L I FE O F

B L E S S E D M A R G A R ET
M A R Y A L A c o QU E

R E L I G I O US O F T H E V I S I TAT I O N
AT PAR AY -
LE -
MON I AL
1 64 7 - 169 0

SI ST ER M AR Y P H I L IP
OF B AR C O N V E N T YO R K
,

PRE FACE BY

TH E R I GH T R EV . TH E B I S H OP OF L EE D S
 TO T H E

M OST S AC R ED H E A R T O F O U R
D IVIN E LO R D,

K IN G A N D C E N T R E O F A LL

H E A R TS
.
 ON E can n o t com pare Sai n ts o r d eclare that
th is o n e i s hol i er than that—thi s w ou ld be ri d i c u
,

lous ; b u t o n e can com pare m i ss ion s No w

.

B lessed M argaret M ary had a n u n i que m ission

—
am on g the Sai n ts a m ission wh ich was to reach
the whole w o rld the e n ti re H ierarchy o f th e
,

Ch u rch al l ho m es an d al l hearts to t he e n d o f
,

ti m e .

“
Th rough her G o d had m ad e kn own H i s Heart
,

to u s Al l th e m arvels of love whi ch H e sti l l h as

.

i n store for t h e world wi l l on ly flow from th is first

gi ft w i l l o n ly rad ia t e wi t h m ore or less l igh t an d
,

heat from t h e fi re of l ove that w a s O pen ed to us at

Paray God n o t bei n g abl e to give us m ore than
,

H i s H eart He m ay make I t bette r kn own by

.
,

m a n i festi n g I t s love an d m e rcy i n a m ore stri ki n g

— —
way ; b u t I repeat th i s n ew effusion of l ove
wi l l o n ly be a ray o f th e com plete gi ft wh ich He
m ade kn own to u s by B lessed M argaret M ary
wl y —
.

Th e R everen d F a t h e r M a t t h ew C ra eB o e oey
f
to
t h e R el i gi o u s Vi s i t a t i on a t Ly on s , 19 1 7 .
 P R EFA C E

M O R E than t wo cen tu ries an d a q uarter have

passed si n ce B lesse d M argaret M ary A l a c o q u e
gave he r soul to G o d i n the C o n ve n t of the
Visitation at Paray l e M on ial where she had
- -
,

l ived i n th e cl osest u n ion wi th J esus Ch rist ,

an d had been privil eged to receive from H i s l ips

the m essage O f d i vi n e l ove wh ich she was t o
,

m ake kn o w n t o t h e world an d th e m ean i n g Of

,

the devotion by m ean s Of wh ich th e m essage

,

w a s t o be p resen ted an d with which her nam e

,

wi l l be for ever associa t ed .

I t would see m as though t he m essage has at

last been ful ly u nderstood and accepted an d ,

that the desi res Of o u r D ivi n e Lord as revealed

to H i s servan t are bei ng ful ly real ised ; fo r th e
latest develop m en t Of devo t i o n to the Sac red
H eart nam ely the E n th ro n em en t O f the Sacred
, ,

H eart i n th e hom e by t he con secra t i on Of the

fam i ly com pl etes the work which she began i n
respon se to t he Com man d O f O u r Lord — a
, ,

com man d s h e was the fi rst to com ply wi t h on

J u ly 2 0t h 16 8 5
,
.I t would seem too as i f , ,

O u r Lord wished to give a sign O f H i s pleas u re

at t he fulfil m en t O f H i s wi shes for i n the n ear ,

future H i s Vicar on earth wil l n u mbe r B lessed

M argaret Mary am on g t h e Sai n ts The D ecree .

Of Can o n isa t ion I S ready an d at th e fi rst o pportu n e

,

m o men t wi l l be solem n ly p r o m ulgated .

U n der these ci rcu ms tan ces the ti m e has been

,

wel l chose n fo r th e publica t ion O f he r l i fe an d ,

d o ubtl ess i t wi l l be eage rly read by al l ad m i rers

 PR E FACE

Of th i s great Servan t O f God as wel l as by al l ,

wh o have m ad e the worsh ip Of the Sacred H eart

O f J esus o n e O f thei r ch ief devotio n s They wil l .

fi n d i n the fol lowi n g pages a won de rfu l revelatio n

O f o n e O f God s ways Of lead i n g soul s to kn owledge
’

an d love th ey wi l l learn what are the dispositio n s

t hat p repare for an d m erit the grace o f U n ion with
G o d ; and t hey wi ll real ise m ore and m ore perfectly
the exte n t O f God s love fo r them and by what
’

m ean s they ca n retu rn l ove fo r love I t add s .

greatly to th e i n terest that B lessed M argaret M ary

is mad e to tel l m uch o f th e story Of her l i fe i n h e r
o w n words an d w e o w e a de b t O f gratitud e to th e
,

S uperiors wh o com man d ed he r to p ut d own i n

wri t i n g a n acco u n t Of th e man y spi ritual favou rs
she received an d th e n ature O f the co m m u n icati on s
,

that passed betwee n O u r D ivi n e Lord an d hersel f .

This she d id wi th a h u m i l ity a n d a n Obed ie n ce

t hat are al togeth e r co n vi n ci n g We feel that .

s h e has h idde n n oth i n g from u s fro m th e day

o n wh ich the work of d ivi n e p reparatio n f o r h er
great apostolate was begu n a n d on th rough h er ,

years O f trial s an d d isappoi n tm en ts to th e day o f

succes s whe n s h e could pass fro m earth to h eaven
, ,
’
kn owi n g that h er l ife s work was accom pl i sh ed
an d he r m ission ful fi ll ed .

I t i s with a desi re t o fu rthe r th e work o f Bl essed

M argaret M ary an d i n crease devotio n to th e
,

Sacred H eart Of J esus that th i s L ife h a s bee n

wri tte n —a desi re wh i ch from o u r heart we ho p e
,

an d pray m ay be fulfil l ed .

" J O S E P H R O B E R T B I S H O P O F L EED S .

B I S HO P S
’
H O U S E , L E ED S ,
Oct ober 1 7 t h , 1 9 18 .
 N OTE

T H I S L ife of B lessed M argaret M ary A l a co q u e ,

though i n n o sen se exhaustive w i ll i t i s hoped be , , ,

fou n d com plete .

Facts have been take n from her Autobiogra phy

an d from the Life wri tte n by her con tem porar i es .

He r own words have been quoted wh e n eve r th is

was possi ble A few o f the m ost characteristic Of
.

the h u nd red an d forty lette rs wh ich have bee n

preserved are here given .

As for he r othe r wri t i n gs Advice to Novices , ,

N otes Of I n struction s P ractices fo r Various Feas t s

,

and Season s e t c the d i ffi cul ty has bee n to selec t

, .

from such abu ndan ce The chapter devoted to

.

these Extracts may perhaps se nd readers t o th e

large F ren ch Li fe i n t w o vol um es publ ished by
, ,

the Con ven t Of th e Vi sitatio n at Paray l e M on ial - -

,

wh ere th e e n ti re col lectio n wil l be fou nd .

I t has bee n th e writer s a i m t o bri n g out stron gly

’

th e S pecial d esi re O u r Lord deign ed to man i fest to

H is servan t — th e exten sion Of Hi s Ki n gdom upon
“

ea rth —a work fo r wh ich sh e was to labou r by

m aki n g kn own to m en H i s desi re t o be en t h ron ed
“ ”
as K i ng l n t hei r hearts I wi l l reign He said
.
,

to her ,
i n spite Of all w h o o ppose M e Stress .

has bee n laid o n the E n th ron em en t Of t h e Sacred

Heart i n th e N oviceshi p at Paray which was th e ,

fi rst O f t he many E n th ron em en ts O f tha t sam e

D ivi n e Heart al l ove r the world to day .

8 1 M AR Y S C O NV E N T
’
,

YO R K "u ly 2 2 d 19 1 8
,
n ,
.
 CONTENTS

C HAP . P A GE

1 . C H I LD H OO D A N D
E A R L Y L I F E ( 164 7 -
1663 )
I I L I F E I N T H E WO R LD ( 1663 166 8)
.
-

I I I VO C AT I O N ( 166 8 16 7 1)
.
-

I V N O VI C E S H IP ( 16 7 1 16 7 2 )
.
-

V PR O F E S S I O N
. A N D FIRS T YE A R S O F R EL I G I O U S
L I F E ( 16 7 2 1 6 7 3 ) -

VI VA RI O US F AVO UR S R E C E IV ED ( 167 3 )
.

VI I PR E P A R AT I O N L O R D S R E VEL AT I O N S ’
. FO R OU R

( 167 4)
VI I I R E V EL AT I O NS O F TH E S A CR ED H E A R T ( 167 4 167 5 )
.
-

Ix V E N E R A B LE C L A U DE DE L A C O LO M BI ER E
.

( 16 7 5 -
16 7 6 )
X T H E M E S S A G E T O E N G L A N D ( 16 7 6 1 6 7 9 )
.
-

XI T H E VI CT I M O F T H E S A CR ED H E A R T ( 167 7 167 8 )
.
-

XI I UN DE R M O TH E R G R EYFI E ( 167 8 1684)

.
-

XII I UN DE R M O TH E R C R E YF I E
.
( 16 7 8
1 68 4 )
XI V . M IST R E S S O F N OVI C E S ( 168 5 1 6 86) -

XV . T RIU M P H O F T H E S A CR ED H E A R T ( 1686)
XVI . A DVIC E T O N OVIC E S
XVI I . M O TH E R A SSISTA N T ( 168 7 1690) -

XVI I I . LE TT E R S
XIX . N O T E S O F R E T R E AT
XX . L A S T D A YS A N D DE AT H ( 1690 )
XXI . B E AT IFI C AT I O N A N D S T E P S T OWA R D S C AN O N I S
AT IO N
XXI I . T O - D AY
 LI FE OF
BLESSED MAR GAR ET MAR Y ALACOQUE

C H A P TE R I

C H I LD H O O D A N D EA R LY L I F E
( 1 64 7 -I 66 S )

T H E R E are cou n t less E n gl ish hearts to day wh ich -

turn yearn i n gly to F ran ce La belle F ran ce as

s h e i s S O Oft en cal led I t may be that a father
.
,

brother h usban d lover or frie n d has bee n there

.
,

i n d eadly peri l O u r thoughts and hearts have

.

fol l o wed ou r loved on e an d w e l ike to pictu re t o

,

ou r s elves t he scen es am on gst which he l ived an d

the peopl e wh o su rrou nded h i m We listen eagerly .

to al l that we ca n hear about O u r beauti ful S i ster

c o un try for the G rea t War h as kn it the Fren ch
,

n a t ion t o ou r o w n i n a w a y m ore solid and en d u ri n g

t han anyth i n g el se could have don e .

Ye t as Cathol ics w e ca n n ever forge t that France

h a s an other clai m u pon ou r i n teres t Fo r ce n .

“
La fi l l e ai n ee d e
’

t u r i es s h e has been kn own as

”
’
1 Egl ise The eldest daughter o f the Ch u rch
—an d n o R evol ution n o persecution eve n Of that
, ,

sam e Chu rch at her hands has ever been able t o

rob her O f t h e title God seems t o love the F rench
”

n a t ion wi t h a special t endern ess " Ho w O ften has

H e revealed H i m self t o o n e o r other O f th e
da u ghters O f France " Th i n k of Bl essed Joan ,

1
A
2 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

the M aid w h o was raised up by H i m t o be the

,

D el iverer Of her cou n try Bern adette S o ubir o us

.

o f Lou rdes Catheri n e Labou ré an d cou n tless othe r

, ,

Fren ch n am es com e at on ce t o O u r m i n ds In our .

o w n days every on e i s speaki n g Of S oeu r Th er ese

de Lisieux th e you n g French Carm el i t e who i s

, ,

worki n g such wonders am on gs t us Th en w e .

read O f S iste r E l izabeth O f the Tri n i ty the Car ,

m e l i t e Of D ij on an d O f S ister Gertrude M ari e O I

,
-

A n ge rs to bo t h O f whom O ur Lord seem s to have

,

revealed H i m sel f wi th special love .

S O i t i s n ow s o i t has always been

, B eauti fu l .

F ran ce i s ren own ed n ot on ly for the l ovel i n ess that

attracts t h e eye but sti ll m ore for tha t beauty an d
n obi l i ty O f soul wh ich characteri ses so m an y O f h er
ch i ld ren .

I n J u n e 19 1 7 as the th i rd year Of the G reat War

,

was d rawi n g to a close i t was agreed tha t all t he

,

A l l ied Nation s should j oi n i n a p ubl ic C o n s e c ra

tion to the Sacred H eart O n e Of t h e desi res O f
.

O u r H oly Fathe r Pope B e n edict XV seem s to be

,
.
,

to propaga t e m ore and m ore th is devoti o n to the

D ivi n e H eart a n d as on e O f the m ean s Of doi n g
, ,

SO ,
he i s haste n i n g the day when as S uprem e ,

Pon tiff on earth h e ca n p ut his seal t o the Cause

,

O f B lessed M argaret M ary by proclai m i n g her ,

can on ization O n e w on ders perhaps why t he

.
, ,

Cause has bee n so lon g on han d M ay i t n ot be .

that God has reserved th i s fi nal tri u m ph for the

h u m ble Sai n t O f Paray l e M on ial as a pled ge O f
- -

t he peace wh ich is dawn i n g for F ran ce S u rely .

we m ay hope that n ow the days of the persecu t i on

O f t he Ch u rch are ove r for eve r for is S he n ot risi n g ,

clean sed an d ren ewed by the bap t i sm O f blood

t h r o u gh wh ich S he has lately passed I n an A l l o c u .

t i o n O f 6t h February 19 18 ou r H oly Father says ,

I t seem s t o U s that it would n ot be erron eous to

 CH I LD H OO D A N D E A R LY L I FE

suppose tha t the ful l glorification Of M argare t

M ary w a s reserved by God for an age i n wh ich the
m issi o n e ntrusted t o her t o p ropagate the worsh i p
of the Sacred H eart appears m ore extended bet t er ,

received i n the world an d m ore fruitful i n its

results .

D ev o tion to the Sacred H eart i t n eed hardly be

—
,

said i s as old as the Chu rch itself nay older

, ,

for we ca n date it back to that firs t Ch ristmas

N ight when O u r Lady held her D ivi n e Chi ld cl o se
i n a lon g em brace an d felt th e Sacred H eart Of he r
God beat agai n s t her o w n Sai nt J oh n lean t h is
.

head upon tha t sam e D ivi n e H eart at the Las t

Supper an d ever si n ce cou n tless m en an d women
,

have pou red out thei r love i n devo t ion an d praise

to the H ea rt of thei r Master S o m e n am es s t an d
.

o u t pr o m i n en tly before us : St B ernard St Ger ,

trude S t M e c h t i l d e the Carth usian m o n k D o m

La n s p e rg i u s —al l of w h om have left us i n bu rn i n g
, , ,

w o rds t he pr o of o f thei r l ove I t i s related i n t he

.

revelation s Of St Ger t rude that she on ce asked S t

J o h n the Evan gel is t why th e d evotion t o t he
Sacred H eart w a s n ot publ icly ackn owledged i n
t he Ch urch at t hat t i m e and the reply w a s tha t
,

God had reserved the m an ifestation O f t he d ev ot ion

t o the latte r days o f t he Chu rch when the l o ve o f ,

t he peopl e wo u ld have grown cold I t was n o t .

,

therefo re u n t i l t he secon d hal f Of t he seven t een th

,

ce ntury t ha t O u r L o rd revealed the t reasures o f

H is H eart t o a h u m ble daughter o f the Visi tation
Con ven t a t Paray l e M on ial
- - .

M argaret A l aco q u e fo r s h e t o o k the n am e M ary

,

on ly i n Confi rma t i o n an d retai n ed both when sh e

,

en tered rel igi o n was the fift h ch ild O f Claude

,
'

A l a co q u e an d o f P h i l i b e rt e n ee Lamyn h i s wife
, , .

She w a s born on 2 2 n d J uly 1 64 7 th e feast o f S r/ ,

M ary M agdal en . H er biographers have d i ffered

4 B LE SSE D M AR GAR E T M . A L A C O QU E

sl ightly over the place Of her bi rth b ut i t seem s ,

t hat he r fa t her an d m othe r were resid i n g at th e

ti m e at Terreau a smal l vi llage i n the t erritory of
,

Ve rosv res i n th e P ro v I n c e Of B u rgu ndy

, .

The C h ateau Of the place had its chapel wh ere ,

t he B lessed Sacram e n t was rese rved an d where ,

l i t t le M argaret A l a co q u e first learn t to l ove he r

E uchari stic Lord .

H er father was a pious a nd h on ou rabl e man .

H e held the posi t io n o f legal adviser t o the gen t ry

of th e n ei gh bou ri n g co u n tryside an d gai n ed t h e
estee m and con fiden ce o f al l who kn ew hi m .

’
God very soo n d rew M argaret s heart to H i m
sel f Th is H e d id as H e has so Often don e by the
.
, ,

m ean s O f th e thor o ugh ly Cathol ic ed ucati on S he

received from her paren ts She very early S howed
.

a n ex t raord i n ary horror of S i n ; s o m uch s o that

t h e least stai n on her soul becam e a real torm en t
t o her a n d i t was su fficien t to stop h er i n sta ntly
,

fr o m com m itti n g any ch i ld ish faul t and preven t

her from foll owi n g he r own wi l l t o t el l he r that ,

s uch o r such a t h i n g w a s n ot pleasi n g to God .

'
The l i ttl e gi rl had n ot reached th e age Of fou r
wh en she felt herself conti n ual ly u rged t o say these
w o rd s O f wh ich s h e u nderstood n e ither t he sense
,

n or the m erit M y God I con secrate my puri ty

,

to Thee and I make a vow o f perpe t ual chasti ty

, .

O n e day whi le heari n g M ass kn eel i n g on the bare

,

grou n d as s h e w a s won t to do S h e fel t hersel f ,

“
d rawn to repea t her v o w m ore exp ressly I .

u n derstood n ei the r what I had don e n or wha t the ,

”
w o rds chasti ty an d v o w meant she said but , ,

G o d W h o had i n spi red her with th e word s pou red

, ,

such sweetn ess s t ren gth an d con solat i on i n to her

,

s o u l at t h e ti m e that t he m em ory o f i t lasted al l he r

'

W he n M argaret was abou t fou r years Old he r -

,
 CH I LD H OO D A N D E A R LY L I FE

god m oth er M adam e de F a u t r1e re s C o rc h e v a l w h o

,
-
,

l ived at the ch ateau at C o rc h e v a l n ear B a u b e ry, , ‘

wished to have h er godchi ld to l i ve wi th her i n

orde r to watch over her V i rtue an d teach her to
’
pray M argaret s paren ts were wi ll i n g to en trust
.

t h ei r ch i ld to so p ious a guard ian an d to her grea t

,

del igh t M argaret we n t to l ive u n der the sam e r o of

wi t h O u r B lessed Lord for t here w a s a chapel
,

a t th e ch at eau an d S h e could th us spen d he r

,

ti m e before the B lessed Sacram e n t without givi n g

anxie t y to those wh o had charge of he r There .

the l i t tle gi rl used t o kn eel w ith j oi n ed hands an d

,

d o wn cas t eyes t h i n ki n g over the t ruths O f rel igion

,

which had been taught he r an d feel i n g her heart

bu rn w ith l o v e for J esus Ch rist W hom sh e kn ew
t o be truly prese n t .

O u r Lady showed special a f fection for th i s you n g

ch ild who al ready had such love fo r her S on .

M argare t turn ed t o th e B lessed V i rgi n i n al l he r

ch i ld ish troubles She t ells us t ha t th ree t i m es
.

i n her early years O u r Lady rescued her from

great dange r ; wha t t h ose dan ge rs were we d o
n ot kn o w but we are t Ol d that she del igh t ed i n
,
’
dwell i n g o n the m ysteries o f h er M other s l ife and ,

i n thi n k i n g over an d tryi n g to i m i tate her vi rtues .

She m ad e a vow t o fast eve ry Satu rday i n Ou r

Lady s hon ou r an d la t er t h e rosary becam e a dai ly
’

devotion wh ich sh e rec i t ed on her kn ees s o m e ,

t im es kissi n g t he groun d at each H ai l M ary .

D u ri n g her stay a t C o rc h e v a l M argare t w a s,

en trus t ed t o th e care O f t w o wom en w h o were ,

app o i n ted t o t each her the ca t echism an d her

prayers O n e Of t hese wom en w a s extrem ely ki nd
.

t o he r t he other m uch m ore severe a n d exacti n g

, ,

ye t M argaret tu rn ed i n sti nctively from t h e form er

and a ttached hersel f t o the la t ter late r i t appeared
t ha t she was guided i n this by he r gre at pu ri ty of
6 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

heart for th e woman who was ki n d d id n ot lead

,

a good l i fe wh i l e she who was so severe was a

,

fa i t hful Cathol ic .

M argaret spen t fo u r hap py years wi t h her g o d

m other but M adam e de C o rc h e v a l d i ed i n 16 5 5
, ,

an d the l i ttle gi rl t he n eight years Old was sen t

, ,

to he r pare nts wh o we re at t hat ti m e l ivi n g a t

L a u t h e c o u rt
. Very shor t ly aft erwards M on sieu r
A l aco q u e d i ed l eavi n g h i s fam il y i n straiten ed
,

ci rcu msta n ces H i s sorro w stricke n widow was

.
-

t oo m uch occup ied with m on ey a ffai rs to be abl e

to devote h ersel f as m uch as she wished to the
ed ucati on o f he r ch i ld re n s o s h e placed her ,

daughter at Charol l es wi t h t h e U rban is t n u n s w h o ,

were n ot l on g i n discoveri n g what a treasu re had

been e n trusted to t hei r care M a rgaret was soon .

al lowed to make he r F i rst Com m u n ion at the the n

early age Of n i n e years F rom tha t day S he was
.

s o filled wi t h love o f h e r Lord t hat al l he r th oughts

w ere for H i m I n speaki n g O f that t i m e S h e says

.

“
Aft er my F i rst Com m u n ion O ti r Lord sh ed so
m uch bittern ess ove r al l my l i t tl e pl easu res t hat
I enj oyed n on e o f them al though I eagerly sough t
,

them . As soo n as I tried to am use myself wi t h

m y com pan i on s I fel t som e t h i n g wh ich d rew m e
,

away from the m an d wh ich gave m e n o peace

u n til I had fo l lowed t h e a t tracti o n ; the n I fel t
u rged to pray bu t al w ays either pros t ra t e or kn eel
,

i n g o n t h e bare grou nd pr o vided I was n o t seen

, ,
”
for i t w a s a real t orm e n t t o m e to be discovered .

I t was i n th is c o n ven t tha t M argaret fi rst fel t

th e desi re f o r rel igious li fe She wished to do a l l
t ha t t he n u n s d id l ooki n g u pon them as sai n t s
,
.

Sh e t hough t tha t if S h e j oi n ed t h em sh e would

becom e as h oly as t hey ; yet the l ife t hey l ed d id
n o t al t oge t h e r appeal t o her ; i t was n o t su fficie n t ly
sol ita ry a n d austere ; h owever n o t kn owi n g o f ,
8 B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A CO QU E

proved m e for my faults a n d on e day whe n I had

happen ed to s a y the rosary i n a S itti n g p osture
S h e p resen ted hersel f before m e and gave m e th i s ,

reprim an d wh ich has n eve r b een e ff aced from my

m em ory though I was at that ti m e very youn g
,

M y ch i ld I am aston ished that you serve m e s o

,

n egli gen tly From th is ti m e forward M argaret S

.
’

l ove for O ur Lady con ti n u al ly i n creased an d thi s ,

good M other often con soled her ch i ld wi th a sen se

Of he r p resen ce wh ich d id n ot leave h er eve n w hen
the hou r for p raye r was passed .

Praye r w a s i n d eed th e great j oy an d con solation

, ,

o f her l i fe at th i s ti m e a nd O u r Lord ofte n l et her ,

feel the sweetn ess of H is love She re g ularly gave .

t wo hou rs a day to me n tal p rayer r i si n g before ,

daybreak an d remai n i n g u p at n i ght to secu re th e

ti m e withou t i n conven i e n c i n g i n an y way those
w ith whom she l ived S he d id n ot dare t o com .

m u n i ca t e ve ry Often but fel t a h oly en vy o f those

,

who d id s o an d to make up for t h is dep rivation as

,

far as s h e could she tel ls us that S he used to kn eel

,

as close to the al t ar as possi bl e i n ord er to

“
con sum e mysel f by love i n H is p rese n ce as the ,
”
wax which I s a w bu rn i n g u pon th e al tar .

T O p raye r M argaret j oi n ed m uch penan ce an d

m o rt i fi ca t i o n She u sually slept u pon th e bare
.

grou nd watch i n g far i n to the n ight and scou rgi n g

,

hersel f wi th a d isci p li n e which S h e had m ade for

he rsel f o f chai n s Wha t eve r care S he t ook to
.

con ceal al l t hese austeri ti es the servan t soon

d iscovered them an d h e r m othe r feari n g fo r her
, ,

health made her sl eep i n her o w n room Th i s

,
.

was a greate r m o rt i fi c a t i o n to M argaret t han an y

aus t erity bu t s h e sacri ficed he r o w n wi l l a t once
,

an d obeyed he r m other A nd G o d soon rewarded .

her as H e i s won t to reward t hose whom H e

,

s p ecial ly loves by se n d i n g her n ew s u fferi ngs

, .
 C H A PT E R I I

L IF E I N T H E W O R LD

( 166 3 4 1 66 8 )

M A R GA R E T was sixteen years o f age whe n sh e

agai n fell il l . Th is t i m e she suffered fr o m a
v i o le n t pai n i n her side an d fro m ulcers on her
legs which becam e so bad that i t w a s i m possi ble
,

for he r t o con ceal her su fferi ngs ; S he m ade th em

an exc u se fo r aski n g to be agai n al lowed to sleep
alon e her m other con sen ted and Margaret a t on ce
, ,

began her wa t ch i n gs and o ther pen an ces I t w a s .

n o wonder her ail m en t s i n creased H er m o t her .

