons of strong character and good judgment possess a certain tenacity of purpose. Steadfastness is a most precious virtue, but obstinacy must be guarded against.

The Novice Mistress must be firm with the obstinate and not permit them to have their own way. She will train them also to be interiorly obedient, neither acting nor judging in accordance with their fancies. She will widen the view of the narrow-minded, and teach all to do as they are told and not as they please, in the certainty that the best course is always to give up one’s own judgment and submit to that of authority.

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Themes

Nature 70 Penance 76 Humility 89 Prudence 89 Renouncement 29 Struggle 26 Will of God - Respect for persons 24

Impatience

This is ordinarily a natural defect rather than a voluntary fault. Very often it calls for the practice of humility when the falls of the person afflicted are frequent, despite her good resolutions.

Advice watchfulness, prayer and the giving up of one’s own will when fighting this temptation; this will ensure that we allow others to do as they prefer rather than what suits us. The usual cause for our impatience is that we like to dominate over others or to act as we think fit.

Let the Novice Mistress accustom those who are impatient to make reparation for their faults, and to humiliate themselves before those they have offended either by word or deed, and also to be very careful with regard to the persons who are likely to arouse their hastiness.

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91


Themes

Prudence 89 Humility 89 Struggle

26

Some people always have to know everything, to be consulted on all that goes on, and so they are constantly asking questions. This need of knowing too much leads them to return to the charge continually in an endeavour to learn still more.

They note who comes to the parlor, how long their sisters spend with the Superior. In the case of Novices this temptation is often childish, but nevertheless it is a good thing to check it.

Later on with older Sisters it becomes a real martyrdom both for themselves and their Superiors. If another knows something of which they are unaware or they have not been informed through an oversight, they get into a real fit of rage which would not happen if at the beginning they had been put on their guard against temptations to curiosity and been taught to combat them.

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Themes

Frankness 89 Duty 89 Simplicity 89 Fidelity 89 Struggle 26 Courage 89

Holy Spirit 61 Sanctity - Truth 88 Gentleness 89

It may be thought that it is rare for anyone to tell lies, and yet it does happen. Very often, without resorting to lies, there is an inclination to obscure the truth. It’s even very rarely that a person tells the truth with complete straightforwardness, and sees herself as she is with crystal-clear transparency.

I have already said that falsehood is the spirit of Satan while truth is the spirit of God. The holier we are, the more are we filled with light and truth; the more imperfect, the greater become our delusion and dissimulation.

92

By her words the Novice Mistress must try to enlighten the souls around her, and above all make them faithful to their duties. She will urge them to have a devotion to the Holy Spirit in order to obtain light and truth.

If anyone deceives her, let her point out the fault gently; if a downright lie is told, she must reprimand and punish; if this becomes a habit she must not keep the person in question in the Institute.

A person who tells lies is wholly unreliable and cannot be counted upon. If she does not amend her ways, she is not meant for us. It is truth which makes us see our soul and all things as they really are, and gives us courage to acknowledge what we see.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Body/soul 28

Greed

This temptation is often ludicrous, but sometimes it becomes serious.

It is laughable when it happens that a poor Postulant or Novice is seized with pangs of hunger which no meal can satisfy and which pursue her throughout the day; at spiritual exercises she longs for the bell to ring for meals, and she starts to guess what will be served.

It is certain that the thought of yesterday’s stew could hardly be enticing enough to make Franciscan Missionaries of Mary hanker after today’s or tomorrow’s! But all things in this world are relative, and with the change of surroundings and the regular life, a person may become stronger in health and even end by longing for our almost inevitable evening potatoes.

Some poor creatures think they must battle against this good appetite; it seems to them a shameful monster which never ought to exist in religious communities.

What! At home they hardly touched anything however dainty the dishes that were placed before them, and here they are in the convent indulging in immortification!

It is perhaps the contrary which is true; at home they were spoiled, their slightest fancies were gratified, and it was this habitual lack of mortification that took away their appetite. But they do not realize this, and begin to deprive themselves of a piece of bread at breakfast, the second dish at dinner, the dessert at night and by reducing their food thus, they only succeed in increasing their hunger.

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93


Themes

Struggle 26 Humility 89 Body/soul

28

Disregard the cause of your worries; if they annoy you during spiritual exercises, make every effort to bring your thoughts back to God, but whatever happens do not get anxious. Take no notice; this trouble cannot last forever, and if you are the least bit sensible, this temptation will not be serious. The best remedy will be to laugh over it with your Novice Mistress.

There is another temptation to greed which becomes an ugly fault if it is given satisfaction. It is to avoid this that I like to serve the food in portions. Should anything prevent their being made, it may be that someone will want to take the best fruit or the biggest piece of cake. If the desire is mastered no harm is done, but if the person takes what she covets it is uncharitable and mean.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Humility 89 Poverty 75 Formation - Penance 76 Frankness 89

Lastly, there is a third kind of greediness which consists in stealing things to eat or to give to someone.

This is a failing in obedience, poverty and mortification. Novice Mistresses must not think it of rare occurrence, particularly among the young Sisters whose upbringing has been defective. Often it is just a bad habit.

I have actually seen this practice indulged in the infirmary, and, incredibly enough, with cinchona wine, in spite of its bitterness.

After all, children often swallow unripe fruit or unpleasant medicine for the sole pleasure of taking what if forbidden.

94

Doubtless it is the same evil genius that sometimes inspired the simpler Novices; but do not think that the better-educated never commit this inelegant fault. I have seen it also in them.

In either case, if it is something more than a mere habit, it will be painful to acknowledge it, yet this would prevent further failings. If it is bad habit, no progress will ever be assist ourselves by humbly admitting our faults.

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Themes

Charity 24 Frankness89 World - Renouncement

29 Humility89

Some persons are enamoured of consolations. They are always wanting to talk to their Superiors about the affairs of their soul. They will not leave the side of their Novice Mistress until they feel interior joy and sweetness.

Do not disturb them during spiritual exercises, for you will interrupt their happy little state of devotion, and they will make you pay for it. Their existence must be as regular as clockwork otherwise they will not taste all the sweetness of religious life. They will never have the charity to put off an exercise or sacrifice it if duty demands.

These gluttons are incapable of leaving some person they think indispensable for their spiritual progress, or of missing a Communion if charity or circumstances require it, and if by chance they are asked to do

without a possible confession or take a little less time over it, even if it is a question of charity for the priest or for others, they will never consent and will stoutly persist in gratifying their desires.

Be very punctual at your exercises, go to confession and consult your Superiors as often as is necessary, and be utterly frank, but avoid like the plague this spiritual gluttony which is nothing but self-seeking, and is unworthy of a Franciscan Missionary of Mary.

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95


Themes

Nature 70 Struggle 26 Time - Strength 89 Mission 69 Courage 89 Love of God 23 Generosity 89 Charity 24

Some Sisters are apathetic by nature. Health and temperament tend to encourage laziness, or perhaps our upbringing has got us into the habit of wasting our time and doing everything at our leisure.

Laziness is the opposite of devotedness. Lazy people always insist on having everything convenient for their work, assistants who will spare them fatigue, the best place everywhere.

They will never think of sacrificing themselves or helping another in her work, but on the contrary they never let slip an opportunity for doing less than their share.

The Novice Mistress must observe her daughters well with regard to this. We are all lazy at times, but no defect is more detrimental to our missionary vocation.

You must accustom your daughters, therefore, to fight against it for the love of God and their neighbor by overcoming their selfishness which is one of the chief causes of laziness.

There is another kind of laziness which is almost universal and which consists in being too fond of one’s pillow in the morning. Try to get your subjects used to rising at the first sound of the bell and to

consider it a fault if they do not. If they are not well, decide how long they are to rest during the day or what time they must get up, so that they may not risk being caught by the demon of self-indulgence.

In every respect accustom the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary to be resolute and courageous, seeking to take the hard work for themselves rather than give it to others, setting aside comfort, ready to put up with privations, and even accepting suffering without fear.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Charity24 Spouse 25 Detachment

29

96

Mary 68 Renouncement 29 Francis 65 Word of God 73

I will not undertake to write a treatise on all the virtues. They are acquired by fighting against the opposite vice or temptation.

From what has gone before, the Novice Mistress will have sufficient insight to make her Novices pursue all the virtues which should adorn a Franciscan Missionary of Mary, Spouse of Our Lord, imitator of Mary Immaculate and daughter of St. Francis.

I will not speak of the three theological virtues beyond saying a few words about charity which I would always like to be able to call the Queen of our Houses as it is at present; I will say something about the virtues corresponding to the three vows, and we shall end by a short consideration of detachment and self-oblivion which are the evangelical and Franciscan foundation of all solid virtue.

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Themes

Charity 24 Goodness24 Example 63 Goodness of God

23 Humility 89 Gentleness89 Penance 76 Unity87 Word of God 73 Jesus

67

Up to the present, charity has been the distinctive characteristic of our religious family, as I have just said. The Mother Mistress must do all she can to preserve this as a treasure, and accustom her Novices never to speak ill of anyone, herself always giving the example in the practice of this virtue. Never must she allow them to quarrel, or be disobliging, or create the slightest unpleasantness. If anyone were guilty of so doing, she must make them humble themselves and repair their fault.

In my family at home God gave me a mother who never allowed the children to go to bed without making it up if there had been anything between them during the day.

I would like my religious family to inherit this evangelical spirit, and to remember that Our Lord told us to leave the altar to go and be reconciled with our brother.

97

The charity of the Mistress of Novices must be an image of the charity of God Himself, and like Him she must be able to say to her children: “Can a woman forget her infant …. ? And if she should forget, yet will not I forget thee?”

Let her never display impatience or weariness, nor must she give a reprimand till she has her feelings under control.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Renouncement 29 Jesus 67 Abandonment 22 Eucharist 62 Word of God 73

It is written of Jesus that He was subject and obedient unto the death of the cross. This obedience He continues in the mystery of the Blessed Sacrament.

My daughters are His adorers, and they must exemplify the obedience of Jesus by making their lives conform to His. They must give up their own will entirely in order to do God’s Will, and be able to say with Our Divine Lord: “My meat is to do the Will of Him that sent me”.

May my daughters realize what this life of the Word Incarnate was. They must not conceive of obedience as being exercised only when their Superiors give formal commands.

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Themes

Providence 22 Obedience 71 Law - Authority 79 Abandonment 22 Live in God 86

An obedient person sees God’s Will manifested by the dispositions of Divine Providence, the orders and even the desires of all those who have lawful authority.

98

For us these are: The Church and her laws, our Rules, our ecclesiastical Superiors according to their rank, the Successor of St. Francis and the Fathers he appoints to look after us, and finally the Superiors of the Institute.

These are the mouthpiece of God’s Will, and an obedient Franciscan Missionary of Mary always submits to their authority. In this way she and her self-will decrease in the measure that Jesus increases within her.

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Themes

Francis 65 Obedience 71 Providence 22 Struggle 26 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Generosity 89

Before ending this article, I wish to leave my daughters as a sacred and highly esteemed trust, our privilege of being under the direction of the Father General of the whole Franciscan Order. It was

obtained by no human effort; Divine Providence led us to the Aracoeli without our realizing it on the occasion of the seventh centenary of the birth of St. Francis, and permitted us to be adopted as an integral part of the Order by the Minister General of the Friars Minor.

My children must regard this as the most precious heritage that I leave them. Let the Mistress of Novices inculcate respect, devotedness and filial submission towards the Successor of St. Francis, whoever he may be.

Every single one must be a daughter to the Most Reverend Father, everywhere and in all respects, and if the devil tries to suggest any change in the existing order of things, let each one, by God’s grace, rise up in defense of her part of the heritage.

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Themes

Francis 65 Earth/heaven 83Obedience 71

99

As long as I am on earth I shall unite my efforts to those of my children, and after my death I hope by God’s mercy to sustain them more mercy to sustain them more efficaciously still whenever there is question of defending and preserving this treasure which I bequeath them.

In the name of Mary Immaculate I bless all my daughters present and future who show themselves to be faithful children of the Successor of St. Francis; I could not consider as my true children those who are not whole-heartedly his.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Francis 65 Absolute power of God - Peace 72 Detachment 29 Abandonment 22 Love of God 23 Sanctity - Truth 88 Unity 87

Poverty

This virtue should be the foundation-stone of our spiritual edifice because it is the fount and aliment of love.

My God and my All!

This cry of St. Francis is the expression of perfect love and calls for complete detachment.

The more we meditate upon these simple words, the deeper and fuller lessons they teach us, until finally we realize to what extent St. Francis was enlightened by love and truth when he espoused Poverty for Himself and all his children.

A person who is genuine in his practice of Poverty allows everything to be taken and withdrawn from him whether it be spiritual or temporal, interior or exterior. As long as he possesses God he is abandoned and at peace, but every time some attachment unrelated to God ties him down or troubles him, he can be sure he is not practicing Franciscan poverty.

May my daughters practice poverty to this extent in everything and everywhere. Since it is in the Novitiate that they will imbibe this life of poverty which yields such abundant fruits, the Mistress of Novices herself must be faithfully attached to it.

100

Let her inspire her daughters with unbounded love for this precious treasure of our Seraphic Father; little by little may such things as old clothes, inconvenient cells, absence of the necessary amenities for work come to be considered as graces by all the children.

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Themes

Chastity 25 Mission 69 Purity 89 Prudence 89 World - Mary 68 Sentiment - Earth/heaven 83 Fidelity 89

Chastity

“My Beloved feedeth among the lilies”. I cannot imagine a person who intended to be unfaithful to the Queen of Virgins daring to wear the robe of her missionaries.

But more than this, I wish each of my daughters to be so pure that she attracts the presence of Jesus to our houses and on to the earth by diffusing everywhere the perfume of chastity.

This will come about by the avoidance of particular friendships, the banishment of worldly subjects of conversation and of thought, the exact observance of the prescriptions laid down in the Constitutions and Customs, and the practice of the presence of God.

I request my daughters, especially those who are on the Missions, to have a great devotion to the Virgin most prudent and invoke her each day: Virgo’s prudentissima, ora pro nobis.

If they are faithful to this counsel of their Mother, they will soar straight upwards towards their beloved.

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Themes

Absolute power of God - World - Renouncement 29 Poverty 75 Detachment 29 Jesus 67

101

Charity 24 Suffering82 Supernatural spirit 64 Earth/heaven83

My God and my all! This is the sole and eternal attachment which can be ours, and hence all our love and sacrifice is for God who is “All” and is worthy of our all.

Therefore, Detachment from places: “The earth is the Lord’s”! Everywhere I find myself in God’s domain, and He is my all; if I attached myself to some place it would then be my domain, not God’s.

Detachment from persons: I must love my neighbor as myself for the love of God. So I will love them all, for in all I see God; if I attached myself to anyone it would mean I loved them outside of God, it would be the love of a created being and also love of myself.

Detachment form things: Every year God repeats to me the words “Remember that thou art dust and into dust thou shalt return”! If I attached myself to anything at all it would be to love the dust which passes away, and I am the child of eternity.

Detachment from myself: Jesus has said: “If any man will come after me, let him deny Himself and take up his cross and follow me”. If I am self-seeking, I shall not be able to deny myself and take up my cross; I shall not be following Jesus, and I shall find myself destitute.

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Themes

Detachment 29 Suffering 82 Humility 89 Abandonment 22 Absolute power of God - Struggle 26

At last I come to the end of this Book of Customs on the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua 1887, and I conclude by giving my daughters the key which will open to them all the virtues and shut out all temptations and faults; this secret is hidden from almost everyone, and yet it is the purest truth: sincere self-contempt.

Perfect humility leads as far as that, and then everything falls into its due order. God Who is All takes His place in us and through us, we who are nothing at last find our own.

In sorrow and trial a person who has no regard for himself is strong; suffering is his due for he is unworthy of any favour. Complaint dies on his lips and even fades from his heart to give way to limitless abandonment to God’s designs.

102

Oh, all-embracing self-contempt, abandonment of all, love which gains all, may you ever constitute the life and distinctive spirit of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

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Themes

Devotions 77 Holy Spirit 61 Presence of God 86 Jesus 67 Mary 68 Authority 79 Francis 65

Directory

The Novice Mistress will have as her patron and Guide the Archangel Raphael who is the Protector of the Novitiate.

She will have his picture in her room, and ask him each day to keep her always, as he is, in God’s Presence, though she has at the same time to guide the souls entrusted to her care.

She will also ask him to allow her to receive special graces from the Holy Spirit, that His Lights may guide her in every circumstance.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Word of God 73 Abandonment 22 Francis 65 Providence 22 Devotions 77 Will of God - Authority 79

If the devil seems to be seeking his prey in the Novitiate, as did the monster which threatened young Tobias, the Mistress of Novices will cry: “He cometh upon me” and her angel protector will certainly come to her aid.

103

This heavenly guide will also teach her self-abandonment to Providence and submission to God’s good pleasure, such as he inspired in young Tobias; and she will strive to be another St. Raphael for her daughters, looking after them and teaching them these fundamentally evangelical and Franciscan virtues.

The Sub-Mistresses and the Admonitresses are under the patronage of the Guardian Angels whose silent and devoted ministry they will try to imitate, and all who work in the Novitiate will recommend themselves to the Queen of Angels, title of Our Lady beloved in the Franciscan Order, so that they may tend and direct with the aid of the angels the nursery-gardens of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

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Themes

Suffering 82 Transformation in God 84 Francis 65 Mary 68 Jesus 67 Authority 79 Union with God 86

I would like all my daughters who are Superiors to realize that they are in a position to do either great good or great evil, and to profit by my long and sorrowful experience.

If the cross of being Superior has fallen upon your shoulders, do as our Seraphic Father did, it is under his protection that I write these limes on the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis 1884 – try to be the faithful reflection of Jesus as he was; become so united to Him and so like Him that He possesses you entirely, and let it be He Who rules in you and by you.

As always, His Immaculate Mother will be His good and faithful companion and the means by which the fullness of Our Lord’s spirit will take possession of your soul and the souls of those confided to your care.

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Themes

Contemplation/action 27 Authority 79 Prayer 77 Sanctity - Abandonment 22

104

After hearing that you have been chosen to exercise authority over others, my Daughters, try to spend a few days in retreat. During this time examine yourself well, what your relations are with God and your neighbor, review your personal character and your past life in the Institute. Then see what God’s Will in everything is, make your resolutions, write them and keep them by you.

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Themes

Duty 89 Judgment - Authority 79 Renouncement 29

Prayer 77 Detachment 29 Union with God 86 Justice - Law - Prudence 89 Abandonment 22 Peace 72

Try to make your piety genuine and solid, so that your daughters may feel they can have confidence in you. Let your piety be based upon an exact understanding of your duties as a Christian, a Religious and a Superior; let it be evident and felt by everyone that you always consult God about these questions, and that you not only act in accordance with His laws, but that you are guided by all the indications of His Will.

Make your judgment accurate by practicing self-sacrifice and detachment from created things. Common sense is one of the most essential qualities for a person in your position.

I would like all the Superiors of the Institute to be naturally gifted in this respect, but let them endeavour to acquire and perfect it by prayer, discretion, obedience and caution over the matter of self-will.

If you succeed in all this, my Daughters, you may be at peace even if you do not have great consolations. It is not dreams that make saints, but the practice of God’s Will and the fulfillment of His divine wishes.

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105


Themes

Cult 77 Love of God 23 Respect for God - Example 63

During all the acts of divine worship, a Superior must conduct herself in a way which shows her respect and love of Almighty God. Wherever she may go, let her presence be a living example calling to order those who fail to fulfill the prescriptions given us on the subject of divine worship.

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Themes

Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Church 60 Francis 65 Pope 60 Authority 79 Obedience 71

As a heritage for his children St. Francis has handed down an inviolable respect and submission to the Holy Roman Church and the Vicar of Jesus Christ. In this matter and in all else, let the Superiors be worthy daughters of their Seraphic Father. They must love Holy Church, the Sovereign Pontiff, the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda and the Minister General of the Friars Minor, and inspire this love in those around them, being wholly submissive in their regard.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Unity 87 Strength 89 Common life 91 Mission 69

My Daughters, and specially you who are Superiors, preserve the following words as a testament of your Foundress, and let them be regarded by you as sacred since they spring from my long experience in the Missions.

106

Obedience and union with your Superior General will be the strength of the Institute and the key which will open to you the gates of Paradise.

Our convents are great distances apart; we are called to work with secular priests and all the religious Orders, since the Holy See can send us anywhere. If we go our own way and do not make every effort to preserve our community and family spirit we shall soon constitute a mosaic, and we shall lose that union which is the strength of the religious and missionary life.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Holy Spirit 61 Judgment - Order - Hierarchy 71

Nature 70 Frankness 89 Mission 69 Grace - Authority 79 Unity 87

So you above all who are in authority over your Sisters, have a dread of the slightest word which might draw you away or remove you from the direction given by the Mother General and her Council. It is false to suppose that because you are far away they doo not understand you. This is a merely natural ways of looking at things, and it is the great danger of the missionary life where we are necessarily a long way from the central seat of authority.

But does distance make any difference to the Holy Spirit? And has not grace been promised to those who are obedient to authority? Surely it would be more reasonable to believe that He is with the Authorities, however far away. If we judge differently it shows that our fallen nature or our passions and those of the people with us, have led us to consider matters from a too natural and purely human point of view.

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Themes

Mission 69 Maternal love - Obedience 71 Order - Hierarchy 71 Unity 87

107

As long as I am in this world, a certain understandable respect and gratitude for what I suffered in order to bring you forth in the religious life will preserve the Institute from misfortunes only too common on the Missions. But after my death I beseech my Daughters both present and future to remember these words I bequeath to you as a legacy and the explanations I have left you. Once more I repeat them and would like to engrave them on your hearts and souls:

Obedience and union with your Superior General will be the safeguard of the Institute and the key of Paradise for a Franciscan Missionary of Mary.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Order - Hierarchy 71 Francis 65 Poverty 75 Pope 60 Frankness 89 Authority 79 Fidelity 89 Courage 89

You have nothing to fear if obedience binds you to your Superior General, to the representative of St. Francis and to the Vicar of Jesus Christ himself.

There is one more recommendation I would like to make to those in authority. They must have the courage, after discussion with their Council, to refuse at the outset any undertaking which would be contrary to our Rules, or developments requiring expenditure beyond the available resources. It is not a gracious act always to leave to the Mother General or sometimes to the Provincial the unpleasant task of having to make the refusal, and it is unworthy of Franciscan Missionary of Mary.

