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St Jane Frances de Chantal: Selected Letters

Jane Frances de Chantal · translated by The Sisters of the Visitation, Harrow · 17th century; translation 1918

Letters of the widow who founded the Visitation with Francis de Sales: spiritual direction full of good sense.

Edition: Project Gutenberg · www.gutenberg.org

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From the opening: Selected Letters of St. Jane Frances de Chantal

I. _To St. Francis de Sales._

Vive [+] Jésus!

Annecy, 1611

How soon may I hope for the happy day when I shall irrevocably offer myself to my God? He has so filled me with the thought of being entirely His, and it has come home to me in such a wonderful and powerful manner, that, were my emotion to last as it now is, I could not live under its intensity. Never have I had such a burning love and desire for the evangelical life and for the great perfection to which God calls me. What I feel about it is quite impossible to put into words. But, alas! my resolve to be very faithful to the greatness of the love of this divine Saviour is balanced by the feeling of my incapacity to correspond with it. Oh, how painful to love is this barrier of powerlessness! But why do I speak thus? By doing so I degrade, it seems to me, the gift of God which urges me to live in perfect poverty, in humble obedience, and in spotless purity.

II. _To the Same._

Vive [+] Jésus!

Annecy, 1612

My Lord and my own Father, I pray God to fill your soul with His choicest blessings, with Himself, and above all with the most pure love of Jesus. Now, for fear others may alarm you, I am telling you myself that this morning I was taken very ill. After dinner I had a shivering fit and collapsed completely for a time, but now, thank God, I feel quite well again; so do not let this trouble you, for the love of God, that God Whom my soul loves, adores, and desires to serve with the utmost singleness of heart and with perfect purity. Obtain for me, my Father, when to-morrow you hold this divine Saviour, His grace in such abundance that I may for ever adore, serve, and love Him perfectly. It is an immense consolation to know that you are occupied with that heavenly work "the Divine Love."[A] With what ardour I sigh for that love! Alas! my God, when shall we see one another utterly consumed therewith?

I have seen the good aunt: what a venerable old lady she is! I assure you I am well now, and you know I would not say so if it were not true. May Jesus reign and His Holy Mother. Amen.

Footnote

[A] The Treatise on the Love of God.

III. _To M. Legros at Dijon._

Vive [+] Jésus!

ANNECY, _18th June, 1612._ SIR,

We have given your daughter a true welcome. This offering which you and she have made so lovingly cannot fail to be very agreeable to the good God. You may be consoled and at peace about her for she is, and will always be, very dear to me. God obliges…

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Contents (16 sections)

  1. Opening
  2. Title page
  3. Preface
  4. Judgment of St. Francis de Sales on the Virtues of Mother de Chantal
  5. Selected Letters of St. Jane Frances de Chantal
  6. Selected Letters of St. Jane Frances de Chantal (continued)
  7. Selected Letters of St. Jane Frances de Chantal (continued)
  8. Selected Letters of St. Jane Frances de Chantal (continued)
  9. Selected Letters of St. Jane Frances de Chantal (continued)
  10. On St. Francis de Sales.[a]
  11. On St. Francis de Sales.[a] (continued)
  12. [The first lines are illegible.]
  13. [The first lines are illegible.] (continued)
  14. On the Death of Her Daughter-In-Law, Mme. de Chantal.[a]
  15. On the Death of Her Daughter-In-Law, Mme. de Chantal.[a] (continued)
  16. On the Arrival of the Lazarist Fathers at Annecy

How to cite it

Chicago
Jane Frances de Chantal. St Jane Frances de Chantal: Selected Letters. Translated by The Sisters of the Visitation, Harrow. Project Gutenberg, 17th century; translation 1918. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50592
MLA
Jane Frances de Chantal. St Jane Frances de Chantal: Selected Letters. Translated by The Sisters of the Visitation, Harrow, Project Gutenberg, 17th century; translation 1918. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50592
APA
Jane Frances de Chantal (17th century; translation 1918). St Jane Frances de Chantal: Selected Letters (The Sisters of the Visitation, Harrow, Trans.). Project Gutenberg. https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50592

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