,

real ly anxious begged her t o t ake care o f hersel f

, ,
“
bu t M argaret gen t ly reassu red her : G o d has
”
H im sel f se n t m e th i s l ittle su ff eri n g M o t her s h e , ,
“
said , and H e wi l l remove it i n H i s o w n good
ti m e Besides s h e added hu m bly
.
,
H e saw t ha t ,

I should n o t m ake good use O f my t rial s o H e h a s ,

n o t al lowed the pai n to be as grea t as you would

su ppose from appearances I f I real ly su ffered

.

”
m uch I should be weak e n ough to show i t .

I t was n ot l ikely t ha t such w o rds would reassure

a m other s l ove an d M adame A l a c o q u e had re
’

course to several doc to rs w h o presc ribed remed i es

,

which had n o g o od results wha t ever th o u gh Mar ,

gare t su bm i tted to all wi t h t he grea t est d o ci l i ty .

” “
D O you n ot s e e s h e said t o her mo t her
,
the ,

u t ter uselessn ess o f these human remedi es ? I

have d on e al l y o u wi shed bu t you rem em ber what,

I told y o u G o d will cu re m e H i msel f and tha t

, , ,
IO B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A CO QU E

b efore an other m on th i s ove r because I have n o t ,

profited by it To con sol e you I wi l l j oi n m y

.
,

p rayers to yours a n d we wi l l Obtai n a cu re wh ich

”
wil l se rve pri n ci pal ly to make y o u hap p y S O the .

m othe r an d daughte r m ade a n oven a togethe r .

B efore the n i n e days were com pleted the ulcers

e n ti re ly d isappeared leavi n g n o trace and th e pai n
, ,

i n her S id e was cu red M adam e A l a co q u e w a s ful l

.

o f j o y an d gratitude a nd togeth er s h e an d M argaret

,

than ked ou r Lord for H is favou rs B u t knowi n g .

her da u ghte r the poor m other begged her n ot t o

,

i nj u re her n ew fou n d health by a u steriti es so tha t

-
,

S he m ight be S pared to h el p and support her i n h er

“ ” “
O l d age . I n God s n am e S h e begged
’
, I ask ,
“ ”
you t o gran t m e th is sati sfac t ion D o n o t be .

” “
u n easy M other repl ied Margaret
, , God wil l give ,

m e su ffici en t stren gth to serve you A n d from .

thi s ti m e u n ti l S h e en tered religi on som e eight ,

years la t er h er health was perfec t though s h e did

, ,

n ot i n an y way relax h er auster i ties .

’
We com e n o w to the o n e period i n ou r Sai n t s
l i fe wh i ch was n o t as fe rven t as w e should have
’
bee n led to expect from he r C h i ld hood s years .

Not that M argaret eve r we n t astray from God

to be brought back to H i m i n pen itence an d tears
as so m an y o f H is Sai n ts have been —t here was
n o t h i n g o f th is b u t s t i l l the l ove of the world an d
,

o f pl easu re c rept i n sen si bly i n to her heart an d ,

God wh o l oved her s o te n derly was kept waiti n g ,

as H e Ofte n i s whe n H e kn ocks pa t i en tly an d

,

persisten tly at the door o f o u r hearts .

Little by l ittl e M argaret rel axed her pi ous

practi ces ; s mal l i n fi d e l i t i e s l ed t o greate r on es ;
sh e d id n o t S h u n as form erly the society of worldly
person s n o r d id she d isl i ke t h e pleasu res they
,

o ffe red her Van ity crep t i n to h er heart and

.
'

she was se n si bl e t o flattery The affection b e .

 L I FE I N TH E WO R LD II

s t owed o n her by her m othe r an d brothers on ly

served to i n crease he r self love an d th e l i ber ty t hey
-
,

all owed he r was used t o gra t ify her natu ral love of
pleasu re Y ears late r when speaki n g o f th is
.
,
“
period she said
, I d id n ot thi n k t hen m y G o d , ,

o f that which Thou hast so wel l taught m e s i n ce ,

that Thy Sacred H ear t had brought m e for t h

o n Calvary i n the m idst of su f feri n g a n d sorrows ,

an d tha t therefore the l i fe Thou hadst t h us gi ven

m e could n ot be sustai n ed bu t by t he c ross fo r ,
”
which I w a s later t o have such an arden t l ove .

I t i s true that i n th e eyes o f he r fa mily M argaret

appeared holy an d d evout bu t G o d Who reads the
,

hear t foun d there van ity an d dissi pa t ion i n fi d e l i t y ,

t o H is grace an d l ove Of t he world

, O n e Carn ival
.

she we n t to a masked bal l a thi n g S he n ever ceased

,

to regret and to weep over to the en d of he r l ife .

She hersel f attri butes her i m perfec t ion s to the fact

that sh e seldom we n t to the Sacram en ts for wan t ,

of a con fesso r to whom S h e could have recourse to

hel p he r i n the practice Of V i rtue .

M ean t i m e G od con ti n ued to kn ock at t he door

of her heart an d i n order to make her en ter i n to
,

hersel f H e se n t her fresh trial s

,
H e deprived her
.

of t h e l iberty wh ich had been t h e cause Of her loss

of fervou r an d perm itted that she S hould becom e
l i ke a S lave i n her own h ouse .

M adam e A l ac o q u e at th is ti m e i n a d el icate
,

state Of health w a s n ot abl e t o at t en d to the

,

managem e n t of he r house and property Som e .

have thought that s h e en trusted h er affai rs m erely

to servan ts but it i s n ot l ikely that sh e and her
,

daughte r would have subm it t ed t o end ure from

such people th e harsh treatmen t t hey received ,

when they could have stopped i t by d ism issi n g

those i n fau lt The extrem e reserve with which
.

the Sai n t al l ud ed t o th is ti me i n the M e moi r she

12 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A CO QU E

afterwards w rote does n ot al low us to kn o w for

,

cer tai n who th e p erson s were w h o caused he r s o

m uch su ffe ri n g but i t i s p robable t hat they we re
,

related to h er The Old fam i ly papers prove that

.

th e househol d at La u t h e co u rt a t th is peri od
con si sted o f M adam e A l a co q u e an d M adam e
’
Lamy n M argaret s gran d mothers o f M adem oisel le
, ,

Cath eri n e A l a co q u e h e r au n t of h er m other he r

, , ,

you n g brother J acques an d hersel f There were , .

p robably several m arried couples am on g th e h ouse

serva n ts an d farm han d s a nd t hese subj ect o n ly , ,

to elderly wom e n woul d easi ly be able to get t h e

,

u pper han d and taki n g advan t age o f a cer tai n i ll

,

feel i n g shown towards M argare t an d her m othe r

by t hei r relatives push thei r i l l cond uct beyon d
,
-

bou nd s th us becom i n g a great sou rce of s u fferi n g

,

to t he n atu ral ly se n si t ive soul of t he you ng gi rl .

“
S he descri bes t h e posi ti on t h u s : We n o lon ger
had an y power i n ou r o w n h ouse an d we dared do
n oth i n g wi t hout pe rm issi o n I t was a con t i n ual .

war Everyth i n g w a s kept u n der l ock an d key s o

.
,

th at I cou ld n o t eve n get ready to go to M ass

w i thout aski n g for m y cloak an d hood .

M argaret however saw i n all t h is n o t h i n g bu t

, ,

God s ki nd n ess i n lead i n g he r back t o H i m self

’
.

S he h u m bled hersel f u n der H i s chastisi n g hand .

I began t o feel m y captivi ty but I y i elded to i t ,

en ti rely an d s o h u m bled m ysel f t hat I would d o

,

n oth i n g n ot eve n g o out without t he co nse n t of

, ,

th ree person s From that ti m e al l my con solation

.

w a s to be be fore th e B l essed Sacram en t but I was ,

som e d i stance from th e ch u rch an d i f on e o f th e ,

th ree p erson s gave c o n se n t fo r m e to g o I w a s su re ,

to meet wi th opposition from o n e O f t he others .

O ften when I wep t they accused m e Of wan ti n g to

go to m eet som ebody and said i t w a s th ei r d u t y to
,

stop my hypoc ri sy I n pre t e n d i n g that I desi red to

 L I FE I N T H E WO R LD

g o to M ass o r to visi t the B l essed Sacramen t I .

felt such a h o rro r Of an yth i n g o f the sort t hat I

would ra t her have con sen ted t o have m y body torn
i n p ieces so I to o k refuge i n som e corn er o f th e
,

garde n or stables where throwi n g myself on m y

,

kn ees I pou red forth m heart before G o d i m p l o r

i n g t he i n tercession o f O
,

u r Lady i n whom I placed ,

e n ti re con fid e nce Someti m es I rem ai n ed the

.

W hol e day wi t hout eati n g o r d ri n ki n g ; i n deed this ,

Often happe n ed O ccasional ly the poor people O f

.

the V il lage t ouch ed wi t h com passion would bri n g

, ,

m e som e m i l k or frui t i n the even i n g I return ed .

to th e house with fear an d trem bl i n g as though I

had been a cri m i n al I would rather have b egged
.

m y bread t han l ive i n th is way for often I dared ,

n ot ta ke a pi ece O f b read from the table As soo n .

as I re e n t ered the house the at tack com menced

-

worse t han befo re I w a s rep roached wi t h n eglect

.

i n g m y h ousehold d uti es an d with out givi n g m e

,

t i m e to s a y a S i n gl e word t hey s e t m e t o work

,

wi t h th e servants afte r wh ich I passed t he n ight

, ,

as I had passed m ost Of the d ay i n weep i n g a t t h e ,

”
foo t o f m y crucifix There O u r Lord taught
.

M argaret that H e wished t o be t he abs o l ute Mas t er

of he r hea rt and to give he r a share i n H is sufferi n g
“
l i fe. H e showed H i msel f to my soul as my
M aster i n order t o teach m e h o w to ac t as H e did
,

i n the m ids t Of al l H e su ffered fo r t he love O f m e .

F rom that tim e my sou l was s o pen etrated wi t h

H is presen ce tha t I always seemed to s e e H i m
ei t he r as crucified crown ed with th o rn s o r carry i n g
, ,

H is Cross an d th is gave m e so m uch c o m passion

,

f o r H i s su fferi n gs that al l my trials bec am e l igh t ,

an d I l on ged t o su ffer fo r H i m an d thus becom e

”
m ore l i ke t o H i m .

Neve r on ce d id M argaret resen t th e il l t reatm en t -

she rece ived on th e con trary s h e w as s o rry when ,

14 B LESS E D M A R G A R ET M . A L A C O QU E

those i l l used her d id n ot always carry out

wh o -

thei r th reats a n d sh e t ri ed i n eve ry way t o do them

,

good an d speak wel l O f the m B ut s h e kn ew t hat .

i n t h is as i n everyth i n g sh e was i n d ebted to her

, ,
“ ”
Lord . H e took such possess ion of my wi l l ,
“
s h e writes tha t H e would n ot perm it m e to form
,

an y com plai n t m u rm u r o r feel i n g O f rese n tm en t

, ,

agai n st these person s n o r eve n would H e allo w ,

m e to be pitied o r m eet wi th a n y sy m pathy i n ,

m y s u fferi n gs H e showed m e h o w m eekly H e

.

had born e wi th H is e n em i es s o that I was t o ,

excuse m i n e an d lay al l th e blam e on m ysel f ;

add i n g tru ly that m y si n s d eserved a m uch greate r .

pu n ish m en t .

D uri n g al l thi s ti m e of trial M argaret con ti n u ‘

al ly asked God to se n d he r som e o n e t o gu ide he r .

O u r Lord d id n ot at on ce com ply wi t h he r req uest

'

,
“
bu t con sol ed he r i n stead by sayi n g A m I n ot ,

s u ffi cie n t for th ee ? What dos t t hou fear ? Can

a C h i ld so l oved peri sh i n the arm s of her A l m i ghty
”
Father ?
J ust about th is ti m e M adam e A l a co q u e fel l i l l
an d suffe red seve rely from the petty persecution
o f her relatives Th is was t he grea t est o f t ri a l s
.

f o r he r daughte r w h o l oved he r m o t he r wi t h a ,
“
deep a n d te n der l ove The m os t cr uel o f m y .

” “
cr o sses she said , was n o t bei n g abl e t o allevia t e
,

m y m o t her s sufferi n gs They were far harde r to

’
.

e nd ure t han my own As eve ry t h i n g was locked .

up I was Ofte n obl iged to go ou t t o beg for eggs

,

a n d such l ittl e th i n gs as I req ui red fo r m y sick

m o t he r an d bei n g natu ral ly ti m id an d se n si tive
, , ,
”
I s uffered terri bly from bei n g red uced to th is .

Soon the worry a n d weakn ess t old s o m uch o n

M adam e A l a co q u e that S h e was attacked by severe
e rysi pelas i n the face her head w a s terri bly swollen
a n d i n flam m atio n an d fever prostrated her H er .
16 B LESSE D M A R GA R E T M . A L A C O QU E

i m pression upon M argaret w h o had very stron g ,

affecti on s an d t he dev i l added an othe r tem ptatio n

,

sti l l m ore i n sidious H e m ad e u s e o f her piety

.

an d t he hu m bl e es t i mation i n which she hel d her

s e l f i n orde r t o e n trap he r by tel l i n g her that t he

rel igious state was S O holy and perfect that i t

wou ld be presu m pti on i n her to e n gage i n it .

H e rep rese n ted t o he r that th is l ife deman ded a

vi rtue s o exal t ed tha t s h e could n ever attai n to it ,

an d tha t i n th e C loister sh e would n o lon ger have

l iber t y to p ractise those aus t erities an d works of
chari t y to wh ich S he was accus t om ed The n th e .

t em pte r w en t a s t ep fur t her The vow of chastity

.

by which M argaret whe n a chi ld had con secra t ed

, ,

h er vi rgi n ity to G o d n ow appeared to he r as n o

,

true v o w Was s h e n o t t o o you n g to have real ly

.

bou nd h ersel f by s uch a prom ise ? S u rely at m ost

al l that c o uld be req u i red o f h er would be t o ask
a d ispe n sati o n wh ich could easi ly be o b ta i n ed o n
t he plea tha t she was n ecessary to her m o t h e r .

Th us t he tem p t e r argued an d M argaret i n s t ead Of ,

bei n g absol u t ely faithful to grace dal l i ed som e ,

wha t wi t h the s uggestion s S he gave less ti m e to

.

praye r an d m ore t hought to he r d ress an d person al

appearan ce The world pleased her and s h e tri ed
.
,

to pl ease th e world S he visited m ore and took

.

m o re pleasure i n the soci ety o f others Not that .

i n al l t hi s M argaret fel l i nto an y grave s i n I n deed .

we learn from t hose who kn ew her a t t he ti m e that

he r exterior w a s always ed ifyi n g ; bu t i n teriorly
she w a s n ot as faithful as s h e should have been to
t he L o rd Wh o had l oved her s o t en derly an d s o
man ifestly She s t ruggled agai n st grace
. God .

wan ted e n ti re detach m e nt from her and H e sh ed ,

a certai n bittern ess an d t rou ble o n all h er i n te r

cou rse wi t h th e world Then M argaret tri ed t o
.

give H i m other th i n gs She overwhel m ed h er

"

.
 L I FE I N T HE WO R LD 17

body with m o rt i fi ca t i o n s an d penances She e n .

circled h e r wai st wi t h a kn o tted cord fasten ed S O

tigh t ly that s h e could scarcely brea t h e wi t hou t
pai n s h e wore smal l i r o n chai n s rou n d her arm s
and d i sci pl i n ed hersel f to blood besides i nven t in g
,

man y o ther pe nan ces for hersel f ; bu t at th e sam e

t i m e S h e gave hersel f up d uri n g t he day to th e
pleasures Of th e wo rld wh ich s h e fo u nd S O a t trae
tive. Th is w a s n o t what God wante d O f H is
servan t . H e reproached h e I i nteriorly fo r her
i n gra t itude an d severely reprim an ded h er for h er
,

cowardice H e sh o wed her t he sweetn ess o f H is

.

l ove H e m ade her unde rs tan d t hat it was n o t

.

bodi ly corporal pe nance H e desi red but ra t h er ,

th e i m m olati o n Of h er heart wi t h i ts affec t io ns .

M argaret w o uld weep an d pray an d d isci pl i n e her

sel f but the very n ext day s h e would retu rn to
,

her am usem en ts .

A t len gth on e even i n g as s h e was taki n g off her

dress aft e r s o m e e n t ertai n m en t at wh ich s h e had
worn i t wi t h a cer t ai n van i t y O u r Lord appeared
,

t o her i n t he s t a t e i n wh ich H e w a s aft er H i s

Scourgi n g H i s Sacred Body w a s bru ised torn
.
,

an d bleed i n g H e told he r that i t w a s h er van ity

.

wh ich had reduced H i m to th is state an d t hat by ,

h er i rresol ution S he w a s l osi n g ti m e o f wh ich S he

,

woul d have to give a stric t accoun t at her dea t h ,

an d the n H e repr o ach ed her for he r i n fidel i t y .

M argaret w a s S O i m p ressed t hat s h e n eve r aft er

wards lost t h e rem em brance of that vision ; ye t
stil l s h e w a s n ot whol ly conquered N oth i n g .

c o uld exceed t he i nward s t ruggle Of h er soul at

th i s t i m e . A ft erwards whe n speaki n g o f her
,

u n fai t hful n ess s h e expressed as t on ish m en t tha t

,

hel l had n ot Open ed u nder her feet t o bury her

al ive I n pun ish m en t .

H er i n terior trouble w a s s o great that though

B
18 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

she bore it i n si len ce s h e began to p i n e away

visi bly . H e r m othe r was alarm ed but M argaret ,

d i d n ot s a y on e word as to th e ca u se of he r gri ef .

Sh e had n ot eve n the rel i ef of hel p from a con fesso r ,

for there was n o priest n ear to whom s h e dared or

could speak S he read the L i v es of t h e S a i n t s
.
,

but w a s di sh earte n ed at thei r ge n erosity an d self

s a c ri fi c e an d despai red Of eve r bei n g abl e to
,

i m itate them Som eti m es as man y an oth er has

.
,

d on e before an d si n ce she said to h ersel f :

, I wi l l
look f o r a l i fe ve ry easy to be i m i tated that I may
”
con form myself to it Sh e looked but S h e d id
.
,

n o t fi nd S he wi shed to be holy but d i d n ot wi sh

.
,

to make the e f forts the Sai n ts had made ; th e Sai n ts ,

she foun d becam e holy on ly i n doi n g viol en ce to

,

them sel ves an d i n sacrifici n g without reserve al l

that w a s most dear to them At last the V ic t ory .

was won D uri n g H oly Com m un i on God worked

.

a chan ge i n her heart a n d filled he r with H is o w n

gi ft o f peace H e m ad e her see clearly that H e
.

d eserved her l ove m ore than all earthly rivals an d ,

reproached he r for th i n ki n g of con tracti n g an

al l i a n ce wi th a ny o n e after havi n g prom ised hersel f
“ ”
to H i m for so m an y years K n ow H e said .
, ,
“
that i f thou i n s u l t e s t M e by such a p reference I
wi l l aban don thee for ever but i f thou remai n est ,

fai t hfu l to M e I wi l l n ever quit thee a nd I wi l l ,

M yself be thy S tren gth an d thy Victory to tri u m ph

ove r t h i n e e n em ies I exc use thi n e i gn oran ce b e
.

cause thou dost n ot yet kn ow M e b ut i f thou wi lt ,

fol l ow M e I wi l l teach thee to kn ow M e an d I wi l l

”
m an ifest Mysel f to thee These words b rough t
.

cal m t o M argaret s soul an d S h e m ade a gen erous

’

resol ution o f absol utely ren oun ci n g al l to follow

“ ”
her rel igi ous vocati on I t seem ed t o m e s h e
.
,
“
said ,
as i f heavy chai n s had been rem oved from
m e or as i f I h ad bee n restored to the l ight of day
,
 L I FE IN TH E WO R LD 19

after a lo n g an d dark n ight Al l t hat s h e had .

m ost d readed i n rel igious l ife n o w appeared l ight

to h er i n com paris o n wi t h the dan ger s h e had
escaped H er d i strust gave way to a lovi n g c o n fi
.

den ce and s h e gave he rself u n reser v ed ly t o O u r

,

Lord .

G o d gave M argaret many con solati o n s i n retu rn

for her sub m issi on O n e day H e showed her the
.

beau t y Of poverty C hasti t y an d Obed ience an d

, ,

how t he vows t ake n i n rel igion con duce to true

hol i n ess A n o t he r t i m e H e told her t hat H e had
.

born e wi t h he r S O patien t ly because H e i n tended t o

m ake her a com m i n gl i n g O f H i s m ercy an d H i s
” “
l ove. Agai n she says : The D i vi n e S pouse O f
my soul as t h o ugh H e feared t hat I m i gh t yet
,

escape H i m o n accou n t Of m y weakn ess asked

, ,

m e t o c o n se n t t o H i s t aki n g possessi on o f an d
maki n g H i m self M aste r O f m y l iber t y I gave my .

con sen t with al l m y h eart I ren ewed my v o w o f .

chas t ity begi n n i n g n ow t o u nd erstan d i t s real

,

n a t ure and I told H i m t ha t eve n though i t S hould

,

cos t m e a t housand l ives I woul d n eve r be any

”
thi n g but a rel igi ous .

Margaret m ad e n o secret o f her i nten tion s Sh e .

let he r fam i ly an d fr ie nds C learly u nderstan d tha t

her fi n al resol u t ion had been t ake n Even her .

mothe r dared n o l on ge r Oppose her t hough s h e ,

s t il l wept over i t i n secre t Those who freq uen ted .

t he house as su i t ors for her han d were i m m edia t ely

d ism issed H e r broth er Ch rys o st o m sti ll held
.
, ,

out hopes of h er m arriage however an d Offered , ,

he r a part of h is for t u n e to i n crease he r dowry ;

but t o t h is an d t o al l such appeal s M argare t s ’

hear t as she exp ressed i t had becom e i n sen si ble

, ,
”
as a rock .
 C H A PT E R I I I

V O C AT I O N
( 1668 -
16 7 1 )
M A R GA R ET n o w began to prepare hersel f as far as
sh e could fo r t he rel igi ous l ife S he had m ad e u p
her m i n d to e m b race Sh e resolved especial ly t o
.

p ractise th e vi rtues O f charity an d Obed i ence .

The p oor we re h e r favou ri t es S he d istri buted .

am on gs t the m al l the m on ey left at her d isposal ,

thus begi n n i n g to p ractise the vi rtue o f poverty .

She gath ered rou n d her th e p oorest chi ld ren O f th e

n eighbou rhood an d taught them to kn ow God
, ,

an d to say thei r p rayers H e r brothe r asked he r

.

”
i f s h e i n ten ded to tu rn school m istress wh i le ,

th e oth er m em bers o f th e household complai n ed

“ ”
loud ly at th e pack of ch ild ren an d accused ,

M argaret O f taki n g what d id n ot belo n g to h er fo r

them ; an e n t i rely false accusation for s h e n ever ,

gave away an yth i n g but what sh e had received

fro m he r m oth er .

A s to th e V i rtue of Obed ie nce M a rgaret tel ls us,

why sh e s t rove so val ian t ly to p racti se it exactly ,

eve n toward s th ose w h o had n o real authority ove r

“
he r. M y D ivi n e M aster i m p ressed i n my sou l
so great a fear o f d oi n g my o w n wi l l an d o f ,

fol l owi n g i t i n an yth i n g that I t hought whateve r

,
'

I d id would on ly be agreeable to H i m th r o ugh

obed i e n ce Th is m ade m e ye a rn t o do al l m y
.

action s th rough obed ien ce an d l ove yet 4 kn ew n o t ,

”
h o w to p ractise ei the r .
 V O CAT I O N 21

Seei n g M argaret had en ti rely m ade up her m i n d

to en te r rel igio n and tha t al l further protests were
,

useless the fam i ly grad ually becam e recon ci led to

,

what they could n o t preven t B u t there w a s sti l l .

question as t o wh ich particular O rder she S hould

j oi n and i n thi s agai n she fou n d m any d i fficulti es
and a good deal o f opposi t ion .

A n u ncl e w h o w a s her guard ian i n vited her to

, ,

sta y with h i m a t M acon Sh e went and wh i l e .

,

there m et o n e o f h is daughters a n u n i n th e ,

U rsul i n e Con ve n t i n that t own Wi t h m ore a ff e c .

tion t han d iscreti on h er cousi n seei n g that ,

M argaret wished to e nte r rel igion d id al l i n her ,

powe r to persuade her to becom e an U rsul i n e .

Every argum en t was u rged and s h e even begged ,

her fath er to u s e h i s i n fl ue n ce wi t h h is ward an d ,

Obtai n ed from the Com m u n ity the prom ise t o

recei ve h er wi th less dowry than w a s customary .

M argaret felt i t d i ffi cul t to resis t such ki ndly ,

m ean t Offe rs b ut S h e had n o i n terior attracti o n

,

to the con ven t at M aco n She seemed t o hear

.

O ur Lord sayi n g t o her I t i s n ot here I woul d

”
have thee stay So al l t he reply s h e gave t o h er
.

cousi n was : I f I en t ered you r house i t would be

fo r the love of you ; I wish t o go where I have
n either relation s n o r acquai n t ances that I may be ,

a rel igious from n o other m o tive than t he love o f

Go d .

Stil l M argaret d id n ot kn ow where G o d would

,

have her go Chrysos tom w a s an n oyed wi th h er

.

for a tt em p t i n g as he t hought t o en ter wi th t he

, ,

U rsul i n es withou t h is perm i ssion but she had n o ,

t hough t s O f doi n g that and at last a secret v o ice

,
”
t o ld h e r that i t w a s t he S isters of H oly M ary o f
the O rder O f the V isitation t hat God had chos en
for her M argaret kn ew n oth i ng o f th e O rde r
.