Besides, everything concerning the Constitutions is very clear. If there was the possibility of a dispensation, you could always inform the Major Superiors of your refusal. It is always easier to restore broken hopes than to destroy an expectation which has been encouraged by a Local or Provincial Superior, but which the Superior General cannot fulfill.

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108


Themes

Obedience 71 Liberty - Authority 79 Prudence 89 Responsibility 79 Respect for persons 24 Prayer 77

If there were any difficult or complicated questions, the Superior could mention them beforehand to her Councillors so that they have time to consider them before God and beg Him to enlighten them. She should not usually give her opinion on any subject first, in order to avoid influencing the Councillors, but if they were in doubt she could tell them the reason which make her incline one way or the other.

According to the Constitutions, the Superior and her Councils are bound to keep their deliberations absolutely secret, and those who have disagreed with the majority must defer to the decisions taken and make others respect them, upholding them, if necessary, just as if they were their own.

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Themes

Authority 79 Renouncement 29 Nature 70 Holy Spirit 61 Humility 89 Struggle 26 Simplicity 89 Unity 87 Obedience 71 Frankness 89

Prudence 89

The Superior and her Councillors must all give their opinion without regard to natural considerations, unassumingly for sure, but with straightforwardness, remembering that God often allows divergences of opinion to clarify a problem. When a question is considered from several points of view, it is more clearly apprehended than if it had been passed immediately without comment.

If our Sisters are humble and not self-opinioned, it will often happen that those who have at first disagreed will become the staunchest supporters of a motion, but this will not be the case if they obstinately oppose a decision for the sole reason that they voted against it in the first instance.

All Councillors of the Institute should have a greater devotion than others to the Holy Spirit, and they should invoke Him and have recourse to Him very often.

109

Lastly, during the Whitsun octave they will offer a Holy Communion for the intentions of all the Definitors of the Order and the Councillors of the Institute, so that all may obtain heavenly wisdom, and triumph over the obstacles arising from fallen human nature and those which come directly from the devil.

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Themes

Fidelity 89 Common life 91 Missions 69 Contemplation/action 27 Strength 89 Grace - Authority 79 Poverty 75

If you are determined to observe the Customs everywhere, God will accord you this grace, and I promise you here and now that, far from compromising your undertakings, you will see them prospering, and you will draw down innumerable blessings upon the Mission to which you are attached. I know that strong will-power is required to insist on the punctual accomplishment of exercises. There will always be good souls who ask for office to be said privately, that refectory reading and recreation be dispensed with, and I know not what else.

Let me remind you that at the foundation of Saint Brieuc we were only two in the house, but we said Office aloud, had reading at table and said the rosary during the washing-up, yet we had literally everything to procure, as the only luggage we had brought with us was contained in a cardboard box 12 inches long.

It is just because there is a temptation not to keep to the Customs on the Missions, and to think them prejudicial to the active apostolate or the usages of the country, that Superiors must have them impressed upon their heart, and aim at the total observance of community in their own case and for the other Sisters.

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110


Themes

Family - Authority 79 Charity 24 Traditions - Goodness 24

If there is some family sorrow or joy, particularly the father’s or mother’s Feast-day, she will see that her subjects are extremely considerate and never hurt those who miss them at home.

Sometimes the Superior could add a little word herself so that by degrees the families get to love the Institute.

But though she must be firm about stopping correspondence more frequent than is customary with us, she must also insist that our Sisters write at the proper times to their families so as not to cause them anxiety.

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Themes

Mission 69 Order - Hierarchy 71 Authority 79 Unity 87 Body/soul 28

It is permitted to celebrate the Feast of Superiors and Directresses of Work, though always in a religious manner, and let the needs of the missions be kept in view when making or receiving gifts.

Staying up late to prepare for these celebrations is always forbidden; the health of the Sisters is too precious.

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Themes

Formation - Duty 89Authority 79

111

The Superior will take care to see that no light or useless reading is done in our houses or various activities, and with still greater vigilance will she shield her flock from reading anything of a doubtful character form whatever point of view.

On account of political events it may be that the Superior has to glance through a Catholic newspaper. This she will do as a matter of duty, confining herself to what is necessary. No political newspaper or any similar publication must ever lie about or be currently read in our houses.

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Themes

Authority 79 Chastity 25 Fidelity 89 Obedience 71 Formation - Frankness 89 Spouse 25 Power of God - Poverty 75 Will -

Our Superiors must be perfectly conversant with the nature and obligations of our vows so that they may instruct and guide our Sisters. They must see to their faithful observance by all those under them. Their subjects must be made to understand that in this matter there can be no compromise with conscience; they have voluntarily pledged themselves to lead a life of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, therefore with regard to their vows they can permit themselves no conscious transgression.

A Superior should inspire all with a great fear of infidelity to the promise they have made to their Divine and Almighty Spouse.

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Themes

Charity 24 Renouncement29 Union with God 86 Mission69 Authority 79 Nature70 Law - Unity

87

112

Charity

This is the Queen of Virtues since it unites us wholly to God in time and in eternity. The Superior must preserve the sovereign rule of charity, govern under its inspiration, and insist that the laws and even the counsels of charity be everywhere observed.

May I remind her once more that charity must retain its genuine unifying character; the affection of all must be given to the Order and the whole Institute, and let no one foster divisions which arise when only one’s personal interests are taken into account. This kind of selfishness ruins all hopes of doing good and achieving great and lasting results in the active apostolate. The tendency is natural, but the Superiors must watch out for it in others as well as in themselves. In the event of a failing in this matter,

they should make others esteem it a grace to be warned or corrected so that affection for our family and all that concerns the Institute is restored.

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Themes

Charity 24 Mary68 Authority

79

Let them require of all perfect charity towards their neighbor, and practice it themselves; let them never tolerate any uncharitableness either at recreation of in private conversation.

Charity must be the hall-mark of my daughters, otherwise I shall not be able to present them in that quality to the Queen of Charity, Mother of Jesus Who is very Love.

May this consideration make them always devoted to this royal and eternal virtue so little known and appreciated at the sad epoch in which I write these lines.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Fervour 89 Authority 79 Mary 68 Francis 65 Example 63 Fidelity 89

113

Let our Superiors remember the love of St. Francis, our Seraphic Father, for Poverty, and let them become worthy always to be considered his faithful and fervent children.

The practice of Article 40 of our Constitutions should be the object of their special attention. In anticipation and in the name of Our Blessed Lady and St. Francis, I bless all Superiors who exclude from our buildings and houses everything that savours of extravagance and elegance.

They must remember that all ornamentation is strictly forbidden for our convents, and the Institute will only preserve its fervor on condition that it observes this precept to the letter. They must not tolerate

any elegance in furniture or the articles used by our Sisters, and in this respect let them be an example to all.

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Themes

Body/soul 28 Ecce 68 Poverty 75 Obedience 71 Authority 79 Mission 69 Francis 65 Earth/Heaven 83 Detachment 29

Sometimes the worries and work affect the Superiors’ health and they are obliged by obedience to take special precautions, but health is not harmed by poverty in the furniture and things we use.

In this matter, then, there must be no compromise. Our Superiors must see that the Franciscan spirit is kept in vigour amongst us, for it is the spirit which will preserve the love and practice of poverty which have literally flourished in our Institute since its foundation.

My dear Daughters, long live souls who are detached, and allow those in authority to dispose of them and of everything else at their pleasure! I myself will not consider as my true daughters those who behave as if they owned things, and whether it is done in small or important matters, it always distresses me.

Seeing that I feel like this while still on earth with only limited enlightenment, in Heaven, if it pleases God to admit me there, I shall be still more severe on those of my daughters who employ roundabout means to obtain the use of objects for themselves, their house, Province or Mission.

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Themes

Authority 79 Mission 69 Respect for persons 24 Gentleness 89 Humility 89 Peace 72

Fidelity 89 Formation - Francis 65

A Superior should only administer a reprimand when she and the person receiving it are in a state of calm; it should not be done in public, for instance at recreation, but preferably in her room when the person at fault is less likely to be disturbed by feelings of wounded self-love.

To make a remark in writing will very often be wiser and have more satisfactory results.

A Superior must put right any wrong of which she is aware, she must see that the Franciscan and missionary spirit is preserved, and punish those faults which require it, but she should remember that only kindness will produce peace and inspire humility.

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Themes

Body/soul 28 Authority 79

For what concerns her health, the Superiors should resort to their Admonitress or in her absence, to their Assistant.

In principle, they can take for themselves the permissions which they easily grant to their inferiors.

I hereby give an advice to the Institute: it cannot be given as a rule, but experience has taught me that generally, it is better if she takes as companion, a Sister rather than a Mother. This is observed mostly in the Religious Orders for men and in prayer, I saw its advantages. This does not mean that the Superior General or the Provincial cannot take along their secretaries.

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115


Themes

Glory of God 66 Respect for persons 24 Salvation of souls 81 Charity

24 Poverty 75 World- Humility 89

She must encourage and keep up good relations with the persons who could help us for God’s glory and the salvation of souls, and with those who are in need of conversion.

Ample attention and a warm welcome will be accorded to the poor and humble.

The friends of our houses must be treated with kindness and charity, and wherever she may be, let the Superior give a good impression of the Institute.

She must keep away from parlours and contacts with the world, those religious who would be easily influenced and led astray by worldly persons, or who take undue pleasure in meeting them.

On the other hand, let her force the shy to overcome their awkwardness, so that all may give of their best for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.

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Themes

Mission 69 Frankness 89 Obedience 71 Peace 72 Abandonment 22 Charity

24 Strength 89 Authority71 Renouncement 29 Will

-

Every member of the Institute must understand that when a new mission is established, it is important to provide it with some subjects who have experience of the missions, at least for the chief work of the foundation. All must not expect this kind of sacrifice, therefore, nor must opposition ever be shown, not to speak of refusal. Oh, what a disgrace it would be if a Franciscan Missionary of Mary sought to avoid obedience and self-sacrifice by means of little conspiracies with the Bishops and priests whose apostolate we aid!

116

I tremble for a person who should thus knowingly turn aside from God’s Will.

In such difficult circumstances let my daughters both present and future be the right hand of their Superior General and her Council. Let them take upon themselves any unpleasantness or difficulty the change may involve, and get everyone concerned to accept it in good part. In the face of resolute and sincere good will, any transfer can always be effected in an atmosphere of peace and charity, whatever the sacrifice.

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Themes

Suffering 82 Priests 60 Silence 89 Prudence 89 Common life 91 Sacraments - Authority 79 Respect for persons 24 Providence 22 Respect for the Hierarchy 71

Woman-

I cannot recommend strongly enough to our Superiors the virtue of suffering in silence.

Many a cross is lightened and numerous difficulties resolve themselves when they are not allowed to become the subject of discussion for many tongues.

I can say from my own experience that I have seen apparently endless and serious difficulties pass without disturbing the communities concerned because they were born in silence and gave place to prosperity, nor did anyone suspect the terrible trial which had been permitted by Divine Providence.

On the other hand, if the Superior allows a word to escape her about such and such an authority not easy to get on with, about some priest or confessor who lacks discretion, a certain religious who tries her patience, an exacting and easily offended benefactor, the extravagant pretentions of a certain family of one of our Sisters, all her hearers will think themselves called upon to agree, or perhaps to disagree. Sometimes, God save us, they will cut a good figure by being on both sides at the same time.

Things become exaggerated in the measure they are repeated. Some worthy daughter of Eve will think herself important if she posses on the remarks to the person in question, and an affair which might have been peaceably settled reaches an acute stage, and may even end in disaster.

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117


Themes

Suffering 82 Authority 79 Silence 89 Obedience 71 Union with God 86 Prayer 77 Gentleness 89 Sentiment - Humility 89 Prudence 89 Renouncement 29 Nature 70

Force89

Our Superiors must know how to suffer in silence, and open their heart and soul to God alone, without seeking comfort by revealing to others their sorrows and complaints.

After praying about the matter they can speak to their Mother General about it, for with her experience she will have the grace to assist them in seeking a happy outcome by means of patience and tact in their dealings.

To act thus requires deep humility and real self-oblivion. The most that could be done if necessary would be for our Superiors to seek some solace by speaking to one of their Councillors whose influence they know in conscience will be helpful to them. If they are obliged to consult the whole Council, this must be done in a restrained manner without saying more than is necessary.

Human nature gets some satisfaction when we allow ourselves to become worked up, but our interests and souls always suffer as a consequence. Our Superiors will therefore take great care to avoid this mode of conduct and little by little bring themselves to seek above all from God in prayer, the help and strength they and the Institute need in times of trial and difficulty.

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Themes

Mary 68 Obedience 71 Francis 65 Reign of God 78 Vocation of the Institute - Authority 79 Humility 89 Earth/Heaven 83

118

A new century is beginning. In the one just finished, my God, you called me to found the Institute of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, which will be a memento of the century of the Immaculate Conception for the Seraphic Order, and which gave martyrs to the Order at the close of the century.

I hope that the century now beginning, will, in spite of my unworthiness, lead me into your kingdom.

Before this departure, which, because of my age, is not far off, obedience bids me leave a customs book for my office to my daughters.

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Themes

Authority 79 Church 60 Ecce 68 Obedience 71 Service - Suffering

82 Victim 90 Abandonment22 Spouse 25 Vocation of the

Institute - Mary 68

“Behold the handmaid of the Lord.” This is our motto, and therein lies the entire spirit of the Superior General of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

Before all else, this Servant of the Lord, to whom God has confided a phalanx of victims for the Church and for souls, must belong in all and for all to her God, to her crucified Spouse, to his Immaculate Mother, to the Church and to its head.

Obedience and unlimited devotedness to legitimate authority are the great examples she owes to the daughters.

Without doubt, it may happen that this authority can cause suffering. My poor life will remain an example of that. God has placed the foundation of our Institute on the roughest of crosses.

But our obedience must not be regulated by the way authority is expressed; whether its expression is painful or consoling, it is permitted by the Holy Will of God. It builds even when it seems to destroy.

119

O my daughters, you who will be superiors general, may I remind you once again that this is the way God has acted for me, your Mother Foundress. Therefore, obedience at all times, in everything, in spite of all.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Word of God 73 Obedience 71 Service

- Authority 79 Ecce68 Law - Humility

89

In my great poverty I have no other heritage; I have nothing to hand down to those who will follow me, and yet, it seems to me, by the grace of God, I can certainly bequeath them my obedience full of love for the Church, the Pope, the Successor of Saint Francis.

In their regard, always remember the words of our Lord, “He who hears you, hears me; he who despises you, despises me.”

May each of our Superiors General merit the praise given our Lord in the Gospel. “He obeyed.”

May it always be said of the one who will be at the head of the Institute, “She is truly the handmaid of the Lord.”

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Themes

Authority 79 Order/Hierarchy 71 Common life 91 Strength 89 Prudence 89 Humility 89

The Vicar General fulfills the charge of the local Superior in the house of Rome, and is nothing more vis-à-vis the Institute.

120

In precedence, her charge is the second in the Institute, but gives her absolutely no authority outside the house where she holds the office of Superior.

According to the Constitutions, therefore, she has absolutely no special power, and like the other Superiors, must be held to the residence.

Also, it is not necessary that the Vicar General be the eldest of the Assistants General; but as far as possible, she should be the strongest, in order to be able to follow the exercises of the community in such a way that there is no suffering in the house of Rome because of the occupations of the Very Reverend Mother General and her council.

Outside the house of Rome, the Vicar General, like the other Assistance General, has no authority over the local superior or her community, although she keeps her rank of precedence.

The Vicar General does not have the right of a seal.

It is well established, also, that in the case of prolonged absence or sickness, the Superior General is free to designate another Assistant General to be her delegate, and then the delegate takes the first rank as representative of the Mother General.

The only case where the Vicar General replaces the Mother General is foreseen in numbers 91 and 92 of the Constitutions.

The Constitutions also state that (99) the Vicar General and the Vicar Provincial will notify the Superior of the matters that the majority of the Councillors believe it obligatory to tell them. They must be very prudent, therefore, in receiving complaints, especially those coming from persons showing bad spirit.

The Vicar General is in the situation of a simple inferior vis-a-vis the Superior General, although she may be her admonisher.

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Themes

Virtues 89 Responsibility 79 Sanctity - Holy Spirit 61 Renouncement 29 Abandonment 22

121

Detachment 29 Respect for persons 24 Formation - Authority 79

If the perfection of all the souls in her house depends to some extent upon the local Superior, it may also be said that the solid virtue of the Provincial Superior, must have a breadth of vision which will make her interested in the works of others more so than in her own, a discernment which will guide her in the training of the subjects confided to her, and a detachment which leads her to give herself, without enjoying the results. A major Superior has, by the nature of her office, few consolations. Usually, she must not enter into the work in any detail, but situate herself at a higher level and govern the works and her houses according to the spirit and will of the Divine Master.

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Themes

Unity 87 Respect for persons 24 Liberty - Duty 89 Responsibility 79 Authority 79

May God protect us from those negligent Provincials who let the local Superiors and their subjects do as they wish, according to their own views, and set up works and things which do not have the seal of our Institute. But may He likewise preserve us from those narrow and niggardly Provincials who are not able to leave others the freedom to move according to their aptitudes, who want to handle small matters themselves, and who, thereby, often perhaps neglect the important concerns confided to them.

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Themes

Authority 79 Francis 65 Duty 89 Obedience 71 Mission 69 Struggle 26 Mary 68 Word of God 73 Unity 87

Our Provincials have serious duties to fulfill, much more difficult and important than in the greater number of religious Institutes. One gathers under her crook and Chinese missions; another houses of India; for another it will be Africa, and God knows still where!

122

It is easier for the Provincials of Europe to govern alongside the Superior General.

But if our Institute is to truly make known its Queen and Immaculate Mother, and then it must be possible to say of all of us, even of those Superiors who are farthest away, “they truly have one heart and one soul.” The difficulties will be great, given the distances, the diverse customs, and the different clergy. If a Provincial is one in heart and soul with the Successor of Saint Francis and the Superior General, then she will arise without doubt, because the demon detests unity and always fights it. If he does not enter into the interior of the family, he will seek an open door, and among the number of those who surround us, it is very rare that he will not find some means or other to try us; but once again, if the Provincial is one heart and one soul with her Order and her Mother General, she will act according to the gospel spirit and will remind herself that trials are part of true Franciscan happiness.

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Themes

Word of God 73 Francis 65 Authority 79 Goodness 24 Holy Spirit 61 Jesus 67

The Kingdom of heaven belongs to her if she is poor.

She will possess the earth, if she is meek.

If she weeps, she will be consoled.

May she be merciful and she will obtain mercy.

May she keep her heart and the hearts of others pure, and they will see God.

May she be peaceful and she will be truly the child of God.

Persecutions will gain the Kingdom of Heaven for her.

Let her remember that the spirit of Jesus and of our Seraphic Father is to offer the left cheek to the one who strikes on the right; to abandon her mantle to whomever would take her tunic; to give to whoever asks; to pray for our persecutors and to love our enemies.

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123


Themes

Authority 79 Francis 65 Faith 64 Mission 69 Supernatural spirit 64 Liberty - Renouncement 29 Joy 89 Mary 68

It is not necessary that she be tormented too much because of the injuries and persecutions of men which she has not merited. If we have faith we will then rejoice for as Our Lord said, they are the sign of great reward.

But a soul enamored of herself, attached to her personal enjoyment, cannot follow this doctrine. She will make her nest for herself, seeking human consolations in those who surround her, and forgetting, through a more-or-less great indolence, that she must fulfill the mission of Mary and a daughter of Saint Francis.

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Themes

Word of God 73 Francis 65 Mary 68 Authority 79 Sanctity -

By reminding her of the Sermon on the Mount (Mathew V), I have traced for her the main paths that will lead her to follow our Immaculate Queen.

How holy the Provincial will be and how much good she will do if she nourishes herself with this gospel spirit! Our Lord has left us this heritage, and in my turn, I desire to transmit to all my daughters what Mary, my Mother, will deign to give me, in the present and in the future, hand in hand with my Seraphic Father.

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124


Themes

Unity 87 Obedience 71 Mary 68 Order/Hierarchy 71 Francis 65 Duty 89 Truth 88

In their name I bless, in spite of my misery, all those who will work every day of their lives to have but one heart and one soul with their Institute on earth, and consequently, one heart and one soul with the Most Blessed Virgin and our Father, Saint Francis.

I implore the Provincials who will stray more-or-less from this unique way of truth, to examine themselves before God; to examine also the souls confided to them, many of whom will not fail to share their illusion. If they recognize that they are at fault, they may show their wounds to their Mother General or even to those of our Fathers whom the Church sets over us for their direction, in such a way that they may be cured, and their inferiors with them.

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Themes

Humility 89 Respect for persons 24 Word of God 73 Renouncement 29 Abandonment 22 Detachment 29 Power of God - Work 75 Live in God 86 Supernatural spirit 64

World -

Again I wish to seek in the Sermon on the Mount, the directions to give to the Mother Provincial as she takes up her office. May she count on God for all and not believe herself to be good only for spoiling everything. That says much and is very true. From the moment she seeks herself or shows personal preference, she will be sure to harm the good and hinder the ardour of those around her. If, on the contrary, she profoundly despises herself, leaving all freedom to God, in an abandonment and complete forgetfulness of herself, she will encounter a supernatural fruitfulness, because the principle of her work will be God and not the empty creature.

125

She will respond to her nomination trembling, like the most Blessed Virgin, “How shall this be done to me?” And then, in prayer, she will seek the help so necessary for her. “When thou art praying, go into thy inner room and shut the door upon thyself, and so pray to thy Father in secret; and then thy Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward thee.” (Mt. V, 6)

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Themes

Contemplation/Action 27 Authority 79 Father 85 Francis 65 Word of God 73 Mary 68 Obedience 71 Abandonment 22 Providence 22 Holy Spirit 61

Ecce 68

And so, may she (the Provincial Superior) enter into retreat. Her heavenly Father knows all that is most secret - her qualities and her failings. He will tell her how to make use of the former and how to correct the latter. He “knows well what your needs are before you ask Him.” He will enlighten her about persons and the matters of her province, and will infuse her with all the graces that she has need of. May she read slowly during the retreat (and also during her annual retreat) this Sermon on the Mount, which God has permitted that I use to begin her Custom Book, obedience having given it to me to read at this time through a disposition of Divine Providence. She will find there all that she must be and all that she must seek. May she have near her also Saint Bonaventure’s The Six Wings of the Seraphim or another book on the superiorship. Thus guided by the Gospel and the spirit of the Order, may she spend eight days, if possible, in the Cenacle with her Immaculate Mother. The Holy Spirit will come to help her and she will then be able to respond to the call of the Institute by saying “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”

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126


Themes

Prayer 77 Duty 89 Mary 68 Authority 79 Goodness of God 23 Suffering 82 Meditation 77 Contemplation/action 27 Eucharist

A Provincial Superior must be an interior soul, a channel of living water which must irrigate the field of Mary Immaculate. But a channel is not its own source - its beginning must be the inexhaustible fountain which is God. Then, without measure and without ceasing, it gives what it has received itself.

Let meditation, adoration of the most Blessed Sacrament be the life of her life and, under absolutely no pretext, may she ever omit this important duty; we can still adore and meditate on a bed of suffering.

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Themes

Peace 72 Gentleness 89 Union with God 86 Authority 79 Abandonment 22

May peace be the guardian of her relations (those of the Provincial Superior) with God; in this peace she will remain easily united to her Creator. Peace is maintained through abandonment and gentleness.

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Themes

Supernatural Spirit 64 Holy Spirit 61 Love of God 23 Word of God 73 Authority 79 Humility 89 Abandonment 22 Obedience 71

127

Meditation 77 Union with God 86 Purity 89 Suffering 82

May her union with God be founded upon the spirit of faith. May her knowledge and her love of our Lord be translated into practice. May she do not only all that is required by the law, but all that is required by love of the divine pleasure. And then, let her be little troubled by the dryness that tries her, even if it is very painful and permanent. Provided that she brings purity of conscience and peace to prayer, her relations with God will be true and fruitful; the Holy Spirit will act in her soul even when she does not perceive His actions. “He breathes where he wills,” and divine love working in the night preserves her soul from self-love. If, on the contrary, God consoles her, let her be absolutely silent with her inferiors, whether about trials or about graces which she receives. Let her be confident and obedient concerning such matters toward all those who are set over us for the care of the Institute.

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Themes

Sacraments - Prudence 89 Woman - Priests 60 Humility 89 Renouncement 29 Obedience 71 Authority 79

Let her not confide lightly to all ministers of the Lord whom she happens to meet. Those who have received the grace to assist her to make good, and even very good confessions, may have nothing of what is needed to guide her in spiritual trials and graces. She must be more prudent than others on this subject. The self-love of women is very subtle; their power over the other sex is very great sometimes, even without their being aware of it. By nature, we are well disposed towards a Director who easily believes what we ourselves believe and share our views.

Finally, let the Provincial Superior never forget that she must extinguish throughout her Province, relations with God which would not be true or which would be contrary to the spirit of our vocation. Therefore, I urge all my daughters whom God will call to this office of Provincial, to take the advice of obedience before confiding their direction to a particular person. Because of the Institute, doubtlessly, God has given me occasion of numerous and useful experiences, and my counsels, if they are followed, will be of great profit to souls, to the Provincials, and to the Institute.

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128


Themes

Authority 79 Order 89 Cult 77

Let the Provincial Superior kee4p her eyes well opened to see what goes on in the chapel, in the sacristy, at the organ, and for the singing. Let her assure herself that the Mistress of Choir and the sacristans observe the Ceremonial exactly, and that they, as well as the Superiors and Assistants, are instructed on this subject. Let them show no leniency on this point: when she arrives in a house, let her first concern be to assure herself that all related to the divine cult is scrupulously observed. For this purpose, she should see that each house is provided with the necessary books and objects for worship, and she should insist that the liturgical prescriptions of the Holy Roman Church be followed in everything.

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Themes

Francis 65 Church 60 Word of God 73 Eucharist 62 Authority 79 Mary 68 Devotions 77 Truth 88 Prayer 77 Peace 72

World-

The Provincials of the Institute must remember that our Family, grafted on the ancient seraphic trunk, must be impregnated, like the Order, with gospel traditions and set up an impassable barrier to the modern and wanton spirit which seeks to invade Christians and even religious houses.

Our Constitutions recommend to us the ancient and approved devotions of Holy Church. Let our Provincials be faithful guardians of this prescription. Let them avoid fashionable and infatuating spirituality, be it in books, in prayer, or in devotions. Let them keep themselves and also keep our houses from those persons and extraordinary things not approved by the Church and which appear here and there, arousing the enthusiasm of some, the criticism of others, and the curiosity of all. Holy Scriptures, the teachings of the Pope, the Eucharist, the most blessed Virgin, and the works written by

129

the saints, contain the nourishment of solid devotion, with which they may nourish themselves and with which they may nourish the souls confided to their care. Thus, they will keep themselves and others from illusions, and will maintain their Provinces in truth and peace.

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Themes

Purity 89 Abandonment 22 Renouncement 29 Devotions 77

Authority79

Let them ( the Provincials) enable their subjects to understand clearly that consolations do not make saints, but that a truly devout soul is the one who always keeps her conscience pure, who lives in contempt of self, lives according to the Will of God, abandoned to His love and with abnegation in her relations with her neighbor. Such must be the characteristics of the Provincial’s devotion and of what she will seek to imprint on all the souls confided to her.

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Themes

Formation - Francis 65 Sanctity - Time - Authority 79 World -

The Provincial will try to procure for the libraries of her province a choice of books which will contribute to the good of souls and the works. When she visits the houses, she should note how the Mother Superior directs the reading. She should make sure also that reserved books are not given without a note from the superior.

Her own reading must be scrupulously dedicated to the interest of her office and to her spiritual advancement, and to that of her daughters. She should nourish herself especially on Holy Scripture, on the Imitations and on writings strongly impregnated with the spirit of the Order.

She should watch carefully that there is no frivolous or useless reading in our houses and in our works, and she will guard her flock especially from readings that are suspect from no matter what viewpoint.

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Themes

Duty 89 Formation - Authority 79

It may be necessary, because of political events, to look over a good newspaper and also to allow the local Superior to do the same. Let it be duty which prompts her to do so and allow it to be done, limiting herself to what is necessary, and there never must be any political journal or other publication of this kind left around or read generally in our houses. But it will always be permitted and even useful to receive one or several religious reviews, for the edification and instruction of our communities.

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Themes

Formation - Word of God 73 Authority 79

The special library of the Provincial must contain all the books necessary for her office, for the good of the souls confided to her, and contain also the works that the country and the work may require. But the Provincial must always have among her books, Holy Scripture, the Imitation, the Custom Books, the Collection of the Annals of the Institute, the Aureole Seraphique, the better lives of Saint Francis and of the Saints of the Order, the most frequently used catechisms such as Giullois, Gaume, etc.,the work of P. Andre-Marie Meynard, and others more recent: Norme, the Six Wings of the Seraphim, the Cite Mystique of the venerable Marie d’Agreda, the Liturgical Year by Dom Gueranger, a good encyclopedic dictionary of the sciences, history, geography, a French dictionary and the dictionary of the different languages spoken in the Province, the Annals of the Propagation of the Faith, of the Holy Childhood, the Missions Catholiques and some Franciscan Reviews.

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Themes

Authority 79 Fidelity 89 Tradition - Unity 87

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The Provincial Superior must have not only her own Custom Book, but she must consider those of the local Superior and the Novice Mistress as complementary. Let her read them often, and be penetrated with the spirit contained therein, in order that this be the rule of her conduct. Likewise, she must have the other Custom Books of the charges under her jurisdiction and that of the Order of the Day.

I advise her to do what I have always liked to do when I stay in our houses - that is, to read each point of the Custom Book and afterwards examine whether it is practiced exactly in the place where Divine Providence will send her, and the same for personal charges. It is an excellent way of perceiving the smallest abuse, the slightest negligence and to become accustomed to noting all in the visit of her houses.

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Themes

Authority 79 Fidelity 89 Contemplation/action 27 Traditions -

Law-

The annual retreat will serve as her own visit; at that time, especially, she will re-read the Custom Book concerning herself and also the Order of the Day, so as to be aware of her own infidelities and to remedy them.

Let her have a special attachment to our Custom Books and inspire the same around her, never asking a dispensation without legitimate reason, and only claiming temporarily what is not permanently necessary.

She will compose with great care the Custom Book of the works prescribed by our Constitutions, and once these have been approved by the Mother General, she will be attentive that nothing is changed without permission. These Custom Books will then have, in the Province, the mission or the houses where they will have been enforced, the same value as the General Customs Book of the Institute.

If some religious, especially the Local Superiors and their officers, do not know their Custom Book well, then the Provincial will make this observation to them so as to remedy this negligence.

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Themes

Church 60 Francis 65 Authority 79 Obedience 71

Respect for the Hierarchy71

Inviolable respect for, and submission to the Holy Church and the Vicar of Jesus Christ, is the heritage transmitted by St. Francis to his children.

Let our Provincials maintain this relationship and be in all, worthy daughters of their Seraphic Father. May they have and spread the love for the Holy Roman Church, for the Sovereign Pontiff, for the Sacred Congregation of the Propaganda, for the Minister General of the Friars Minor, and show in all things their submission to them.

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Themes

Supernatural Spirit 64 Unity 87 Authority 79 Francis 65 Nature 70 Respect for the Hierarchy 71

Order - Hierarchy71

I implore the Provincials of the Institute to have a spirit of faith which will keep them from making a band apart, carried away as they would be by their human spirit and that of others. I have asked them always to be one heart and one soul with the whole Institute, and to watch that the local Superiors and their inferiors follow the same path. In order to attain this end, may each one turn her heart toward the Mother General and toward the successor of Saint Francis whom the Holy Church has established as the director and guardian of the Institute.

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Themes

Francis 65 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Authority 79 Obedience 71

Priests60

It is an incomparable grace for us that shelter our weakness under the mantle of our Seraphic Father that confides to his successors the mission of serving as the guide and support of our Superiors General. Let our Provincial Superiors not separate in their respect and obedience what God has united. Let them find the means of inspiring the same sentiments around them and let them never suffer any of our sisters to stray from this spirit.

Very far from impeding, this will protect the profound and filial respect that they owe to all Bishops who make use of them in their dioceses and to all the priests who are part of these dioceses.

More than anyone else, was it not Saint Francis who taught his children and preached by example this veneration for the Princes of the Church, the pontiffs and ministers of the Lord?

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Themes

Authority 79 Francis 65 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Devotedness 89 Obedience 71 Joy 89 Mission 69 Unity 87 Prudence 89

Will not a Provincial who is faithful to the spirit and word of the Patriarch of Assisi, have for all authority the respect and the obedience due them? Our Provincials have their houses in very different

surroundings. Let them be devoted to all and may they show to each institution and work an equal and entire interest.

It would be to render very poor service to our Order to appear indifferent and rather detached about Missions not confided to it, to speak of them without discretion, and not to give all our zeal to the work and for the good of souls in the place where Divine Providence has placed us. The heart of a Franciscan Missionary of Mary Provincial must truly be catholic and be at ease everywhere. The Bishops, the

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priests of the Missions where she works must find in her a joyous and loving daughter, ever ready to share sorrows, work, and consolation.

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Themes

Authority 79 Supernatural spirit 64 Offering - Unity 87 Nature 70 Francis 65

What tact is necessary for our Provincials to be able to give themselves and give our Sisters with generosity, that is, without limits, at the same time remaining one heart and one soul with their Institute.

What seems very difficult and impossible for the human spirit becomes enlightened and quite natural by a supernatural spirit. Raised above nature, a Franciscan will find herself well off everywhere, because all the earth is the Lord’s. The Provincial will belong so much the more to her Institute, if she is one with her God, and will thus share in His stability even here on earth.

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Themes

Tradition - Gentleness 89 Authority 79 Obedience 71 Priests 60 Prudence 89 Peace 79 Silence 89 Earth/Heaven 83 Suffering 82

Fidelity89

In difficulties with priests, let the Provincial, first of all, seek to arrange matters peacefully and directly with them.

If necessary, she herself will prudently have recourse to the Bishop; but if it should be a matter of major importance, she should address herself to the Superior General, and, in this case, let her do nothing without consulting her.

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In her relations with authority, she must remind herself that she will possess the earth by being gentle. To suffer passively and in silence is often the best way of arranging matters.

Let her never undertake anything with respect to the works without the permission of the Bishops. N But for all that concerns that Institute, she must not allow anything to touch our Constitutions or our customs. If the Bishop or a priest wishes to go against these, let her say gently that she has no right to permit it without the advice of the General Council of the Institute, and notify, the Superior General, as soon as possible, about the difficult position in which she finds herself.

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Themes

Prudence 89 Sacraments - Order/Hierarchy 71 Authority 79 Traditions -

The Provincial will see to it that the local Superior does not ask for an ecclesiastical superior or for a Confessor from the Bishop without her approval. If need be, if the question is delicate, she will not fail to ask the advice of the Superior General. As far as possible, let her entreat the Bishop to keep to himself the superiorship of our houses. This has always been our custom and we have always obtained it except on very rare occasions.

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Themes

Authority 79 Prudence 89 Respect for persons 24 Peace 72 Sacraments - Sanctity -

As for the Confessor, let her inquire if the one whom the Bishop desires to name or whom the Religious request is a prudent man, with good and supernatural judgment. If he lacks the necessary qualities, she must not fear to ask the Bishop to make another choice. When the ordinary Confessor has fulfilled his duties for three years, if he has truly shown himself worthy of his office, if the greater part of the community desires to keep him, and if, finally, our religious have carefully observed our Custom Book which prescribes that our Sisters never go to the parlor except two together and do not treat of the affairs of their soul outside the confessional, the Provincial could then join with the local Superior and her

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community to ask the Bishop to keep such a man of God in his office. A prudent and supernatural confessor, bringing grace to a community, is a gift from God, and a house that received him, would do well to preserve such a powerful means of peace and spiritual advancement. For a third triennial, all the Religious must continue to ask for him. In the Custom Book for confessions and in that of the Novice Mistress, the Mother Provincial will find all that may be useful to her for her soul and for those of others, concerning the Confessor and confessions.

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Themes

Order/Hierarchy 71 Authority 79

In their relations with the Superior General, the Provincial Superiors must be penetrated with the though expressed in the Responses canonique et pratiques by P. Andre Meynard, Dominican (1st part). The Provincial Superiors, according to the present provisions of the Church for Institutes, cannot be considered as Provincials in the religious Orders. “But they are, in some way, the delegates, the representatives or the vicars of the Superiors General,” whose delegation is regulated by the Constitutions and who, in all things, must never be independent of the unity of the Institute.

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Themes

Traditions - Mission 69 Order/Hierarchy 71 Authority 79

Unity87

I strongly bind the Provincials, especially those who are the most distant, to write to their Superior General, not only as prescribed in the Constitutions, but each time the mails leave, which would scarcely be more than every eight days. This punctually will be considered as a precious custom, and when they cannot do it themselves, they will have it done by the most important member of the house. They will be attentive also that the local Superiors write frequently, especially those in distant houses and will take care to be exact about their annual letters. They will see to it also that each subject writes to the Superior General, according to the Constitutions.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Responsibility 79 Authority

79

A Provincial has no power to open houses nor to accept new works not foreseen in our Constitutions, without the consent of the Mother General. In certain cases, if it were necessary to give an immediate response, she must inform the Superior General and her Council immediately and promise nothing certain without consent.

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Themes

Mission 69 Responsibility 79 Authority 79 Order/Hierarchy 71 Obedience 71 Unity 87 Respect for persons 24 Glory of God 66

She may change the subjects of her Province as she wishes, but when it is a matter of transferring them from one house to another, she must respect the needs of her Missions, and if it is a matter of an important charge, it would be better if she consults the Superior General, in order to avoid complaints from the Bishop. As far as possible, those who know the language and who occupy the first places must be left in each house. Only the general welfare of the Institute or the absolute necessities of a soul, are

reasons for us to deprive a Mission of a subject who is useful. We will inspire more confidence in the Vicars Apostolic by keeping to this rule; they will understand that we desire the good of their mission, and that if we do take away a subject, it is with regret, not from caprice or frivolity, but because the divine glory of the Master, which comes before all, makes it really necessary.

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Themes

Obedience 71 Order/Hierarchy 71 Authority 79

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In a serious case, the Provincial Superior may herself name the Delegate who will fill the office of Superior, Assistant, Provincial Bursar, Provincial Councillor, and even Vicaress Provincial, in the case of absence or unforeseen sickness. But the Superior General and her Council must be immediately notified of these delegations and approve them for the time that they seem necessary.

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Themes

Authority 79 Responsibility 79Order – Hierarchy

71

The Provincial Superior may admit Postulants who do not need any dispensation, but for those who have need for dispensation, she must refer to the Council of the Institute. The same is true for the dismissal of Novices. If she is obliged to act herself in an urgent case, she must immediately inform the Council in the same way. As for the first and last Vows, she may not grant admissions herself, nor proceed to any dismissal of a professed.

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Themes

Authority 79 Responsibility 79 Obedience

71

The Provincial Superior must never leave her Province without permission. If an urgent and serious circumstance obliged her to assume this responsibility, she must notify the Superior General immediately. Her usual residence is determined by the Council of the Institute, who will consider the advice of the Council of the Province in this matter. As a general rule, the most important house will be chosen or that which was founded first. But the Mother Provincial is not obliged to spend a determined amount of time there, and she must go and remain in the house where she is needed most, according to circumstances.

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Themes

Unity 87 Authority 79

I have just traced for our Provincials the principal official lines of their relations with the Mother General. But what can I say to them about the care with which they must cultivate the family spirit in the hearts of the local Superiors and in all the members of their Province! Let them not even stop there. May everyone who dwells in our houses receive from them a filial sentiment for the Superior General, principle of life in the entire Institute.

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Themes

Authority 79 Francis 65 Suffering 82 Gratitude 89 Renouncement 29 Traditions -Nature 70 Mission 69 Sentiment - Unity 87

Abandonment 22

Let the Provincials remind themselves that if they receive few consolations from the works of each house, the Mother General enjoys far fewer still and that yet upon her fall the most painful crosses and the heaviest preoccupations. The care, the formation of subjects who make the works, have been her charge. To forget all that, would be to ignore the filial recognition that all owe to the first Superior of the Institute and her Council.

I insist on this point, because our poor human nature is unfortunately, prone to let itself be led astray by what strikes our senses most closely. Our Provincials in this respect, are more exposed in some way than the Mother General. The latter, guided by the Successor of our Seraphic Father, can hardly stray from the family traditions. It is not the same for the Provincials who, being farther away, are perhaps dominated by the interest of their Province, influenced by the different minds surrounding them, and may so easily lose the view that they must have of their family, and assume, to its detriment, interests which are doubtlessly good, but which would not be legitimate for then, nor according to the will of God, if they were contrary to the general welfare of the Institute.

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Themes

Traditions - Abandonment 22 Unity 87 Duty 89 Nature 70 Obedience 71 Woman - Authority 79 Detachment 29 Respect for persons 24

As delegate of the Mother General, a Provincial will be, like her, the Guardian of our Spirit, of our Constitutions, of our rights, and will adopt her manner of seeing, her desire for action.

The Provincial finally must have a sufficiently large to love all the Province of the Institute equally, even though she may be particularly charged to govern only one.

If our Provincials are able to follow these directions, they will win the respect of all. It will be understood that these are not women who are too human and who let themselves be carried away by personality, natural enthusiasms, but serious Religious, who are detached, putting the Holy Will of God before all else and accomplishing it by their duties.

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Themes

Mission 69 Mary 65 Judgment - Suffering 82 Generosity 89 Justice - Goodness 89 Prudence 89 Gentleness 89 Purity 89 Authority 79 Peace 72

The Mother Provincial must, according to our Constitutions, have as far as possible, all the qualities of the Mother General: knowledge of the Institute, experience of the Missions, good judgment, generous heart, compassion, possessing with gentleness those of whom she has charge. She must engrave in her life the traits that from beginning, we have indicated must be hers. She must show how to hide her tears and how to wipe those of others, devoured by zeal for justice and yet merciful in the example of the Immaculate Heart, prudent, knowing how to keep her heart, and those of others, pure for Jesus, peaceful

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and teaching all, by her example, that trial is a pledge of love and not a chastisement, because eternal rewards are promised to those who are tried.

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Themes

Justice - Charity 24 Liberty - Prudence 89 Simplicity 89 Authority 79

Respect for persons 24

Let her (the Provincial) be completely impartial toward the Missions and the houses, just as toward the subjects. Let her be very careful to have no preference for those places and persons who are her closest neighbors.

Even more than the Superior, she will avoid flattery, demonstration that are not too religious. Let her contempt for all this insipidness inspire everyone of whom she has charge and all who surround her. All her daughters must approach her freely; tell her of their troubles and their thoughts without fear. But let her support authority whether it be that of the Mother General, the local Superiors, or subordinate authorities. If, in one case or the other, she shares the thought of the one complaining, she will refrain from letting it be seen. If it concerns the Mother General, let her humbly notify the latter about what seems useful and submit then to the decision that she receives concerning the matter. If it concerns authorities who govern under her, let her reprimand secretly, indicate to them or prescribe for them the reform to undertake, and try to arrange all with so much charity and prudence, that those who complained will believe that the local Superior, the Assistant, or the officers have acted themselves without the intervention of the Provincial Superior.

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Themes

Prayer 77 Respect for persons 24 Discernment of Spirits - Abandonment 22 Authority 79 Humility 89 Formation - Renouncement 29

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The Provincial Superior must note how the Superior directs souls rather than direct them herself; but let her always be ready to intervene in a so-called imperceptible way, each time that spiritual help, given by the local Superiors, is insufficient for the needs of a soul or because of lack of experience. Even in this case, while giving the soul what it needs, let her guide the Superior then make her act. That is how the Superiors of the Institute will be trained. Our Provincials will seek their light in prayer, and from God above all, they will await the success of their efforts. Forgetful of themselves, they will never act for their own interests, but for the good pleasure of God, for the joy and consolation of their neighbor.

The Provincials will not easily believe in extraordinary ways, and will use the Custom Book of the Novice Mistress as a help in discerning both their own conduct and that of our Sisters.

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Themes

Authority 79 Unity 87 Duty 89 Order 89 Love of God 23 Respect for persons 24 Abandonment 22 Maternal Love -

Although we have just said with what care the Mother Provincial must sustain the authority of the local Superior, it is good to give some special directions on this subject, so that our Provincials will take even more to heart all their duties with regard to the Superiors of the houses.