“
excep t i t s nam e I w a s attracted by t h e sweet
.
22 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

n am e Of H oly M ary s h e tel ls us ; an d Sai nt

‘
,

Francis o f Sales seem s to have S hown h i s future

daughter the place s h e w a s t o occu p y i n h i s
“
rel igious fam il y O n e day as I was looki n g at
.
,

a pic t u re of th e great Sai n t Fran cis o f S ales i t

.

see med t o m e that h e cast s o ten de r an d pa t ernal

a l ook upon m e add ressi n g m e at the sam e ti m e a s
,

h i s daughter t hat fro m that ti m e forward I alway s

,
”
l o oked u po n h i m as m y fathe r .

B u t M argaret d id n ot dare tell an y o n e O f these

thoughts an d he r cous i n an d the U rsul i n e Com
,

m u n i t y were so i n siste n t i n tryi n g to force her to

s t ay with them that s h e could hardly have escaped
,

i f O ur L o rd H i m sel f h ad n o t arran ged matters for

h er . They were o n th e poi nt of open i n g th e
e nclos ure to m e when I received n ews tha t m y
brothe r was very i ll an d m y m other al m ost at ,

death s door Th is obl iged m e t o l eave at once i n

’
.

ord er to g o to t hem n or C ou ld any on e p reve nt m e

, ,

although I was i ll m yself but i ndeed m y ai l me n t ,

cam e ra t her from sorrow at bei n g obl iged as I ,

th ou gh t to e n ter a con ve n t to wh ich I w a s n ot

,
”
cal l ed by God t han fro m an y 9 ther cause
,
.

So M argare t we n t ho m e an d fou n d herself

subj e c ted t o m uch th e sam e ki n d Of persecu t ion
as before for t hey t old h er that i t was eviden t
,

h er m other c ould n ot l ive without h er an d that ,

i f she left her S he would be an swerabl e for h er

death Th is v 1e w was taken even by p riests an d
.
,
“
caused M argaret i n ten se pai n ; an d t he devil ,
“
s h e says took ad v an tage of my d istress to make
,

m e bel ieve tha t to leave m y mother u n der such

”
c i rc um stan ces would cause m e to lose m y sou l .

O u r Lord o n the oth er hand u rged he r powe r

, ,

ful ly to carry out he r resol ution H e g ave her a .

str o n g desi re to con form herself to H i m i n H i s

su fferi n g l i fe O n o n e occasion when kn eel i n g
.
2 4 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

O u r Lady Th e H oly Spi ri t com i ng to he r w ith

.

the ful n ess O f H i s gift s j ust at th i s c ritical ti m e

i n c reased h er fervou r an d gave he r n ew stren gth
to s u ffer courageously .

O u r B lessed Lord taugh t M argaret man y

l esso n s an d am on gst othe rs the excel lence O f
,

obed i en ce S h e saw clearly that the b es t sacri fice

.

we can give to God is t hat of O u r own wi ll .

S ee i n g th i s s h e becam e u n easy at th e d el igh t

S h e fou n d i n p rayer an d pe nan ce She feared that .

h er austerities were less pl eas i n g to God because

sh e fol lowed he r o w n wi l l i n th em an d s h e ,

bel ieved that s h e n eeded a gu id e t o wh om s h e

co uld s u bm i t hersel f and who would teach her
,
“ ”
how to pray . Lord J es us she plead ed ten derly
, ,
”
give m e som e on e to guide m e to Thee Th is .

ti m e O u r Lord gran ted her p raye r an d se n t he r

.

tem porary hel p .

I n 167 0 a J ubi lee was gran ted by Pope

Cle m e n t X o n h i s accessi o n to the P o n t i fi ca t e
. .

A holy F ran cisca n cam e to Ve rosvres an d to ,

h i m M argare t mad e kn own t he state Of her sou l .

S he spe n t n early a fo rtn ight prepari n g he r ge n eral

“ “ ”
co n fessi on . I t seem ed to m e s h e wrote ,
that ,

I could n eve r give e n ough t i m e t o i t o n accou n t

o f my n u m berl ess si n s I w a s fil led with such
.

g reat sorrow for th em that I n ot o n ly sh ed

a bu nd a n ce o f t ears bu t I would glad ly have
,

p ubl i shed the m before the whole world I n h er .

s i m pl icity an d thi n ki n g tha t i n he r bl i n d n ess s h e

,

could n ot form a n adequate i dea o f her si n s s h e ,

d eterm i n ed to accuse he rsel f O f n early al l th ose

th i n gs she fou nd m e n t ion ed i n the d etai l ed
x a m i n at i o n Of con sci e n ce wh ich s h e fo u n d i n
“
he r p rayer book-
. Perhaps I am gui l t y Of them
“
withou t kn owi n g i t s h e t h ough t h u m bly
, an d ,

even i f I have n o t c o m m i t t e d them i t i s j ust that

'

,
 V O C AT I O N 25

I S hould have the sham e Of accusi n g mysel f of

them to sati sfy t he j ustice o f G o d fo r S O many
”
othe r S i n s wh ich have escaped my n otice S uch .

an accusation w a s n ot of cou rse al lowed by t h e

, ,

con fessor w h o told her that the accusa t ion s of the

,

pen i t en t ought to be si m ple an d si ncere w ithout

exaggerati n g o r d i m i n ish i n g an yth i n g Th is w a s .

a n ew s ubj ect O f h um i l ia t i o n for M argaret w h o ,

grieved d eeply for her fault th i n ki n g t hat she ,

had d ispleased God but O u r Lord com forted he r

,

by assu ri n g he r tha t H e forgave everyth i n g that

w as d on e witho ut mal i ce T h is co n fession l eft .

M argaret s sou l i n peace Sh e t old t he co n fesso r

’
.

som e t hi n g O f her m an n e r o f l i fe but n o t al l for

, , ,
“ “
I thought S h e says , that i t w o uld be van i ty
,

to d o s o . I n retu rn he gave her m uch valuabl e

advice ; but he d id m ore than this M argaret .

t old h i m o f her desi re to e n ter rel igion an d ,

how he r bro t he r thwar t ed her The Fa t her here .

upon spoke to Ch rysostom s o s t ron gly tha t h e

approached h i s s is t er o n t h e subj ec t a nd heari n g ,

that s h e would rather die t han chan ge her m i n d ,

he pr o m ised to all o w he r to carry ou t her desi re .

H e wen t therefore t o m ake arran geme n ts abou t

, ,

her d o wry with the U rsu l i n e Com m u n i ty wh o stil l ,

u rged M argaret t o e n ter a t M acon as i ndeed did ,

the e n ti re fam i ly B u t M argare t w a s n o t alarm ed ;

.

s h e had placed her cause i n O u r Lady s hand s ’

an d had bee n con soled by he r lov i n gly

- Fear
n othi n g t hou shal t i n deed be my daughter an d
,
”
I wi l l always be t hy go o d M ot her S O M ar .

“
gare t sp o ke resol u t ely t o Chrysost o m I wan t
to g o to the n u n s of H oly M ary t o a con ,

ven t a t som e d is t ance fr o m here where I have , ,

n o acquai n tan ces I wil l be a rel igious for t he

.

l o ve O f God alon e I wi sh t o qu it t he world

.

en t i rely an d hid e m y sel f i n s o m e corn er where

,
26 B LESSE D M A R G A R ET M . A LA C O QU E

I m ay forget i t an d be forgotte n by i t fo r
eve r .

U p to th is ti m e S h e had n eve r heard of Paray

l e M on ial H eari n g it me n t ion ed on e day as be i n g
.

a p lace where t here was a Con ven t of the Vi sitation ,

s h e i m m ed iately felt d rawn t o wards i t A S soo n .

’’
as they n am ed Paray to m e she says, my heart ,

boun d ed with j o y a n d I gave my con se n t at o n ce .

’

Accom pan i ed by he r bro t her M argaret we n t to

,

Paray t o prese n t hersel f to t he S u pe rior o f the

M on astery who at that t i m e was M othe r M argaret
,

J e rom e H ersan t N O soon er had t hey e n t ered

.

than M argaret i n te ri orly heard th e D ivi n e Voice

“
sayi n g : I t i s here that I would have you to
”
be . H e r heart w a s flooded with j oy an d s h e ,

t old Ch rysostom that b e absol utel y m ust com e to

a fi n al agreem en t with the S uperi or f o r S h e was ,

d e t erm i n ed n ever t o go an ywhere el se .

S om e of th e n u n s were s u rp ri sed at seei n g he r

s o j oyful , an d thought s h e was acti n g with levi ty
a n d d issi pation bu t t h e S uperior a p rude n t an d
, ,

vi rtuous wom an j u d ged o t herwise an d soon d is

, ,

covered that God had p repared a t reasu re fo r thei r

house at Paray i n th e perso n o f the postulan t
wh o begged fo r a place am on gst t hem M oth e r .

H ersan t was as anxious to receive M argaret on

t rial as M argaret w a s to be ad m itted Whe n .

writi n g years aft e rward s o f th is ti m e she says ,

“
I seem ed t o receive n ew l i fe so great w a s the
,
”
happi n ess an d peace wh ich I felt A n d sh e .

concl udes th us As I wri te th is O u r Lord Ofte n

,

makes m e th i s lovi n g reproach : See M y ‘

,

daughter i f thou can st fi n d a father filled with

,

love for an on ly son w h o has eve r take n such

,

care o f h i m an d give n h i m such marks O f a ff ecti on

a s I have gi ve n to thee an d am ready sti l l to give

thee M y love has n ever ceased to tend thy so u l

.
 V O CAT I O N 27

a nd fash ion i t accord i n g to M y H eart waiti n g fo r ,

th ee with patie nce an d gen tlen ess without bei n g

repelled by al l thy resistan ce R emember t hen
.
,

tha t wer t th ou eve r t o forge t the gratitud e thou

owest M e an d fail to refer the glory o f everyth i n g
to M e th is i n exhaus t i ble sou rce of al l good would
,

be cut O ff fro m t hee .

’

M argare t was obl iged to retu rn h o m e to arra n ge

her t e m poral a ff ai rs b u t th i s was s o on d on e an d
, ,

she d id n o t tarry lon g over her leave taki n gs -

.

“
At l en gth she says, the lon g desi red day ca m e
,
-

o n w h ich I could bid farewell t o the world an d ,

n ever had I felt such j oy an d stren gth I fel t .

al m os t i n sen si bl e to frien dsh i p an d also to the gri ef

wh ich my frie n ds and especial ly m y mo t her S howed
, ,

at my depar t u re .I did n o t shed a tear when I l eft

t hem . I f e l t as i f I were a S lave del i vered from
chai n s a nd prison and about to en t er the house
,

o f her S pouse to take possession o f i t and to enj oy ,

i n ful l H i s p resen ce H i s riches an d H i s love

,
”
.

B u t Satan made o n e las t e ffort to d elay th e

sacrifice he had s o lon g tried to preven t Th e .

struggle w a s S harp an d severe si m ilar to that ,

wh ich Sai n t Teresa d escribes as havi n g take n

place i n her o w n soul whe n s h e was en teri n g the
Carm el ite Conve n t M argaret m en t ion s the trial
.

“
i n a few words . I ackn owledge that when the
day cam e for m y e nteri n g th e M o nastery wh ich ,

was o n a Satu rday I w a s assai l ed by such V iol en t

,

trouble t hat i t seem ed t o m e t hat my soul w a s

on the poi n t o f bei n g separated from my body .

H owever n o s oo n er had I e ntered t han my trou ble

,

ceased an d it was shown m e h o w O u r Lord had

,

ta ken O ff from m e the sackcloth of m y captivity ,

an d cl othed m e wi t h the robe Of glad ness I was .

“
t ran sported with j oy an d exclai med : I t is here
”
that m y God would have m e be .
 C H A PT E R IV

NOVICES H IP
( 1 6 7 1- 16
7 2
)
M A R GA R ET M A R Y en tered th e con ven t on 2 5 t h
M ay 1 6 7 1 The Com m u n ity a t Paray had bee n
.

fou n ded forty fi v e years p revi ously an d n u m be red

-
,

i n al l at th i s t i m e th i rty n i n e m e m bers : thi rty

-

th ree Choir S isters t h ree Lay S isters a n d th ree

, ,

N ovices The postulan t was placed u n der M oth e r

.

A n n e Fra nces T h o u v a n t t he M istress of Novices

, ,

w h o was an exem plary rel igi ous and em i n en tly

fitted to gu id e soul s t o God Sai n t J an e Fran ces
.

d e Chan t al had bee n attracted by her V i rtues an d ,

after forty fou r years of rel igious p rofessi on

-

M other T h o u v a n t had the p rivi lege o f bei n g _

e n trusted with t h e care O f o u r Sai n t i n he r N ovice

sh i p
.

F rom th e outset M argare t M ary was wh ol ly

i n ten t o n gi vi n g hersel f up u n reserved ly to O u r
“
Lord . I at o n ce fe l t en graved o n m y soul s h e ,
“
says ,
that t his hou se o f God was a holy place ,

a n d that al l Wh o d w elt i n i t were cal led to be

sai n ts ; that th e very nam e O f H ol y M ary S i g n i ‘

fi e d t hat I m ust becom e o n e at an y price an d that ,

to sec u re t hi s I ough t t o aban don m ysel f wh ol ly to

God a n d sac rifice mysel f com p letely to H i m Th is .

thought sweeten ed al l that i n t h e begi n n i n g I

”
fou n d hard .

O u r B lessed Lord con ti n ued to favou r H i s

spouse with t he sam e graces an d su pern atu ral
28
 N O V ICES H I P 29

co m m u n ication s wh ich H e had before bestowed

u pon h er but with th i s d i fferen ce : formerly H e
,

taught he r d i rectly w h a t s h e w a s to d o t o please

‘

H i m for t h e n S he had n o exteri o r hel p but n o w

, , ,

al l the i n struction s s h e received from H i m tended

on ly to keep her i n depe ndence and Obed ience an d ,

to teach her to have n o other rule Of c o n duct than

the wil l an d orders o f her S uperiors A bout this
,
.

ti m e M argare t was awake ned o n several morn

i n gs i n succession by heari n g di ffere n t verses of
“
the Psal m s d isti n ctly pron ounced : Thou hast
loved j us t ice an d hated i n iquity : therefore ha t h God
“
an oi n ted thee ; or H earken O daughter an d
, , ,
“ ”
see an d i n cl i n e th i n e ear e t c o r agai n Thou
, .
,

has t reform ed thy path an d t hy w a y O J e rusal em , ,

house Of I s rael the Lord shal l guide t hee i n al l

,

thy ways an d shal l n ever aban don t hee She did .

n o t u n derstan d the words but repeated them ,

sim ply to her M istress w h o recogn isi n g the voice ,

o f Go d ,
explai n ed to her t hei r m ean i ng and the
frui t S h e w a s to derive from them .

We have seen what great love M argaret had f o r

the vi rtue o f Obed ience Sh e looked upon al l t hat
.

he r S uperi or an d Novice M is t ress said as the

Voice Of G o d and feared n o t hi n g s o l on g as she
,

could obey O n e day she wen t h um bly to M ot he r

.

T h o u v a n t to a s k t o be taugh t h o w t o pray Th e .

good rel igious fearful perhaps O f marri n g a work

, , ,

she had reason to th i n k had bee n begu n by th e

“
D ivi n e M aste r H i m sel f rep l ied : G o and place
,

you rself befo re O ur Lord as a blan k canvas before

”
a pai n te r . M argare t d id n ot u n derstand her .

“ “
I could have wished sh e says n ai vely , that ,

she h a d explai n ed h er i nj u n c t ion to m e more ful ly ,

f o r I d id n ot u n derstand it and I did n o t dare tel l ,

”
he r s o " Th ere was n o n eed to tel l her O u r .

“
L o rd wh ispered al l that w a s n ecessa ry Com e , ,
3 G
) B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O OU E

an d I wi l l teach th ee The resu lt s h e records

.

“
hersel f N o soon er d id I kneel down to pray
.

than m y Sovereign M aste r showed m e that m y

sou l was the can vas on wh ich H e would pai n t al l
the featu res o f H i s l i fe wh ich had bee n passed i n
l ove privation si le n ce a n d sacri fice to th e e n d ;
, ,

that H e would i m press th e sam e o n my soul aft e r

H e had pu rified m e fro m th e stai n s which re mai n ed
i n m e whethe r from a ffecti on to earth ly th i n gs o r
,

from love of m ysel f an d c rea t ures towar d s wh ich I

was n a t u ral ly m uch i ncl i n ed A t t he sam e ti m e
.

H e stri pped m e of all an d havi n g em pti ed m y

,

h eart an d l eft m y sou l as i t w ere n aked H e ,

e n ki n dled i n i t s o arden t a desi re O f lovi n g H i m

an d of su fferi n g for H i m tha t H e gave m e n o rest ,

pu rsui n g m e s o closely that I had n o ti m e to th i n k

O f an yth i n g b ut of how I m igh t p rove m y l ove by
c ruci fyi n g m ysel f ; and H i s good n ess to m e has
been so great that H e has n eve r fai led to fu rn ish
”
m e wi t h th e m ean s O f d oi n g thi s .

M argaret laid O pe n h er heart with e n ti re

si m pl icity to her S u periors an d th is togeth e r wi t h
, ,

her fidel i ty i n obeyi n g them w a s the m ost sol id

,

p roof that s h e w a s n ot d el uded by t he d evi l o r her

own i magi n atio n i n he r sp i ritual li fe O n o n e .

occasion h owever her desi re fo r su fferi n g led he r

,

t o m ake u p h er m i nd to con t i n ue a penan ce for a

lo n ge r ti m e than that for wh ich s h e had perm ission .

S t F ra n cis o f Sal es reproved her severely fo r t h i s

“ ” “
fau lt . W hat m y daughter he said
,
d o yo u
, ,

th i n k t o pl ease God by passi n g the l i m its Of

obedi en ce ? R em em ber tha t o bed ien ce a n d n o t ,

au s t erities i s the fou ndation an d sup port o f the

,
”
Con gregation These word s remai n ed d eepl y
.

e n graved i n th e h eart Of th e pos t ulan t .

Aft er th ree m on ths trial M argaret was ad m i tted

’

to rece ive the holy ha b i t o f rel igion o n 2 5 t h A ugust

3 2 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

wh ich fa u lt would lead he r astray i f she d id n o t

correct i t Th en Ch rist gen tly reproached her
.

I f I would have thee i n M y p rese nce d eaf bl i n d , ,

an d d u m b oughtest thou n ot to be con t e n t ?

,

Th e M istress o f N ovices d esi red Sis t e r M argaret

M ary to follow the u sual m ethod of prayer t augh t
i n the n oviciate The n ovice d i d her best but i n
.
,

s p ite o f every e ffort s h e always retu rn ed to t hat

taugh t her by her D i vi n e M aster At th i s M o t h er .

T h o u v a n t was alarm ed th i n ki n g that such ways

,

were con trary to th e spi r i t of t he O rde r S he .

con sul t ed t he S upe rior an d t ogethe r they decided

,

to test S i ster M argare t M ary by plac i n g her as

assis t an t t o an o t her S iste r i n on e o f the busiest
O ffices o f the hou se Th is S ister had ord ers t o
.

m ake the n ovi ce work i ncessan tly especially d u ri n g ,

the hours O f prayer S is t e r M argare t M ary obeyed

.

“ ”
i n al l si m pl ici t y
-
Afte r th i s s h e writes
.
“
on
, ,

my goi n g to ask m y M i s t ress for perm ission t o

resum e m y praye r sh e d ism issed m e harsh ly ,

tel l i n g m e tha t I m ad e my prayer i n d oi n g t he

work of the N oviceshi p Th is I d ischarged
.

wi t hout its bei n g able t o di stract m e from the

sweet j oy an d con solation wh ich m y sou l enj oyed
an d wh ich i ncreased every d ay I was ord ered .
,

after heari n g the poi n ts Of t h e m orn i n g m ed i t a t ion ,

to g o an d sweep t h e por t ion o f t he ho u se assi gn ed

to my care u n ti l Prim e ; aft er wh ich t h ey told m e
,

to g ive an accou n t o f m y prayer o r rathe r Of t ha t ,

wh ich m y Sove reign M aster m ade i n m e I n al l .

th i s as I had n o other desi re bu t t o Obey I fel t

, ,
”
an extre m e pleasu re whatever I s u ffered Sh e .

used t o express her j o y i n rhym es which i f n o t ,

of great m erit at least have a charm of thei r o w n

,

P l u s l o n c o n t re d i t m o n a m o u r
’

P l u s c e t u n i q u e b i e n m e n fla m m e
’
.

Q u e l
’
o n m
’
a ffl i g e n u 1t e t j o u r,
 N O V I CESH I P '

33

O n n e p e u t l o t e r a m o m am e .

O u i , p l u s j e s o u fi re d e d o u l e u r,
’

P l u s m on D ieu s u n i t 2
’
1 m o n occ u r .

I t w a s n ot on ly with regard to he r prayer that

S is t er M argaret M ary had to suffer She had .

t rials i n m any other ways The spi rit Of prayer .

i s closely al l ied t o the desi re an d prac t ice of

m o rt i fi ca t i o n O u r Lord con ti n ual ly u rged her
.

t o a s k fo r those hu m i l iation s wh ich o wi n g to her , ,

“
na t ural dispositi o n S he felt m ost keen ly ,
Though .

I w a s refused th o se wh ich I asked for s h e says , ,

I received o t hers which I d id n ot expec t an d ,

wh ich were s o Opposed t o my o w n i n cl i nati on that

I was forced to s a y to my good M as t er DO ,
‘

Thou O L o rd com e t o m y assistance ; for Thou

, ,

ar t t he cause o f m y t rouble H e d id s o an d .
’

said t o m e A ckn owledge t hen t hat t hou can s t

,
‘

do n oth i n g wi t hout m e M y assistan ce shal l .

n ever be wan ti n g to t hee p rovided that t h o u dost

always keep thy o w n weakn ess and n othi ngn ess
bu ried i n M y streng t h .
’

S i s t e r M argare t M ary had i n com m on wi th al l ,

her fam ily a very stron g repugnan ce to every k i nd

,

of cheese s o m uch s o that her brother before

,
.

S ign i n g th e con tract for he r dowry had laid down ,

as a c o n diti o n t hat she should n ever be o bl iged t o

ea t i t Th is w a s prom ised as t he t hi n g w a s i n
.
,

i t s e l f a matter O f i n d i fferen ce O n e day ei t her by .

,

acciden t o r by design i n order to try her vi rtue ,

s o me cheese w a s placed before her as before the

others The N ovice M i s t ress desi r ed he r t o eat it
. .

Perhaps O u r Lord wished t o t est the s t re n gth Of

her love for H i m for H e al lowed her t o feel the
,

ful l force O f he r n atu ral an t ipathy H o w stron g .

th is d isli ke was w e may j udge from her words

,

O n the o n e hand i t seem ed t o m e that t h e,

sacrifice of m y l i fe would have been a thousand

C
34 B L E SSED M A R GA R E T M . A LA C O QU E

ti m es easier than to do th is an d had I n o t ,

cherished m y vocatio n m ore dearly th an m y l ife I ,

wo uld ra t her have aban don ed i t than make u p m y .

m i n d to do what was requi red o f m e O n th e .

othe r han d I felt that m y Sove reign Lord wi shed

for th is sacrifice from m e fo r o n i t d epe n ded s o
,

m an y othe rs The struggle we n t o n for t h ree

.

days S iste r M argaret M ary tried t o d o as s h e had

.

been told but agai n a n d agai n her cou rage fail ed

, ,
“
a n d i n the greatest d istress s h e sai d : Would
that I m ight rathe r l ose m y l ife than fai l i n
Obed ie n ce At thi s M oth er T h o u v a n t sen t he r
.

away tel l i n g he r that s h e was n ot worthy to

,

p ractise such a n act o f vi rtue an d forbidd i n g he r,

n ow to do what she h ad bee n ordered Th is was .

“
en o u gh f o r M argaret wh o exclai m ed :
, I m ust
either con qu er or d ie Sh e turn ed i n h er t roub l e to
.

her D ivi n e S pouse an d kn eel i n g before the B lessed

,

Sacrame n t s h e poured forth her heart to H i m ,

”
beggi n g H i m to hel p he r M y God s h e cried
.
, ,
“
hast Thou forsake n m e ? M ust there be an y
reserve i n m y sacri fic e ? S hal l I n o t be con
”
s u med as an e n ti re h olocaust ? Th us s h e kn el t
an d prayed for th ree o r fou r hou rs B ut O u r L o rd .

wished to tes t th e fidel i ty Of he r love an d as H e ,

afte rw ards told he r H e took pleasu re i n seei n g

d ivi n e l ove co m bat i n H is u n worthy slave agai ns t
the rep u gn an ce Of n atu re Love tri u m phed
. .

S i ster M argaret Mary we n t to h er M istress sayi n g ,

“
to hersel f : Th ere m ust be n o reserve i n love ,

an d agai n obta i n ed perm ission to perform he r a c t

of obed ie n ce Th is ti m e s h e accom pl i shed it bu t
.
,

n ot wi t hout great sickn ess an d pai n which recurred ,

every ti m e sh e took cheese S he persevered i n .

taki n g it h oweve r for e ight years aft e r which ti m e

, , ,

h er S uperiors had com p assion o n her an d forbad e

her to ta ke i t .
 N O V ICESH I P 35
'
Th is s acrifice w a s fol lowed by such overflowi n g
sp i ritual sweetn ess and grace th at s h e w a s often
“
obl i ged to exclai m : S t op O my G o d t hes e , ,

torren t s wh ich overwhel m m e o r give m e greate r ,

”
stren gth t o su pport them F u rther o n s h e wri t e s
.

I om it t o m e n t ion h ere all the pr o fusi on o f divi n e

l ove with wh ich I w a s vi sited f o r i t was s o great ,
”
tha t I could n ot express it .

We have see n how natu ral ly affection ate S ister

“

M argaret M ary w a s : th i s led t o an other s t ruggle .