A local Superior is the soul of her little family and the life of the works in which our sisters are employed. The Provincial Superior will therefore be assured of the good state of her Province if she leads and sustains all the local Superiors in the love of God, in His divine will, and consequently, in order. Let her occupy herself with the local Superiors with a very special care and consider them as the most precious part of her flock. Let her try to inspire them with a sincere confidence and affection, so that her influence upon them be that of a Mother who consoles and sustains, rather than that of an authority charged to control her subordinates.

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Themes

Mission 69 Unity 87 Authority 79 Duty 89

Charity24

We have recommended that our Provincials write to their Superior General with every mail trunk. If the local Superiors are in different missions from one where the Provincial resides, let their mutual correspondence likewise be regular and let them profit from each occasion to foster union and good relations. In these cases, the Provincial Superior must also see that the local Superiors take advantage of each mail to keep the Mother General informed about the state of the Mission of which she is part. Let our Provincials see that all the Superiors respond to the letters that their sisters write them from Europe

and to whom they write themselves. This is an eminent way for our missionary Institute to preserve its unity and to maintain family relations among its members, who are ordinarily so far apart.

Our Provincials will see to it that the local Superiors make their subjects understand this truth. Whatever may be our occupations or our works in the missions, we must never neglect this duty, which for us is a part of charity and the family spirit.

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Themes

Formation - Justice - Authority 79 Common life 91 Respect for persons 24 Body/Soul 28

Respect for the Hierarchy71

Our Provincials will cultivate the talents of their local Superiors, especially of those who are youngest. They will encourage and guide them on the manner to address words of edification to the community: in advice, meditations, catechism, or conferences.

While upholding their authority, they will never hide from their wrongs nor allow them to anything contrary to their duties. They will make them understand the danger of preferences and of particular friendships; they will urge them to follow the common life, while taking discreet care of their health.

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They will see that the local Superiors conduct themselves with politeness and tact toward everyone and, even more, with respect, when it concerns authority.

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Themes

Love of God 23 Maternal love - Formation - Woman - Authority 29 Prayer 77

Humility89

Our Provincial Superiors will take a maternal and jealous care to form their local Superiors in piety. They must make of them serious women, animated by the true love of God, who neither need others to be occupied about them, nor to be occupied about themselves.

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Themes

Authority 79 Justice - Responsibility 79 Renouncement 29 Supernatural spirit 64 Sanctity -

Discernment of Spirits-

The Provincial Superior will necessarily have a great influence in her Province and in the General Council concerning the candidates proposed as local Superiors. Let her opinion and her vote be inspired by supernatural views, and may choice stop, not upon the subjects who please her, but on the subjects who seem the best suited to the work of God, to the sanctification of souls, to preserve and increase the honor and spirit of the Institute, and to bear the weight of authority without detriment to themselves.

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Themes

Liberty - Authority 79 Supernatural spirit 64 Discernment of Spirits -

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Detachment 29 Unity 87 World - Respect for the Hierarchy 71

It is our custom that the Mother General and her Council send the names of a few subjects who appear the most apt to them for the charge of local Superior. The Provincial Superior may, in advance, express her thought freely to the Superior General and to her Assistants. But let her do so, as we have said above, in a supernatural spirit, detached from herself and from creatures.

The Provincial Superiors are not obliged to vote for the candidates proposed by the General Council. But they would be very imprudent if they opposed these candidates and sought to weaken in their Council and in their Province the respect due to the way the Superior authority views matters.

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Themes

Authority 79 Obedience 71 Duty 89 Simplicity 89 Supernatural spirit 64 Order - Hierarchy 71 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Formation - Respect for persons 24 Responsibility 79

Let our Provincials not be narrow and particular, personally entering into the details of the house.

They will spoil all if they give direct permissions, acting in the charges outside of the local Superior.

Let them instruct, let them reform, but leave to whomever is in charge, the management of her house.

It is in their residence especially, that our Provincials must be on their guard against this danger. There will always be good souls who are more or less humble and more or less straight-forward, who feel an infinitely greater sweetness in the direction which comes from the highest. Penances are less hard, permission less exacting when they come from the first in authority. Let our Provincials accustom their world to the spirit of faith which addresses itself to the authority and not to the person. If the Provincial knows how to form her subjects well in the spirit of obedience, they will go in simplicity and submission to the immediate authority, which is that of the local Superior, but does not prevent the Provincial from giving help in difficult hours, either to the local Superior, of to their subjects.

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Themes

Woman - Sentiment - Authority 79 Liberty - Supernatural spirit 64 Order - Hierarchy 71

Unity87

My God, always give us as Authorities, especially major ones, women who are broadminded, great, supernatural, who rejoice in seeing their subjects love the local Superiors, and have great confidence in them.

But if it is good that our Provincials have this elevated view and sentiment, it is not less desirable that the local Superiors render what is due to the Provincial and place no obstacle for those who approach them and those who speak to them freely.

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Themes

Unity 87 Strength 89 Authority 79 Gentleness 89 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Order Hierarchy 71 Frankness 89 Obedience 71

If our communities are to be truly edified by their Superiors, then the Provincial and the local Superior must show themselves as one, and in fact, let them truly be but one!

The Provincial Superiors will avoid reprimanding the local Superior in front of her subjects; but they will also exact in return, that the local Superior give, to all, the example of the most filial respect the most complete obedience. If the local Superior has some observation to make to her Provincial, which betrays a divergence of viewpoint, let her refrain from doing so before anyone, whoever it may be, and the Provincial must not allow it. If a local Superior does so, the Provincial must see her afterwards, apart and correct her gently but with firmness and frankness.

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Themes

Authority 79 Respect for persons 24 Tradition - Respect for the Hierarchy 71

Love of God 23 Order - Hierarchy 71 Fervour 89 Mission 69

The Provincials will enable the local Superiors especially, to understand that love for the Order, the Mother General, for the family, is a treasure which nothing must alter and which will never diminish in the heart of a missionary without her personality growing and the love of God decreasing. Let our Provincials keep their Superiors from a similar misfortune; they will thus save their Province and our Institute from decadence and laxity.

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Themes

Nature 70 Gratitude 89 Judgment - Order - Hierarchy 71 Frankness 89 Supernatural spirit 64 Liberty - Authority 79

The Admonitress of the Provincial Superior and of the local Superiors is nominated by the Superior General and her Council. If our Provincial Superiors think it is best that this charge be given to this or that Religious, or removed from another, after having prayed, they should not fear to confide that to the Superior General. In this, they should not be guided by any human motive and, especially, not desire to have an Admonitress because then they would be more free, or afraid they will be warned, or they will be made better known, they and their way of doing things, to the Superior General. To act or speak by such human motives is to show a lack of religious spirit, and unworthy to be given the charge of souls. May our Provincials prefer rather to have an Admonitress for themselves and for the local Superiors, Religious of sound judgment, who will caution them frankly, and whose lights will be a help when theirs fail, on certain occasions. May they give the Admonitress full liberty to say what they think to the Superior General and her Council, and welcome their warnings with such an amiable and grateful manner, that the Admonitress will have no difficulty in doing it again.

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Themes

Prudence 89 Humility 89 Authority 79 Frankness 89

Mary 68 Obedience 71Francis 65 Gratitude 89

On the part of the Provincial, it would be a true lack of Prudence and humility if she were to show some resentment concerning what the Admonitress believed it her duty to tell her. All the same, there would be nothing against her enlightening her admonitress if the latter had judged or appreciated the things other than they were. Our Provincials would be at fault if they led their Admonitress or those of the local Superiors to understand that they had discovered that they had notified the Superior General and if they bear any grudge against them because of this.

In conclusion, a Provincial Superior owes the truth to the Admonitress as to all the souls of whom she has charge. But may she facilitate the exercise of their duty for them.

I do not wish to speak here of a Provincial Superior who would be capable of flattering her Admonitress so as to be assured of her good pleasure. This manner of acting would be odious, and I hope that the Most Blessed Virgin and our Seraphic Father will always protect us from such.

Whatever may be the choice of the Superior General and her Council, the Provincial Superior will accept it with submission and gratitude, considering her Admonitress as a good angel sent by Divine Providence.

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Themes

Authority 79 Unity 87Order 89

The Provincial Superior will take care to hold her Council every two weeks, according to our Constitutions, and will see to it that the local Superiors hold theirs in the same manner. When they pass a few days in our houses, she will do well to have the local Council meet, at least once, in her presence, and will read with care the minutes of the Councils held since her last visit. It is an excellent way of obliging them to be held regularly and seriously.

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Themes

Mission 69 Detachment 29 Woman - Authority 79 Supernatural spirit 64

The Council of the Provincial is, perhaps, one of the greatest difficulties of our missionary organization. If the Councillors reside near her, it is to be feared that they will not have attachment or interest beyond the house and mission where they reside. If they are local Superiors and distant in other missions, perhaps they will better support general interests; but then councils every two weeks become impossible and they could hardly be held except by writing, except at rare intervals.

Therefore, the wisest would seem to be to choose for the Councillors of the Province, four religious who are part of the Provincial residence; but as far as possible they be chosen from among those who have independent charges such as the Admonitress, the Secretary, the Bursar, the Provincial Archivist. If the local Superior of the Provincial residence is part of the Council, she must be known as a superior woman, broadminded, very supernatural and detached from herself.

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Themes

Responsibility 79 Authority 79Formation -

Furthermore, when there is a grave matter concerning the Province, the Provincial Council will ask the advice of the local Superior, and even, if called for, of their Council.

When the matter concerns the house where the Provincial resides, the Council of the house will be taken into consideration by the Council and it, in turn, will send its opinion which will be written on the register, following the minutes.

The Provincial Superior does not ordinarily preside at the local Council of the house where she resides. However, she may do so from time to time, but rarely. It is the way of forming her world and of leaving its individuality to her residence.

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Themes

Detachment 29 Glory of God 66 Supernatural spirit 64 Sentiment -

For the choice of her Councillors, let her follow the same rules of personal indifference which have already been given concerning the local Superiors and her Admonitress; may she only consider God, his glory, and never the miserable small human passions which could agitate her or agitate others.

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Themes

Work 75 Time - Authority 79 Common life 91 Glory of God 66 Silence 89 Prudence 89 Unity 87

The Provincial Superior chooses her secretary in view of the glory of God and for the good of souls, and not for her own consolation. She chooses a religious entirely discreet and capable of correspondence and the keeping of the books. This last point will save the Provincial much precious time which she will be able to use for the good of souls, and will safeguard her fidelity to the common exercises. Her choice made, she must request the approbation of the Superior General, as prescribed in the Constitutions. If the Superior General is not of her opinion, she may present her explanation. But that done, if the Religious is not agreed upon, let the Provincial choose another or change her secretary if she were in office, never forgetting that the Superior General has the right to make changes. She will see that her secretary is very submissive towards the local authorities of the house where she is, that she gives absolutely no permission, no work, receives no confidence and keeps obedience and silence better than anyone. One may address her only to give a letter to the Mother Provincial or to ask her for an interview. In all other things the secretary acts and considers herself as a simple religious and lets herself be treated as such.

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Themes

Authority 79 Order - Hierarchy 71 Respect for persons 24 Order 89 Charity 24 Formation

-

When a Provincial is in a house, all the letters are brought to her and she does well to open a few, even those of the Superior, so much as to maintain the right of the Constitutions as to be acquainted with the manner of treating with strangers and the spirit of the house.

She will be careful that the sisters write to her according to the indications in the Customs Book and that they do the same for the Mother General.

We will not return to her own correspondence with the Superior General, having said sufficiently how necessary it is that this be frequent.

The Provincial, as far as possible, will leave no letter unanswered and sustain the courage of those who solicit alms in her Province.

She has the care, if she does not write them herself, to watch over the style of the annual letters, the biographies and the letters for the Acts of the Institute. She will assure herself that absolutely no edifying trait is forgotten; she has the care to form our young religious to recount them in an interesting way.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Charity24 Authority 79 Obedience71 Prudence 89 Law-

She (the Provincial Superior) may ask small sums from her Bursar, but she accounts for them, unless for motives of prudence or charity, she believes it her duty to keep silence. She will then mark them in

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a general way as alms, office supplies, etc. She will try to keep informed about the laws of the country and make them known to the Superiors and the Bursars of her Province. Through her prudence and

good choice of businessmen, she will avoid all difficulty and will be very careful about purchases, sales, inheritances, and all other business of this kind, observing the necessary formalities in such a way as to avoid all difficulties for the Institute. She will do the same for the wills. As for the power of attorney, she will be careful to have this done regularly. Except for exceptions permitted by the Mother General or presumed because of necessity, the power of attorney must be sent blank to the Mother General and special attention will be given that these are not made in the name of a member of the family of those who send the procuration. The same precaution is taken for executors. In this way many annoyances and difficult matters will be avoided.

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Themes

Authority 79 Mission 69 Poverty 75 Detachment 29 Francis 65 Abandonment 22

Let her (the Provincial) see that her subjects avoid personal requests which remade in a somewhat hidden way from the Institute. In general, to be concerned that such sums or such objects would be good for such a Province or such a house, is not exactly to violate poverty, but it is a betrayal of the spirit, and makes one not too worthy of being a child of Saint Francis.

Live, my dear daughters, as detached souls, who leave to authority the disposal of themselves and of all things. For my part, I do not count for my true daughters those who practice the spirit of ownership, and whether they do it to a greater or lesser extent, it always grieves me.

If I am like this with my poor lights here on earth, I will be even more exacting from the height of heaven, if God deigns to admit me there, for those of my children who would seek, by devious ways, to be assured the use of some objects for themselves, their house, their mission, or their province.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Authority 79 Obedience 71

The Superior Provincial will see that the local Superiors beg nothing, either “vive voce” or by writing, outside of their diocese, without notifying her about it. She will not allow them to, nor will she beg outside of her province without the permission of the Superior General.

All begging letters or requests, addressed outside of her province, must also go by way of the Superior General.

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Themes

Authority 79 Unity 87 Penance 76 Renouncement 29 Nature 70 Body/soul 28 Peace 72 Sanctity 28

The Provincial Superior assures herself that the spirit of penance and mortification animates our houses. Alas! Poor human nature is too ready to fall asleep in well-being. The religious who have nothing more to worry about concerning their food, their clothing, their habitation, who often enjoy the peace procured by the wise government of a charitable superior and our family spirit, could easily accustom themselves to seek their pleasure everywhere and in all things, without thereby falling into glaring faults, which would open their eyes to their infidelity. This state would produce a certain languor in the exercise of piety which prevents all true spiritual progress in souls and in the works.

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Themes

Authority 79 Renouncement 29 Nature 70 Law - Fervour 89 Penance 76

The Provincial Superior must then know how to seize tactfully the proper failings to open eyes. Let her reprimand and punish, to lead them to ask for mortifications. Finally, let her always know how to master nature discreetly, reanimate fervor and maintain the exact observance of the Constitutions and Customs Book. It goes without saying, that all serious faults must be reprimanded still more, and receives a proportionate penance.

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Themes

Authority 79 Humility 89 Goodness 24 Gentleness 89 Charity 24 Silence

89 Suffering82

The Provincial Superior must refrain from correcting in a first moment of emotion; let her await for her calm and that of the guilty one to be restored. Very often, as I have already said, a charitable note, which delivers her little sermon in silence and leaves to the agitation of self-love the time to calm

before replying, will be more efficacious then reproaches, made even with the most humble and most gentle patience.

If the Provincials correct “vive voce”, they ask, according to the Customs Book, that their reprimands be heard kneeling and without reply, and they will see that the local Superiors observe and have observed the same customs.

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Themes

Authority 79 Glory of God 66 Common life 91 Fidelity 89 Fervour 89 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Example 63 Body/Soul 28

Our Provincials will follow, as far as possible, all the exercises of the community where they are. Nothing will be more edifying nor do more to lead their subordinates to fervor, than to see them exact for all the exercises. This will be a silent sermon and a guarantee of regularity for the whole Province. However, let them be attentive to engender in minds enough breadth and enough esteem for authority so that they can take the necessary care of their health for their duties, and attend to all that is required by the great glory of God; if they cannot do their exercises entirely, let them do at least a part.

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Themes

Authority 79 Law - Fidelity 89 Responsibility 79

The Provincial Superior must not easily allow general exceptions to the Custom Book nor easily ask dispensations from the Mother General. Before doing so, let her carefully examine if, in one way or another, the observance should only be temporary, and which, with time, could disappear and let the Custom Book be re-assumed.

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Themes

Authority 79 Fidelity 89 Prayer 77 Mission 69 Work 75 Contemplation/action 27 Common life 91 Traditions - Law -

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O my daughter, believe your Mother; it is not as hard as we believe, to give way to difficulties in a house, even with a few, in our way of life. The works go against it far less than we would think at first.

I have seen, not once, but very often, what had been declared impossible, restored in vigour in a house. If you really wish it, the good God will give you the grace to follow your customs everywhere. I promise you now - far from harming our works, it is then that you will see them prosper and that you will draw upon the Mission of which you are part, a multitude of blessings.

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Themes

Will - Tradition - Fidelity 89 Authority 79 Mission 69 Common life 91

Poverty75

I know how much will it takes, to insist upon punctuality for the exercises. There are always good souls who ask to recite Office in particular, that reading at table be suppressed, the recreation … who knows what? I like to remind you that at the foundation of Sr. Brieuc, being only two in the house, we recited Office aloud, we read at table, and recited the Rosary during dishes. In this foundation it was necessary, however, to provide ourselves with all, since all the baggage we had brought was a small carton not more than 30 centimeters on the sides.

It is exactly because we can find a thousand reasons in the missions to stray from the Customs Book, to question its application to such a work, such a custom of the country, that our Provincials must have it engraved upon their hearts, aiming for themselves and for others, the entire practice of our community exercises.

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Themes

Authority 79 Order - Hierarchy 71 Time - Responsibility 79 Order 24

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Let the Provincials not get too involved in the particular works and ordinarily not be employed personally in those of our houses. But let them see rather that the parlors and the works be given, whether by themselves or by the local Superiors, to religious who are trusted and experienced. However, let them see all, take note of all, and keep their time for the welfare of our sisters, the general interest of the Province, and the relations with the Superior General.

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Themes

Authority 79 Common life 91 Time - Fidelity 89 Tradition - Order - Hierarchy 71 Law - Supernatural spirit 64 Nature 70

In addition to the Rule and the Constitutions, the Provincial must have near her all our Custom Books. Those of the local Superior and the Mistress of Novices are complements to her own and are necessary for her, not only for this reason, but also so she may watch over their observance. She must also be familiar with those of other offices, for the last-mentioned reason. The vigilant eye of a Provincial must notice and even guess all abuses. Except for a scandal, the quelling must not be public, but done, usually, as we have already said, through the Superior, or by herself, if it is sometimes necessary; in this way, a Provincial Superior will remedy all transgressions.

Let her make it understood, however, that she is not acting from human motives, but solely to protect the integrity of religious discipline, the intact preservation of which is her principal charge.

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Themes

Authority 79 Humility 89 Gentleness 89 Prudence 89

If circumstances allow, let her (the Provincial) not act too quickly and at the first moment of her arrival in a house. And that for two principal reasons: 1) It could be that after several days of study, she would understand things differently and see the reason for the manner of acting which had shocked

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her upon her arrival. 2) She will also avoid giving a severe air which is not suitable for a Mother to show, from the beginning, to the souls of whom she has the care.

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Themes

Authority 79 Fidelity 89 Common life 91 Law - Responsibility 79 Respect for persons 24

Unity87

The Provincial Superior will see that all the exercises indicated by the Rule are accomplished exactly in her Province. She herself will have the care to bring the community together once or twice for the Chapter and Conferences when she passes in a house. She may likewise give some conferences and hold Chapter in the House where she resides; but she will carefully avoid taking over the usual direction reserved for the Superior.

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Themes

Authority 79 Unity 87 Charity 24 Renouncement

29 Union with God 86 Humility89 Nature

70

(Charity) is the queen virtue, that which unites us directly to God for time and eternity. The Provincial Superior must preserve for it is sovereign scepter, govern under its inspiration, and require that its laws, even its counsels, be observed, everywhere, in her Province.

I remind her again that she must watch that charity preserves its true character of unity; that all hearts belong to the Church, to the Order, to the Institute entirely; and that one does not succeed to divide, that is, to be no longer concerned except for one’s own interest. This kind of egoism is the death of good and of large and desirable works. It is a natural tendency that the Provincial must watch for in others and in herself. If, in a Province, there is failing in this respect, she will make it appreciated as a grace that a warning or correction is given to restore hearts to family unity and to the love of all that concerns

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the Institute. Let her require of all, and practice herself, an inviolable charity toward her neighbor and let her not suffer that this be lacking whether at recreation or in private conversation.

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Themes

Virtue 89 Jesus 67 Charity 24 Authority

79 Mary 68 World-

Charity must be the seal of my daughters, or else I would not know how to present them as such to the Queen of Charity, Mother of Jesus Love. Let this thought keep them, forever slaves f the royal and eternal virtue, so little known and so little understood in the sand times when I write these lines.

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Themes

Authority 79 Woman - Silence 89 Abandonment 22 Suffering 82 Prudence 89

A virtue which I cannot sufficiently recommend to our Provincial Superiors - to know how to suffer and keep silence. How many crosses are mitigated, and how many matters arranged when they are not exposed to run over a great number of tongues! I can say so by experience; I have seen terrible trials which seemed never to end, and by knowing how to sustain them in silence, they have passed without troubling the communities concerned and have been replaced by prosperity without anyone suspecting the trial permitted by Divine Providence.

If, on the contrary, the Superior lets herself say a word on the subject of such an authority who is not so accommodating, of such a priest or such a confessor who is not so prudent, of such a religious who is very trying, of such a demanding and irritable benefactor, of such a family of one of our own who have exaggerated pretensions or who are not too religious, each one will feel obliged to take sides for and perhaps against. By repeating them, we end by exaggerating matters. A good daughter of Eve,

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believing to make herself important, bring them directly to the persons concerned, and a matter which could have been peacefully ended, will pass to an acute state and perhaps end in a disastrous solution.

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Themes

Suffering 82 Renouncement 29 Silence 89 Prudence 89 Prayer 77 Nature 70 Gentleness 89 Strength 89 Humility 89 Union with God 86 Unity 87 Obedience 71

Therefore, let our Superiors know how to suffer in silence without seeking solace in the recitation of their annoyances and in their complaints. Let them pour out their soul and heart before God. After having prayed, they may open themselves to their Mother General who, with the experience of life, will have the grace to help them seek, in patience and gentle relations, the end of the difficulties. Such a manner of acting must have its foundation in a profound humility and a true contempt of self. At the utmost, if necessary, our Superiors could seek some solution from a Councillor, of whose salutary influence their conscience assures them. And, if it becomes necessary to consult the entire Council, let the Superiors do so with moderation, without saying more than necessary. Nature is relieved when we are mutually excited, but business and souls always lose thereby.

Our Superiors will therefore take great care to avoid this manner of acting and will accustom themselves gradually to seek from God in prayer, the help and strength needed for them and for the Institute in trials and difficulties.

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Themes

Authority 79 Law - Fidelity 89 Frankness 89 Formation - Spouse 25

Our Provincials will know perfectly the obligations of our vows so as to be able to instruct and direct our Sisters on this capital point. They will see that they are faithfully kept by all their subordinates and

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make them understand that on this subject, there must be no accommodations with conscience and that, being voluntarily bound by Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, with regard to their vows, they must not allow themselves any voluntary transgression. A Provincial must inspire, in all, a great fear of being unfaithful to the promises taken vis-à-vis a divine and all-powerful Spouse.

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Themes

Authority 79 Fervour 89 Francis 65 Fidelity 89 Poverty 75

May our Provincials remember the love that our Seraphic Father, St. Francis, had for holy Poverty, and let them make themselves worthy to be considered always as his fervent and faithful children.

The Provincial will see that the local Superiors consult her for all expenditures exceeding 500 france and she herself must have permission from the Superior General for all expenditures which are somewhat considerable, that is to say, surpassing 1000 france. If a Provincial were forced to act promptly, she must notify immediately the Council of the Institute.

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Themes

Poverty 75 Francis 65 Authority 79 Work 75 Example 63 Body/soul 28 Simplicity 89 Obedience 71 Mary 68

For her the practice of article 40 of our Constitutions must be the object of a very particular care. I bless in advance, in the name of the most Blessed Virgin and Saint Francis, all the Provincials who will banish from our buildings and our houses all that smell of luxury and elaborateness. They must remind themselves that we are forbidden all ornamentation in our convents; the Institute will only preserve its fervor at the price of the rigorous observance of this prescription. Let them not support any elegance in furnishings or in the objects that our Sisters use and let them give example to all on this point.

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The turmoil, the work, sometimes use the health of the Superiors and obedience forces them to take some particular care; but health is not attacked by the poverty of furnishings and the objects for our use. On this point, therefore, no accommodation and let our Provincials watch that the Franciscan spirit is preserved among us and we keep the love and practice of poverty which have truly flourished in our Institute since its foundation.

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Themes

Authority 79 Strength 89 Vocation - Obedience 71

The Provincial should have the questionnaires of Postulants who ask to be admitted sent promptly, and let her take all necessary precautions to know them well and encourage those who seem suited to our Institute and our way of life. Let her firmly refuse those who are not suited for us. If they have no need for dispensation, she may receive them herself; however, she will notify the Superior General of the admissions she has granted, letting her know the subjects to whom she has believed she should grant this favor.

If those presented have need of some dispensation, she will notify the Mother General and will do nothing without her authorization, except in a very serious case, and then she will inform her as soon as possible.

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Themes

Authority 79 Obedience 71 Vocation -

If the need arises to dismiss a postulant, if possible, the Provincial will consult the Superior General, but if it would be inconvenient to wait, she will act immediately, informing the Superior General of all that she had done.

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Themes

Body/soul 28 Authority 79 Liberty - Respect for persons 24

In the countries where siesta is necessary, the Provincial will see that the local Superiors leave a great liberty in this matter and even encourage the taking of this precaution.

There might be found some characters who are a little hard, and who, while not forbidding the siesta, will let it be understood that it is better to do without. In certain countries, siesta is necessary only in the summer. The Provincial Superior must study and regulate all these details, have the particular Custom Book of the Province approved by the Superior General, and from them on it is observed, as we have already said, with the same punctuality as the general Custom Book.

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Themes

Authority 79 Humility 89 Body/soul 28 Respect for persons 24 Poverty 75 Obedience 71

The care of the Provincial Superior’s health is up to the Councillors and it is for them, with the approval of the Provincial and the Superior General to designate a religious who usually follows the Provincial in her travels and to whom the Provincial humbly obeys for all that concerns her health, and to a certain extent, her clothing. It would be desirable that this care be given to a Councillor and that she be at the same time admonitress and secretary. But this cannot be realized in all cases, because character and circumstances must be considered. If it happens that the one who has the care of the Mother Provincial’s health does not travel with her, the duty to watch over it would fall to the Provincial companion for the journey and the local Superiors would also have to take care that she lacks nothing.

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Themes

Authority 79 Tradition - Goodness 24 Law - Charity 24 Unity 87

When a Provincial arrives in a house, her first visit, after the Chapel, must be to the sick and the infirm. When she leaves, she goes likewise to say goodbye to them, and in the house where she resides, she also gives them the consolation of her visit.

When there is a death in one of our houses, she will assure herself that all the prescriptions relative to prayers, to laws, to the family, to goods, to papers, and to forms are followed as indicated in our Constitutions and Custom Book.

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Themes

Authority 79 Obedience 71 Strength 89 Order 89 Mission 69 Prudence 89 Traditions -

The Provincial Superior, as we said above, has no right to accept a foundation herself. If someone offers her one, or if one seems desirable, let her address herself to the Superior General and follow her direction concerning this important question. When she has received for her Superior General and the Ordinary of the place the necessary authorizations for the establishment of a foundation, she acts promptly and firmly, doing what is indicated in the Custom for foundations. She will take care likewise to consult the Mother General about the subjects whom she must send for a foundation, reminding

herself of the importance of such a choice and making it according to the directives given in our Custom Book. Let her place all things clearly, having permissions given in writing, if possible, or writing them on the spot and signing, with her principal companions as witness, the exact transaction of the authorizations given her vocally.

The contracts must be clearly drawn up, and if it is a purchase, she will not forget that they are made in the name of the members of the General Council.

Let her be very prudent in the choice of confessors, businessmen, doctor, tradesmen.

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Themes

Authority 79 Responsibility 79 Mission 69 Order 89

As far as possible, she (the Provincial) makes the foundation herself and leaves only when all is in order and well established. It is advantageous that she be accompanied in all the proceedings by the one who will be the Superior, or in her absence, by one of the principal persons of the new foundation. The Superior will then be known and people will become accustomed to her, and when the Provincial must leave, her departure will not be so noticeable; the kindness acquired will be maintained. Furthermore, the local Superior herself, having, with the Provincial, treated the business and all the questions of the foundation, will be informed on all that will be necessary or useful for her.

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Themes

Authority 79 Sacraments - Francis 65 Priests 60 Woman - Mission 69 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Discretion 89

The Bishop must be the first to be visited. Our Fathers, if they are in the city, must see their children and their Sisters ask them for their blessing as soon as possible. It is very clear, in this case, they must always be asked for as extraordinary confessors and requested to assume the spiritual direction of the house. No one will find it out of the ordinary if we insist upon being well instructed in our Franciscan

spirit by those who have received the seraphic heritage first. At all times we must act generously and avoid the ridiculous pettiness of women. May we know how, when necessary, to invite an ecclesiastical dignitary or a religious of another Order to a ceremony. Speak very little about our relations with our Fathers and let us not stun the people of the world by the praise that we give them. It is the depth of our heart that must be Franciscan. We do not think of crying from the rooftops that we love our father and mother, nor to speak of all they do for us and that we do for them; we keep these reflections for those who are closest to us. Let us act in the same way as regards the Order. May those of our fathers who are specially concerned with the direction of the souls in the house, be one of whom we speak still less.

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Themes

Francis 65 Authority 79Foundation 69 Mission 69

It is well also for the Provincials to visit the Vicar General and the other communities of the city, if they are advised to do so. If there are Poor Clares or Franciscans, this would be an obligation for them.

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Themes

Mission 69 Authority 79 Eucharist 69

The Provincial must decide with the Mother General for the patron of the House and try to obtain from the Bishop as soon as possible, the Sacred Reserve and even Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament according to our Constitutions.

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Themes

Mission 69 Unity 87 Authority 79

Let her (the Provincial) take care to note all the details of the foundation; little by little, this will form a very interesting history for the Institute. The one who seems most apt for this charge will be designated to write down each day the events worth noting. The original of this manuscript will remain in the house, and two copies of it will be made - one for the Provincial Archives and the other for the General Archives.

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Themes

Eucharist 62 Authority 79 Mission 69 Law -

In order that the foundation be considered as completed, we must be established in a house handed over to the Institute, have at least the Sacred Reserve and all installed there in such a way that the essential points of the Constitutions may be observed; finally, let no important changes be foreseen before one year. Ordinarily, we may think of the first six months as those of the foundation and at that point stop the history to begin the ordinary journal of the house.

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Themes

Authority 79 Sentiment - Responsibility 79 Obedience 71 Glory of God 66 Detachment 29

Generosity89

If the Superior General and her Council judge it appropriate to transfer a subject to another Province (even the Provincial herself), the Provincial Superior may and must make the representations that she believes for the glory of God. She is not forbidden to be concerned in heart and mind with the interests of her Province whether at the Chapter, on in Council, or by letters. But the definitive decision of the Superior General must find her, as prescribed, in virtue of the vow of obedience, our Constitutions, and must exact from all the subjects of her Province the faithful practice of this vow.

A Provincial Superior, true child of the Institute, will go even further. At the foundation of a house and in all other cases, if she thinks one of her subjects would be useful for the glory of God outside of her Province, let her be generous enough to say so, even if this subject were very precious to her. Even with greater reason must she speak if she were questioned on this point by her Superior General and even greater by another Provincial. The same attitude must guide her for the House where she has her residence; let her not hesitate to deprive herself of someone who is agreeable to her, if she could be employed more advantageously still in another place of the Province.

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Themes

Unity 87 Abandonment 22 Mission 69 Strength 89 Authority 79 Frankness 89 Obedience 71 Peace 72 Renouncement 29 Charity

24 Detachment29

The members of the Institute must all understand that in founding a new mission, it is important to give it, at least as principal base, some subjects already accustomed to the Missions. Let this kind of sacrifice be foreseen by all; it must not be met with opposition, and still less with revolt. Oh! What a shame if a Missionary of Mary were to seek by little intrigues with Bishops or Priests who have us for auxiliaries in their works, a means to escape the sacrifice of obedience. I would tremble for a soul who would thus willingly turn aside the will of God. On the contrary, may my daughters, present and future, be the better auxiliaries of their Superior General and her Council in delicate circumstances. Let them assume themselves what is odious and difficult in the change and be able to make it acceptable to all whatever may be the sacrifices. In face of a firm and straightforward will, all changes will be made always in peace and charity.

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Themes

Authority 79 Charity24 Respect for persons 24 Responsibility 79 Renouncement 29

A Provincial Superior must certainly make known to the Superior General the health, talents, aptitudes and the advantages that her subjects offer and all the offices for which they seem suited; and at the same time make known their weaknesses and miseries. If she is obliged to make known the capable and very gifted Religious, let her mention also the miseries of the imperfect subjects, but not from a desire to get rid of them. Let her rather have the charity to keep whomever makes her suffer a little and who renders less service to her neighbor.

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Themes

Authority 79 Judgment - Frankness 89 Charity

24

When a change of Province has been decided, the Provincial Superior must complete the subject’s record with intelligence and devotedness, send it to the Provincial who is going to receive the subject and if it is necessary to add thereto some intimate details. Let her write them frankly and charitably, but in a confidential letter.

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Themes

Charity 24 Detachment29 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Authority

79 Prudence 89 Enclosure/openness (to the world) - Glory of God 66 Responsibility

79 Renouncement 29 Respect for persons24 Unity

87

Let the Provincial observe exactly the Custom Book for all that concerns travelling, and let her see that one deals with generosity and charity towards all of our religious who pass through or stay temporarily

in her Province, particularly if they are superiors. The Constitutions place them under the obedience of the Provincial and the local Superiors, like all other members of the Institute; but delicacy and charity must inspire those who are in charge. Let this authority be exercised with a tact and a prudence which harms in no way the interests to be treated and leave a perfume of edification to those of their sisters who have been received in a House or a Province other than their own.

As for the voyages allowed the Provincial, they must always have as their purpose God’s glory and the welfare of the Institute. Pleasure, the desire of families or friends must never be the cause of any voyage, except that for serious reasons, the glory of God and the welfare of the Institute are at stake in such cases.

For her own travels, the Provincial never considers her own satisfaction, but she goes where she believes it necessary or useful and refrains from being retained because of attachment to her Residence, negligence, or whatever other motive there may be.

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Therefore, as we have said, she will not leave her Province without the permission of the Mother General, and if an excessively serious reason should force her to do so, she must notify as promptly as possible and return to her Province as quickly as she can.

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Themes

Authority 79 Prudence 89 Enclosure/openness ( to the world ) - Goodness 24 Respect for persons 24 Common life 91 Glory of God 66 Charity

24 Salvation of souls 81

The Provincial Superior must see that the spirit of the Institute is guarded and that no one goes out ever, except for serious business dealings with their ecclesiastical superiors, businessmen, etc.

Let the parlours and doors be, through her care, religiously set up and directed according to the prescriptions of the Custom Book.

Let her know how to encourage and maintain good relations with persons who could help for the glory of God and the salvation of souls, or even with those who have need for conversion.

Let her reserve a special place and assure a good reception to the poor and little ones.

Let her be good and charitable to the friends of our houses, and everywhere she goes, may she leave a favorable impression of the Institute.

Let the Mother Provincial keep those religious from the parlors and contacts with the world who would be easily impressed and led by worldly society or who would find, in those contacts, a pleasure that would not be too religious.

On the other hand, let her force the timid to overcome their shyness, the good to be amiable in such a way that all will draw for themselves the better part possible for the glory of God and good of souls.

Let her accustom our sisters to avoid boisterous laughter, to speak softly, prudently and discreetly, to listen with pleasure and to let nothing transpire that is intimate to the family and their impressions.

As far as possible, she will have the hours observed regularly and will see that the people from outside do not prevent our Religious from being faithful to all the exercises of the community.

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Themes

Order 89 Unity 87 Authority 79 Peace 72 Humility 89 Prudence 89 Work 75 Providence 22

Struggle26

We have already said how dear the works must be to the Mother Provincial. Let her try to develop and create all those whom divine Providence places on her route and see that they are organized and founded according to our spirit and our Constitutions. Let a gentle humility make her accept to wait for them or even sometimes see them taken away. We often gain more by making sacrifices to peace than by outdoing on a Superior a kind of triumph for which it will be necessary to pay later more dearly than the success merits.

With the help of the Custom Books, she regulates all things, in a stable way, refraining especially at the beginning of her tenure in office, from changing what she find already well set up.

In her Visits, she must take note of the Works, see them, keep herself informed when she is absent, and make known all things to the Superior General, in such a way that the consolations, the experiences, the useful ordinances are profitable to the whole Institute and everywhere assure the prosperity of the works to which we have dedicated ourselves for the love of Our Lord.

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Themes

Charity 24 Authority79 Prudence 89 Enclosure/Openness ( to the world )- Service

-

The Provincial Superior will see that the guest quarters are absolutely separated from the Community; it would be desirable that Visitors, the Chaplain and the Associates have, if possible, their separate houses: the frequentation of those who are not held to the religious life may be the source of a thousand idle gossips and many difficulties.

The Provincial should be assured that the service of all is done regularly and that one observes in their regard the laws of charity, prudence and discretion, prescribed by our Rules and Customs.

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She will see particularly that our Sisters are always two when they are called to outsiders. If this rule allows some exceptions in the parlor for close relatives and persons of our sex, there must never be any when our Sisters are sent in the section reserved for outsiders or into the garden.

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Themes

Authority 79 Dove - Absolute power of God - Purity 89 Francis 65 World - Mary 68 Devotions 77 Mission 69

I leave as a maxim to our Provincials this beautiful word of our Seraphic Father: My God and my all! And I give them Saint Francis himself for their Patron. Four major reasons have prompted me to decide upon this choice for those of my Daughters who will govern our Provinces in the present and in the future:

1) Our Father Saint Francis had for the blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary an incomparable love and the Queen of Angels sheltered him in return with her all-powerful protection, putting in some way at his service the celestial hosts of whom she is the Queen.

Our Provincials must see that the Missionaries of Mary are truly worthy of the name”doves” that our Reverend Father wished to give them. To that end let them unceasingly honor and have their flock honor the immaculate purity of the most Blessed Virgin, and have her missionary daughters imitate her as much as poor creatures can.

They will also have great need for the ministry of the Angels, above all in the difficulties of distant missions. Their Father and Protector Saint Francis will obtain for them the help of these celestial spirits.

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Themes

Francis 65 Fidelity 89 Authority 79 Law - Obedience 71 Respect for the Hierarchy 71

2) The Seraphic Francis, legislator, Father of his Order and guardian of its spirit, will obtain for our Provincials a faithful love for all prescriptions of authority and a vigilance, which will guarantee for the Provincials, the exact observance of our Rules, of our Constitutions, of our Custom Books.

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Themes

Authority 79 World - Francis 65 Supernatural spirit 64 Renouncement - Prayer 77 Absolute power of God - Detachment 29

3) The ardent love of the Seraphic Father was founded upon a profound contempt of self. He summed up one and the other in this word which I have left as motto for our Provincials: Deus meus et omnia!

With what supernatural unconcern and what indifference for created things, our Provincials will fill their office, if God is truly their all, and if neither self nor all things of the earth hold any place in their life! Their Seraphic Father will develop in their soul and in their heart this supernatural spirit; he will make himself their master and all will adopt the habit of consulting him in prayer on the state of their soul, of their heart, and that of the souls and hearts of whom they have charge, and in all their difficulties.

They should have on the table where they most usually work and the place where they speak the most often to our sisters, a statue or a picture of Saint Francis to remind them what they must seek from their

Seraphic Father. Let them adopt the habit of frequently raising their eyes and heart to him, asking him filially, “Father, what do you think of what I do? for this soul? for this matter? etc.”

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Themes

Authority 79 Dove - Unity 87 Responsibility 79 Francis 65 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Obedience 71 Humility 89 Renouncement 29 Holy Spirit 61 Poverty 75 Absolute power of God -

Earth/Heaven83

4) Finally, the greatest difficulty of our Institute as I have often said, will be to preserve unity because of the distances and the different surroundings where we find ourselves. The protection of this unity is particularly confided to our Provincials. The Provincial, protected by Saint Francis, will find in him the

strength and support to obtain this grace so desirable for the “espirit de corps.” Our Seraphic Father will give her a filial, unquestionable respect and attachment for his successor.

She will have for her Superior General an obedience guaranteed by her fidelity in the love and spirit of Saint Francis. She cannot support the local Superiors and their Religious if they take on a way which is not ours, nor allow that they abandon the way which is specifically ours, to follow one which would be particular, which would necessarily lead to more or less serious division in the heart of our family as a spirit is introduced more or less different from our own.

By teaching them self-contempt, Saint Francis will make sure that Provincials be attached to their Province as to their own personal property.

Their love for Poverty will keep them from falling into a spirit of ownership and will make them regard whatever pertains to the Province, persons and things, as belonging to the whole Institute.

Likewise, they will not seek to enrich themselves, be it in cash or in kind, without the knowledge of the Council of the Institute, or by forcing it to give its consent.

They will read one of the lives of our Seraphic Father once a year. While Doves, faithful trustees of his glorious heritage, they will walk, their eyes fixed heavenward, far from the earth, saying always and in all things: My God and my All!

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Themes

Order - Hierarchy 71 Authority 79 Unity 87 Fidelity 89

The Visits are made by the Superior General or her Delegates in the entire Institute, by the Provincial Superior or hers in her Province.

The Visits take the name of the authority who makes it or orders it made: General Visits or Provincial Visits.

The Visit is ordinarily announced a moth or fifteen days earlier, by her who will make it or order it mad. This is obligatory, according to the Constitutions, every three years for the Mother Provincial and every

six years for the Mother General. But I advise the Provincials to make it once in two years or even every year, if the distance does not make it too difficult.

Moreover, she and the Mother General can make the Visit, even without due notice, every time they judge it useful before God.

It is evident that the Mother General can make but rarely, by herself, the Visits to the distant Missions, in China, for example; her absence could deprive the Institute of her general action for months. But the Provincials, generally, would not be in the same case, and as much as possible, they themselves should make the Visit in their Province.

When the Mother General or her Delegate arrives for the Visit, the whole Community, in choir habit, meet her at the door of the cloister.

The arrival of the Visitor is announced by the sound of the bell in full peal.

The Mother Provincial or the Mother Superior is in the midst, and presents, kneeling, the holy water. The Mother General makes the sign of the cross, and all kneel. Right after, all go in procession to the church, while singing the Veni Creator.

A kneeler must have been placed near the communion rail for the Visitor. When she gets there, the Magnificat is sung, followed by the anthem Salve, Sancte Pater.

If the Blessed Sacrament is exposed and the hour suitable, the Chaplain in requested to give the Benediction of Blessed Sacrament and the Laudate is replaced by the Magnificat, which the Blessed

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Virgin sung when she visited Saint Elizabeth. If it were in the morning, at the time for Mass, this would be sung after the holy Sacrifice.

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Themes

Authority 79 Charity24 Fervour 89 Word of God73 Sanctity - Jesus67 Abandonment 22 Renouncement

29 Francis 65 Obedience71 Prudence 89 Presence of God86

Directory - The spirit which should preside at the Visit is, for one and the other, that of renewal in the fervor and in the perfection proper to our vocation.

She who makes it should seek to destroy the abuses, but guard against imposing what would apparently be her proper ideas or her personal will.

May she render the spirit of Saint Francis fruitful, as well as the particular seal given by Divine Providence to the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary.

If any disposition of an important charge is found necessary, the Mother General has to be consulted first and not act without her except in very serious cases or when absolutely necessary, and then, she has to be notified immediately.

At any rate, the weakening of authority should be avoided, as well as causing scandal and of any subject that may trouble the Community.

The Visitor should be careful not to make known publicly what prudence demands to be kept in silence. Her charge finished, let her observe the most prudent discretion and an entire charity on the subject of all that was given her to see and to hear.

Lastly, with the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, it is desirable that the passage of a Visitor leave on all the same impression that the presence of Our Lord left on the disciples of Emmaus, and we can say: “Was not our heart burning within us when she spoke to us during the Visit?”