Som e m on th s Of her Novicesh i p were n o w passed ,

and stil l s h e had n o t bee n abl e to overcom e a

particular attach m e n t to on e O f the S isters Th is .

w a s a great Obstacle t o th e graces O ur Lord wished

to bes t ow o n h er H e reproved he r for i t several
.

ti m es but s h e d id n o t en ti rely correct her faul t

,
.

O n e even i n g at p rayer H e reproached h er sayi n g ,

that H e did n o t wi sh for a d ivided heart an d t hat ,

if s h e d id n ot withd raw from c reatures H e would ,

withd raw from he r She fel t t h is rep roach s o

.

keen ly that s h e resolved t o sever the attach m en t

com pletel y an d begged O ur Lord t o give her the
,

powe r o f lovi n g H i m alon e O u r D i vi n e Mas t e r .

S howed he r her weakn ess and taugh t her that s h e

was t o derive al l he r stren gth from H is Sacred
H eart an d thu s i nstruc t ed she was bet t er able to
, , ,

lead othe rs t o g o t o t hat D ivi n e H eart as th e

sou rce o f l i fe a n d hol i n ess .

O n another occasi o n when s h e felt great d i ffi

,

cul t y i n subm itti n g herself J esus sh o wed her H i s

,

Sacred Body covered wi t h wou nds and rep roached ,

“
he r with her i n gratitude and coward ice What .

”
w o uldst Thou have m e d o O m y G o d ? sh e said , ,
“ ”
m y wil l i s str o n ger than mysel f " O u r Lord
told h er t o e n close it i n the woun d of H is sacred
S ide an d that the n s h e would n o l on ge r feel the
,
“
d i ffi culty . Place i t therei n Thysel f O my ,
36 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

“
Saviou r s h e repl ied an d bi n d it the re s o securely
, ,
”
that it m ay n eve r m ore escape from then ce .

Toward s th e cl ose o f her N ovicesh i p O u r Lord

began t o prepare S is t er M argaret M ary fo r the
work for wh ich H e had desti n ed her t hat o f ,

maki n g reparatio n for others O n e day whi lst .

maki n g he r than ksgivi n g aft er H oly Com m u n ion

with the desi re Of d oi n g som ethi n g for God O u r ,

Lord asked her i n teriorly i f she woul d n o t be

con te n t to su ffer al l the pai n s which s i n n ers
d eserved i n orde r that H e m igh t be gl orified i n al l
“ ”
t hose soul s U pon th is I Offered H i m
. S he ,

says ,
m y soul a nd m y whol e bei n g i n sacri fic e to
d o H i s D ivi n e W i ll Eve n i f th e pai n we re to last
.

u n ti l the D ay O f J udgm en t I should be con te n t ,

”
p rovid ed that H e was glorified .

S hortly afterward s whe n s h e was beggi n g Go d

,

o n e even i n g to tel l h er what m ean s S he had o f

sati sfyi n g h er desi re to l o ve H i m H e gave her to ,

u nders ta n d that she could gi ve n o better testi m o n y

o f he r love t han by lovi n g her n eighbour for H is

sake H e taugh t h er how to work for the salvatio n

.

of si n n ers and fo r that Of h er S isters although sh e ,

hersel f was the m ost m i se rabl e o f al l and showed ,

h er how to forget h er own i n terests fo r thei rs as far

as possible As she d id n o t u n de rstan d O u r
.

Lord s m ean i n g H e expl ai n ed to her that what

’

H e desi red was the re establ ish m en t of charity i n

-

al l hearts for by fai l i n g i n thi s vi rtue peopl e

, ,

separated them selves from H i m Who i s Love .

H e made her s e e that n o t on ly person s l ivi n g i n

th e world bu t rel igious al so d id n ot fear to wou n d
,

chari ty that d ivi n e vi rtue wh ich spri n gs d i rectly

,
“
from the H eart O f G o d H i m sel f H e added : . It
i s these m embers al ready hal f corrupted an d ready
-

to be cut O ff wh ich cause M e such pai n They .

w o u ld eve n n ow have received thei r p u n i shm e n t

 N O V ICESH I P 37

had it n o t been for thei r devotion to M y holy

M other w h o appeases M y offended j ustice wh ich
, ,

can on ly be satisfied by the sacrifice o f a victi m .

S ister M argaret M ary w a s deeply touched by these

“ ”
words . I would glad ly sh e says ,
have ,

accepted every ki nd Of torm e nt eve n the pai n s O f ,

P urgatory to th e Last Day i n orde r to satisfy H is

,
” “ ”
good n ess M ake kn own to m e my God s h e
.
, ,
“
prayed make kn own to m e what it i s that has
, ,
”
offen ded Thy j usti ce The n O ur Lord told h er it
.

w a s si n s wh ich were h idden from the eyes o f

creatu res but wh ich could n ot be h idden from
,

Him . H e gave her to u nders tan d aft erwards that

H e w a s pleased with the effor t s S uperiors took to
re establ ish charity i n thei r Com m u n iti es an d t hat
-
,

th is should n ot go u n rewarded but that i f the re ,

were n o am end m e n t H e would withdraw H i s m ercy

and leave H i s j ustice to act because charity i s th e
,

charac t e r an d true spi rit O f t h e daugh t ers of Sai n t

Fran ci s o f Sales I t t hen seemed t o her that her
.

Holy Fou n der en cou raged her to u ndertake th i s

work o f charity by h im sel f tel l i n g O u r Lord that
,

he would wish to do pen ance t il l th e D ay Of

J udgm en t fo r hi s daughters .

’
The ti m e O f S ister M argaret M ary s Novicesh i p
w a s n ow d rawi n g t o a close D eeper an d deeper
.

rew h er spi rit O f p ra y e r m o rt i fi ca t i o n an d h um il ity

Sh e becam e absorbed i n th e p resence o f Go d with
.
, ,

out an y sen t i m e n t o r affection but that O f lovi n g

H i m and des i ri n g t o su ff er fo r H is sake Th e .

aspi ration s s h e used show u s a l ittl e O f th e disposi

“
tion s O f he r soul I t i s en ough for m e m y
.
,

B eloved t o be as Thou desi rest

,
A n d agai n .

O h h ow be auti ful is the Beloved O f m y soul "

,
”
Why can n ot I love H i m ?
Al l her d el ight was i n th i s u n ion with God .

” “
Th ere w a s n o t i m e s h e says ,
m ore agreeable ,
38 B L ESS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

to m e than th e n igh t because it w a s th e ti m e best

,

s uited for m e t o co nve rse with my B eloved I there .

fore begged m y A n gel to awake n m e som eti m es .

O n these occas ion s I felt m y heart whol ly fil led wi t h

G od Whose con verse w a s s o swee t to m e t ha t I
,

oft e n passed th ree hours without an y othe r sen ti

m en ts than those of love an d without i t s bei n g i n
,

m y powe r to fal l asleep agai n I could n o t res t o n

.

m y left sid e bei n g u n able to b reathe i n that position

, .

O n ce wh e n I wished to tu rn to rel ieve t he pai n i n

m y shou lde r O u r Lord told m e that wh i lst carryi n g
,

H i s Cross H e d id n o t chan ge i t fro m side to sid e t o

obtai n rel i ef B y th i s I u nderstood t hat H e wish ed
.

m e to gi ve u p al l seeki n g o f com fort .

A s the date for S is t er M argaret M a ry s P rofession ’

d rew n ear her Su periors redoubl ed her trial s i n

,

o rder to p ut h er to th e proof T hey tested h e r .

pri nci p al ly to see if h er Obed ien ce was absol ute an d

her h u m i l i ty real an d con s ta n t They tol d he r .

agai n a n d plai n ly that they d id n ot co nsider h er

fitted fo r thei r O rder o n accou n t of th e ex t raord i nary
ways i n wh ich sh e was led Thi s was very pai n ful
.

t o h er an d as u sual s h e carried he r trouble to O u r

, , ,

D iv i n e Lord sayi n g to H i m ten derly

,
M y L ord ,

wilt Thou the n be Thysel f the cause o f m y bei n g

“
se n t away ? H e repl ied Tel l thy S uperi or that
she has n o thi n g to fear i n receivi n g thee ; that I
wi l l an swer for t hee an d be thy guaran tee The .

n ovice we n t q uite si m pl y to M othe r de S a u m a i s e ,

wh o h ad succeed ed M oth er H ersan t as S uperior Of

th e Co m m u n i ty an d t old her O f O u r Lord s words
,
’
.

“ ” “
Wel l t he n was t he an swer
, ask O u r Lord as,

a proof O f H i s W i l l to make you useful t o th e

”
Com m u n ity by t he exact observa nce O f th e R u le .

S i ste r M argaret M ary repeated th is to O u r Lord ,

W ho an swered M y ch i ld I gran t it to t hee I

,
.

wi l l m ake thee m ore useful to th e O rder than they

40 B LESS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

th e e nclos u re adj oi n i n g th e con ven t kitch e n garde n

they kept an ass and her foal an d the n ovices were
,

told to see that the an im als d id n ot stray i n to the

garde n .S ister M argaret M ary con sidered th is
com man d as add ressed to herself person al ly and ,

n eve r failed to be at h e r post except whe n e n gaged

i n the choi r Th i s o cc u p a t i o n g a v e her pl en ty o f
‘

exe rcise f o r the an i m als were con stan tly strayin g

,

away i f s h e relaxed he r atte n tion for ever s o short

a ti m e Th e day for S i ste r M argaret M ary to begi n
.

he r P rofessi on retreat arrived and still sh e though t

, ,

as sh e recei ved n o i n structi on s to the co n t rary ,

that she ou ght n ot to rel i n q u ish her charge H er .

S uperi ors i n ad m i ratio n at he r con stan t u n i on with

,

G o d an d wish i n g to s e e h o w far he r Obed ien ce

,
“ ”
would go said n othi n g ,
I felt s o happy S he
.
,

says , i n th i s em pl oy m e n t that I should n ot have

cared i f i t had lasted al l my l i fe There i s an oral
.

trad ition i n the conve n t at Paray that o n e day

whe n sh e w as goi n g t o break i n upon her con verse
with O u r Lord i n orde r to l ook afte r the an i mals ,
“
H e said to her : L eave the m alon e they wi l l d o ,
”
n o harm an d though they were see n by th e C o m
,

m u n ity l oose am on g the vegetables upon exam i n a ,

ti on o f th e grou n d i t was i m possi bl e to fi n d an y

trace o f thei r foots t eps .

O n the secon d day O f h er retrea t S is t er M argaret

,

M ary was rel eased fro m he r occupation an d told

by h er S uperi ors t o give an accou n t i n writi n g Of
th e graces she had received W h i le thus e m pl oyed .

Th is i s what she wrote M y D ivi n e M aste r

kept m e com pany s o faith ful ly that though ru n n i n g
,

about con ti n ual ly I n eve r los t H i s presen ce I .

received greate r l ights at th i s ti m e than I had ever

had before particularly regard i n g H is Sacred
,
”
Passi on an d D eath ( The
. cl uste r Of fi l b e rt trees ,
’
the scen e o f O u r Lord s appari tion o n thi s occasion
 N O V ICESH I P 41

to B lessed M argaret Mary i s stil l show n to pi l

,

gri m s i n the con ve n t garden at Paray l e M on ial ) - -

.

“
I t would take m e t oo lon g t o write al l I wil l .

on ly s a y that th is has given m e s o great a l ove

fo r t he Cross that I can n ot l ive a m om en t with out
sufferi n g su f feri n g i n silen ce without con solation
, ,

o r rel ief an d without com passion from anybody .

Happy should I be if I could d ie wi th the God

o f m y soul crushed ben ea t h the c ross of i n sult
, ,
”
h um i l iati o n sorrow an d contem p t
, , .

O n Al l S oul s Day 1 6 7 2 four days before her

’

P rofession S ister M argare t Mary w h o w a s o c c u

, ,

pied i n th i n ki n g over al l he r i n fi d e l i t i e s to grace

‘ ,

offered hersel f to G o d as a holocaust o f sorrow an d

expiation O u r Lord accepted her sacrifice an d
.

said to h er R em em ber it i s a crucified God thou

w i s h e s t t o espouse ; for th is reason thou m ust
con form t hysel f to H i m i n bidd i n g ad ieu to all the
pl easures o f l ife ; from hencefor t h t here wi ll be
n on e for th ee wh ich wi l l n ot be overshado w ed by
m y Cr o ss . He the n placed before her eyes H i s
H oly H u m an i t y a ttached t o the Cross for th e salva
tion Of m en an d H e desi red her to attach hersel f
,

from that ti me t o th e Cross wh ich H e had prepared

“
for her . I t wi l l be s o pai n ful H e added , tha t ,

i f thou wert n o t supported by M y all powerful arm -

,
”
i t would be i m possi bl e for thee n ot to give w a y .

The S e rvan t Of G o d passed t he whol e o f her

retreat i n closest un ion wi t h O ur D ivi n e Lord .

H e r p rayer w a s con t i n ual Whe n s h e rose from

.

he r kn ees i n the chapel afte r the usual ti me fo r

“
praye r w a s over she used to s a y :
,
M y Go d ,

i n s t ead o f than ksgivi n g for al l the ben efits Thou

has t c o n ferred u pon m e i n stead o f p rayers i n stead
, ,

of o fferi ngs i n stead o f adora t ion an d resol u t i on s

, ,

I Offer Thee Thy wel l beloved S o n I Offer H i m t o

-
,

Thee a s m y Love an d m y Al l R eceive H i m ‘

.
,
4 2 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A CO OU E

Etern al Fath er to supply al l my d efici en cies an d

,

whatever Thou desi rest of m e si n ce I have n oth i n g ,

to o ffer Thee wh ich i s n ot u n worthy o f Thee ex ,

c e p t i n g J esus my Savi ou r O f whom Thou givest ,

”
m e th e possession an d e nj oym en t .

O u r B lessed L ord H i m sel f d ictated to he r th e

resol ution H e wi shed h er to make at th i s ti m e .

Th is i s th e accou n t s h e gives Of th i s favou r .

A fte r havi n g recei ved m y B el oved i n H oly C o m

m u n io n H e said t o m e
, B ehol d th e Wou n d i n
,
‘

M y S ide wherei n thou art to dwel l n ow an d for

eve r ; i t i s there t hou wi lt be able to p reserve th e
robe o f i n n oce n ce with whi ch I have clothed thy
soul so that t hou m ayest l ive he nceforth th e l i fe
,

O f the M an God L ive a s n o l on ger l iv i n g i n

-
.
,

ord e r that I m ay l ive perfectly i n thee Th i n k o f .

thy body an d al l that m ay happe n to i t n o m ore

than i f i t n o l on ge r exi sted A ct as i f t hou d idst .

n o l on ge r act but I al o ne i n thee F o r th is al l .

,

thy powers an d thy sen ses m ust be bu ried I n M e ,

that thou m ayest b e d eaf bl i n d an d d u m b to al l

'

th e th i n gs o f earth Thou m ust wi l l as though

.

th ou hadst n o l on ger an y wi l l of thi n e o w n with ,

out desi re p rivate j ud gme n t affection o r any w ish

, ,

save that O f M y good pl easu re wh ich m ust be al l

thy del ight Seek n oth i n g o u t o f M e i f thou dost
.

n ot wish to i n su l t M y power a n d to O ffe nd M e ,

si n ce I wish to be everyth i n g to thee B e ever .

ready to receive M e I shal l always be ready t o

give M yself to th ee because thou wi l t Oft en be
,

d el ivered u p to th e fu ry Of th i n e en em ies but fear

n oth i n g I wil l s urrou n d t hee with M y power an d
,

be M ysel f the reward Of thy victori es B e care .

ful n eve r to th i n k o f thyself but i n M e Let thy .

“
m otto be T O l ove an d to su ffer bl i nd ly One .

o n ly h eart o n e on ly l ove Go d al on e
, ,
.
’

When S ister M argaret M ary had written this ,

 N O V ICESH I P 43

sh e added i n he r o w n blood I a poor m iserable

,

n oth i n g p rotes t t o my God tha t I wil l Offer an d

,

sacri fice myself to al l t hat H e asks o f m e Offeri n g

,

m y h eart whol ly to the accom pl i sh m en t o f H i s

Wi l l without an y other desi re than that o f H i s
greater glory an d H i s p u re love t o wh i ch I co n
,

secrate an d give my whole be i n g and every m om en t

o f my l ife I belon g fo r ever to m y B eloved as
.
,

H i s slave H is han dmaid H i s creature si n ce H e

, , ,

i s everyth i n g to m e and I am H i s u nworthy spouse ,

S iste r M argaret M ary from hen ceforth dead to t he

,

world Al l from Go d an d n oth i n g from mysel f

. .

Al l i n God an d n othi n g i n myself Al l for God

.

”
an d n oth i n g for myself .

Thus p repared by the D ivi n e M aste r o f al l

,

h ea rts Sister M argaret M ary made her P rofessio n

,
.
 C H A PTE R V

PRO FES SIO N AN D FI R S T Y EA R S OF R EL I G I O U S L I F E

( 16 7 2 - 16 7 3 )
S I S TE R M A R GA R ET M A R Y m ad e her Vows on the
”
6 t h o f N ovem ber 16 7 2 O n th i s d ay S he says
.
, ,

m y D ivi n e Lord received m e as H i s spouse i n a

m an n er I am u n abl e to express I wi l l on ly s a y.

that H e treated m e as a spouse of Thabor Y et I .

fel t t h is harder than death seei n g i n m ysel f n o

,

resem blan ce to my Spouse Whom I beh eld al l ,

d isfigu red a n d torn o n Cal vary B ut H e sai d to .

m e Leave M e to d o everyth i n g i n its own ti m e

,
‘
.

At p resen t I woul d have thee give n up to M y l ove ,

bl i n d ly an d wi thout resistan ce al lowi n g M e to do,

M y W i ll at th y expe n se B ut thou wi l t lose n o

.

th i n g thereby .The n O ur Lord p rom i sed n eve r

to leave h er . B e eve r ready to receive M e for I ,

wi l l dwel l with thee an d con verse an d e n ter t ai n

M ysel f with thee .

Sti l l th e ve ry day of the P rofession d id n o t pass

,

without th e S hadow o f th e Cross for s h e wri t es ,

E ver si n ce I have had th e happi n ess o f bei n g th e

spouse O f a C ru c i fi e d God I n ever rem e m ber t o
,

have bee n without the l ivery of th e Cross wh ich I

s o love begi n n i n g with the day of m y P rofessio n
, ,

o n wh ich I received a cross wh ich I fel t d eeply

accord i n g to n ature but I d eclare that I can n ever

,
”
su fficie n tly ad m i re t h e good n ess o f G o d .

F rom th i s t i m e O u r Lord al lowed S i ster M ar

garet M ary to e nj oy H i s d ivi n e p resen ce con ti n u
44
 PR O FESS I O N AND F I R ST YE A R S 45

al ly i n a man n er s h e had n ever before experi enced .

Sh e s a w H i m with the eyes o f her soul ; s h e felt

“
H i m as i t were n ear her I kn ew H i m m uch
.

better than i f I had seen an d felt H i m with my

corporal sen ses for they would have been d i s
,

t rac t ed and woul d have diver ted m e from that

p resen ce b ut the exterior sen ses d id n ot d istract
,

m e from th is i n terior sight wh ich occupied my

”
soul . Th i s D ivi n e Presence produced i n her an
ever growi n g reveren ce for the al l holy God an d a
- -
,

profou nd feel i n g Of i n terior an n ihi lation She .

would have wished to be con ti n ual ly o n her kn ees

or prostrate o n her face before her D ivi n e S pouse ,

a nd when al on e s h e was always as far as possi ble , ,

i n o n e o r other Of these position s The sen se o f .

God s hol i n ess made her apply herself i n cessan tly t o

’

the d iscovery an d correction Of al l her weakn esses ,

faults and i n fi d e l i t i e s She wished s m c e re l y to

.

be despi s e d an d h um bled and was delighted when

,

any o n e sp o ke agai n st her O ur Lord took pleasure

.

“
i n seei n g her th us She says : . H e n o lon ger
al lowed m e to fi n d any pleasu re amon g creatures ,

except i n occasion s Of h u m i l iation contrad iction ,

an d abj ecti o n H e wished th i s to be m y m ost

.

del ightful fo od an d H e has n ever allowed m e t o

,

be without i t H e suppl ied m e with it H i msel f

.

when I fail ed to receive i t from creatures ; and

whe n H e d id so it w a s i n a w a y I fel t much m ore
,
” “
keen ly . I n an other place she wri t es :
,
Si n ce
O u r Lord has con ferred upon m e th e grace Of
con stan tly e nj oyi n g H i s P resen ce I have been ,

i nd i fferen t t o every arran gemen t wh ich m igh t be

made concern i n g m e I f e l t persuaded that si nce
.

God had given H i m self to m e th rough the eff ect Of

H is good n ess an d that without an y m erit on my
,

part n oth i n g could take H i m from m e I t was

,
.

”
th is though t t hat m ade m e hap p y whereve r I was .
46 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

H ere the n we have th e secret Of S iste r M argaret

, ,

M ary s stren gth a nd the sou rce o f al l h er j oy i n

’

s u fferi n g .

M other M F ran ces d e S a u m a i s e of the V i sita

.
,

tion o f D ij on had bee n elec t ed S uperio r o f Paray

,

i n the August o f 16 7 2 D uri n g the whol e o f S ister

.

M argaret M ary s rel igious l ife s h e w a s govern ed

’

by S uperiors taken from d i fferen t hou ses o f the

— —
O rder fi e i n al l an d each o n e tested i n a d i f
v

f e re n t m an n e r t he extraordi nary ways i n which

s h e was led by Go d I n the e n d they were al l
.

u n an i m ous i n t he h igh testi m on y t hey ren dered t o

her heroi c V i rtue S iste r M argaret M ary gave her
.

con fide nce at on ce to M other d e S a u m a i s e w h o ,

respo nded by bestowi n g on her a t ruly matern al

a ffection but o n e wh ich d id n ot hesita t e to p rove
,

and t ry he r i n eve ry possi bl e w a y Co n vi n ced of .

the d eep love for O u r Lo rd which t he you n g

rel igi ous had M o t he r de S a u m a i s e gave he r a m ple
,

opportu n ity o f sa t isfyi n g th is love by givi n g h er

occasio n s o f su ffe ri n g i n i m itatio n Of an d I n u n i on
,

with H i m Th e Com m u n ity of Paray bear w i tn ess

.

to th e fideli ty with wh ich S ister M argaret M ary

corresponded t o th e graces she received They .

tel l u s tha t s h e w a s especial ly d isti n gu ished by her

obed ie n ce si l ence seve ri ty toward s hersel f si m pl i
, , ,

city an d rel igious poverty wh ich led h er i n S pi te , ,

o f he r del ica t e health to con fo rm to the rule I n al l

,

th i n gs without com plai n i n g O f any t hi n g whatever .

N o w that s h e was p r o fessed S ister M argaret ,

M ary was em ployed accord i n g to custom i n the , ,

d i ffere n t O ffices o f th e house D uri ng the eighteen .

years o f h e r rel igious l i fe s h e passed t h rough m o st

o f the em ploy m en ts wh ich are usual i n con ven ts .

We shal l s e e how sh e was at on e ti m e Assi stan t to

the I n fi rm a ri a n at an other D ispen s e r twice for a
,

con sid erabl e pe riod s h e had charge of th e ch ild ren

4 8 BL ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

go to the garde n for a few m i n utes to get som e

fresh ai r an d would the n return t o her pl ace
,

am on gs t he r S isters as cal m ly as i f s h e had n ever

suffered an y pai n Th is was t h e on ly rel ief s h e
.

all owed hersel f I t w a s wh i le sh e was em pl oyed

.

i n t h e i n fi rm a ri e s tha t the fol lowi n g i nciden t

occu rred o f wh ich sh e writes Fi n d i n g myself
en gaged i n an em ploym en t which Often d epri ved
m e o f lei su re to m ed itate with the Com m u n ity a ,

feel i n g of d iscon ten t arose i n my m i n d on e Easte r

S u nday I was i m m ediately reproved by m y
.

D ivi n e M aste r Who said : , K n ow that the ‘

p raye r Of subm issi on an d o f sac rifice i s m ore

agreeabl e to M e tha n contem plation an d every
o t he r ki n d Of m e d ita t ion however h oly i t may
,

appear .Th i s i m pressed o n m y sou l s o deep

a feel i n g O f peace that fro m that t i m e I have
n eve r bee n troubled i n th e least by anyth i n g m y
S uperiors exacted from m e .

At an other period S iste r M argaret M ary w a s

e m ployed as D ispe n ser She s e t apart for hersel f
.
'

portion s of food wh ich she would n o t have thought

o f Offeri n g to an y on e else When she had the.

opportu n ity s h e always took the worst Of eve ry

“
th i n g
. I t i s n ot to be tr u ly poor sh e said , ,
“
to make a v o w of poverty and yet to wan t for ,
”
n ot h i n g I t was su rp risi n g to s e e t he am ou n t of
.

w ork s h e got th rough for besides accom pl ish i n g

,

al l her own d uties she was always ready to hel p

,

others and m ight ofte n be see n hel pi n g th e Lay

,

S isters to wash the clo t hes to carry w o od o r wash,

the d ishes an d t h is s h e con ti n ued eve n whe n s h e

,

becam e Assistan t .

Siste r M argare t M ary was twice given charge

o f the ch i ld re n who were bei n g ed ucated at the
con ve n t S he h eld the O ffice Of M istress Of the
.

School first i n 16 7 2 for a period Of about two

, ,
 PR O FE SS I O N AN D F I R ST YEA R S 49

years a nd w a s reappoi n ted i n the autu m n O f 16 79

, .

I t was an e m ploym en t t o wh ich s h e had an ex

trem e repugn ance havi ng n o n atural aptitude for
,

d eal i n g wi t h ch i ldren b u t s h e succeeded s o wel l i n

,

h id i n g th is that the C hi ld ren loved he r exceedi ngly

, .