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Themes

Glory of God 66 Respect for persons 24 Authority 79 Responsibility 79 Unity 87 Humility 89

Charity24

Every member of the (Provincial) Congregation then receives a first list of all the affairs that the President and the General Council or of the Province, find desirable to be discussed during the session. Thus, there will be ample time to study the questions and to prepare what should be said for the glory of God and the common good.

The members of the Congregation can then give also to the President, a list of questions which they think need to be discussed; and after having examined them with the Councilors of the Province; the President will issue a second list which will be submitted to the members of the Congregation as the first.

At any rate, each one can say aloud, humbly and charitably, whatever she thinks is necessary or useful.

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Themes

Mary 68 Glory of God 66 Authority 79 World - Abandonment 22 Word of God 73 Holy Spirit 61 Absolute power of God - Supernatural spirit 64 Jesus 67 Service -

Directory - The Religious should assemble in Congregation like the Apostles who gathered around the most Blessed Virgin after the Ascension of Our Lord Jesus-Christ, seeking from her to know the life, the will and the desires of their Creator and Lord, who died on the Cross to redeem them.

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If they gather like this, they will be aided by the Holy Spirit and they will speak diverse languages, that is to say, about all necessary subjects according to His inspiration.

The spirit of faith is especially necessary to a provincial Congregation. It is essential to look at God, our end, towards whom we labour, and whether it concerns others or ourselves, seek alone, as true Franciscans, the glory and the service of our God and our All.

The human spirit would be the ruin of the gathering; that supernatural spirit makes us speak according to the openness of our conscience, with a gentle firmness and even against the will and the natural desires.

To mission the Immaculate Virgin, our Queen and our Mother, should be the only purpose of our provincial reunion, and with her protection and the grace of her Divine Son, we will attain this end, object of our special vocation.

Every meeting finishes with a sun Tuum.

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Themes

Peace 72 Judgment - Joy 89 Prudence 89 Sanctity - Evenness of character 89 Prayer 77 Justice - Live in God 86 Authority 79

If we face up to the truth, then we must admit that if the Superior is a soul given entirely to God, her house will enjoy peace and joy and will advance in the way of perfection. If, on the contrary, the Superior is wanting in this matter, if she lacks the interior spirit and piety, judgment and discretion, if she is not too consistent, has a certain unevenness of character, and is subject to preferences, then souls and the Rule will suffer.

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Themes

Authority 79 Laws - Prayer 77 Renouncement 29 Abandonment 22 Maternal love -

Each time that the Superior makes her retreat of the month, let her consider her past resolutions so as to better observe them, as Our Lord desires.

In these times of solitude she will grow accustomed to examining herself vis-à-vis the Constitutions and Custom Books. She will also review her relationships with each of her children.

Seek all from grace, my dear daughters; never seek satisfaction in your authority.

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Themes

Authority 79 Cult 77 Order 89

The Superior should know how the Choir Mistress, the Sacristans of the Chapel and Oratory, the Organist and singers observe their customs; she should not allow them to leave aside anything. If during the ceremonies she should note it quietly and remedy it; later, she herself should make whatever observations are necessary to those concerned.

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Themes

Authority 79 Church 60 Eucharist 62 Joy 89 Cult 77 Prudence 89 Devotion 77 Humility 89 Fidelity 89

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The Superior must prefer the devotions that our Constitutions recommend and forbid novelties not approved by the Church. The Tabernacle and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament should be her treasures; she should help others appreciate that with which she nourishes herself.

She must watch that her daughters do not fall into illusions, helping them understand that true virtue consists in the fidelity to the God of Consolations, and not in the search of consolations from God.

Let her have an excessive prudence on this subject, and be slow to believe in particular graces, trying those who claim to have such, on the touchstone of charity, obedience, and above all, of humility.

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Themes

Authority 79 Supernatural spirit 64 Formation - Time - Sanctity - Respect for persons 24

Obedience71

For the library of the house, the Superior will seek to procure serious books, approved by ecclesiastical superiors, which will be helpful for the spiritual progress of souls and the works of the Institute. She will take care that the librarian observes the rule of the Custom Book which forbids her to give reserved books without a note from the Superior. She will follow the reading of her daughters with maternal interest, counseling each to read those works which would be most advantageous to her perfection and most helpful for her spiritual needs.

As for herself, she will act supernaturally and seriously in this regard: her time is precious, she can scarcely devote the time indicated in the Constitutions to reading; so let her therefore, conscientiously use that time to read what can be to her greatest spiritual advantage, informing herself in the reading, matter that she advises for her daughters, or reading what will be most helpful for the welfare of the Institute and its works.

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Themes

Authority 79 Love of God 23 Passion 74 Charity

24 Eucharist 62 Imitation63 Francis 65 Formation-

Library of the Superior - Special books for her charge.

The Crucifix and the Tabernacle are the divine books which are ever open and where the Superior will study unceasingly what she is to be for God and her neighbor and her soul, following the example of our Seraphic Father and of Saint Bonaventure.

Books of the Institute - Ascetical Books - Lives of the Saints - Study Books.

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Themes

Authority 79 Mission 69 Church 60 Peace 72 Francis 65 Strength 89 Law - Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Liberty - Tradition -

In all things, the Superior must show and likewise inspire in those around her, profound love for holy Church and its visible Head, respect and great filial attachment for the Successor of Saint Francis and his Order.

May the Bishop of the diocese always find in her a submissive and devoted daughter; let her try to keep the Bishop as the ecclesiastical Superior of her Community.

Above all, let her insist upon the observance of the Constitutions; but for what concerns the works, let her show herself ready to yield and very submissive, encouraging her Sisters to follow the same line of conduct.

However, the Superior may, with humble freedom, tell the Ordinaries what, in her opinion seems useful for the prosperity of the works and would be good to do in a diocese or in a mission. But since, after

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all, it is the Bishop who has charge of souls, and since we are only his simple auxiliaries, once the question has been exposed, the Superior should let him decide, or if there is need, notify the Provincial, requesting the Prelate to await her response. Then the community will remain peaceful, and we will have more strength to live in the interior of our Communities according to our Constitutions, our spirit and our customs.

In delicate circumstances, she should try to deal directly with the Bishop; she will find that better than going through intermediaries, and thus avoid misunderstandings, arriving at better and clearer solutions.

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Themes

Fraternal unity 87 Will - Authority 79 Joy 89 Unity 87 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Sentiment - Order/Hierarchy 71 Tradition - Suffering 82

Word of God73

Concerning the relations of the Religious with the Superiors of the Institute, the Superior must first of all turn their hearts toward the Very Reverend Mother General. The houses and provinces are sometimes very far away, and doubtlessly more sensible good is received from the Superior or Provincial who can easily be consulted, and we could be tempted to give them the greater attention rightly due to the Council of the Institute. It would be very easy to create a little kingdom apart, which would have its own spirit, perhaps its own customs, to the detriment of the spirit and body of the Institute.

My dear daughters, you are spread out everywhere, and for this reason, more than for the religious of any other Institute, you must meditate on these words: “Every kingdom divided against itself will fall.”

The Superior should see to it that wills, souls, hearts give first place to the Mother of all, to the one who bears the heaviest burden, the rudest cross, without having the joys and consolations of those who work more closely with souls. She should write to her, as indicated in the Constitutions, and see that in doing so she keeps her up-dated on all: the house, the subjects, herself, the works.

What she does for the Mother General, she should do secondly for the Mother Provincial or the Superior of the Mission.

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Themes

Providence 22 Obedience 71 Authority 79 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Order/Hierarchy 71 Holy Spirit 61

Example63

If the Mother Superior desires that she be given her due and that everything be in order around her, then she should not usurp anything that is due to the Mother Provincial, and in her relations with her, she should give the example of submission and respect for authority to everyone.

The Assistants General and the General Bursar should receive from the respect due them. More than the others, she must understand that authority represents our Lord Himself and that she must therefore love Him and see Him in each of those who hold authority, following the order established by Divine Providence.

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Themes

Authority 79 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Priests 60 Simplicity 89 Sacraments - Prudence 89

The Superior should be careful to observe the Constitutions in his regard. She must speak to him and treat him with respect, tell him simply what she thinks would be good for the house and souls, and unless there is need; she should not speak to him outside the confessional.

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Themes

Grace - Prayer 77 Justice - Renouncement 29 Authority 79 Discernment of spirits - Nature 70 Simplicity 89

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Before all else, the Superior must avoid preferences and see that she does not inspire in those who surround her any natural affection.

Believe in my experience, my dear daughters; without grace and a special gift of God, this is very difficult to achieve. Prayer, the study of souls, the renunciation of self, are the virtues that will obtain for us from God this precious treasure so advantageous for the soul of a Superior and for those who are under her direction.

How to shed full light on this subject? So to speak, it is impossible. A hint, a word, a gesture guides the soul of a Superior who is entirely given to God and awakens in her the discernment of spirits.

General rule: Let her banish special attention, these little cares, these little works made expressly for her, and which too often, are little industries intended to touch her heart. Let her ask for what she needs with simplicity, and not leave it up to each one to do as she pleases. These flatteries could expose her and others to a real danger.

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Themes

Authority 79 Supernatural spirit 64 Renouncement 29 Respect for the Hierarchy 71 Love of God 23 Fidelity 89 Charity 24 Suffering

82 Sentiment - Respect for persons24 Goodness 24 Strength89

The Superior should help each to understand very well that fidelity to the Rule, the religious spirit, renunciation, true and sincere love for God and neighbor are the first motivations which will merit her esteem.

A Superior may be excused for calling upon the most virtuous when she has need; but it is painful to see her forget herself with those who seek her naturally.

If the Superior is ill, she will leave her door open as much as possible; but only the Mistress of Health and the nurses will take care of her. To act otherwise would be a definite abuse, and would lead to the development of those sentimental nuances that we must all hold in horror.

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When one of her daughter is in pain or passing through a trial, it is certainly permissible that the Superiors console her and show her tenderness; but there should be none of those prolonged caresses which weaken the soul and detract from true affection.

Sometimes we see some religious hold the hand of the Superior for a long time, pretending to sit at her feet, etc.; all such actions are detestable.

The Superior, distracted by other concerns, may not always be aware of these things; but she should make herself so respected that no one will allow themselves to indulge in these abuses and if a subject should act in this way, the Superior should receive her in such a way that she will not do it again.

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Themes

Authority 79 Nature 70 Justice - Renouncement 29

Prudence89

Apart from those instances where her daughters are necessary to her for a special work, let the Superior observe an absolute impartiality, rather having a little more reserve for those who are sympathetic or who seek her naturally, and a little more attention for the Religious who is less pleasing to her or who is not inclined toward her by nature.

Let the Sisters never think that they are less dear to her heart than the Mothers, and if among her daughters, there is someone whose family is more favoured by fortune and birth, never let this be the subject of preference or distinction.

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Themes

Authority 79 Respect for persons 24 Goodness 24 Prayer 77 Supernatural spirit 64 Prudence 89 Detachment 29 Justice - Jesus 67 Discernment of spirits -

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Mary 68 Sanctity 87 Unity

87

On this important point, the Superior must understand very well first of all, what is said in Book I of the Custom Book, no. 59. These principles indicated; let her be tender and supernatural towards her daughters, in such a way that her subordinates may be more occupied with God than with the Superior herself. This will be achieved if she is truly detached from herself, if she has the secret of speaking little of herself, and of allowing her action to disappear by giving all hearts to Our Lord and to His Immaculate Mother.

The Superior must study souls and pray much for them. No two are alike; also the taking of sides is deplorable in this delicate matter. In such a matter, one must not act oneself, but seek to know the spirit of God and with the desired prudence, help the soul to follow Him.

Particularly at the time of retreats, the Superior must see her daughters, and never pass a month without speaking with them of their sufferings, their joys, their needs, and this especially when someone expresses the desire to do so without self-seeking.

If her occupations allow her, it would be good for her to note what she remarks as the most lacking in each one when there is occasion, in order to warn the Sister at the monthly interview. If she corrects her daughters in this way, without emotion, they will receive a greater help for their religious spirit and their advancement.

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Themes

Authority 79 Renouncement 29 Nature 70 Humility 89 Judgment - Abandonment 22 Glory of God 66 Order 71 Salvation of souls 81 Justice -

If the Mother General and the Provincial consult the Superior on the choice of her Assistant, her Admonitor, her councilors, or her bursar, let her weigh all before God and ask, not for those who please her, who suit her naturally, whom she knows would share her views; rather let her choice fall on the Religious whom she judges to be more worthy and who would contribute more to the glory of God, the welfare of the Institute and souls.

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If no one consults her, she may humbly make the observations that she believes necessary. If the major Superiors maintain their decision, let her be submissive and abandon herself to God.

In both instances, the local Superior must encourage the Assistant in her work, be very united with her, and see her every time that it is useful.

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Themes

Authority 79 Sentiment - Francis 65 Liberty - Prayer 77 Glory of God 66 Providence 22 Joy 89 Contemplation-Action 27 Humility

89 Respect for persons 24 Unity87

She will listen to her admonitor with the gratitude and joy that our Seraphic Father showed when someone warned him of something, however unmated. Let her not defend herself. Very often, it happens that at first sight we do not believe ourselves at fault, but when we weigh the counsel in prayer, the advice that Providence has sent us, we will discover a salutary lesson in it that can be profitable for ourselves and for others.

Let her facilitate the exercise of the admonitor’s charge and after an observation the Superior should show the admonitor such confidence and affection, that she will never fear to warn her. Let it be the same for the Councillors, whether in Council or outside, so that each one may express herself in all liberty as she thinks and judges for the glory of God and the Institute.

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Themes

Authority 79 Formation - Sanctity - Maternal love - Responsibility 79 Example 63

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As far as possible, the Superior will herself read the letters of her daughters. In this way she will come to know them well, as well as the milieu in which they were raised, which is a great help in doing good for them. The Superior sees that all in the house write the prescribed letters, encouraging correspondence, as indicated in the Constitutions. She should give the example in this respect. If her daughters are out begging, let her support them with maternal letters, in which she writes what she knows will most efficaciously console, guide, and encourage them.

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Themes

Order 89 Authority 79

The Superior sees that the Secretary, the Bursar and the Assistant keep their papers in good order.

If the Superior does not deal with businessmen herself, she is kept informed of all, and she must insist that everything concerning her house has the seal of order, denoting good administration.

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Themes

Order/hierarchy 71 Authority 79 Order

89

Each time that a Superior or one of the members of her house writes to beg outside the diocese, the letter must be sent through the Provincial Superior.

If the Superior writes outside her Province, she sends her letter through the Superior General.

This precaution will avoid appealing to the same benefactors twice, and will preserve the Superior from any personal interest which could lead her to direct the benefactions of those interested in the Institute, toward her own house.

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Themes

Authority 79 Nature 70 Common life 91 Struggle 26

Unity 87 Maternal love - Duty 89 Enclosure/Openness ( to the world )- Renouncement 29 Virtue 89

Community Exercises

The Superior should try not to miss them and she should try to be the first present. If the Superior is in her place, the Community will bear the yoke of the Lord lightly without fatigue, they will pray better and with more consolation.

When the Superior is absent, there is a certain malaise, heaviness; the religious seek her in spite of themselves - and this because she is the soul and Mother of the house; her presence brings grace, her absence, sadness.

Therefore, my daughters no pretext, no excuse, no duty is more important. Unless you are really sick, you should always be at the community exercises. When you are pressed, it would be better to leave aside your reading or another of the restful exercises that you do privately, and be with your daughters when they are united.

I am aware that our nature tells us differently; but you are in charge to trample nature underfoot and to teach others to do the same. Sometimes the demon tempts the Superiors very cleverly and shows them some great good to be done in a work, for certain souls, leading them to forget the general interests of the common good.

The Superior should foil these ruses, and know that she must give herself to the community before all else.

She should not burden herself with those things that would impede her exercise of her charge, and when necessary, she should have someone replace her with the people from the exterior, someone who has the necessary virtue and capacity.

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Themes

Law - Common life 91 Authority 79 Fidelity 89 Formation -

The Constitution and Custom Books must be among her favourite reading, and this point should be one of her subjects for examen; no transgressions must escape her eye, so that she will be able to correct all failings.

The Superior has the responsibility to give catechetical instruction, or have it given, as well as spiritual instructions, and to hold Chapters, according to the Constitutions and the Custom Book.

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Themes

Authority 79 Justice -Penance 76 Respect for persons 24 Prudence 89 Time -

Let her accustom her daughters to punish themselves for their slight failings and to ask a penance for those which are more serious. If they do not do so, let the Superior impose a penance without fear and without exception to anyone, otherwise she could open the door to laxness; let her use tact, however, and prudence, taking into consideration circumstance of time and place.

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Themes

Authority 79 Respect for persons 24 Charity 24 Penance

76 Service - Communion of saints87

Charity must be queen of the house, and the Superior, her first servant, will not allow any cloud among her daughters, and still less a lack of concern, of respect, a discussion, a disagreeable action. In this last case, she should demand reparation and impose a penance.

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She should not forget the Franciscan bouquet, nor the suffrages for the living and the dead.

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Themes

Authority 79 Francis 65 Poverty

75

The Superior must never forget that her religious family is Franciscan and that she must preserve the treasure of poverty. She must never keep money, nor forget that the Constitutions indicate that she consult her council for all extraordinary expenditures above 100 francs, and her Provincial for all that will exceed 500 francs.

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Themes

Authority 79 Chastity 25Poverty 75 Obedience 71

The Superior must especially watch over the practice of poverty, of chastity, and of obedience, and not allow any transgression in their regard.

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Themes

Vocation - Frankness 89 Fear of God - Simplicity 89 Love of God 23 Francis 65 Judgment - Authority 79

The Superior must seriously examine those (postulants) who enter or will enter in her house. She should require above all a true love and holy fear of God, judgment, sincerity, simple manners and capacity to be formed in the Franciscan spirit; because otherwise they would not be apt for our Institute.

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Themes

Authority 79 Sentiment - Body/soul 28 Reason - Goodness ( virtue ) 24 Law - Love of God 23 Maternal love - Suffering 82 Goodness of God 23

Death-

The Superior watches over the health of her subjects and takes care that the superior does her charge well. She should have the vigilant eye of a Mother, ever quick to discern the illnesses of her daughters, a tender and intelligent heart that will find a way of remedying them.

The Rule and Constitutions indicate that she visits the sick at least once a day; and she should be exact about this. Then she can show them all her maternal tenderness, exhort them to patience in their spiritual and temporal ills, dissipate their fears by helping them to understand the love and mercy of Jesus. She should take care to obtain books that will bring them consolation and be of use to them, and to send religious to them who can do good for their souls and help them to bear patiently with their sufferings.

If there is danger of death, the Mother must leave to no one else the care of warning and preparing her daughter. The announcement and the approach of the last hour will be less hard if a Mother is there at this final passing.

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Themes

Authority 79 Body/soul 28 Sacraments - Renouncement 29 Eucharist 62 Common life 91 Strength 89 Prudence 89 Suffering 82

The Superior will also see to it that her sick have, as far as confession is concerned, the help and consolation necessary, and will procure for them as often as possible the reception of Jesus in the

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Eucharist, ass that they have the Last Sacraments in time, the indulgences, the prayers for the dying; and she should be sure that they have their scapular.

It is her duty to close their eyes and to be strong enough to see that all is carried out according to the Custom Book - no matter what her emotion and sorrow.

She should know the doctors and should closely watch their relations with the house.

For her own health, she should avoid both neglect and self-seeking; let her take the necessary care, and let her refuse sternly all useless particularities.

During a time of epidemic, she will see that extra care if given to the drink and food of the community - according to the hygiene demanded by the specific illness. If there are some contagious cases in the house, she should keep those of her daughters not needed for the care of the sick, at a distance. And she should avoid - in this latter case as in the first - that the epidemic becomes the subject of conversation, and prevent imagination from being carried away.

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Themes

Authority 79 Unity 87 Charity 24 Priests

60 Res Respect for persons24

She should be very charitable and concerned about our Sisters who visit the house - more so if they are Superiors - likewise for her daughters who arrive or leave.

If the chaplain lives in the house, she should see that he is served faultlessly, and likewise for the guests and all that concerns the associates, the tertiaries, and domestics.

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Themes

Authority 79 Enclosure/openness ( to the world ) - World

-

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The Superior will keep a vigilant eye on the parlours, the portery, and the Commissioners; she will banish all abuses and inspire everyone with horror of the world and its spirit.

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Themes

Authority 79 Mission 69 Work 75 Formation -

The works should be dear to her. The Superior will seek to develop all that she finds already set up and will create new works if that is possible and in conformity with our Constitutions. Keeping in mind the aim of the Institute, she will form our Sisters, or have them formed for the works and all that will be useful for the Mission, encouraging studies. Finally her big and generous heart should be concerned about making her subjects apt not only for the works of the house, but still more for all the works of the Institute.

If it should be necessary for her to have a special Custom book for some of the works of the House, and if for this reason, she is obliged to change something of the usual order, she should arrange with the Provincial Superior and have everything approved by the Superior General and her council. Once she has their approval, she should change nothing more without their authorization.

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Themes

Mary 68 Example 63 Authority 79 Charity

24 Formation - Prudence89 Sanctity - Fidelity 89 Ecce 68 Joy

89 Chastity 25 Humility89 Imitation

63

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Directory - If the angel of obedience leans over you and says to you as to our Immaculate Mother: “The Lord will overshadow you” - which means, you will be Superior to help Jesus to be born and grow in souls, have only one word like Mary, and may this word re-echo in every hour of your government: “Behold the handmaid of the Lord.”

The Superior of the Institute will have no other Patroness than their Immaculate Mother. May the Mother of Divine Grace obtain for them the grace of their state; may she keep them pure, as well as their houses, chaste above all, and intact; Loving Virgin, may she make them agreeable to all; Admirable Virgin, may she help them to give good example; Prudent and venerable Virgin, worth of all praise, may she help them in all their decisions, all their ways; powerful, merciful and faithful Virgin, may she help them to keep all hearts under control and make them joyful.

May our Divine Queen make them the honour of their houses, the consolation of the sick, the refuge of sinners, the consolation of the afflicted; may the angels protect them, the patriarchs and prophets instruct them, may the Apostles and martyrs, the confessors and virgins and all the saints support them; and finally, may their daughters be the living crown of their Immaculate Mother and their glory for eternity.

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Themes

Authority 79 Obedience 71 Responsibility 79 Humility 89 Simplicity 89 Supernatural spirit 64 Presence of God 86 Unity 87 Nature 70

Local Councillors

The Superior will meet with them every two weeks and more often if she considers it necessary.

The Councillors should give their advice very simply when they are asked in turn, or when the Superior requests some advice from them; they should speak in the presence of God and not from human motivation. Once they have made known how they see matters, they must neither insist nor contest. They will try to support the decisions taken, even when their opinion has been different. If they have some remarks to make for the good of the Institute, of the house, or our Sisters, then after having prayed, they should say or write them under the eye of God with modesty.

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Themes

Authority 79 Fraternal unity 87 Supernatural spirit 61 Prudence 87 Humility 89 Obedience 71 Fidelity 89 Example 63

Directory - They should invoke the Holy Spirit, for He tells us: “I have counsel and sound wisdom, I have insight …” (Proverbs 8:14) they must remember that He prefers to communicate with the humble and that He resists those who are confident in their own wisdom.

Before being frequently consulted, before contributing to the observance of the Rule and to the progress of the Institute, they must understand how much they have need of divine light.

More so than others, they must be one with the Superior, because God has placed them close to her to help her to see, to find the means of acting, and to support her authority. They should be very united among themselves, and avoid all bad will towards those councilors who perhaps have had different opinions from their own.

Their life should be exemplary: before giving their advice for the welfare of the house, they must build up the house with their good example.

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Themes

Authority 79 Presence of God 86 Liberty - Renouncement 29 Charity 24 Nature

70 Prayer 77 Sentiment- Prudence 89 Responsibility79 Order/Hierarchy

71

197

Local Admonitor - According to the Constitutions, she is named by the General Council and must justify the confidence placed in her. Her charge, like that of the councilors, gives her no reason to listen to the reflections motivated by bad spirit nor transmit these to the Superior. Providence has placed her at the side of the one who is head of the house to be her visible guardian angel, and to warn her about those things she does not see, to make known to her impressions which seem to be general, and this not under the guise of an authority who reprimands, but under the guise of a child who warns her Mother with filial liberty. Before speaking to the Superior, she must pray and decide if it is really necessary. She must never speak in a moment of emotion, whether on her own part or on the part of her Mother. If the Superior has not listened, and if after having prayed further, it seems prudent to say a word to the Council or to the Provincial Superior or to the Mother General, as she sees most expedient, then she should do so imply under the eyes of God, without any self-seeking, and freeing herself from all human sentiment.

She must not speak to anyone about what she has said to the local Superior, except to the General Council and the Major Superiors, and she should be very careful not to arouse suspicion about what she believes to be a needed admonition nor about what she actually does.

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Themes

Mary 68 Gentleness 89 Devotion 77 Charity

24 Prayer 77 Prudence89 Abandonment 22 Obedience

71 World - Unity87

Directory - The Admonitor should have an intimate devotion and practical union with the good angel of the Superior. Before speaking, let her pray that he will make the needed admonition himself; experience has proven that he often does. However, if he does not listen, or if the Superior turns a deaf ear to the good angel, let her assist this faithful guardian, taking his spirit, and not speaking either for herself nor for any creature, but for the good pleasure of God. Still let her hint before actually saying what the matter is; and when a clearer explanation is needed, let her give it with so much kindness and charity that no one will be offended.

If she must have recourse to the Council or to Authority, let he do so without exaggeration, carefully observing kindness, charity and discretion.

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Let her make it her duty to be united with her Superior and to support her authority in all things, honouring thereby the good services and the submission of the holy angels to their Divine Queen.

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Themes

Authority 79 Order 89 Contemplation/action 27 Peace 72 Woman - Providence 22 Strength 89 Responsibility 79 Obedience 71 Sanctity -

1. - As indicated by her name, the Assistant must, with her heart, intelligence and work assist, and at the same time console the Superior with whom Providence has placed her. This is her role. Let her assume the material fatigue, so that the Superior, knowing that her Assistant is watching over the house like the valiant woman, can more peacefully concern herself with the special duties of her office, especially the care of souls, and seek in prayer the light and help necessary for her.

Therefore, the Assistant is entrusted with the material of the house; she must have all the Custom Books of the secondary charges, and know them so well that she will be like a living Custom Book. She is especially responsible to encourage the observance of these customs by all those in charge and by their helpers for that concerns them, and to warn each one of her failings.

If the Superior is absent from the house or an exercise, she replaces her; n if the Superior is outside the convent, she may also bless at the Oratory.

She has the duplicate of all the keys for the charges, so that she can open and enter everywhere in order to see that all is in order.

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Themes

Authority 79 Responsibility 79 Order/care 89 Will of God - Renouncement 29 Respect for persons 24

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She must refrain from the mania to do everything her way in her charges, leaving no latitude to others. Still more, she must guard against a kind of nonchalance or fear of displeasing, which mean letting things go or leaving people to their caprices.

The Assistant must keep the middle path, which generally is the perfection of virtue; she must observe carefully, and leave alone all that is going along well. She will achieve this manner of acting by dying to herself, and by seeking only the good pleasure of Jesus. It matters little if a Sister in charge hems the handkerchief before cutting out the guimpe, if both must be done and are equally urgent; she can very well allow the cook the pleasure of putting in the pepper before the salt, if the result is the same; what matters is that things are done carefully and according to the Rule.

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Themes

Authority 79 Poor 75 Charity 24 Fraternal union

91 Devotedness 89 Common life91 Woman - Glory of God66 Obedience 71

2. - The Assistant must see her Superior every day, and if necessary, several times a day, in the event that the Superior might have some observations to make, and also in order to tell her Superior all that may contribute to the glory of God, to the welfare of the Sisters and to that of the house. She may not order anything of importance, make any considerable purchases, nor write to anyone without the permission of the Superior. Like the others, she is under the obedience of the Superior, and must, as an elder and most devoted daughter, simply help her in all, sustain her authority, and comfort her Mother with all her strength.

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Themes

Body/soul 28 Order/hierarchy 71 Supernatural spirit 64 Poverty 75 Mission 69 Unity 87 Obedience 71 Common life 91

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3. - It is the Assistant who prepares these feasts; if it is for the local Superior, she must ask the Mother Provincial the permission to have some work done, and to make the modest expenditures that these require, but let her remain within the limits required by poverty, at the same time showing the filial love with which all hearts should be filled. Let everything take place religiously and let the needs of the foreign missions always be remembered in the presents made or received. It is always forbidden to stay up late to prepare for these feasts; the health of the Sisters in the Institute is too precious.

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Themes

Body/soul 28 Order 89 Glory of God 66 Peace 72

Outwardly, she (the Assistant) must take care that papers and things are not left in disorder, so that the house and all that depends upon it, may be for our Sisters and those who come to us, the image of a peaceful and well-ordered soul, harmonizing the exterior with the interior for the glory of our divine Master.

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Themes

Order 89 Unity 87 Time - Common life 91

Every day she assures that all the dishes are washed before supper, so that after the evening meal, there are only the dishes from community table to wash and the pots, etc., in order that recreation will not be shortened.

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Themes

Charity 24 Justice- Body/soul 28 Order89 Goodness

24

201

22. - Before being occupied with all the charges, if she notices that one of the Sisters has an accidental fatigue which escapes the infirmarian, she may give her something more at meals and send her to rest, notifying the Superior.

She will provide snacks for those who do heavy work in the fields, laundry and elsewhere.

If the commissioners or others come home wet, she should send them to change their clothing and give them something warm. In times of epidemics, she will watch the food more closely and, in agreement with the Superior, prevent the Sisters from being agitated concerning the current illness. She will also pay attention that rubbish holes and public conveniences are kept with care and emptied on time in order to prevent bad odours.

During the winter, she sees that all are sufficiently covered; her charity must extend not only to our Sisters, but to all who are employed in the house.

If she notices that someone is suffering, she should tell the Mistress of Health. If our Sisters are in bed on in their cell, the Assistant visits them and assures that they lack nothing.

It is her duty, after having spoken with the Mistress of Health, to post the list of those who take exceptions on the door of the refectory, near the kitchen.

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Themes

Goodness 24 Death - Family - Respect for persons 24

24. - In this case (of death) she sees, in agreement with the Superior, that the Custom Book is observed thoroughly. She tries to assist our dying and alleviate their last moments; she notifies the families as soon as the illness is somewhat serious, and she also announces the death. She has the death notices prepared and sent. She, with the bursar, takes care of all the business which the deceased may have left undone.

When she designates our Sisters to watch by the dead, she should have compassion on those who are frightened and not choose them, especially for the night.

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202


Themes

Order 89 Poverty 75

26. - She should arrange with the provincial bursar in order to have all the provisions possible channeled through her.

There is often a great saving for the houses when the provincial or even the general bursar can furnish something for the whole province or for the entire Institute -- generally one can obtain a large reduction.

The Assistant of the house should then confer with the provincial bursar and the latter will see with the general bursar about what things would be more advantageously purchased by the house, the province, or through the general bursar.

For current provisions, the assistant should be attentive to buy them in sufficient time, in good condition and from merchants in whom we have confidence. Let her recall that purchasing provisions is a good occasion to observe poverty of to fail to do so. It is a help if they are made as they should be, but if there is a waste or a lack of care to preserve them, they are ruined.

Our Sisters, without malice, but because of their character or education, will sometimes go and take generously of what they find at hand.

The large supplies should be locked in a as far as possible, and opened only to give the necessary air. We should consider this as real store where we buy only what is needed.

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Themes

Authority 79 Poverty 75 Order 89 Prudence 89

Obedience71

Repairs and Constructions.

203

27. - The Assistant will watch that nothing is damaged and will have the necessary repairs made from time to time.

If there is some construction to be done, let her be very prudent, seek competent advice, and observe the laws of poverty, do nothing without the orders and direction of the Superior.

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CT/ 2 : 611 Chapter 1

Themes

Charity 24 Order/care89

Vestry

29. - The Assistant sees that the woolens and bedding are preserved, the each one has what is necessary and nothing more than what is permitted by the Custom Book or required because of health.

Linen Room

30. - The Assistant sees that the necessary provisions for the linen room re procured in time, that all is cut out in conformity with the Custom Books, that the sacristy linens are treated with respect, that the laundry is not a source of difficulty. Let her maintain harmony and charity there, as well as between the linen room and the vestry. She should provide sufficient help for washing, hanging and folding the linen.

Office supplies. - Notions

31. - She should procure the provisions for the house in time, and buy in quantity rather than in small amounts. Let her be careful that nothing necessary is lacking.

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Themes

Charity 24 Order89

Pantry.

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The Assistant sees that nothing is lost, that all is preserved carefully; the fruits turned and watched, the preserves and jams made in time; let poverty and cleanliness be the special characteristics of the pantry. The kitchen and all others should be given what is necessary. Finally, let good order and charity prevail in all things.

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Themes

Body/soul 28 Poverty 75 Liberty - Responsibility 79 Order 89 Service

-

Kitchen and Refectory.

The Assistant prepares the daily menu as indicated in the Custom Book of the cook; she takes care to avoid both prodigality and avarice. She should remember the labours of our Sisters, their various kinds of fatigue, and give them, in so far as our poverty allows, nourishment which, while sustaining the poor body, helps the soul to serve the good God well.

Let her be punctual, not making the cook wait for the menu of the meals and accept the suggestions that the cook makes about using the left-overs and things which must be used quickly. The Assistant herself should know about these things. So that nothing will be wasted. She should direct all, while leaving the freedom to do what is common sensical. She should go to the kitchen a little before the meal in order to glance at the portions, at the exceptions for the sick. She prepares (or has someone prepare) the list, placing it at the door of the refectory in such a way that the refectorians and those who serve table know, without speaking, what they have to serve.

She should also see that there is good order in the refectory, that those in the pantry prepare the desserts, and that the meals are rung and served exactly - on time.

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205


Themes

Charity 24 Poverty75 Order 89 Prudence

89 Patience 89 Time-

Commissioners.

The Assistant regulates the hours of the commissioners according to their Custom Book, and gathers together the commissions which are in the same neighbourhood so as to avoid unnecessary running about for our Sisters. She should give the commissions clearly and briefly and she should accustom our Sisters to speak in the same way - their time is precious, they must not lose it.

She should see that the commissioners go to her directly when they return and given an account of the commissions. She should ask the price of each thing so as to know where she should get it, and she should take notes of this subject.

If it should happen that she must send someone out very early or very late, or to a house not well known, or for a delicate commission, she should take care to send two chosen commissioners on such occasions.

Through her charity, her patience, and her wise precautions, she should alleviate the obligation for our Sisters to go out from their convent.

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Themes

Order 89

The Assistant will see that the gardener gives her flowers generously to the good God, to the Blessed Virgin and the Saints, and that if possible, she does not forget any.

The garden, poultry yard, and fields – if there are any - should provide the house with everything possible. Then we are sure of the quality of the provisions and can obtain them with the least expense.

The Assistant, from time to time, sees that all is well conducted with the necessary care.

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206


Themes

Mission 69 Respect for persons 24 Order 89 Body/soul 28 Poverty 75 Charity

24

The trunks should be well closed with keys and strapping, the addresses should be written legibly and well placed on each piece of luggage. It is more disagreeable for Religious than for others to attract attention by making claims. Our Sisters should have whatever is necessary - either food or pocket money, for their travels. They must not be exposed to lacking something on the road; likewise we should give them blankets and umbrellas if they need them.

If they are going to the missions, these umbrellas must be covered in white to protect them from, the sun.

If the journey is long, of if there is fear of some epidemic; they should have the necessary cordials and preservatives.

Finally the Mother Assistant sees that the linen room and vestry give our Sisters, when they are leaving, all their trousseaux, not holding back even the smallest piece, which would be a failure in charity and poverty.

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Themes

Humility 89 Priests 60 Order 89 Respect for the hierarchy 71

When the Chaplain lives with us, and during the retreats, for investitures or other circumstances, let the Assistant treat our guests modestly but with care. Let there never be luxury nor stinginess. Their table and their bedrooms must be kept and served with the greatest neatness. Let her be careful that the Religious sent to work among those from outside, always go two together and conduct themselves as they should, so that all who visit us will have a good opinion of the house.

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207


Themes

Goodness 24 Charity24 Respect for persons 24

Associates - Tertiaries - Servants

She should be good and charitable to them, seeing that they lack nothing, whether in health or in sickness and that they feel at home. Even if they are sent away, let her do her utmost to unite charity with firmness so that they will leave peacefully, and have happy memories of the Community and the Institute

Let her make herself respected and never be familiar nor speak alone with those not of her sex.

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Themes

Contemplation/action 27 Mary 68 Body/soul 28 Order/Hierarchy 71 Devotedness 89 Prudence 89 Example 63 Work 75 Woman - Unity 87 Strength 89 Prayer 77

Hidden life68

Directory - The Assistant must truly be a strong woman, a religious in every sense of the word, energetic, hard-working, knowing how to keep the practice of the interior life in the forefront, amidst occupations of all kinds.

Her understanding with the Superior, her devotedness to, and her affection for her must be without limits.

She should see in her Superior the most Blessed Virgin, whose Vicaress she is. The Mother Superior should be able to tell Assistant everything and count on her perfect discretion.

208

The Assistant is a member of the Council by right. She profits from her knowledge of persons and things to enlighten her Superior and the other Counsellors and thus do the greatest possible good.

Saint Joseph is given as her patron. Was he not the provider for the Holy Family, and the one whose work sustained the community at Nazareth? Did he not in silent but active devotedness, assume for himself all the pain in order to lighten for Jesus and Mary their poverty and suffering? Again was it not he who prepared the journeys and in the midst of so many cares and labours, merited to become the model of interior souls?

Just as he did, so the Mother Assistant should unite the spiritual life with material concerns, so that finally she may be the consolation and strength of the Superior and of all the Sisters, as Saint Joseph was for the Immaculate Mother and her Divine Son.

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Themes

Charity 24 Order89 Gentleness 89 Poverty

75 Order/Hierarchy 71 Prudence89 Respect for persons

24

Directory - The qualities of the bursar are exactitude, good writing and neatness in the books. But above all else she must be prudent and charitable with the commissioners and the portresses, kindly

helping them to make their accounts well. She should make no remarks about the purchases made by the Mother Superior nor the Mother Assistant. However, if in keeping the accounts, she notes that a tradesman is less expensive then another, or that he has raised his prices, she could notify the superiors.

She should not directly correct the commissioners nor the portresses, but should notify the Mother Superior and the Mother Assistant about the negligence she has noted in these charges.

In her relations with persons of the exterior necessitated by her charge, she should be charitable, polite, firm and disinterested. She must leave everyone with the impression that the Institute conducts its business with the greatest order, maintains its rights, cherishes poverty and yet considers charity its most precious treasure.

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209


Themes

Jesus 67 Poverty 75 Devotion

77

Mother Anne constantly conversed with her little Companion and had recourse to Him in all the difficulties of her convent. She experienced the effects of his assistance to such an extent that we could consider the Infant Jesus as the provider and founder of this monastery. One day, in debt for a construction, she made her needs known to the Santo Bambino. A marvelous thing happened! The sovereign Infant descended from his niche, and walked towards her saying, “follow me”. He led her to the garden and with little finger showed her a hole in which she found the sum needed. The small statue became famous and it was given as a gift to a benefactor. But Mother Anne replaced it by another, not less bountiful in mercy.

One day she filled a basket which was in the arms of the Santo Bambino with flowers; shortly afterwards, instead of the flowers, she found the money she needed in order to save the monastery from an urgent need.

If our bursars know how to seek the favour of the Divine Child and the Seraphic Anthony, they will also see an end to their financial difficulties.

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Themes

Authority 79 Respect for persons 24 Devotedness 89 Sentiment - Order - care 89 Unity 87 Prudence 89 Word of God 73

Directory - Discretion and order should be the distinctive qualities of a secretary. She should ask no questions, nor in any way either see nor hear what she reads or writes, nor should she make any allusion to the same. She should be so united to the Superior that she will comfort her in all things and merit her confidence.

She should invoke the beloved disciple who rested on the Heart of the Saviour; He is the model for her relations with authority. May the heart of the Superior rest in hers and let her heart find its repose in devotion to obedience.

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She should have a special devotion to the evangelist Saint John who has preserved and expressed so well in his Gospel the sentiments and words of his Divine Master.

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Themes

Glory of God 66 Prudence 89 Order 89 Word of God 73

Directory - The archivist must be, like the secretary, very orderly, very discreet. She may not give information from the archives without the permission of the Superiors. If the general archivist or provincial archivist asks for something, she should keep the copy and have it authenticated, as required, before sending off the original.

The archives must be arranged in a cupboard or room which is locked. She keeps the key and may not give it to anyone without the permission of the superior. The Evangelists will be her patrons, particularly Saint Luke, who, in writing the acts of the Apostles, became the first archivist and historian of the Church.

May she like them, love the glory of God and dedicate her care and her pen to the conservation of all edifying matters for the usefulness of the Institute.

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Themes

Order 89 Silence 89

The Sacristan is in charge of the Chapel and whatever concerns it: the sacred vessels, the alter, the flowers, the linen, the ornaments, the lights.

She must be serious, clean, orderly, exact and diligent.

Whenever she needs to speak to her aids at the foot of the altar or in the sacristy, let her do so in a low voice, in a few words, only saying that which is necessary.

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211


Themes

Eucharist 62 Mary 68 Mission

69

Directory - The Sacristans should appreciate the grace that is theirs by uniting with their Immaculate Mother in caring for Jesus. They should also think of the devotion of our Seraphic Father for the Most Blessed Sacrament and the zeal Saint Clare showed in providing him with the sacred linens which she had made. They should keep the presence of God, and do all things with a great spirit of faith. The blessed Therese Menia, a pious and fervent sacristan, had the joy of seeing the Santo Bambino show her how much her service pleased him, leaving in her soul the sweetness of paradise.

Although she may not see Jesus with her bodily eyes, a Franciscan Missionary of Mary who does her charge piously, will obtain many graces for the Church, for the Order, for sinners and for her soul, and she will merit one day to contemplate Jesus without veils in heaven.

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Themes

Cult 77 Peace 72 Mary 68 Gentleness 89 Order 89 Word or God 73

Directory - The choir mistress should be religiously dignified, peaceful, and calm, during the ceremonies. The more critical circumstances are, the more she needs to control herself. In that way, she will calm all those who are tempted to become excited. Her respect for worship must make her attentive to all the religious activities of the house. She should not forget any of the announcements and watch over the recitation of prayers, especially the Divine Office, the latter being a participation in the function of the angels. The Blessed Virgin will be her joy, and if she does not reward her visibly as she did the Blessed Mother Maria Victoria Strata, foundress of the Annociades Celestes, she will do so interiorly with graces of the same kind. One day when the religious of this good Mother were singing the praises of God in choir, she saw the Queen of Heaven, looking after her holy child, who was running through the rows, caressing each of those who sang the praises of their Creator. “How blessed, Lord, those who dwell in thy house! They will be ever praising thee.” N (Ps. 83:5)

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212


Themes

Thanksgiving - Prayer 77 Charity 24 Renouncement

29 Glory of God 66 Vocation ( Institute ) - Humility 89 Unity87 Mary 68

It is well known that choirs are often the subject of discussions, hurts and susceptibilities. Our singers should look on these failings with horror, and they should know that such miseries come from the coarsest kind of self love. They should humbly accept the decisions of the one who directs the singing and the latter should very willingly accept the observations of the Superior.

Directory - Mary wrote a song which Holy Scripture has handed down to us, and the spirit which should animate a Franciscan Missionary of Mary is found in this Magnificat.

Let us glorify God when we sing it, and let us lower ourselves; then we will be pious without pretence, seeking to pray and not to please, so humble that we will never be hurt and will never wound others. Our singers should ask this grace of Mary Immaculate. If they do not stray from the spirit of our heavenly Mother, then the Mistress of Choir will not be afraid to correct them; if she is at fault, she should ask a penance from the Superior.

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Themes

Humility 89 Poverty 75 Order 89 Respect for persons 24

Simplicity89

The organist accompanies the singing both at office and practices. She takes care of the organ or harmonium and sees that it is always clean, dusted, and carefully covered - more especially in winter than in summer. She will elevate it on four small pedestals to keep it off the ground. She should never leave her instrument open, and should always leave the music in order.

213

She should study the pieces well so as to help the singers and not hinder them. Let her sacrifice her playing to the voices of the singers, taking care to accompany their voices without covering them over. If she is to play alone, let her do so simply and piously; it is better to play something simple, but well, than to gall the ears with false notes or distract hearts with theatrical airs.