Several o f t hem w h o aft erwards becam e rel ig i ous

,

ei t her a t t he Visita t ion at Paray or a t the U rsul i n e

Conven t i n t he sam e to wn have born e wi t n ess to ,

he r u n fail i n g good n ess to them and O f her heroic

V i rtue o n many occasion s He r on e idea w a s to .

gai n t he chi ldren s hear t s t o the love o f t he Sacred

’

H eart . She d id her utm ost t o i n sti l sol id

pri nci ples i n to t hei r m i n ds t oge t her wi t h a grea t ,

horror Of si n an d a d eep love of vi r t ue She Often .

told them that th ey ought rather to s u ffer any t hi ng

than com m i t a si n gl e s i n The chi ldren soon .

fou n d o u t t h e worth O f t hei r holy M istress w h o

easily pardon ed all fau lts excep t t hose o f falsehood
a n d particular a ttachm en ts both of wh ich sh e ,

pu n ished severely .

A t other periods o f her rel igious l i fe Sister

M argaret M ary w a s em pl oyed i n the refectory t h e ,

sacristy an d o t he r O ffi c es i n al l o f which the on ly

,

faul t those who worked with her could blam e her

for was that sh e i nvariably t ook al l t hat w a s m ost
troublesom e and m or t i fyi n g for herself I n deed .

her love Of m o rt i fi c a t i o n w a s s o great tha t i t som e

ti m es happen ed t hat she d id n o t wait un ti l she had
Ob t ai n ed he r S uperiors perm i ssio n before p ra c t i s
’

i n g som e penance H er D ivi n e Mas t er reproved

.

“
her severely f o r th is . Thou d e c e i v e s t thyself ,
“
H e said t o her ,
i n thi n ki ng t o please M e b y
t i i t h i ki n d f m o rt i fi ca t i o n chosen by sel f
p ra c s n g s O
'

wi ll wh ich would ra t her have the w il l o f S uperiors

,

be n d before i t t han ben d itsel f Kn o w t hat I .

,

rej ect al l such frui t s wh ich sel f l o ve h a s tu rn ed to -

r o t t en n ess fo r I a b h o r se l f w il l i n a rel igious I t is

,
- .

D
50 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

m ore pleasi n g t o M e that such a soul should

rem ai n a t ease an d rest th rough obed ience than
l oad itsel f wi th austerities an d fasts th rough self
”
wi l l
. O nce sh e had bee n told to take a d iscipl i n e
“ ”
for th e space Of an A ve M ari s Stel la Th e .

prayer bei n g fin i shed Si ster M argaret Mary w a s

,

about to con ti n ue the pen ance when O u r Lord

“
sai d : That w a s for M e but what you are n ow
,
” “ ”
abou t t o d o wi l l be for th e devil wh ich words
, ,

s h e adds nai vely soon made m e stop m y pe n an ce

, .

A n o t h er ti m e when s h e w a s doi n g a l i ke penan ce

,

f o r t he soul s i n P u rgatory with the sam e disregard

for exac t Obed i ence t he holy souls seemed t o
,

su rrou n d her com plai n i n g that S he i nj u red them

,

an d i n creased the i r sufferi n gs These lesson s

.

mad e s uch an i m p ression o n her that she resolved

n eve r agai n to swerve from the m ost exact
Obed ie nce Th e rem ai nder Of her l ife sho w s how
.

fa i thful ly she kept t h is prom ise .

A n oth er vi rtue to wh ich S iste r M argare t M ary

was stron gly at t ached was silen ce I t was m ore .

d i fli c u l t for h er to tu rn away from her con ti n ual

u n i on wi th God to tal k t o her Sisters than i t i s for
a d issi pated person to con trol h er ton gu e Al l .

were e d i fi e d by he r exact observan ce o f sil ence a t

a l l ti m es an d i n all pl aces prescribed by the R ule .

O n e n ever s a w h er com m it the sl igh t est faul t i n

th is respect Eve n d u ri n g the hours of recreation
.
,

though she w a s n ever taci tu rn or m elan choly o n e ,

could n o t h el p remarki n g h er at t racti on for si len ce ,

for S h e spoke l ittle u n less i ndeed the con versation

, ,

tu rn ed o n spi ri tual t h i n gs S he n ever tolerated

.

the l east word agai n s t charity I f som eth i n g O f

.

the sort was said i n her presen ce s h e d id al l s h e ,

could t o bri n g forward the good q u al i t i es o f o t hers ,

especially O f those w h o were i n any way o pposed

to h er B u t w i t h regard to th i s vi rtu e as al l to
.
,
 PR O FESS I O N AND F I R ST YE A R S 5 1

others s h e had n o great Opi n ion Of hersel f

,
”
F rom the grea t t al ker t hat I on ce w a s she says , ,

I am n ow become S O ign oran t tha t I kn ow n o t hi n g ,

an d can n o t t el l what t o say an d I am n o lon ger ,

“
able to l earn anyth i n g Yet s h e added
. I , ,

desi re t o learn nothi n g bu t J esus Ch ris t C ru c i fi e d .

M othe r de S a u m a i s e gives u s a t rue p i c t u re Of

what S ister M argaret M ary w a s i n t hese firs t years
after her P ro fe s s I O n when s h e says
, D uri n g t he
six years that I kn ew Sis t er M argare t M ary
A l a co q u e I c a n a ffi rm that I n eve r on ce remarked
,

that s h e fai led eve n for an i n stan t i n t he resol ution

s h e had take n on her P rofessi on day t o put n o ,

obstacl e to th e reign of G o d i n her hear t i n all ,

above al l an d before al l ; an d S he all o wed herself

n o m erely n atu ral pleasure either fo r her body or her
m i nd Th is fidel i t y drew down upon her abu ndan t
.

graces an d favou rs w hich led her t o a great desire

,

for al l ki nds o f sufferi n g and hu m i liation I m ay .

say without exaggeration t hat pleasure and hon ou r

could n o t be sought m ore eagerly by the m o s t
am bi t ious than sufferi n g w a s by her Crosses .

were a real j o y t o he r but sh e fel t them very,

”
keen ly .

Sis t er M argaret M ary s o w n words about suffer

’

“
i n g a t th i s ti m e were : I do n o t u nderstan d h o w
a spouse o f J esus Ch ri st C ru c i fi e d c a n fly from the
Cross an d n ot rath e r love i t ; for i n flyi n g from i t
, ,

s h e fl ies at the sam e ti m e from H i m Who bore i t

, ,

fo r love of u s an d regarded i t as t he Obj ect of H is

del ight We can l ove H i m on ly so far as w e love
.

th e Cross .

I t i s certai n however that t h e first year o f her

, ,

P r o fession w a s a year o f con solation ra t her than

of sufferi n g B ut the graces she received were
.

n ot on ly f o r hersel f H er m ission towards others

.

was t o be acc o m pl ished by sufferi n g O u r Lord .

 52 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L AC O QU E

prepared her for th i s by al lowi n g h er to s e e i n

H i mself a twofold sa ncti t y : O f love an d O f j us t ice .

Bo t h we re rigorous i n the i r charac t er an d bo t h

were to exerc i se con ti n ual i n fl uen ce u pon her .

The firs t would make he r suffe r a ki n d Of pu rgatory

m ost pai n fu l to bear i n order to rel i eve th e H o ly
,
'

Soul s w h o would be al lowed t o a d d re s s themselves

to he r i n thei r n eed The sec o n d that i u s t i c e
.
, ,

s o terri bl e t o s i n n ers she was t o fee l t h e weigh t O f

, ,
”
i n exp iation fo r s i n P a rt i c u l a rl y
. s a i d O u r Lord
, ,
“
f o r the si n s O f those con secrated to M e I wi l l .

make thee feel h e reafter what thou mos t su ffer for

”
M y l ove i n t h is matte r A l l t hi s S iste r M argaret
.

M ary m ade kn own to he r S uperi o r wi t h t he utm os t

S i m pl ici t y M other d e S a u m a i s e told her to t h i n k
.

n o m ore about th e fav o u rs This w a s a n ew

.

sou rce o f su fferi n g for S ister M argaret M ary l oved

,

obedien ce an d had bee n t old by O u r Lord t o prefer

it before everyth i n g eve n before that wh i c h H e
,

H i m self had t augh t her but the com m u n icati on s

,

she recei ved a t tracted her soul so p o werfu l ly to

G o d tha t i t see med to her i mpossi bl e t o resi st
“ ” “
them . O m y on ly Love s h e prayed
,
why ,

wi l t Thou n o t leave m e t o th e com m on l ife o f t he

Daugh t ers O f M ary ? H ast Th o u brough t m e here
that I m ay be l ost ? G ive Thy precious graces to
those chose n soul s w h o wil l correspon d wi t h t hem
an d glorify Thee better than I for I can on ly resis t ,

Thee an d am com pel led t o do s o by Obed ie n ce I .

wan t n oth i n g but Thy Cr o ss an d Thy l o ve t hat ,

wi l l su ffice to m ake m e a good rel igi ous which i s ,

”
al l I d esi re A n d O ur L o rd lovi n gly repl i ed
.

Figh t M y daughter I am c o n t en t We wi l l s e e
, ,
.

w ho wi ll gai n the v i ctory the Crea t or o r t he ,

crea t ure stren gth or weakn ess ; but he w h o

,

con q ue r s shal l con quer fo r eve r

,
I am n ot .

d is p l eased with these struggles an d the Opposi t i on

 PR O FESSI O N AND F I R ST YEA R S 55

that thou O ff e re s t th rough Obedience I love .

obed i ence I Offered up M y l ife for it ; but I wil l

.

t each thee that I am the absol ute M aster o f M y

gi fts an d o f M y creatu res an d tha t n o t hi n g shal l ,

p reven t M e fr o m accom pl ish i n g M y design s I t .

i s for th i s reason that I wish thee n o t on ly t o do

W hat thy S uperi ors shal l d i rect but also to d o ,

n o t hi n g tha t I shal l orde r thee W ithout thei r

con sen t W ithout obed ien ce n o o n e can please
.

”
Me .

O n e day aft e r H oly Com m u n ion wh en e n gaged

, ,

i n lovi n g c o ll o quy with O ur Lord H e asked her ,

to sacrifice agai n to H i m her en ti re l iberty an d her

whole bei n g Th is Siste r M argaret Mary d id
.

wi t h al l he r hear t beggi n g O u r Lord t hat n oth i n g

,

m igh t appear i n her but wha t would hum i l iate h e r

before c rea t u res fo r she sa id I feel my weakn ess
, , ,

I fear to betray Thee a nd t hat Thy gi fts should

”
n ot be safe with m e The n she asked on ce m o re
.

w h y H e left he r without sufferi n g For an swer .

O u r L o rd showed h er a cross c o vered w ith fl o wers ,

but u nder the flowers were t h o rn s n ai ls and sharp ,

“ ” “
poi n t s o f every ki nd Behold said H e . the , ,

c o uch o f M y chaste spouses I t i s upon t h is t hat .

the fire o f M y love shal l con su m e thy sacrifice .

By degrees t hese flowers wi ll fade an d o n ly the

thorn s wh ich are n o w h idde n o n accou n t Of thy
,

weakn ess wi l l remai n and t hou wi l t feel thei r

, ,

sharp n ess S O kee n ly that t hou wi lt n eed al l t he

stren gth o f M y l ove to e nable thee to bear the
“
pai n . These words fil led her with j oy I .

“
thought s h e said
,
t hat I should n ever have
,

en ough su fferi n g h um ilia t io n and contem pt I t

,
.

seemed t o m e that I could n ever fi nd a greate r

sufferi n g t han that wh ich I fel t i n n ot sufferi n g I .

”
wished to have th e cross an d the cross alon e The .

san ctity o f love which had bee n shown to her had

54 B L ESS ED M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

en ki n dled th ree d esi res i n her h eart : to s uffer to ,

recei ve H o ly Com m u n ion and to d i e so as to be ,

u n ited to God .

To s a y al l t hat c o uld be said O f Siste r M argaret

M ary s love o f O ur D ivi n e L o rd i n th e H oly
’

“
Eucharis t wo u ld fil l a vol um e o f i tsel f I had .

such a grea t desi re Of H oly Com m u n ion she says , ,

t hat had I to wal k barefoot over flam es i t seem s ,

t o m e tha t the pai n would cost m e n oth i n g i n c o m

pariso n wi th th e pai n o f bei n g deprived Of th is
happi n ess N o t h i n g i s capable Of givi n g m e s o
.

m uch se n si bl e j oy as th e reception O f t he B read Of

Life A f t e r I have com m un icated I remai n an n i
.

h i l a t e d as i t were before m y God an d pass several ,

m i n u t es i n deep i n teri or si le nce a n d p rofou n d

respect s o that I may hear the Voice Of H i m Who
,

alo n e gives j o y to m y hear t S he s p en t every .

m i n ute she could i n the P resen ce O f t h e B lessed

Sacramen t O ur Lord u rged her s o str o n gly to g o
.

i n search O f H i m tha t if s h e resisted s h e fel t i n e x

,

pl icabl e su fferi n g Th e proof that th is w a s n o

.

effec t of her i magi nation l i es i n t h e fac t that i f s h e

w a s i n cl i n ed to rem ai n before the Tabern acle when
Obedien ce called he r elsewhere s h e fel t t he sam e ,

pai n . R i si n g fr o m her kn ees s h e would say

“
M y J esus as I can n ot remai n lon ger i n Thy
,

P resen ce do Tho u com e wi t h m e t o san cti fy all

,

t hat I d o S i nce i t i s al l for Thee

,
H er S u periors
told her t ha t s h e S hould t ry an d m oderate th e con
stan t appl icati on Of her m i n d to t he though t of
G o d for fear o f i nj uri n g her health t hat s h e ough t
n o t to be m ore o utward ly devout than her S isters ,

an d that S h e S hould n ot be s o con sta n t ly before the

B lessed Sacram en t o n feast — days when s h e re ,

m ai n ed n early th e whol e day i n prayer S ister .

M argaret M ary ever obedien t resol ved to remai n

, ,

i n her cel l o n feast days but she fou n d i t an i m

-
,
56 B L ESS E D M A R G A R ET M
‘

. A L A C O QU E

“
these words : I wi l l com e on m y feast an d m ake
choice o f my daugh ters w h o possess m y true
spi rit I wil l write them i n m y heart an d offer
.

them co n sta n tly to th e D ivi n e M aj esty as a n odo u r

”
o f sweetn ess to supply for the i m perfect .

By such favo urs a nd con solation s d id O u r Lord

prepare H i s chose n spouse for the great su fferi n gs
t o which H e desti n ed her .
 C H A PTE R V I

V A R I O U S F A V O U R S R E C E IV ED
( 16 7 3 )
M O T H E R DE S A U M A I S E seei n g that O ur Lord,

con ti n ued to favou r S ister M argaret M ary wi th

s uch great graces told her to wri t e an accou n t
,

Of them T o t hi s sh e fel t a great repugn an ce but

.
,
“
O ur L o rd said to her : Why dos t thou refuse t o
obey M y voice an d put i n writi n g that which
comes n ot from thysel f but from M e ? Thou
, ,

hast n o part i n i t beyon d a S im pl e cli n gi n g t o

M y Wi l l Con side r what t hou art and what tho u
.
,

dost deserve and thou wi lt u nderstan d whence

,

comes the good thou dos t possess Why d o st .

thou fear ? I have give n thee a place of refuge

”
where al l becom es easy At these word s M argaret
.

w a s con soled an d wro t e t he accou n t desi red O f her .

“
O n e day on the eve of Com m u n ion I asked
, ,

J esus t o u n i t e my heart t o H is say i n g I kn ow , ,

‘
,

m y God tha t th i s d ivi n e u n i on c a n on ly be by

,
’
Thy love U pon thi s H e showed m e H is D ivi n e
.

H eart brighter t han t he s u n an d I saw also an

, ,

ugly sh apeless atom wh ich seem ed to be tryi n g

i n vai n to approach I t Lose thyself i n M y .
‘

greatn ess an d s e e t hat thou n ever c o m e forth

,

t hence said O ur Lord

,
’
fo r i f thou l e a v e s t it
,
‘
,

thou shal t n ever agai n e n ter it .

’

O n I s t J uly 1 6 7 3 t he e v e o f the Feast of the

,

Vi s ita tion O ur Lord gave S is t er Margaret Mary

,

a n ew lesson i n sel f aban don m en t and depen dence

-

57
5 8 B L ESSED M A R G A R ET M . A L A C O QU E

upon H is H oly W ill Th is is t he accou n t s h e.

“
gives of i t : I had been u n able to S i n g the O ffi ce
for a l on g ti m e havi n g lost m y voice Th is was
, .

n o smal l troubl e to m e b o th because I felt such ,

j oy i n si n gi n g the praises of God a nd also beca u se ,

I th ought i t w a s a j ust pu n ish men t fo r my

n egl ige nce wh ich h u m il iated m e greatly
, On .

th e eve of th e Vi sitation a t M ati n s havi n g several, ,

ti m es t ried i n vai n to si n g the I n vi t atory and n ot ,

even bei n g able to foll o w the Psalm s with the

choi r at the fi rst verse o f t he Te D eum I fel t
,

mysel f pen etrated wi t h a power before which al l

th e powe rs O f my own s o ul bowed the msel ves ,

as i t were i n a spi ri t O f hom age an d adoration

, .

A s I held my arm s crossed i n m y sleeves a

heaven ly l igh t res t ed o n t hem i n the form of
a l ittle ch i ld o r rather of a bri l l ian t sun
, My .
‘

Lor d an d m y G o d I said ,
’
what excess of love ,
‘

i s t h is by wh ich Tho u th us l o w e re s t Thi n e i n fi n i te

’
greatn ess ? I am com e M y daughter to ask
‘
, ,

t hee w h y thou tel lest M e s o Oft en n ot to ap proach

th ee ? ’
Thou kn owest O m y Lord I repl ied
‘
.
,
’
,
‘
tha t i t is because I am n O I wor t h y to app roach
Thee m uch l ess to touch Thee
,
Learn then ‘
,
’

H e a n swered that the m ore thou re t i re s t i n to

,
‘

t h i n e o w n n oth i n gn ess t h e m ore does M y great

,

n ess l ower itsel f t o fi n d th ee Feari n g however .

’
, ,

t ha t i t m ight be an an gel of Sa t an I mad e H i m ,

t he foll owi n g request : O m y G o d i f i t be Thou‘

, ,

e nable m e t o si n g Thy praises I i m m ed iately .

’

felt m y voice freed an d stron ger than ever I .

j oi n ed i n t he Te D eu m and the rest of M ati n s

wi t h t he choi r without al l t he caresses wh ich I
received from H i s Goodn ess bei n g abl e to make
m e less atten t ive to th e O ffice B u t I felt m ysel f .

i n teriorly u n i t ed to H i m a nd em ployed i n hon ou r

,

i n g H i m At the en d H e said to m e : I wished

.
‘
 VA R I O US FAV O U R S R ECE IVED 59

to try th e motive thou hadst i n si n gi n g M y

p raises . Hadst thou been for a m om en t less
“
atten tive I should have left thee
, Havi n g had
.
’ ‘

” “
t he use o f m y voice s h e con ti n ues
, f o r a co n ,

s i d e ra b l e t i m e I l ost it agai n O n beggi n g O u r

, .

Lord to give i t m e back H e repl ied that it was

,

n o t m i n e tha t H e had len t i t t o m e i n order t o

,

obl ige m e t o bel i eve and that I Ough t to be as

,

con ten t to lose i t as to possess it Si n ce then .

,

I have remai ned i n i ndi fference ab o ut it n oth i n g ,

bei n g m ore p rofitable t o a soul than a perfect

”
sel f abandon m en t i n al l thi n gs
-
.

A n other ti m e i t seem ed to S is t e r M argaret M ary

t hat she w a s o n t he bri n k O f a preci pice She d id .

n o t u nderstan d t hi s and w a s t roubled by it s o

, ,

s h e asked O u r Lord to make clear to her what

i t was that thus d isqui eted her As s o on as s h e .

w a s en gaged i n prayer O u r Lord p resen ted H im

self t o her al l covered with wou nds and t old ,

h er t o look u pon t he Open i n g i n H i s Sacred

Sid e wh ich was an abyss Open ed by a n arrow
— —
,

o f u n fath o mabl e len g t h H i s l ove and that i f

s h e w ished t o fly from t h e abyss which threatened
her an d wh ich she could n ot u nderstan d she
, ,

m ust plu n ge hersel f i n t o t h is abyss o f H is side

by wh ich S he would escape al l o t hers Th is H e .
,

t old her w a s t he dwel li n g place of those w h o

,
-

love H i m They fi nd there t w o l ives on e for

.
,

th e s o ul the other for the heart The soul fi nds

,
.

there the sou rce Of l ivi n g waters to puri fy i t and

give i t t he l i fe of grace of wh ich it had been
d ep rived by s i n t he hear t fi nds a fu rnace o f love
i n which al l o t her l ove is con su med B ut si nce .

the Open i n g i s very n arrow i t i s n ecessary to

,

be very h u m ble an d d etached i n o rder to be

able to e n t er t he rei n .

S ister M argaret M ary w a s desti n ed to suffer .

so B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

Th is was i n deed her great desi re the yearn i n g Of a ,

lovi n g soul t o be l i ke n ed to H i m Whom S he loved .

A n d O u r Lo rd prepared H i s servan t with t e nde r

care for the m ission o f reparation H e had assign ed
t o her H e showed her H im self sufferi n g i n
.

several phases O f H i s Passion O nce when she .

w a s m editati n g o n th e Agony i n t he Garden H e ,

revealed to her that H e su ff ered i n teriorly m ore i n

Ge t hseman e than i n al l the rest Of H i s Sacred
”
Passio n . N O creature c a n com prehen d He ,
“
said ,
the greatn ess of the tormen ts which I
”
suffered a t that t i m e The n H e spoke to h er o f
.

what she h ersel f would have to suffe r i n orde r to

appease th e j ustice Of God agai n st si n n ers Thou .

m ust raise t hy heart an d thy han ds to H eave n by

p raye r an d good works prese n ti n g M e con ti n ual ly
,

to M y Fa t he r as a Victi m O f love sacrificed an d

Offered fo r the S i n s Of the wh ole world placi n g M e
as a ram part an d su re fortress betwee nH is j ustice
,

an d si n n ers .
’

S hortly afterwards O u r L ord d isclosed to h er

“
H is H eart torn an d pi erced with wou n ds See .

” “
t he wo un ds H e said ,
which I receive from M y
,

chose n people O thers con ten t themselves with

.

stri ki n g M y B ody ; these attack M y H ear t wh ich ,

has n eve r ceased t o love them B ut M y love wi l l .

give place at le n gth to M y j ust an ger t o chas t ise ,

these p roud souls s o attached t o the earth wh o ,

d esp ise M e for creatu res an d fly h u m ili t y t o seek

,

esteem for them selves A n d a s thei r hearts are

.
,

void of charity they have n o t h i n g left but the n am e

,

of rel igious S ister M argaret M ary was touched

.

to the heart an d qu ickly offered to God th e m erits

,

o f t he Li fe Passion an d D eath o f J esus i n sati s

,

faction fo r th e i nj u ries H e had received ,

“
I .

Offered mysel f t o H i s d ivi n e Good n es s to s uffer al l

the p a i n s w h i c h H e should be pleased to sen d me ,
 VA R I O US FAV O U R S R ECE I VE D 61

so as even t o be a n n i h ilated rather t han to s e e those

”
souls peri sh which had cost H i m s o dear .

A n other day O u r Lord presen t ed H i m self before

her c o v e re d w i t h wou nds H is Body bleedi n g an d ,

H is H eart torn wi t h grief H e seem ed utterly .

spen t wi t h fatigue She prostra t ed herself at H is

.

Fee t wi t h o u t dari n g t o s a y any t h i n g t o H i m .

” “
See H e said the state t o which M y chosen
pe o ple have red uced M e —those whom I had d e
, ,

sign ed to appease M y j us t ice They persecute .

M e i n secret I f they do n ot am end I wil l chas t ise

.
,

them severely I wil l withd raw the j ust and sacrifice

.

the res t t o M y j ust wrath which shal l be ki ndled

agai n st th em B ut S ister M argare t M ary kn ew
.

“
how t o com fo rt her Lord I prese n t ed to H i m
.

H i s o w n sufferi n g love on e si n gle look at wh ich ,

”
was capabl e o f appeasi n g H is wra t h .

O u r Lord com plai n ed especially of t he i nj u ries

H e received i n H oly Com m u n ion an d to make ,

reparation f o r t his S ister M argare t Mary suffered

,

at t his t i m e i n ten se d read i n app r o ach i n g the H o ly

“ ” “
Table . O n e day she says ,
feel i n g mysel f ,

seized wi t h a great fear o f d ishon ou ri n g m y Saviour

b y a p p ro a c h i n g t o H oly C o m m u n ion bu t n o t havi n g ,

been able t o Obtai n perm issi o n o f my S uperi o r to

stay away I appr o ached wi t h so ex t raordi nary a
,

s o rrow t hat my whole body S huddered wi t h grief

at t he though t of the sorrow my Savi o u r would feel
on accou n t O f som e w h o were t o receive H i m .

A fter H oly Com m u n ion H e presen t ed Him self to

m e as the Ecce H om o al l torn and disfigu red ,
I .
‘

have n ot f ou nd any o n e H e said w h o would give ,

’
,

M e a place O f rep o se i n th is my sufferi n g an d

sorr o wfu l c o nd iti o n This si gh t so i mpressed m e
.
’

w i th grie f t h a t I w o uld ra t he r have di ed a t h o usand

ti mes than s ee my Saviou r reduced t o such a
c o ndition .
‘

I f thou didst kn o w H e c o n t i n ued

‘
,
’
,
62 B LESSE D M A R G AR ET M . A L A C O QU E

‘
who they are who have reduced M e to such a
con dition thy gri ef would be m uch greater Five
, .

sou l s con secrated to M e have treated M e thus I .

have bee n d ragged by stron g cords th rough a

n arrow space beset wi th sharp poi n ts n ai l s an d ,

thorn s an d t hey have b rough t M e to th i s

,

S ister M argaret M ary desi red greatly t o u nd erstan d

the m ean i n g of t hese words an d O u r Lord ex ,

plai ned t o her that the cords were t he p ro m ise s H e

had m ade to give H i m sel f t o us ; t hei r stren g t h
w a s H is love t he n arrow space represe n t e d hear ts
that w ere i ll d isposed to receive H i m ; an d the
-

sharp poi n ts were th e spi ri t of pride She the n .

offered he r o w n heart to H i m as a place O f repose ,

an d H e i n t u rn Offered her H is wou nds i n o rder

that S he m ight k i ss them an d s o rel ieve H is pai n .

O n yet an oth er occasio n O u r Lord s howed

H i m sel f t o H i s serva n t crown ed as i t were with
a crown m ad e O f n i n e t ee n sharp thorn s wh ich
pierced H i s D ivi n e H ead She could n ot S peak.

f o r weepi n g . H e t h en told her that H e had

com e to seek he r so that s h e m ight p luck th e
thorn s wh ich had been th us deeply buri ed i n H is
“
H ead by a faithl ess spouse She p ierces M y .

brai n with t horn s as Ofte n as i n he r prid e s h e

prefers hersel f to M e N ot kn owi n g what t o d o
.

t o d raw t he m o u t S ister M argare t M ary had

,

recourse to he r S u peri or w h o t old her t o ask

,

O u r Lord about i t Sh e d id s o an d H e told h er

.
,

to m ake n i n eteen ac t s o f h u m il ity i n hon our Of

H is h um i l iation s B u t said the h um bl e Sai n t
.
, ,

as I was so pro u d mysel f I begged my S uperior ,

to Offer to O u r Lord th e p rac t ices o f h u m i l ity O f

th e Com m u n i ty Thi s was very p leasi n g t o H i m
.
,

an d five days late r H e showed m e t h ree Of the

wou nd s the pai n o f wh ich w a s m uch reli eved
,
.

”
The others remai n ed for a m uch lon ger ti m e .
64 BL ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

a ft er wh ich it seem ed to h er that O u r L ord clothed

he r wi th a wh ite robe o f i n n ocen ce .

Afte r H oly Com m u n ion O u r Lord said l ovi n gly

“
to h er I have com e M y w el l beloved I t hy
,
-
, ,

S pouse thy G o d an d thy Love to clothe thy s o ul

, ,

i n a robe of i n n ocence i n orde r that t hou m ayest

,
”
l ive o n ly by M y Li fe Then H e open ed H i s
.

H eart to he r that s h e m ight c o n sta n tly dwel l

therei n The effec t o f t h is favou r S i ster M argaret
.

“
M ary gives us i n h er own words M y B eloved
has con su m ed i n m e eve ry desi re bu t tha t o f
receivi n g H is d ivi n e l ove an d has left m e without
,

fear Of anyth i n g but O f s i n Al l t h i n gs fi n d

.

thei r rest on ly i n thei r ce n tre ; m y h eart i s W h ol ly

bu ried i n i t s cen tre wh ich i s the m os t h u m bl e
,

H eart o f J esus I t fi n ds t h erei n a bu rn i n g t h i rst

.

for h u m i l iation s con tem pt an d obl ivion o n t he

,

part O f al l crea t u res For I can n eve r be so happy

.

as wh en I am con form ed t o m y C ru c i fi e d Spouse .

W e have al ready see n tha t O u r B lessed Lord

had deign ed t o give S ister M argare t M ary m an y
lesson s o n p rayer That t hey had taken deep
.

root i n her heart i s p roved by th e accou n t she

gives at thi s ti m e o f he r i n tercou rse with he r
“
Beloved . I gen eral ly g o to praye r without an y
other p reparation than that wh ich G o d makes
withi n m e I O f t e n p re s e n t m y s e l f before H i m
'

. .

as a sick perso n before an al l powerful Physician -

.

Apart fro m H i m I can fi n d n o rest o r com fo rt .

I place m yself before H i m as a l ivi n g Vi c ti m ,

whose on ly desi re i s to be Offered an d sacrificed

to H i m that i t may be con sum ed as a holocaust
i n the pu re flam es O f H is love M y good Mas t er .

al lows m e to feel sen sibly H i s d ivi n e P resen ce ,

a n d d iscovers i t s beauties to my soul H is love .

s o bi n ds al l m y powers that I am u nabl e t o s a y

'

a nyth i n g to H i m to testi fy m y l ove Th en I say .

 VA R I O US FAV O U R S R ECE I VE D 65

to H i m si m ply : Thou m ockest at the en de avou rs

‘

o f my h eart to S how Thee its love and H e repl ies ’

, ,
‘
Thou hast n o l on ger the use Of it but all its ,
’
m ovem en ts are kn own to M e With th is I remai n .

con tent A t the e n d Of my prayer I make n o

.

resoluti on petition o r O fferi n g except tha t of m y

,

J esus t o H is E ternal Fa t he r M y God I Offer .

‘

Thee Thy wel l beloved Son for m y than ksgivi n g

-

fo r al l the bl essi n gs Thou dost con fer upon m e ,

for my petition m y Offeri n g m y adoration an d

, ,

al l my resol uti on s I n fi n e I off er H i m to Thee

.
,

f o r m y love an d m y al l R eceive H i m E tern al .

,

Father for all tha t Thou d esi rest o f m e I have

,
.

n oth i n g to O ffe r Thee wh ich is worthy of Thee

except H i m th e possession o f Whom Thou gavest
,

m e with s o m uch l ove O ft e n n atu re and sel f

.
’

love assai l m e viole n tly tel l i n g m e that I am ,

losi n g m y ti m e and that I am i n the w ay o f

,

perd ition T h i s troubles m e s o m uch t hat I kn ow

.

n o on e to who m I ca n have recou rse excep t to

Go d . I fin d H i m eve r ready to assist m e
. A .
‘

’
chi ld ca n n eve r perish H e says to m e i n the , ,
‘

arm s O f an Al m ighty Father Then I aban don

mysel f e n ti rely to H is d ivi n e Wi l l s o that H e ,

m ay ac t i n m e accord i n g to H is good pleasu re ,

”
w ithout havi n g regard to my o w n satisfaction .
 C H A PT E R V I I

P R E P A R AT I O N FO R OUR Lo R D s
’
R E V ELAT I O N S
( 16 7 4 )
T H E year 1674 was chosen by O u r B lessed Lord
to be the year i n wh ich five o u t o f s i x great revela
ti on s Of H i s l ove were mad e kn own to the Apostl e
o f H i s H eart .

D uri n g th e fi rs t part o f th e year S iste r M a rgaret

M ary was p repared for th ese favou rs by h er D ivi n e
M aste r H e t old he r that H e had C hose n h e r heart
.

as a san ctuary i n wh ich H i s d ivi n e l ove m i gh t b u rn

con ti n u al ly so that S h e m i ght com m u n i cate i t to
,
“
oth ers . Thy heart i s as a con secrated al t ar to
wh i ch n oth i n g d e fi l e d S h ould ever approach I .

h ave ch osen i t i n orde r to Offe r to M y E te rn al

Fathe r a b u rn i n g sacrifice to appease H i s j ustice ,

an d to give H i m i n fi n ite glo ry by the O ff eri n g thou

shal t m ake H i m O f M ysel f u n iti n g wi th i t that Of
,
” “
thy whol e bei n g . I ackn owl edge s h e says , ,
“
that afte r that t i m e I felt s o stron g an d bu rn i n g
a fi re i n m y heart that I sh ou ld have l i ked to
com m u n icate i t to all c reatu res s o that m y G od ,

m i gh t be loved .

I t i s c ustomary i n th e O rder o f th e Visi tation for

th e Com m un i ty to m eet after Vespe rs f o r sp i ri tual
con versation i n wh ich al l j oi n
,
O n e day as S i ste r
.
,

M argaret M ary was i n h er cel l occup i ed with read

i n g a sp i ritual book s o as to be a b l e t o co n tri bute he r
,
'

share to the con fe ren ce O u r Lord appeared t o her

,
“
an d said : I wish to make thee read i n th e Book
66
 PR E P A R ATI O N FOR R EV E L AT I O NS 67

of L i fe wh ich con tai n s the scien ce Of l ove

, T hen .

showi n g her H i s Sacred H eart pi erced for o u r

salvation S he heard these words
, M y l ove rei gn s
i n s ufferi n g ; it tri um phs i n h u m i l i ty ; i t rej oices
”
i n u n i ty Th is l esson m ad e such a n i m p ress ion
.

up o n her t hat S he n ever l ost th e rem em bran ce Of i t .

O n e m orn i n g when prepari n g fo r H o ly Com

,
“
m u n ion s h e h eard O ur Lord say to h e r
, See ,

M y daugh t er t he bad treatmen t I have received

,

from th i s perso n wh o has j us t received M e She .

h a s ren ewed al l t he sufferi n gs o f M y Passion .

”

Sister M argaret M ary overc o m e with grief cast

, ,

he rself at H i s feet a n d o ff e re d hersel f wi t h t ears to

'

make aton e m e n t t o H i m fo r the i nj uri es H e had

“ ”
received M y L o rd and m y God S he p rayed
.
, ,
“
i f my l i fe be o f an y u s e t o repai r these i nj u ries ,

though those wh ich Thou re c e i v e s t from m e are a

thousand ti mes greater I am Thy slave —do with ,

m e whatever Th ou wi lt A n d J esus an swered

.

“
her '
I desi re wh e n I let thee kn ow the i l l
,

treatmen t -I receive from th i s soul that aft er ,

recei vi n g M e t hou shou ldst p rostrate thyself at M y

Feet t o make am e nd s t o M y H ear t O ffer t o M y .

Fathe r the Sacrifice of the Cross and i n u n ion with

it thy whol e bei n g an d t h us repai r the i n d ign ities
,
”
I receive from th is heart I w a s quite su rprised
.
,
“
con ti n ues S iste r M argaret M ary to hear such ,

words abou t a person w h o had j u st washed her

soul i n the P recious B lood Of J esus Chris t bu t t he ,

sam e voice said to m e agai n I t i s n o t t hat s h e i s

i n s i n bu t the wi l l t o s i n stil l l i n gers i n her hear t
,
.

Th i s I look u pon with a greate r horror than the

a c t of si n it s el f for i t is to apply M y B lo o d w i t h
,

con tem pt t o a c o rrupt heart i nasm uch a s an evi l ,

’
wi l l i s the root of all corruption I suffered greatly.

o n accou n t Of t hese words an d con t i n ual ly i m plored

,

for m ercy O n e day i n Easte r week I was con soled

.
, ,
68 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

by h eari n g O u r L ord s a y I have heard thy sighs

an d have shown m e rcy toward s th i s sou l .

F rom ti m e to ti m e whe n m ore tha n usual ly

,

oppressed wi th i n teri or su f feri n gs O u r Lord would ,

refresh H i s servan t with the sweetn ess Of H is love .

Th us H e o n e day showed her H i s Sacred H eart as

a d el ightfu l ga rde n ful l Of l ovely flowers mos t
vari ou s an d beauti ful I n to th i s H e i n vited he r to
.

e n ter s o as to revive he r stren gth o f sou l A fter

,
.

she h ad l ooked at th e flowers w ithout dari n g to ,

touch them O u r Lord gave h e r perm issio n t o

,

gather the m a t wi ll ; the n casti n g herself at H i s

“
Sacred Feet s h e said : O m y D ivi n e Saviou r I ,

wi sh fo r n o th i n g but T hysel f Who art a bu n d le of

,

m yrrh to m e which I would fai n carry con ti n ual ly

,
”
i n the arm s of m y affection A n d H e repl ied
.
,

Thou hast ch ose n wel l i t i s m yrrh alon e t hat can

re t ai n i ts beauty an d fragran ce Th i s l i f e i s i ts .

seaso n ; i t i s n ot kn own i n etern i ty There i t has .

”
anothe r n am e .

O ve r an d over agai n O ur Lord t u rn ed to H i s

se rvan t to ask he r to make reparation f o r si n n ers ,

an d partic ularly to co m fort H i m for t he cold n ess

H e received from l ukewarm rel igious Th u s H e .

ta ught her to com e every Friday to ad o re H i m

th i rty th ree ti m es upon the C ross the t h ron e o f
-
,

H is m e rcy She was to p rostrate he rsel f h um bly

.

at H i s feet an d u n ite herself to O u r Lady at the

foot of th e Cross an d then beg O f t h e Etern al
,

Fathe r th rough the su f feri n gs o f H i s D ivi n e S o n

, ,

th e con versi on O f harden ed h ear t s .

O n a n othe r occasion H e t aught h e r th e d is

p o sition s i n wh ich s h e sh ould hea r M ass receive ,

H oly Com m u n ion an d pray At M ass s h e was to

, .

u n i te hersel f to O u r Lady on Cal vary When s h e .

recei ved H oly Com m u n ion i t w a s a g ai n to th e

B lessed V i rgi n that s h e Wa s to tu rn u n i ti n g h ersel f ,
 PR E P A R AT I O N FOR R E VE LAT I O N S 69

to M ary at th e ti m e O f the I n ca rn a t i o n a n d tryi n g ,

.

t o e n ter i n to her d is p osi tion s an d so to o f fer them

,
“
with h er own to O u r Lord sayi n g Behold the
, ,
”
hand m aid o f the Lord I n prayer she w a s t o
.

u n i te h ersel f to O u r Lady at the ti m e o f her

Presen tati on i n th e Tem pl e .

"
A n other special favou r was gran ted to her at
th i s ti m e
. The Com m u n ity were al l together
p repari n g flax i n on e o f the con ven t cou r t yards .

S ister M argaret M ary withd rew a l ittl e from th e

rest t o a corn er n ear the chapel s o as to be ,

n ear th e B lessed Sacram e n t The S ister s taxed .

her wi t h th i s an d s h e repl i ed that she would

,

n ot d o i t an y m ore B u t s h e had n o so o n er
.

j oi n ed t h e others than s h e fel t herself i rresi sti bly

d rawn to retu rn to her sol i tude B ei n g trou b led .

at th is S he sp o ke to he r S upe rior w h o to ld h er ,

to fol low he r attraction Th i s sh e d id an d co n

.
,

t i n u e d he r work o n he r kn ees i n great i nteri or

an d exter ior recol l ectio n A l l a t once th e adorabl e
.

H eart o f o u r Lord w a s p rese n ted t o her m ore

bri l l ian t than the s u n an d S u rrou nded by S eraph im
, ,

wh o san g i n chorus
Lo v e t ri u m p h s , l o v e rej o i c e s ,
T h e l o v e o f Go d i n i t s e l f i s d e l i g h t
”
.

The n these blessed spi ri ts i n vited Siste r M argaret

M ary to j oi n i n thei r so ng Of p raise but s h e d id ,

not dare d o s o .They told her tha t they had

come to associate t hem selves w i th h er s o as to ,

re nder to O u r Lord a con ti n ual hom age Of l ove -

,

ad o ration and praise ; t hat th ey wou ld take h e r

,

place before t h e B lessed Sacram en t so t ha t s h e ,

could offer co n t i n ual acts O f l o ve th rough t hem .

A t th e sam e t im e i t seem ed to her as though th e

an gels wrote th i s com pact i n th e Sacred H eart
i n i n effaceabl e letters o f gold .
70 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

This visi o n las t ed about two hours an d S iste r ,

M argaret M ary fel t th e effects o f i t for th e rest

o f he r l i fe bo t h i n the hel p she received a n d
,

the sweetn ess S h e experie n ced .

I t was however n ot on ly by favou rs such as

, ,

these that O ur Lord prepared H i s se rvan t fo r

th e work to wh ich H e had d esti n ed h e r He .

req ui red Of he r t he utm os t pu rity o f heart O n .

man y occasion s H e reproved her seve rely for

the sm al les t faults O n e day whe n she had bee n
.
,

gu i lty o f so me sl igh t i n si n ceri ty t h rou g h sel f love -

,

O ur Lord said to h e r : Learn that I am h oly an d

teach hol i n ess . I am p ure a n d ca n n ot su ffer the
sl ightest s tai n . Therefore thou m ust act wi th
sim pl ici ty an d wi th a right an d p u re i n te ntio n
i n M y Presen ce The l east decei t i s d ispleasi n g
.

to M e I wi l l m ake the e u n derstan d t hat if M y

.

l ove h a s m ade M e thy M as t e r S O that I m ay teach

thee an d m odel thee accord i n g to M y Wi ll I ,

can n o t support l ukewarm an d careless sou ls If .

I am gen tle i n beari n g with t hy weakn ess I shal l ,

be n o n e the l ess severe i n correc t i n g thy i n fi d e l i t i e s .

Th e truth of these words S ister M argaret M ary

experien ced al l her l i fe O ur Lord n ever let pass
.

the s mal lest fau l t wh ich was i n t h e s l i g h t e s t d egree

"

vol u n tary or d ue to n egl ige n ce wi t hout re p rovi n g

an d p u n ish i n g her for i t but th is H e d id always
,

wi th m ercy an d ten d ern ess N O pen ance howeve r

.
, ,

coul d have bee n as ri gorous an d terri bl e t o he r

as to kn ow that O u r Lord was ever so l ittle d i s
pl eased wi th her Al l other m o rt i fi ca t i o n s co rre c
.
,

t i on an d t rials were as n oth i n g to her i n com parison ,

an d t his mad e her very prom pt i n aski n g pardon

an d penan ce for her fau l t s fr o m h er S uperi or ,

because O u r Lord w a s always satisfied with th e

p e n an ce i m posed by obed ience .

“
I n w riti n g of th i s sub ject she says : My Divine
7 2 BL ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

“
th i s prom i se : Tho u shal t n eve r l ack hel p u n ti l
”
M y H eart lacks power .

Th u s i t w a s that S iste r M argaret M ary was led

from grace to grace by her D ivi n e M aster ; each
day add i n g som eth i n g to the p re p aratio n H e had
bee n worki n g i n he r to m ake he r a fit i n strum en t
to receive an d pass on to others th e marvel lous
re velation s o f the l ove o f H is Sacred H eart .
 C H A PTE R V I I I

R E V ELAT I O N S O F TH E S A C R ED H EA R T
( 16 74- 16 7 5
)
W E have see n h o w M argaret M ary had from her
ch i ldhood bee n on term s of m ost i n ti mate frie n d
shi p with O u r Lord an d H i s Blessed M other Sh e .

had been guided by the m step by step i n her

S pi ritual l ife b ut the year 16 74 w a s to reveal th e
,

secrets o f O ur Lord s H eart to H i s servan t i n a

’

n ew an d v e special way Agai n and agai n S ister

M
Margaret i t ry tel l s us tha t H e assured her that
.

the revelation s were n o t for herself alon e but for ,

the souls of m i l l ion s w h o would be d rawn t o Go d

by the sweet attraction o f the love O f H i s Sacred
H ear t made kn own to them t h rough on e w h o w a s ,

as s h e wel l kn ew n othi n g m ore than an i n strum e n t

,

i n H is d ivi n e han ds .

U p t o th is ti me O ur Lord s com m un ication s with

’

H i s chose n spouse had m a i n ly referred to hersel f .

H e had open ed to he r th e Woun d O f H i s Sacred

S ide a s a place Of refuge an d a fo u ntai n of stren g t h
i n al l her d i fficulties Sh e had seen t he Sacred
.

H eart represe n ted as an ocean Of l igh t i n which

her o w n heart a s a t i n y atom w a s abs o rbed a n d
, ,

lost A n other ti me it w a s a s an abyss o f love i n to

.

wh ich s h e w a s t o pl un ge herself i n orde r t o avoid

al l dangers an d agai n as a Book of Li fe c o n tai n
i n g every less o n n ecessary for her soul When .

wearied an d spe n t with i n t eri o r con flict O u r L o rd ,

had cal led h er to rest i n the Garden of H i s H eart ,

73
74 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

where sh e was to revive h er soul s stren gth Al l ’

.

th ese favou rs were m arvel lous graces m os t ten de r ,

p roofs o f the love Of Ch ri st fo r H i s spouse But .

O u r Lord s H eart yearn s n o t alon e fo r the heart of

’

M argare t M ary but fo r the l ove of al l man ki nd

, .

H e O f Whom each o n e O f us can s a y H e l oved

”
m e and del ivered H i m sel f for m e th i rsts with u n ,

speakable th i rs t for the l ove o f eve ry heart that H e

has made — an d s o H e man ifested H is o w n ad orabl e
H eart t o H is chose n servan t tha t th rou gh h er al l
,

m ight com e to a cleare r kn owledge o f t he height

an d dep t h an d breadth Of tha t l ove of H i s wh ich
s u rp a s s e t h al l u ndersta n d i n g .

The first o f th ese great revelation s took place i n

the sp ri n g of 1 6 74 O n e day havi n g a l i ttle m ore
.
,

leisu re than usual S ister M argaret M ary was pass

,

i n g he r free t i m e as s h e n early always d id i n th e

, ,

p rese n ce Of th e B lessed Sacram e n t S he was .

m ore than usual ly recol lected and s o absorbed i n ,

th e presence o f God that S he en ti rel y forgot hersel f

and the p lace where s h e w a s an d aba ndon i n g , ,

h ersel f to the H oly S pi rit she yi elded her h eart to

,

the power of H is l ove The n J esus Ch rist S h owed

.

H i m sel f to her an d al lowed he r to rest h er head

,

u po n H i s Sacred B reast A t the sam e m om e n t

.

H e showed h er for the fi rst ti m e the i n expl icabl e

, ,

secrets of H i s D ivi n e H eart and th e treasures o f

love I t holds fo r m an This was don e i n a man n er
.

s o real an d sen si bl e that i n spite O f th e fear s h e

,

always had Of bei n g deceived s h e could n ot doubt ,

’
o f t he real ity Of th e favou r O ur Lord s wor d s sh e
.

gives a s fol lows : M y D ivi n e H eart i s s o ful l of

love for m e n an d for t hee i n particular that bei n g
, ,

u n able to con tai n with i n I tsel f the flam es of I t s

arden t chari ty I t m ust n eeds sp read them abroad
,

by th y m ean s M y H eart desi res to m an ifest

.

I tsel f to m en that they m ay b e e n riched wi th I t s

,
R EVE L AT I O N S O F TH E SAC R ED H E A R T 75

treasures which I discove r to thee and wh ich ,

con tai n graces O f s a n c t i fi ca t i o n an d salva t ion

n ecessary t o withd raw thei r so u ls from perdition I .

have chosen thee i n spite Of thy u n worth i n ess an d

,

i gn oran ce for th e accom pl ishm en t of th i s great

d esi gn so that al l m ay be don e by M e
, .

Aft er these words O u r Lord asked S ister M a r

garet M ary f o r her hear t She i m pl ored H im to
.

take it I t seem ed to her that then O ur Lord did

.

i n real ity t ake i t an d place i t with i n H i s o w n which ,

s h e s aw th rough t he Wou nd i n H i s S id e as a
bu rn i n g fu rnace i n which her o w n heart seem ed
but a t i ny a t om O u r Lord then withd rew th is
.

at o m i n th e form Of a flame an d replaci n g it i n her

,
“
side H e said to her :
, See M y bel oved I give , ,

t hee a preciou s toke n o f M y l o ve I have enclosed .

i n thy side a l ittle spark of that l ove t o serve thee ,

as a hear t and to con su m e thee to the last m omen t

o f thy l i fe . I t s ardou r wi l l n ever be exti n guished
an d t hou shal t n eve r be abl e t o fi nd any rel ief from
i t e x ce p t a very slight on e by bleed i n g ; an d th is
'

rem edy wi l l be s o marked with M y Cross t hat ,

it wi l l bri n g thee more h u m i l iatio n an d sufferi n g

than rel ief I wish thee therefore t o a s k for i t wi t h
.

S i m pl ici ty b ot h i n order to com ply wi t h the R ule

,

and al so to give t hee t he con solation o f sheddi n g

thy blood o n the cross o f hu m il iation A s a pro of .

that the grea t favou r I have bes t owed on thee is

n o i m agi nation but the fo u ndation O f al l those I
,

i n t en d t o con fer upon thee t hou wi l t always feel,

the pai n i n thy s i d e a l t h o u g h I have closed up the

,
'

” “
wou nd . The n O u r Lord added tend erly : Up
to th is t i m e t h o u hast called thyself M y S lave from ,

hen cefo rth I w i ll give thee the title Of the beloved

”
d isci pl e of M y H eart .

Aft er t h i s ecs tasy which l asted a lon g t im e

, ,

S i ste r M argaret M ary remai n ed for several days

7 6 B LESSE D M A R G A R ET M . A L A C O QU E

al l o n fi re w i th d ivi n e l ove an d as it w ere out o f , ,

he rsel f so that i t w a s on ly with grea t d i ffi culty

,

that sh e cou ld speak o r attend t o her usual e m ploy

m e nts Th is state the cause of wh ich was e n ti rely
.
,

u n kn own t o he r Si s t ers d rew d own u p on h er th e

,

c ri t i c i s m o f som e of th e less charitable am on g th e

n u n s E ve n at n igh t s h e could ob tai n n o rest fo r

.
,

th e pai n i n h er side was s o acute .

O u r Lord t old H i s s ervan t to keep n oth i n g con

c e a l e d fro m he r S u p eri ors s o S he was obl iged to
,

give an accou n t of he r vision S h e d id S O with out .

“
d elay though s h e says : The con fusion I fel t o n
,

accou n t o f my u n wor t h i n ess was S O grea t that I

w ould have a th ousan d tim es pre ferred to tel l my
si n s t o t he whol e world and read m y gen e ral con
f e s s i o n al oud i n t h e refectory H ad th is bee n pe r
.

m i t t e d i t would have bee n a great co n solati on t o

m e s o that al l m igh t kn ow the d epth o f corrup t ion
,

with i n m e a nd n eve r attri bute the graces I received

”
to mysel f O u r Lord however had prom i sed
.
, ,

he r h u m i l iati on a n d s h e received i t i n ful l m easu re .