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Themes

Love of God 23 Prayer 77 Humility 89 Renouncement 29 Mary 68 Faith 64 Nature 70 Earth/Heaven 83

Directory - The organist may regret at times that she is not able to pray calmly in the chapel; but she should remember that music is a prayer that she must offer to God and which will be agreeable to Him, if the harmony of the instrument is animated by faith and piety.

Sister Marie-Celeste, who died in the odor of sanctity in Florence, suffered because she could not remain in choir, but her duty called her to the organ. She played on Christmas Day, uniting herself with the joy of Mary and echoing the Shepherds before the Holy Child. At the elevation of the Sacred Host, while she was playing a motif, - and when she reached at the atrophe “Et Verbum Caro Factum est”, she saw a beautiful Child on the organ who played around her, giving her an experience of the martyrdom of desire and love. He remained visible as long as the music lasted.

I desire that all the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary play their instrument for divine Love, and never for self-love. In that way they avoid those small discussions, reproaches, hurts which we meet at times. They should do their best, and never disturb the melodies of heaven by sudden fits of human nature.

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Themes

Mary 68 Order 89 Grace

-

214

Directory - More than others, the sacristan of the Oratory is the servant of Mary, since she is charged to care for our Immaculate Mother; let her take this occasion to study the Queen of Angels closely and obtain great graces for the Church, the Order, her soul and those of poor sinners.

She should try to do things tastefully and take good care of all that belongs to the Oratory. Like the sacristan of the chapel, she cannot take the plants nor pick the flowers without the permission of the gardener.

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Themes

Body/Soul 28 Devotedness 89 Courage 89 Order 89

Prayer77

If there is some nursing care to be given or supervised which is repugnant, she (mistress of health) should invoke our Lord, and do it courageously, reminding herself that the grace of her charge will not be wanting to her.

She should supervise the nurses carefully, seeing that they are clean and careful and devoted to the sick. All the medicine in the pharmacy should be labeled. She should see that the sick are never given a medicine which would not agree with them. She must see that there are no mistakes, and that one medicine is not given instead of another - serious accidents could sometimes result.

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Themes

Charity 24 Supernatural spirit64 Struggle 26 Woman- Body/Soul 28 Strength89 Gentleness 89 Nature

70 Holy Spirit 61 Prudence89 Respect for

persons 24

This charge of health, supervisor requires both great firmness and great charity. It is only after having exercised authority over women for a long time that it is possible to understand how difficult it is to

215

care for them. Their great failing does not know how to react. It is so difficult to give them the care they need and to refuse what they do not need. The assistance of the Holy Spirit is necessary for that - alone a creature could never succeed.

Therefore, the health supervisor must pray, study her patient, know how to resist her without failing in kindness and gentleness, and giving her all that would be good for. She should know how to dispel crises of melancholy, imaginary pains, the temptations of untimely piety; she should learn how to distinguish those who imagine themselves sick and those who think they are not ill. She should be charitable and patient with all, and know how to care for each one as is suitable to her temperament.

If one of our sisters changes houses and there is some information which it would be useful to give concerning her health, she should write this out clearly for the Superior of the House to which the religious is being sent.

She needs the permission of the superior to care for herself. As for the health of the superior, she must care for her without doubt in a most filial way, but without those excesses and minute effeminities which are ridiculous and scarcely edifying for either.

She is obliged to be discreet concerning the sickness and infirmities of our Sisters, and must never give any details about their health either outside nor within the community, without the permission of the superior.

The health supervisor must finally remind herself that she performs one of the works of mercy recommended by Our Lord, and that it is Jesus himself she is daring for in the person of our sisters.

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Themes

Charity 24 Jesus67 Gentleness 89 Order

89 Strength 89 Suffering82

Directory - The nurses must shine in their patience, their gentleness, their cleanliness. Charity lessens all ills; a sick person, who experiences this charity around her in the person of her nurses, is comforted at least morally.

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The venerable Anne de Saint-Barthelemy, worn out from caring for her patients, had stopped at the foot of a stairway, prevented from climbing it by fatigue. Then she saw the Infant Jesus above, and immediately he gave her the strength she needed. He helped her feed the sick person whom she was going to care for and He cured her.

If our nurses know how to act for Jesus and with Jesus, He will help them as He helped the Venerable: if they do not cure their patients, they will help them to bear their cross, and if need be, to render their souls piously to God.

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Themes

Charity 24 Poverty75 Enclosure/Openness ( to the world ) - Prudence

89 Respect for persons24

The Directress of the Palours must be polite and gracious with everyone - Whether they are rich or poor. If she accompanies someone who is not prudent, she will try to warn her with a discreet sign so that she will be more attentive. She must not allow any levity, any failing in the Rule in the parlour. She must see that the visits are not prolonged beyond the time indicated.

She rings after half an hour, or, if she herself is in the parlour, she asks one of the portresses to ring.

She must repeat all that is worth telling to the Mother Superior, and she must never speak to others about what she has heard in the parlour.

She should be careful not to make the Superior go to the parlour for a person whom she has been sent to receive and who has nothing important to tell her.

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Themes

Charity 24 Prudence89 Enclosure/Openness ( to the world ) - Renouncement

29 Humility 89 Silence89

217

Mary 68 Respect for persons 24 World - Word of God 73

Directory - Since the directress of the parlours deals with visitors and very often represents the Mother Superior, she must have a true religious maturity and all her words should be marked by piety, prudence and discretion.

The Institute is often judged by her. She should strive to leave a perfume of edification for all the visitors and leave them well-disposed toward the Institute; - and this not out of self-love, but for the Mother whom she represents.

She should not inquire about worldly matters nor try to learn news. Still less, should she indulge in the gossip which can circulate in society. The spirit of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary must keep them away from all cliques; they should never say anything nor listen to anything that would be hurtful to someone; they should be charitable to all, and lead those with whom they are dealing to be likewise. At the last, they should impose sufficient respect, that no one would dare speak ill of another in their presence.

When the directress of the parlours accompanies the Mother Superior, she must not hold a conversation, but simply say a few words with modesty.

Finally, the Supervisor of the parlours will remind herself of this word from our Holy Books: “What a world of sin there is in talking! Where least is said, most prudence is.” (Prov. 10:19)

And like the Blessed Virgin, she will strive to speak only of God and for God.

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Themes

Charity 24 Gentleness89

Directory - The librarian should be kind and compliant, readily giving information of such or such a work. If a superior has designated a work for someone, she must make no observation.

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Themes

Word of God 73 Respect for God - Order 89

Directory - The Word of God must inspire a great respect; the one who is given the duty of reading should accomplish her charge with punctuality and love, seeing by all the means in her power that his Divine Word be read respectfully, suitably as it should be in a religious community.

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Themes

Love of God 23 Presence of God 86 Gentleness 89 Prudence 89 Fidelity 89 Silence 89 Humility 89 Work 75 Order 89

Directory - The portresses should be modest and gentle; they should never be impatient, should ring for them insistently. Our Sisters will strive to fill their charge with the zeal of true and faithful love.

They should not speak more than necessary, and they should scrupulously observe silence among themselves. It is one of those duties where one must especially keep the presence of God, so as to never lose the religious spirit. They should not say it is impossible! So many saints have sanctified themselves at the door.

…

If our faithful portresses are lovers of Jesus in this way, they will do their work perfectly; good order and the religious spirit of the house depend upon them in great part, and they have the occasion to acquire a great virtue of patience and discretion.

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Themes

Charity 24 Peace72 Evenness of character 89 Poverty

75 Glory of God 66 Respect for persons24 Justice - Time

- Order/care 89 Work75 Unity 87 Common life

91

Directory - She (the Directress of the work) distributes the work without preference, neither favouring the sister in the vestry, the one in the linen room nor the sacristy, nor any other charge. She should listen to the needs of each one and press for what seems most urgent to her. If she is troubled by complaints, let her consult either with the Mother Superior or the Mother Assistant.

If the Superior confides some work to her, let her have it done promptly and with care.

She should be patient, with balanced character, knowing how to work and direct a work; she should be hard working, orderly, know the price of time and love poverty.

She should invoke the Queen of Angels who knows so well how to employ these heavenly spirits for the glory of her Divine Son, and who gives them all her orders without disturbing their peace and love.

She should know so well how to govern herself and others, for what concerns her work that all those who deal with her can say after leaving her, “Ah, how good it is for sisters to live together.”

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Themes

Charity 24 Order89 Gentleness 89 Poverty

75 Supernatural spirit 64 Responsibility79 Work

75

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The Supervisor of the vestry must know how to work well, have sufficient authority to supervise her helpers and, at the same time, have great charity and gentleness of character so as to make their work easy.

She must be hard working, very orderly, animated by a great spirit of faith: she can so easily fail in poverty by not taking good care of the wool, by cutting without calculating, by not removing stains well from the clothing before giving them to the wash! She must never do that without being sure that the stains are such as will come out in the wash.

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Themes

Love of God 23 Order 89 Charity 24 Poverty

75 Woman - Work75 Mary 68 Word of God

73

Directory - A great love of Holy Poverty, based on the love of God and joined with love for one’s neighbor, must be the spirit of the supervisor of the vestry. She should cut nothing new nor give anything out without the permission of her superiors. She can have on hand the notions needed for the current work. She should ask for the necessary material sufficiently in advance, so as to help the one who must do the ordering.

She uses the old pieces to make bed covers. And she should take care to provide the travellers with the covers and straps needed. When the Assistant notifies her of a departure, she prepares all that belongs to the designated religious, and is very careful to keep nothing.

Finally, the supervisor of the vestry should remember that among the praises of the valiant woman, figure of the Blessed Virgin, the Holy Spirit has inspired this praise: “Does she not busy herself with wool and thread, plying her hands with ready skill? … Let the snow lie cold if it will, she has no fears for her household; no servant of hers but is warmly clad.” (Prov. 31:13, 20).

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Themes

Authority 79 Peace 72 Devotedness 89 Poverty 75 Supernatural spirit 64 Presence of God 86 Humility 89 Renouncement 29 Mary 68 Unity 87 Common life 91 Will of God -

Directory - The Mother in charge of the Linen Room can contribute much to the peace of the house, but likewise to its difficulties. Laundresses, those in the ironing room, seamstresses, those in the vestry, the sacristans: all have to be in contact with her. If she desires, if she forgets herself to seek only the good pleasure of our Lord in all things as well as the greatest good for the house, everything will be easy; there will be no disputes, sulkiness nor grumbling.

If on the contrary, she is rigid in her orders, has little charity for those who need her service, if she is selfish in directing the work, the whole house suffers, and the poor Superiors will have one or another continually at their side.

May God protect us from such Mothers or Sisters in the Linen Room; may He give us pious souls in this charge, who are devoted and who keep the presence of God, and who consequently direct everything not for self-love, but in the presence of God and for his good pleasure and for the general good of the Institute. Let them think of the Most Blessed Virgin, who had charge of the linen at Nazareth, and let them sustain their zeal for their work with a spirit of faith.

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Themes

Charity 24 Gentleness89 Devotedness 89 Work

75

Directory - Our Sisters in the ironing room should be peaceful among themselves; and likewise towards the Sisters in the charges with whom their work is related. Those who are skilled should willingly show and carefully form those who are not. The heat of the ironing room like that of the kitchen is irritating; they should be on their guard to preserve their calm and gentleness.

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They should remember often during their work the poor souls in purgatory, and do their work with patience and devotion, so as to satisfy for these suffering souls, and, even in this life, for their own offenses.

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Themes

Lamb - Mary 68 Authority 79 Peace 72 Courage 89 Providence 22 Gentleness 89 Renouncement 29 Humility 89 Sanctity - Jesus 67 Suffering 82

Work75

Directory - When the laundresses have too much to suffer from the rigour of the season, because it is too cold or too warm, they should support this mortification courageously, unless it should be harmful for their health; in this case only, they should have recourse to holy obedience and confide their difficulties to authority.

Let them think of Jesus suffering, enduring the cold at his birth in the poor stable in Bethlehem; of his fatigue when he crossed the mountains of Judea, when it is hottest; of his humility when he washed the feet of his disciples; these considerations will lead them to suffer in peace. Let them find help also in their union with the most Blessed Virgin, who certainly had to wash the linen of that model of communities, Nazareth.

We would become holy, my daughters, if we knew how to utilize the means that Divine Providence puts on our path to sanctify us and to make us die to ourselves by sacrifice and love!

A humble Franciscan Missionary of Mary laundress could easily become perfect, if she would acquire the patience, gentleness and submission of the Lamb in the difficulties inherent in her work.

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Themes

Love of God 23 Supernatural spirit 64 Charity 24 Order

89 Gentleness 89 Poverty75 Work

75

Directory - The sister in charge of supplies should be very patient, very gentle, and very exact in the hours for her charge. She should keep it very clan and in accordance with the demands of poverty.

Nothing is small in the House of God: the sea is composed of drops of water. In the fulfillment of her charge let her give an ocean of acts of love to the Good Master, and never the pinpricks which irritate our Good Saviour and our neighbors.

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Themes

Charity 24 Order89 Duty 89 Poverty

75 Supernatural spirit 64 Service- Humility 89 Hidden life68 Mary 68

Directory - The sister who takes care of the paper supplies should be at her post during the time indicated, giving what is necessary to all, and the superfluous to no one. If there is any waste, she should notify the Superiors.

Ordinarily the important charges are well done; but the lesser ones are not found to be worth the bother, and it is easier to slip into carelessness. We should not be like that. The most holy of women was

sanctified in a very humble little house; whatever our poverty may be, we will always be more comfortable than our Immaculate Mother.

Let us imitate her, making gold of the road’s dust. The sister who takes care of the paper supplies, like the others, should accomplish the small duties of her charge perfectly, neither seeking nor seeing other

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than Our Lord, whom she cares for through the community, and whom she serves in the person of our sisters.

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Themes

Charity 24 Poverty75 Devotedness 89 Service

- Gentleness 89 Work75 Supernatural spirit 64 Devotion

77 Order 89

Directory - Those in the Pantry should be very clean, very economical, exact in the observance of poverty, not sparing themselves to observe it in all things.

They should be patient, gentle, peaceful among themselves and toward those who ask them for something. They should be especially devoted toward and ready to serve the sisters in the kitchen.

They should care for all with a spirit of faith; they will not, perhaps like many holy persons who have worked in pantries, perform miraculous multiplications, but they will do so by their economy and their work. They should have a statue of Saint Anthony of Padua, honouring him and asking him to help them lose nothing, and likewise asking him that the community will always have what is necessary.

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Themes

Goodness 24 Poverty 75 Charity 24 Respect for persons

24 Jesus 67 Service- Mary 68 Silence

89 Order 89 Word of God 73

Earth/Heaven

Directory - The refectorians must see that the table servants do their duties well; if they fail to do

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something, they may get up, notify them, and even do whatever they have not done. For this reason they have places reserved at the ends of the table.

They should not be noisy; they should be very clean, attentive that nothing is broken, and out of love for holy poverty, they should be careful that nothing drops on the floor.

They should be ready to serve, and should be kind toward those in the pantry and kitchen. Let them recall the charity of the Blessed Virgin at the wedding of Cana, and that of our Lord when He fed the multitudes, how He was concerned about them, saying “They have nothing to eat.”

They should nourish their souls with these holy thoughts, and they will do their work well here on earth and add to their happiness in heaven.

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Themes

Love of God 23 Fidelity 89 Charity 24 Imitation ( of saints )

63 Devotion 77 Peace72 Gentleness 89 Presence of God

86 Evenness of character 89 Sanctity- Body/soul

28

Directory - The kitchen is a trying charge, which consumes one’s moral strength and causes irritation. The work is never finished: one meal over, the other must be started. The cook therefore must watch herself and try to keep the holy presence of God, do all for Him, and in that way, she will remain gentle, patient, peaceful no matter what happens.

Our cooks will have Blessed Salvator D’Orta for their patron. They should read his life carefully in the Aureole Seraphique, imitating his virtues and his love for Our Lord. Let them know how to understand that in their work, as in other duties, it is possible to attain the heights of sanctity.

Our cooks must never draw from this example that they may fail to fulfill their obligations in their work, taking the time for prayer. But they may be assured if they keep the presence of God well, are faithful to their exercises, preserve peace and gentleness, even in face of difficulties and reproaches, their good little King will come to their aid, and will help them as He helped this holy brother of our Order.

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They should also invoke the good angels in their difficulties, above all their own; they will see, by experience, that they do not call upon them in vain to help them both interiorly and exteriorly.

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Themes

Fidelity 89 Order 89

Directory - Punctuality is the most beautiful quality of the bell-ringer. She should think of irregularity as a real failing, because she would be the cause of a general disorder.

If she is more than five minutes late through neglect, she must acknowledge her fault to the Mother Superior and ask for a good penance.

She should pray to her Guardian Angel and to that of the community as well as those of her sisters, so as to obtain from them the help to be attentive and exact.

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Themes

Supernatural spirit 64 Order 89 Fervour 89 Service

-

Directory - The morning caller should be early. She should hurry, but at the same time should be pious and quiet. Let her think of Magdalen, running to the tomb of Jesus, and of the rewards this holy lover received.

The beginning of the day depends on her - she whom Jesus has chosen to praise Him first, having given her the mission to bid her sisters to His divine service.

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Themes

Duty 89 Supernatural spirit 64 Devotedness 89 Imitation (of saints) 63

The duty of closing the doors of the community, looking out for the risks of fire and preventing all other disorders is a serious matter and requires a religious who will fulfill her duty conscientiously, without neglecting the details.

She should perform this duty in a spirit of faith, thinking of the watchfulness of the guardian angels over their charges, and of the devotedness of St. Joseph, watching over Jesus and Mary.

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Themes

Love of God 23 Supernatural spirit 64 Spouse 25 Order 89

Directory - The first quality of the lamp lighter must be great cleanliness. She should have a small box in which to put the oily blackened cloths, so that they will not stain the floor nor her robe or that of others.

She will have the more merit for keeping her charge in order, since it is a charge which does not readily lend itself to order. She should often recall the parable of the wide virgins.

The oil comes from a small seed and is used to fill the lamps: it is the symbol of the love of a Spouse of Jesus Christ. With small actions she adorns her sterna crown and prepares herself for a judgment similar

to that of the wise virgins, who, on the last day, will show the Spouse a life of good works accomplished for His love.

Therefore, the lamp lighters should perform their duties with a spirit of faith, and never resemble the foolish virgins in any way - whose lamps the Bridegroom found unlighted, and even without oil.

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Themes

Charity 24 Poverty75 Dove - Prayer

77 Courage 89 Prudence89 Francis 65 Renouncement

29 Humility 89 Silence89 Mary 68 Suffering

82 Example 63

They (the Commissioners) should be very humble and should not be ashamed to carry packages and provisions in so far as they are able. When there is occasion and when prudence allows, they should not be afraid to ask for alms, begging some small remedies or some necessary useful objects.

They should have a very great love for poverty; never counting the steps they walk to pay less for something. They should tread underfoot self love which would lead them to avoid bargaining, and to accept something too expensive and which would not be the quality desired.

They should forget themselves and know how to suffer for the interest of the community.

Directory - Recollection, modesty, and prudence, religious reserve: These should be the virtues of our commissioners. They should have a horror of sister flies - so well described by our Seraphic Father.

I want them all to be sister doves, imitators of the Immaculate Dove, who went out into the midst of the world to visit Elizabeth. And they should radiate – as their heavenly Mother did - edification in all the streets through which they pass and everyplace they go.

They should know that the Institute is often judged by what they are, and they should be careful to leave a supernatural impression which will make their family loved and judged favourably.

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Themes

Struggle 26 Order 89 Gentleness 89 Service

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Supernatural spirit 64 Work 75 Humility 89 Word of God 73

Directory - It is especially true to say in the convent that “there is no stupid work - there are only stupid people.” Everything is for our good God - everything is for the welfare of the house; therefore everything has a price for eternity, even the care of the washrooms, if this is done with a supernatural spirit as prescribed.

We should be very careful to preserve ourselves from this ridiculous self love which is humiliated by this charge, and if we see that such a monster has found a place in our heart, we should ask the superior to give us - or to leave us caring for the wash rooms until we have conquered self love, and have made this poor heart meek and humble, after the example of Jesus, who had the prophet announce him in this way: “But I, poor worm, have no manhood left; I am a by-word to all, the laughing-stock of the rabble.” (Ps 21:7)

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Themes

Supernatural spirit 64 Work 75

Directory - Our beloved Master has always loved those who have cared for the flowers for Him - one of the most beautiful adornments of creation.

If my daughters who care for the flowers know how to use this as a means of raising their hearts to God and witnessing their love for Him, He will love them as He loved Saint Dominica du Paradis, foundress of the monastery of Petite-Croix in Florence.

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Themes

Eucharist 62 Poverty 75

Directory - When kneading the bread, our bakers should think of the divine bread with which our Lord has desired to feed us.

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In spirit they should go to the Last Supper and listen to the words of the miracle of love: “This is my body.” Let them profit by their charge to multiply spiritual communions and grow in their devotion for the heavenly Eucharist.

They are always handling the material of the miracle, and they see with their eyes how the grain of wheat, before being transformed into the substance of Our Lord, must be ground and beaten.

May they therefore, allow the good pleasure of Jesus to destroy in them the human spirit in such a way that the Divine Master can say: “It is no longer they who live, but it is I who live in them.”

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Themes

Love of God 23 Mary 68 Charity 24 World

- Devotedness 89 Prayer77 Supernatural spirit 64 Silence

89 Humility 89 Union with God86

May the beauties of nature and of the beings who animate it, raise the souls of our Sisters, who are employed in the fields, to their Creator.

The Virgin Mary has a predilection for shepherds: she has often appeared to these poor little ones of the fields. Therefore our sisters should love the humble and salutary occupations of the countryside. When they give themselves to this work with thoughts of faith, they draw away from the spirit of the world and

Proves that it is always draw closer to God.

Our sisters who take care of the farm will have a Blessed of the Order for their patron, whose example time to grow in love, and never too late to take generous resolutions of perfection.

Blessed Sebastian d’Apparitio kept the flocks from his childhood; he later attached himself to two cultivators because the life in the fields helped his recollection.

….

If our religious who are employed in the fields have left aside some of the fidelity they owe to their Divine Master - or of the devotedness that the community has the right to expect from them, may the blessed Sebastian treat them like those small ants, and make them give to the love of God and neighbor all that a true Franciscan Missionary of Mary must give.

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