M othe r d e S a u m a i s e whatever s h e really t hought

, ,

took n o n otice of her whi l e th e Com m u n ity Open ly

,

treated h er as a V isio n ary an d bel ieved n ei the r i n

,

he r ecstasi es n o r h er pai n S is t er M a rgaret M ary

.

w as si l en t n ot a word O f com plai n t escaped h er

, ,

but sh e grew so weak that i t was n oticed by every

o n e : fears we re even e n tertai n ed for h e r l ife an d ‘

they began t o thi n k o f applyi n g re med ies In .

al l si m pl ici ty S i s t er M argaret M ary declared that

n oth i n g would rel i eve h er but bleed i n g Th is .

req uest was o n ly laughed at the d octor tell i n g h er ,

t h a t s u c h a rem edy would be n ot on ly useless bu t

'

i nj u rious She was sen t to the i n fi rm a ry a n d othe r

.

rem ed ies p rescri bed b y th e doctor were a p p l i e d u

B u t i t was i n vai n ; they resul t ed i n n oth i n g bu t ’

causi n g the pati en t co nti n ua l sickn ess s o that s h e ,

R EVE LAT I O N S O F TH E SAC R E D H E A R T 77

becam e weaker an d weaker H er sweet seren ity .

n ever fai led u nder th is treatm en t n or d id s h e again ,

“ ”
m en ti on t h e w o rd bleedi n g alth o ugh s h e kn ew ,

i t to be the on ly re medy S oon s h e was reduced to

.

extrem i ty s h e could hardly speak o r even breathe

, .

‘
I n th is state the doctor d e c l a re d m o re than ever
t hat it would be fol ly to bleed he r but M other ,

d e S a u m a i s e w a s alarm ed and ordered i t t o be

d on e Aft er great hesitation D oc t or B il le t c o m
.

pl ied th i n ki n g that as there w a s n o h O p e fo r t he

,
’
patien t s recovery i n any case he m ight risk it , .

M o t he r d e S a u m a i s e told S is t e r M argaret w h o ,
“
repl ied with a sm i l e : I kn ow thi s i s th e on ly
th i n g wh ich can rel ieve m e b u t I d o n o t desi re i t
,

i f you r chari t y does n ot desi re it for m e ; m y

J esu s makes y o u wish for m e wha t ever H e pleases
‘

”
I am q uite con te n t to s uffer a s m uch as H e wi lls .

The doctor th e n bled her sl igh t ly I n s t an tly t he .

sickn ess ceased her S peech an d respi ra t ion becam e

,

free an d th e arm was hard ly ban daged befo re the

,

i n val id i m m ed iately fou n d hersel f str o n g en ough

t o leave t he i n fi rm a ry an d fol low the exercises O f
the Com m u n i ty wh ich S he would have d o n e had
, ,

S he bee n al lowed .

This marked cu re conv i n ced M other de S a u m a i s e

’
o f the truth o f S ister M argaret M ary s accou n t of
her V i sion an d when the pai n becam e great she
, ,

al lowed her from ti m e to t i m e to be bled The .

“

Com m u n i t y o n th e other hand w h o d id n o t know

, ,

th e detai l s Of th e cu re conti n ued to treat her as a

—
,

a person sufferi n g from n erves

'

m a l a ri a z m ag t h a z r e
'

as we should n ow s a y —s o t hat a s O u r Lord had

,

warn ed her the sl igh t rel ief from bleedi n g w a s

,

always acco m pan ied by m any hu m il iation s Thi s .

was eviden t ly O u r Lord s express wish for o n ’

,

on e occasion M oth er de S a u m a i s e wh o n o w a d ,

m i red an d respected her great p atience told her ,

78 B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

sh e m ight be secretly bled i n he r cel l i n stead o f

goi n g to th e i n fi rm a ry Th is was d on e bu t o n .
,

that sam e m orn i n g s h e fai n ted at M ass s o that th e ,

S isters guessed what had been don e an d con ti n ued ,

thei r u n ki n d rem arks al l of wh i ch were born e with

,

a sweet patie n ce .

Sh e su ffe red especial ly on th e first F riday of each

m on th O n th is day the pai n an d the favou rs sh e
.

had origi nal ly recei ved were ren ewed S he s a w .

the Sac red H eart a s a s u n S h i n i n g bri l l ian tly its , ,

rays fal l i n g vertical ly o n her hear t an d i n fl a m i n g

i t t o such a d egree that s h e thought i t woul d be
“
red uced t o ashes I t was particularly at these
.

” “
ti m es she says
,
that my D ivi n e M aste r tau gh t
,

m e H i s W i l l an d showed m e t h e secrets of H i s
”
H eart .

S ister M arg a ret M ary s trials prepared h e r fo r ’

the secon d o f O u r Lord s great revelati on s an ’

accou n t O f wh ich she hersel f gives

O n e day whe n I was before th e B lessed Sac ra
,

m en t exposed on th e altar aft er havi n g fel t en ti rely ,

d raw n i n to mysel f by t he recol l ection of al l m y

powers an d sen ses J esus Ch rist my D ivi n e M aster
, , ,

appeared to m e resple n den t with glory with H i s

, ,

five Wou n ds b ril l ian t as five su n s Flam es issued .

o n al l sides from H i s Sac red H u m an ity but e s p e c i ,

al ly fro m H is adorabl e B reast wh ich rese m bl ed a ,

furn ace I n t h i s H e sh owed m e H is m ost adorabl e

.

H eart the l ivi n g Sou rce o f t h ese flam es Th e n

,
.

H e di scl osed t o m e t h e i n effable won ders of H i s

love and t o what an excess H e had carried it i n H i s
,

l ove for m en from whom H e received on ly i n grati

,

tude . Th i s H e said to m e I feel more deeply

‘
,
’
,
‘

than al l that I su ffered i n M y Passion I f t hey .

would retu rn M e l ove f o r love I should th i n k bu t ,

l ittle of al l that I have suffered f o r them an d should ,

wish i f i t were possi ble to su ffer sti l l m ore

,
B ut
, .
 80 B LESSED M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

I f el t i n bei n g at that ti m e a b andon ed by M y

Apostles an aban don m en t wh ich obl i ged M e to
,

rep roach th em with n dt havi n g been able t o watch

on e hou r with M e D u ri n g th is hou r th ou shalt d o
.

as I wi l l teach thee N o w l iste n M y daugh ter

.
, ,

bel ieve n ot l ightly n o r trust every spi ri t for Satan ,

i s ragi n g to d eceive thee D o n oth i n g therefore

.

without the ap probatio n o f th ose who gu ide the

he wi ll the n be u nable to deceive thee fo r h e has ,
”
n o power over the obed ie n t .

The ecstasy lasted so lo ng that the S iste rs ,

aston ished to see S ister M argaret M ary re mai n s o

far beyon d the usual ti m e before the B l essed Sacra
m en t we n t to tel l he r to com e away They fou nd
, .

s h e could n ei ther speak n or support hersel f without

d i fficul ty H owever they took h er to th e S u p erio r

.
, .

M other d e S a u m a i s e seei n g t he poor Siste r seem

,

i n g l y besid e h e rsel f an d trem bl i n g al l over u n de r ,

stood that som eth i n g extraord i nary had happe n ed ,

b u t p reten d i n g to m ake n o accou n t O f i t at al l ,

s h e t reated h er with great severi t y hu m bl i n g and

,

m orti fyi n g her i n every way s h e could These .

correc t ion s S i ster M argaret M ary received o n he r

kn ees . A fterward s M oth er d e S a u m a i s e ordered
her to give an accou n t of al l that had passed .

Th i s s h e at o n ce d id Th e result m ay be su m m ed
.

u p i n h e r own words A fter I had told her with

extrem e repugnan ce what had ta ke n place sh e ,

h u m bled m e sti l l m ore an d refused to al low m e fo r

th e p resen t any t h i n g I bel ieved O u r L ord asked o f
”
m e t reati n g with con tem p t al l I told her
,
Th is .
,
“
she con cl udes ,
con soled m e greatly an d I wi th ,
”
d rew i n great peace .

Al l the graces that Si ste r M argaret M ary had

rece ived resulted i n a u n ion with God s o i n ti m ate
that i t was o n ly with great d i ffi c ulty that she could
a pp ly herself t o exterio r work Sh e n ever said a
.
R EVE LAT I O NS O F TH E SAC R E D H E A R T 81

word about h erself but every on e could s e e by her

,

ai r of i n te n se recol lection that G o d was m an ifes t ly

worki n g i n her soul S he fel l i n t o a bu rn i ng fever
.
,
b ut d id n ot com plai n u n ti l her fail i n g stren gth
betrayed her Then s h e was sen t to the i n fi rm a ry
. .

D oc t or B i l let soo n d iscovered the cause of her

weakn ess an d declared that s h e had brought i t on
h ersel f by con ceal i n g her pai n B ut i n spite of .
,

everyth i n g S ister M argaret M ary was fil led with

,
“ “ ”
spiri tual j o y N ever s h e writes
. d id I feel
, ,

such c o n solation M y whole body en d u red extreme

.

pai n an d th i s rel i eved a l i ttl e t h e b u rn i n g desi re I

,
'

had for su fferi n g Th is devou ri n g fire could on ly

.

be fed by the fuel o f the Cross that i s to s a y by

eve ry ki nd o f su fferi n g—con tem pt h u m il iation and
, ,

,
”
pa i n.

A t l ast s h e w a s s o il l that fears were agai n en ter

t a i n e d for her l i fe b ut O u r Lord had reserved m any
,

other crosses for her Th is H e soon made kn own .

to her i n an othe r vision .

The th ree Person s O f the B lessed Tri n ity a p

p e a r e d to her u n de r t h e form o f th ree you n g m en
clothed i n wh ite garm en ts an d resplend en t with
“
l ight . I can n ot explai n what t ook place sh e ,

writes ,
except t hat the Eternal Father p resented
me with a cross beset wi t h thorn s and su rrou n ded
wi t h al l the i n strum en ts o f t h e Passion sayi n g : ,

See M y daugh ter I m ake t hee th e sam e prese n t

, ,

as I mad e t o M y Beloved S o n An d I said .

’ ‘
,
’

J esus Ch rist wi sh to attach thee t o it as I M ysel f

,

was attached an d I will keep t hee fai t hful c o m

,

pan y . The Th i rd adorable Person Who i s Love

’
, ,

would H e told m e H i m sel f con su m e an d purify

,
‘

m e thereon .

The e ffect of th i s vision w a s to leave S ister Mar

garet M ary s sou l i n deep j oy and peace Th e
’
.

i m pression wh ich it p rod uced upo n he r was n ever

82 B L ESSE D M A R G A R ET M . A L A C O QU E

“
e ffaced f rom h er m i n d though she says
, I d id ,

n ot u n dersta n d at the ti m e as I d id afterwards , ,

th e great s u ff eri n g sig n i fied by w hat I had

”
see n .

M other d e S a u m a i s e n o w told S ister M argaret

M ary to ask O ur Lord to restore h er to heal t h .

S he obeyed with si m p l icity tho u gh her l ove o f ,

su ffe ri n g m ad e her d read bei n g heard Then he r .

S uperio r told her tha t he r cure would be l ooked

u pon as a p roof that what passed with i n h er cam e
from G od an d that s h e w ould the n be al lowed
,

to do what O u r Lord had com m anded both as ,

rega rded her Co m m u n i on on th e Fi rst F ridays

an d th e H 01 H ou r o n Th ursdays A l l th i s S is t e r .

M argaret ary laid before O u r Lord a n d God , ,

w ho wish ed to give a n u n doubted p roof O f th e

hol i n ess of H is servan t and the truth of th e graces
,

with wh ich H e had favou red her i m m ed iately ,

c u red he r bestowi n g the favou r o n her th rough

,

th e hand s o f O ur Lady .

“
Th e B lessed V i rgi n m y ki nd M oth er S h e
, ,
“
writes , favoured m e w ith her p rese n ce S he .

caressed m e te n derly an d after con ve rsi n g a lon g

,

ti m e with m e s h e said : Let the heal th wh ich I

,
‘

bestow o n thee at th e Wi l l O f my Son e n courage

th ee m y daughte r Thou hast yet a lon g an d
, .

pai n ful way to g o Tho u wi lt always be u pon

.

the cross pierced with n ai l s an d thorn s and torn

,

with scou rges B ut fear n othi n g ; I p rom ise thee

.

m y p rotection a nd I wi l l n ever forsake thee

S iste r M argaret M ary ex p erie n ced O u r Lady s ’
'

fid el i ty to th is p ro m i se ove r and over agai n o n

occasion s o f n eed .

S uch a vi si bl e m i racle a s th is con v i n ced M othe r

d e S a u m a i s e of the truth of the favou rs God
'

bestowed on H i s servan t but th i s conv ictio n ,

ca rri ed wi th i t a n e w d i fficulty for the S u p erio r

R EVE L AT I O N S O F T H E SAC R E D H EA R T 83

a n d n ew su fferi n g for S ister Margare t M ary .

M oth e r d e S a u m a i s e deem i n g herself i n capable ,

o f gu id i n g o n e s o h igh ly favoured by God thought ,

i t h er d uty t o o bl ige the youn g religious t o break

the si l en ce s h e had kept ti l l n o w abou t the a ff ai rs
o f her soul She had con fided i n n o on e but
.

M othe r d e S a u m a i s e both from h u m i l ity an d al so ,

i n obedie n ce for treati n g th e whole m a t ter as a n

, ,

il l usion t he Superior had forbidden her to speak

,

upo n t he s u bj ect .

N o w however s h e w a S t o l d t o con sult som e

, ,
'

experienced d i rectors about he r state o f soul an d ,

t o relate to the m t he won derful favours s h e had

rece ived H e r con feren ces with t hese d i rec t ors
.
,

t o whom s h e spoke separa t ely an d a t d ifferen t

ti m es were th e cause o f fresh h u m i l iatio n to
,

her They c o n de m n ed he r at t raction fo r prayer

.
,

t rea t ed h er as a visionary an d would n o t al l o w ,

her t o fol low the i n sp i ra t ion s wi t h which s h e was

favou red .

Al l th i s w a s a terri ble trial t o th e poor Sister ,

bu t she d id h e r utm ost to obey whateve r sh e felt .

“ “
I mad e every effort sh e wri t es t o resist , ,

these attraction s bel ievi n g ass u redly tha t I was

,

deceived ; but fi n d i n g i t was useless t o Oppose

them I t ho ught myself aban do ned by G o d si nce
, ,

o n the on e han d I w a s told it w a s n o t the S pi rit

,

an d o n t h e ot h er it w a s i mpossi ble fo r
'

o f Go d , ,
”
m e to resist the S pi ri t which a ttrac t ed m e In .

this as i n eve ry t rouble S he t urn ed to O ur Lord

, , ,

t o fin d h er stren g t h an d con solation i n H i m H e r .

D ivi n e M as t er gen tly reassured her prom isi n g ,

that H e would soon sen d o n e o f H is faithful

servan t s t o Paray t o wh o m she was t o d i sclose , ,

as H e should d i rect all t he secrets of H i s Sacred ,

H ear t con fided to her .

I n the mean ti m e O ur L ord conti n u ed to sh o wer

84 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

H i s favou rs u pon H i s spouse O n the Feast .

A l l Sai n ts 16 74 s h e h eard these word s

,

R ien d e i l l é d a n s l i n n o c e n ce
’
sou
R ien n e se p e rd d an s l a p u i s s a n ce
R i en n e se p a s s e e n c e b e a u s éj o u r
”
To u t s y m e d an s l
’ ’
co n s o m am o u r .

Thi s w a s explai n ed to h er i n the followi n g way .

S he was n o t to all ow th e sl igh test stai n i n h er

heart o r soul wh ich were to be kept i n great
,

i n n oce n ce an d sh e w a s t o abando n hersel f c o m

,

p l e t e l y to G o d W h
, o is al l powerfu l The t w o last
-
.

l i n es refe rred t o H eave n wh ere n oth i n g passes ,

away for all i s etern al an d where al l i s perfect

, ,
“ “
l ove. The n sh e, says I w a s all owed a ,

gl i m pse o f th is bl i ss O God i n t o what tran s

" .

”
p orts O f j oy d id it n ot th row m e " B ut soo n
sh e was give n to u n de rsta n d that she w a s n ot
yet ready for H eave n .

C e s t e n v a i n q u e t o n c oeu r s o u pi re ,
’

P o u r y e n t re r c o m m e t u c ro i s
I l n e f au t p a s q u o n y a s pi re
’

Q pu e a r l e c h e m i n d e l a C ro i x .

’
A n echo su rely O f the Apostle s words that ,
“
th rough m an y tri bulation s we m us t en te r t he
”
Ki n gdom o f G o d .

The year 16 74 was n ow rapid ly d rawi n g to a

close . The Feas t o f St J oh n t he Evan gel i st ,

D ecem be r 2 7 t h w as th e day chosen by O u r Lord

,

for d isclosi n g to H i s chosen d iscipl e on e o f t he

grea t es t revelatio n s of H i s H eart I n after years .

S iste r M argare t M ary wrote an accou n t of th i s m ost

S ign al favou r t o her d i rector P ere R ol i n S J , , .

“
O n the Feast o f S t J oh n th e Evan gel ist
aft er havi n g received fro m my D ivi n e Saviou r a
favou r si m i lar to tha t bestowed upo n the Beloved
D i sci p l e on the eve n i n g of the Last Su pper the ,
R EVE L AT I O N S O F T H E S AC R ED H E A R T 85

D ivi n e H eart w a s represented to m e as o n a th ron e

of fi re an d flam es shedd i ng rays O f l i g h t o n every
sid e brigh t e r t han t he s u n an d tran spare n t as
,

crystal Th e Wou nd wh ich H e had received o n

.

the Cross was clearly V isi ble A crown o f th o rn s.

e n ci rcled the D ivi n e H ear t an d I t w a s su rm o u n ted

by a cross M y D ivi n e Saviou r made m e un der
.

s t an d t hat th ese i n strum e n ts o f H i s Passi on were

sym bols t hat H i s i m men se l ove fo r m en had bee n
,

t he sourc e O f al l the suffe ri ngs an d h u m i l iati o n s

H e had e n d u red for us t ha t from t he first m om e n t
o f His I ncarn a t i on al l these to rm en t s an d th i s
ign o m i n y had been presen t to H i m and t hat t he ,

Cross had bee n eve n from th is fi rst m om en t plan t ed ,

as i t were i n H is H eart t hat H e had i m med ia t ely

,

accepted i n order to p rove H i s love for u s all

, ,

th e h u m il ia t ion s poverty an d sufferi n gs t ha t H i s

, ,

Sacred H um an i t y w a s to end u re d u ri n g H i s whole

m or tal l i fe an d als o al l the ou t rages t o wh i ch H i s
,

l ove would expose H i m t o t h e en d o f ti m e i n t he

Bl essed Sacram en t of th e Al t ar .

“
Then O u r Lord mad e m e u n d ers t an d tha t i t
was th e great desi re H e has to be perfec t ly l o ved
by m en t hat had m ade H i m man ifes t H i s H eart
,

to the m open i n g to t hem the t reasu res o f love

, ,

m ercy grace s a n ct i fi ca t i o n an d salva t i o n wh ich I t

, ,

co ntai n s s o tha t al l t h o se w h o would wish t o

,

p rocu re H i m all the hon our possible m ight be ,

C opiously e n riched wi t h the d ivi n e t reasu res o f

”
which H i s Sacred H ear t i s the S o urce .

“
H e assured m e t ha t H e took special pleasure
i n bei n g hon oured u n der t h e represen t ation of t he
H ear t o f flesh a n d t hat H e desi red such re p re
,

s c u ta t ion s to bec o m e publ ic s o tha t t h e hard hearts

,

of men m ight t he reby be t ouched H e p r o m ised

.

m e tha t H e w o u ld p o u r for t h t h e g ift s of H i s l o ve

ab u ndan tly on al l those w h o should hon our H i s
86 B L ESS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

H eart an d that whereve r the i mage of H i s H eart

shou ld b e exposed fo r special ve n e ra t ion i t would
d raw d o w n every sort o f blessi n g, I n fi n e I ,

u n de rs t ood that thi s devo t ion w a s a last effort o f

H i s love towards Ch ri stian s o f these la t ter ti m es
by p roposi n g to t hem an Obj ec t and a m ean s so
calculated t o persuade them t o love H i m an d t o
l ove H i m sol idly .

“
A ft er th is co nti n ues S is t er M argaret M ary
, ,

m y D ivi n e Savi ou r spoke these words to m e

M y daughter th i s is th e work for which I have
,

chose n t hee ; i t i s for th is that I have gi ven th ee

s uch great graces an d have taken such special
,

care Of thee from t hy crad le I have M yself bee n

.

thy M aste r an d D i rector s o as to d ispose t hee for

,

M y great graces am on gst wh ich thou shou ldst

,

especially signal ise that by wh ich I reveal to thee

an d give thee th e greatest o f al l treasu res i n ,
”
showi n g thee an d p resen ti n g thee with M y H ear t .

F i ft een years aft e r th is vision had taken place ,

an d abou t two years before her d ea t h S i s t er ,

M argaret M ary wro t e i n J an ua ry 16 8 9 to M other

de S a u m a i s e
“
I t seem ed to m e d ear M o t her that m y heart
, ,

would m el t with co n fusio n an d gratitude whe n on ,

th e day of t he Feas t of the dearly bel oved D i sci pl e-

o f o u r Beloved ( 2 7 t h D ece m ber 1688 ) I cal led to

m i n d t hat i t w a s o n t h i s day ( 16 74) t hat m y D ivi n e
S pouse bes t owed o n m e t h e i n com p rehen si bl e
favou r o f wh ich I am s o u nworthy of all owi n g m e
, ,

to repose o n H is B reast wi th the beloved D isci ple ,

a n d o f givi n g m e H i s H eart H i s C ross an d H i s

,

love H i s H eart to be m y refuge an d m y have n

.

o f rest am id t h e t em pests of t h i s s t ormy s e a ; H is

Cross to be my th ron e o f glory i n wh ich I was ,

n o t on ly to glory b ut t o rej oice si n ce t h ere i s n o

,

good for m e but J esus H is C ross an d H i s love ;

,
 C H A P TE R I X

V E N E R A B LE C LA U DE DE LA C O L O M B I ER E
( 1 6 7 5 - 16 7 6
)
A B O U T m idway between Lyon s an d V ien n e there
l i es a smal l tow n cal led Sai n t Sym phori e n d O z o n -
’
.

H ere o n z u d February 164 1 Claud e d e la

, ,

Colom b i ere was born Th e fam i ly w a s an hon ou r

.

abl e on e an d essen tial ly Ca t hol ic an d pious .

Claud e l earn t from h i s m other those l esson s o f

vi rtue an d p iety wh ich ch aracterised h i s whol e l ife .

H e was educated at th e celebrated J esui t Col lege at

Lyon s an d was on ly eightee n an d a hal f years o f
,

age whe n on 2 2 n d O ctobe r 16 5 9 h e j oi n ed the

, ,

Soci ety of J esus H e passed h i s N ovicesh i p at

.

Avign on w a s se n t back to Lyon s to p u rsue h i s

,

stud ies for the p riesthood w a s ordai n ed i n 1669

.
, ,

and w o n great success as a bri l l ian t rhetorician

an d a risi n g orator .

B ut God had better th i n gs i n store fo r Cla u d e d e

‘
l a Colom b i ere than th e d evelop m en t of these gi fts ,

great as th ey were H is m other h a d s a i d t o h i m

.
,

as s h e lay on her deathbed “

Yo u wi l l becom e a ,

great Sai n t m y s o n ,
a nd th ese word s seem ed
,

l i kely to be fulfill ed for whe n he was recal led fro m

,

the U n iversity o f Lyo n s to make h i s Tert i an sh i p ,

Claude gave h i msel f up heart an d sou l to God an d

to the p u rsuit of perfection .

A lthough o n ly t h i rty th ree years o f age h e was

-
,

sen t as R ector to Paray l e M on ial early i n t he

‘
- -

J an uary of 16 7 5 Som e
. p eopl e thought that i t
88
 CLAU D E D E LA C O L O M B I ER E ‘

89

was waste to sen d a you n g and g ifted man to

such a s mall place bu t Go d had H is own design s
, .

The great work of Father d e la Colom bi ere s l i fe ’

th e d i rection of B lessed M argaret M ary —was made

possibl e by th is m ean s The n ew R ector en tered at
.

on ce upon h is d uti es M uch hel pful i ntercou rse

.

al ready existed between th e J esu i t Fathers and t h e

Con ve n t o f the Visitation a t Paray s o t he n ew ,

S uperior soo n fou nd h i m sel f i n com m u n ication

with S ister M argaret M ary The fi rst ti m e t hat.

he cal led on the C o m m u n ity she h eard i n t eriorly

“
but ve ry d is t i n ctly these w o rds , This i s he
”
whom I have sen t to thee A few days later
.
,

Father de la Colom bi ere we n t t o th e conven t as

extraordi n ary confessor d u ri n g the Len t E mber
days S iste r M argare t M ary says o f th is occasi o n
.

“
I soon recogn ised t he tru t h o f th e words I had
heard for al t hough w e had n ever seen o r sp o ken
,

to each other he kept m e a very l on g ti m e an d

,

talked to m e as though h e u nderstood al l the

secre ts of m y hear t B ut I did n o t wan t t o con fid e
.

ful ly i n h i m o n that o ccasion I wished to with .

d raw fo r fear o f i n con ven ien ci n g t h e Com m u n i t y .

H e t he n asked m e i f he should com e an d speak to

m e another ti m e i n the sam e place bu t bei n g ,

natural ly ti m id I was afraid an d o n ly an swered

, ,

that bei n g u n der obedien ce I should do as I w a s

”
told about i t .

Shortly after th is Father de la Colom bi ere came

,

to give a con ference t o t he C o m m u n i t y ; he was

struck by the appearan ce o f S ister M argare t M ary ,

an d asked R evere nd M ot her de S a u m a i s e w h o

she w a s describi n g the place S he had occupied
,
.

O n bei n g t old her n am e he remarked t ha t ,

sh e was certai n ly a chosen s o ul M other de .

S a u m a i s e had a very h igh opi n ion o f Fa t her

de la C olom bi ere and s o decided to tel l Sister
,
90 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

M argaret M ary to o p en her heart e n ti rely to

,

hi m .

’
R ecogn isi n g G od s Wi l l i n th is wish of her
S uperio r the h u m bl e S iste r obeyed but n ot
, ,
.

w ithout very grea t rep ugnance S he bega n he r

con fessio n by accusi n g hersel f o f t h is fau lt as ,

she co n sidered it an d for al l reply Father de la

, ,

Colom bi ere said that h e w a s very glad to give

he r a n opportu n ity of m aki n g a sacri fice for G o d .

The n her d i fficul ty van ished and wi thou t pai n or

,

troubl e s h e l aid bare he r sou l before h i m co nceal ,

i n g n eithe r good n o r i l l Th e resul t was that she

.

received great con solation a n d en couragem en t .

H e ass u red her that she had n oth i n g to fear i n '

f o l lowi n g th e g u idan ce o f the S p i ri t wh ich l ed h e r ,

as lo n g as s h e n ever failed i n obedien ce that s h e

ough t to abando n hersel f whol ly to G o d s W i l l to ’

be sacri ficed an d i m m olated accord i n g to H is good

“
pleasu re . H e express ed h i s adm i ration sh e ,
“
says ,
at the good n ess of God i n n ot havi n g bee n
repel led b y so m uch res istan ce o n m y part H e .

taught m e to val ue th e gi ft s o f G o d an d t o ,

receive H i s com m u n icatio n s an d the fam i l iar i n ter

course w i th wh ich H e favou red m e with great
respect an d h u m il ity tell i n g m e that I ought
,

to be con sta n tly gi vi n g than ks fo r such great

”
go o d n ess .

Then S ister M argaret M ary s p oke of h er

d i fficu lties with regard t o V ocal praye r d i fficulties ,

wh ich arose from the close u n io n o f he r soul

wi th God Father d e l a Colom b i ere told her
.

t o b e satisfied wi th those vocal prayers which were

of obl i gation but to s a y the rosary when ever s h e
,

could She added a word about the ve ry i n ti m ate

.

u n io n o f love she enj oyed with th e B eloved o f he r

so ul an d was told that th is should be to h e r a
,

s p ecial su b j ect for hu m i l iatio n and that for h i m

,
9 2 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

that the two heart s were he r o w n an d that of Father

de la Colom bi ere .

I n th e accou n t s h e afterwards gave o f thi s vision ,

“
sh e says : O u r L o rd gave m e to u n d erstan d t ha t
th is u n ion would be whol ly fo r t he g l ory o f H i s
Sac red H eart the treasures of wh ich H e wished
,

m e to d iscover to H is se rvan t s o th at h e m ight ,

m ake kn own th ei r t ru e val ue an d that for th i s

,

en d H e wished that we shou ld be as brothe r an d

siste r shari n g eq ual ly i n these sp i ritual go o ds
, .

I t he n represen ted to H i m m y pover ty an d th e grea t

i n equal ity the re was b etween a m an of such great
vi rtue an d a wretch ed si n n er l i ke mysel f U pon
, .

thi s J esus said t o m e

, The i n fin i t e riches o f M y
H eart wi l l s upply for eve ryth i n g an d make al l
eq ual . Let h i m kn ow th is an d fea r n oth i n g
, .
’

The Sai n ts are n ot to be outdon e i n h u m i l ity .

Father de la Colom bi ere w a s eq ual ly con fu sed

when S is t er M argaret M ary told h i m t ha t G o d had
chose n h i m as a n i n stru m en t for th e gl orifica t i on of
H i s Sacred H eart The con sciousn ess Of h i s own
.

u n wor t h i n ess ove rwhel m ed h i m an d S iste r M ar ,

garet M ary declared t hat n o serm on had eve r

affected her so deeply as the profou n d h u m i l ity
w i t h wh ich h e r d i rector received t h e m essage she
gave h i m from O u r Lord .

O n e o f th e poi n ts upon which S iste r M argaret

M ary asked advice was wi t h regard to som e co m
m u n i ca t i o n s sh e had received from O u r Lord about
certai n people to whom s h e fel t i n te ri orly u rged
,

eithe r to write o r speak i n order t o stre n g t he n the m

,

i n trial an d tem ptati on o r to i n duce th em t o make

,

th e sacrifices God req u i red o f them O u r Lord .

had t old her that s h e was n ot t o t roubl e hersel f

about the way s h e wrote or spoke these t h i n gs ,

because H e would H i m self at tach to t he m t h e

u ncti on o f H is grace s o that th ey would p rod uce
,
 CL A U D E D E LA C O L O M B I ER E 93

the e ffect H e desi red o n those w h o received them

well .

A s a m atter Of fact these n otes were n ot always

wel l received by th o se t o whom t hey were
add ressed Th ey brough t man y h u m i lia t ions o n
.

th e write r w h o w a s requested n ot to m eddle with

,

th i n gs that d id n o t con cern her These rebuffs .

troubled S ister M argaret M ary n ot because s h e ,

herself w a s s n ubbed but because s h e really began

,

to fear that there w a s a certai n i nd iscretion i n

wri ti n g such n o tes .

Fath e r de la Colom bi ere though t o t herwise H e .

told her to fol low the i n terior suggestion s s h e shou ld

receive i n t h is matter whatever trouble o r hu m il ia,

t ion i t m ight cause he r ; t o show her n otes t o her

S uperi o r an d th e n either to give them or n o t a s S he
,
”
w a s t old . I kep t to th is advice s h e says bu t , ,

it br o ught m e m uch h u m i l iati o n from creatu res .

Father de la Colom bi ere n ow t old Sis t er M ar

‘

ga ret M ary to write an accou n t of al l that passed

i n her soul Th is order w a s a very bitter t rial to
.

her n everthel ess s h e obeyed We have n o t pr o

,
.

fi t e d however by this accoun t because overcom e

, , , ,

by her hu m i l ity s h e had n o soon er wri t ten i t t han

,

s h e th rew i t i n to t h e fi re Agai n w e have her o w n.

“
com men t I s uffered m uch i n con sequence .

What w a s said to m e o n t he subj ect gave m e a

scruple about it and I was forbidden to repea t my
,
”
con d uct .

The O cta ve of th e Feast o f C o rp u s Christi ( 16 7 5 )

was th e ti m e chosen by O u r L o rd for what w a s ,

perhaps t h e m ost i m p o r tan t and i s certai n ly t h e

, ,

best kn own o f the revela t ion s concern i n g t he

,

dev o tion to the Sacred H ear t I n th is vision .

Father de la C o l om bi ere was appoi n ted by n am e

t o assist S is t er M argaret M ary i n the establ i shmen t
of th e devotion .
94 B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

Fo r fou r or five m o n th s p reviously the sai n tly ,

d i rector had tried a nd t ested h i s pe n i t en t H e

, .

w a s a man n o t at al l give n to bel ieve any t h i n g

withou t s u ffici e n t eviden ce but bei n g gift ed with
,

d i scern m e n t he recogn ised that i t was i m possi bl e

that on e so hu m bl e an d obed ien t as Si ste r Margaret
M ary should be t h e victi m of del usion When .
,

therefore s h e t old h i m of O u r Lord s grea t revela

,
’

tion he had n o d oubt at al l o f i t s truth an d told

, ,

her forthwith t o wri t e an accou n t of i t that h e ,

m igh t study i t at leisure A fter exam i n i n g it with

.

m uch p rayer Fa t h er d e la Colom bi ere sol em n ly

,

declared to Sis t e r M argare t M ary t hat h e had n o

d o ubt as to i t s d ivi n e origi n or as to h er o bl igatio n
,

to obey i m pl ici t ly Th e accou n t was as foll ows

.

“
A s I was before the B lessed Sacra m en t o n a
day d uri n g th e O cta ve of Corpus Ch risti I received ,

fr o m God m ost special graces of H i s l ove I fe l t .

m oved with t he desi re of m aki n g H i m som e return ,

an d givi n g H i m love for l ove an d H e said to m e ,

‘
Thou can st n ot m ake M e a m ore acceptabl e re t u rn
of love than by doi n g wha t I have so often asked
of th ee . Then showi n g m e H is D i vi n e H eart H e
’
,

said : B eh o ld t h i s H eart wh ich has s o loved m en

‘
,

that I t h a s spared n o t h i n g eve n to exhaus t i n g and

,

con su m i n g I tsel f t o prove t o them I ts l Ov e I n .

retu rn I receive from t h e greater n u m ber n oth i n g

,

bu t i n grati tude con tem pt i rreveren ce sacri lege

, , , ,

a nd cold n ess i n t h is Sacram en t o f M y love B u t .

what I feel sti l l more is that there are hearts c o n

s e c ra t e d to M e wh o u s e M e t h us Therefore I a s k .

o f thee t ha t the Fi rst F riday after t he O ctave of

the Blessed Sacram e n t shal l be kept as a special
Feas t i n hon ou r of M y H eart to m ake repara t ion ,

for al l the i n dign ities o ffered t o I t an d a s a C o m ,

m u n ion day i n order to aton e for t he u n worthy ’

treatm e n t I t has received w hen exposed u po n the

96 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

M argaret M ary received from Fath er d e la Colom

bi ere d u ri n g h is sh o r t stay at Paray B ut n either .

th e n a me an d au t hori ty of the Father R ector n or

h i s reputation f o r l earn i n g an d piety were su ffi cien t
to s t op th e busy ton gues of t hose w h o d i sbel i eved
i n o r w h o stron gly d isapproved of t h e sai n tly n u n
, ,

whose gu idan ce h e had u ndertaken Th i s h o w .

,

ever d id n ot d eter Father d e la Col om bi ere i n the

,

least H e taugh t S is t er M argaret M ary how to

.

correspon d with O u r Lord s design s i n h er regard

’

a n d reassu red her i n th e fears s h e con stan tly fel t

o f bei n g deceived O n th e other h an d S is t e r M ar
.

garet M ary was abl e by t he l ight s h e received i n

p raye r to re nde r her d i rec t or val uabl e assi s t an ce .

S he spoke to h i m o f h is q uitti n g F ran ce som e ti m e

before h i s S upe ri ors had had an y thoughts of sen d
i n g h i m to E n glan d H e rece ived i n deed q u ite
.
,

an othe r order wh ich he was j ust prepari n g to act

,

u pon when the fi n al order cam e

, Pari s en r o u t e ,

for London
—
.

S iste r M argaret M ary w a s h u man s h e had

h u man feel i n gs as we have and m oreove r s h e , , ,

possessed a heart partic ularly se n sitive t o gratitude

towards those w h o had i n an y way helped he r .

The blow the n of losi n g her frie nd an d con fessor

, ,

aft e r ei ghtee n S hor t mon ths was a great o n e yet ,

sh e bore i t wi th m os t perfect con form ity to the

W i l l of God Wh e n s h e was i ncl i n ed to let he r
.

thoughts dwel l eve n m om en tarily upon i t O u r Lord ,

rep roached her : What " A m I n ot su ffi ci en t fo r

thee I Who am t hy Fi rst B egi n n i n g an d thy Last
,
” “
End " Th i s was e n ough she says ,to lead ,
”
m e to abando n mysel f en ti rely to H i m .

B efore Father de la Colom bi ere l eft fo r E n glan d ,

he g ave th e foll owi n g n ote of advice to h is holy

pen i te n t . R e m em ber that God asks o f you every
th i n g an d n oth i n g H e asks everyth i n g because
.
,
 CLAUD E D E LA C O L O M B I ER E 97

H e would reign over you an d with i n y o u as i n

that which belon gs wholly t o H i m s o t hat H e can,

d ispose o f eve ry t h i n g tha t n othi n g i n you may

,

resi s t H i m but t hat al l may ben d t o H im an d obey

,

t h e least S ign o f H i s Wil l H e asks n o t h i n g of

.

y o,
u because H e wishes H i mself to do everythi n g
i n you without o u r i nterferi n g i n anythi ng c o n
, ,

ten t i n g yoursel with bei n g th e subj ect on wh ich

an d i n which H e acts s o t hat all g lory m ay be H i s
, ,

an d that H e alon e may be kn own loved and praised

,

for ever .

I n her turn S iste r M argaret M ary gave her

di rector som e n otes wh ich helped t o guid e h i m i n
the i m portan t an d d i ffi cult work to wh ich he w a s
bei n g sent Fath er de la C o lom bi ere at t ributed t h e
‘

m easu re o f S uccess tha t w a s h is i n his E n gl ish

m ission t o th e l i ghts com m u n icated t o hi m from
Paray H e wrote to he r personally very rarely bu t
.
,

was i n freq uen t c o rresponden ce with he r S uperior ,

se n di n g an d receivi n g m essages from S is t er Mar

garet M ary th rough her I n t hi s w a y these two
.

chose n souls remai n ed u n i t ed bou nd t o ge t her a s

,

they were by O u r Lord s choice o f them as H i s

’

i n s t ru m en t s f o r t he developmen t an d propaga t ion

of devo t ion to H is Sacred H ear t .
 C H A PT E R X

THE M E S S AG E To E N GLA N D
16 7 6- 16
( 79 )

FO R cen tu ries E n gland had been k n own as O u r

Lady s D owry an d t he I slan d o f Sai n ts I t lost i ts
’
.

clai m t o both t hese titles alas " i n the six t ee n th

,

cen t u ry bu t M ary s p rayers d id n ot cease to p r o tect

,
’

th e lan d i n wh ich s h e had been so hon ou red M ay .

w e n ot t h i n k t hat i t w a s i n an swer t o her peti t ion

tha t t h e devotion t o the Sac red H eart was brough t
d i rec t from Paray l e M on ial t o ou r lan d i n 16 7 6
- -
,

an d t hat i t i s owi n g to her care that i n o u r o w n

day the good seed sown am idst such d i ffi cu lties
by Ven e rabl e Fathe r de la Colom bi ere m ore than ,

two hu n d red and forty years a g o i s n ow breaki n g ,

i n t o blossom which bears prom ise o f a rich harves t

,

fo r the D ivi n e H eart at n o very d i s t an t date ?

A l l for J esus t h rough M ary S o was i t ever i n
.

E n glan d i n the old en days of faith s o p lease God , , ,

m ay i t be agai n i n the lan d we love s o wel l .

The pos iti on o f chaplai n to t he D uch ess o f Y o rk ,

wh ich Fa t her d e la Colom bi ere w as cal led upon t o

fil l w a s a d el icate an d peri lous on e Th e sch i sm
, .

o f H e n ry V I I I. and th e t errible persecu t io n s Of t he

reign o f E lizabeth had n ot succeeded i n stam pi n g
out th e old faith en t i rely from the land I n deed .
,

Cathol ics had hoped that the retu rn of Charles I I .

to the th ron e of hi s fath ers w o uld m ean a revival

of the an ci en t faith The Queen o f E n glan d ,

C atheri n e o f B ragan za w as a C athol ic a n d the

, ,
98
I oo B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

out on ly to vi sit the S ick o r th ose to w hom h e

hoped t o be of servi ce D evoti n g h i m sel f en ti rely
.

to God an d the good of h is n eighbou r he n ever ,

”
con versed wi t h an y except on rel igious topics .

Fa t her de la Colom bi ere soon becam e accustomed

to E n gl ish l i fe though i t m ust have been very
,

d istastefu l to h i m i n m any ways H e was kept .

ful ly o ccupied a s w e learn fr o m a n ote h e wrote

,
“
to hi s b r o ther i n N ovem ber 16 7 6 I am al ready .

as m uch accustomed to E n gl ish l ife as i f I had bee n

born i n Londo n I fi nd a grea t m any Catholics
.

here but am told that the n u m be r of th e d evout

,

am on gst them i s sm al l I am n ot su rprised at th is

.
,

for had we as l i tt le spi ri tual hel p i n Fran ce as they

have here I t h i n k ou r sta t e would be worse t han
,

thei rs N o E n gl ish subj ec t i s all owed to e n te r the

.

A mbassad o s Ch a pel t o hear M ass an d si n ce m y

r
’

arrival m en h ave bee n placed at the d o ors of al l the

.

chapels t o arrest an y E n gl ishman wh o m ight be

see n en teri n g Th ere are m an y Fren ch m en i n
.

Lon don bu t i t is a year S i nce they have received

,
”
a n y i n structi on .

Fath er d e la Colom bi ere p reached t w o Le nte n

cou rses as wel l a s a serm on o n every S u nday a nd
festival i n the Chapel R oyal H e had a si n cere .

ad m i ratio n for the D uchess o f York who led a t ruly ,

”
ed ifyi n g l ife Th e D uchess of Y o rk h e wri t es
.
, ,
“
i s a P ri n cess of t he deepes t piety She com .

m u n i c a t e s weekly s o m eti m es often er an d spen ds

, ,

an hou r every day i n m en tal p rayer H e r d ream .

i s to fou n d a Conve n t of your O rder ( th e Visi t ation )

” “
i n Flanders for E n gl ish gi rls A n d agai n : I.

serve a P ri n cess pious i n every sen se o f the w o rd

ge n tle am iabl e an d an example o f al l tha t i s g o od
, , .

No h istorical rec o rd has bee n k ep t of th e detai ls

o f Father de la Colo m bi ere s apostol ic l ife i n ’

E n gland b u t that h e s pe n t h i s days i n ard uous

,
 TH E M ESSAGE T O E N GLAN D 10 1

labo u r may be con cl uded from t w o thi n gs H is .

health gave w a y u nder the str a i n an d though th e

,

E n gl ish cl im a t e probably had someth i n g t o do with

th is i t is eviden t that h is work was th e m ai n cause
,

of the d isease which u nderm i n ed h is stren gth an d

bro u ght h im i n a fe w years t o the grave The .

secon d i nd icatio n of hi s labours w e gather from

the l itany com posed by B lessed M argaret M ary
i n h i s hon ou r shortly after h is death where sh e ,
”
cal ls h i m Voice of an Apostl e B uckler o f t h e
,
” ”
Cathol ic Fai th an d D estroyer o f H eresy
, She .

declared t ha t he em ployed al l h is eloquence i n

maki n g kn own th e grea t n ess o f God c o n ve r t i n g ,

si n n ers to pen an ce an d d rawi n g heretics to a true

con vers i on .

O n e of th e greatest hel ps h e had i n h i s di ffi cul t

w o rk lay i n the l i tt le n ote S is t er M argaret M ary had
give n h i m before he l eft Paray I t ran as fol lows
.

1 . Father de la Colo m bi ere s tal en t i s to lead

’

soul s to God ; t herefore the d evi ls w i ll do al l i n

thei r powe r again st hi m . H e wil l m eet wi t h
t rouble even from person s con sec rated to G o d
, ,

who wi l l n ot ap prove o f what he says i n h is

serm o n s to co n ver t them but i n these crosses the
g o od n ess of God wi l l be h i s s upport s o l o n g as ,

he con t i n ues to trus t i n H i m .

2 . H e m ust have a com passio n ate gen tlen ess

for s i n n ers an d on ly u s e severe m eas ures whe n
,

especially i n spi red by G o d t o do s o .

“
3 . Let h i m be particularly careful n o t t o d raw
g o od from its s o u rce Th is se n tence i s S hort bu t
.
,

i t con tai n s m uch which God wil l e nable hi m to

u nders tan d accordi n g to the d il igen ce with wh ich
”
he applies h im sel f to fi n d i t s m ean i n g .

Li t tle by l i t tle these w o rds were e n t i rely verified .

E ven t he thi rd poi n t wh ich sou nd s s o obscure

, ,

becam e perfectly clear to h i m i n a retreat he made

10 2 B L ESSED M A R GA R ET M . AL A C O QU E

i n February 16 77 I n a l etter o f M ay 3 rd o f that

.

year Father d e la Colom bi ere wrote to M oth e r d e

,
“
S au m ais e : I do n ot bel ieve t hat wi thout the
advice con tai n ed i n S ister M argaret s l ette r I could ’

have born e the pai n s wh ich I have s uff ered and ,

which have n ever attacked m e with m ore V iol en ce

”
than when p ressed an d overwhel m ed with work .

M other de S a u m a i s e con ti n ued to sen d h i m S ister

’
M argaret M ary s n otes from ti m e to ti m e but sh e ,

used her own d iscretion a s to whe n th ey were to be

se n t O n on e occasion s h e kept o n e of t he n otes
.
,

but seei n g from a l etter Father d e la Colom bi ere

wr o te t o her t hat he had n eed o f the advice con
t a i n e d i n i t s h e made a copy of the n ote i n te n d i n g
, ,

t o sen d i t to h i m wi tho ut men t ion i n g th e fact to

,

an y on e J ust t he n S ister M argaret M ary cam e to

.

her an d told h er that si n ce s h e s a w fit t o sen d a

copy of h er n o t e t o Fa t her de la Colom bi ere n o ,

change should be mad e i n it M o t he r d e S a u m a i s e

.

was astou n ded and o n read i n g over the copy s h e

,

had made of the n ote s h e fou n d that she had i n ,

fact ma d e a m istake i n i t that was rathe r an i m

,

portan t chan ge .

I n N ove m ber 16 7 7 Father de la Colom bi ere

,
“
wr o te agai n to M other de S a u m a i s e : I ca n n ot
tel l you what a con solatio n y o ur lette r w a s to m e .

S ister A l a c o q u e s n ote has gi ven m e great s t ren gth

’
,

an d reassures m e o n th e subj ec t of n u m berl ess

d o ubts wh ich p rese n t them sel ves to m e every day .

I am i n great di ffi culty regard i n g that wh ich sh e

desi res of m e an d do n ot kn ow what an swer t o give
her O u r Lord does n ot reveal H i msel f to m e as
.

H e does to he r an d I am far from bei n g able to

,

gi ve her advice i n an yth i n g H owever t o satisfy .

,
”
her h u m i l i t y I wi l l write to he r to day
,
-
.

What esteem Fathe r de la Colom bi ere had fo r

Sister M argaret M ary s sancti ty i s shown from th e
’
104 BLESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L AC O QU E

NOW that i n thi s twe n tieth cen t u ry B ishops an d

P riests alike are u rgi n g t hei r peopl e to con secrate
t hem selves an d thei r fam i l ies to t he Sacred H eart ,

an d that th e devotio n o f the E n th ron em en t is

beco m i n g widely kn own i n E n gland i t can n o t b u t ,

be i n teresti n g to l iste n to the words of the H oly

J esu it o f the seve n t ee nth cen tu ry as he l ifted up ,

h i s voice i n t he Chapel R oyal of St J am es Palace ’

p roclai m i n g to a han dful of Cathol ics the love o f

the D ivi n e H eart That l ove does n ot chan ge
—
.

i t i s to d ay what i t was then J esus Ch ri st i s

“ ”
yesterday to day an d th e sam e fo r ever the
,
-
, ,

words t herefore uttered i n that royal pul p i t should

fi n d thei r echo i n o u r o w n hearts an d sti r us ,

u p to greater and d eeper love for the H eart that

has l oved us wi th a n everlasti n g l ove .

What wi l t Thou d o O Lord to overcom e t h is

, ,

obsti nate i n se n si bil ity ? Th e Fathers of th e Chu rch

tel l us that Tho u hast exhausted Thyself i n th i s
M ystery o f Love th e B lessed Sacram e n t o f the
,

A l tar ; if the sac red con tact o f Thy B o dy ca n n ot

break the spel l wh ich bi n ds us t o s i n wha t success ,

can we h O p e for from an y other rem edy ? I ca n

s e e i n such o u r evi l pl i gh t but o n e resource Give .

us O m y God a n ew heart p u re an d te nde r

, , , ,

n either o f marbl e n or o f b ronze a heart i n al l ,

th i n gs l i ke to Th i n e G ive us O J esus Th i n e
.
, ,

o w n H ear t . Com e O sweet H eart o f J e s u s to m y

,

breast and there if i t be possi ble l ight u p a fi re of

, , ,

l ove wh ich shall b urn wi th t he arde n t d evotion I

sh ould pay to my Savio u r an d m y G o d " C o m e ,

O Sacred H eart an d love J esus i n m e even as

,

Thou d idst l ove m e i n H i m May I l i ve on ly i n .

H i m a n d for H i m s o that at last I may l ive with

, ,

H i m for eve r a n d ever

A fter p reachi n g the Len ten serm on s i n 1 6 7 8
Father d e la Colo m b i ere s h ealth broke d own an d ’

,
 T H E M ESSAGE T O E NG LA N D 10 5

i t seem ed do u btful whether he would be a b le to

con ti n ue h is work at t he E n gl ish Court He .

expected therefore to return to F ra n ce i n Se p tem ber ,

but a letter from S ister M argaret M ary warn ed

hi m to p repare hi s sou l for fresh trial s O f th is .

“
letter h e writes : What makes m e n ow th i n k I
shal l b e here fo r som e ti m e i s that fresh harvests
p resen t themselves to be gathered and that Si ster
A l a c o q u e p repares m e for a con ti n uation of my
w ork I received you r letter an d t he pape r you
.

sen t m e from her the very day o n wh ich I had

,

seen the doctor an d was feel i n g s o weak an d l o w

,

t h a t I seem ed to have l ittle stren gth fo r the work

I foresee i n the com i n g year an d I l ooked upon ,

m y i l l n ess a s an i nterposition o f P rovidence W h o ,

seei ng my i n capacity for t he task was about to ,

w i thd raw m e from t h is cou n try Fo r th i s I w a s .

prepared but havi n g read t he n o t e exhor t i n g m e

,

n ot t o lose cou rage o n accou n t of the d i ffi culti es

before m e an d to re m e m ber that he w h o trusts i n
,

Go d is al l powerful I began t o thi n k other w i se

-
, ,
”
an d t o bel ieve that I shal l stay o n here .

Warn ed by h i s spi ri tual daughter Father d e la ,

Colom bi ere a w aited hi s trial s i n peace I n 16 7 8 .

a storm of persecution broke o u t agai n st the

Cathol ics o n accou n t O f the Titus O ates P lot The .

J esui ts as usual were the fi rst to s u ffer Fathe r

, ,
.

d e la Colo mbi ere betrayed by o n e o f h i s o w n

,

coun t rym en Luzan cy to whom he had bee n very

, ,

ki nd was arrested an d th rown i n to p rison on

,

2 6 t h November .

O n the 2 8 t h of th e sam e mon th the Fren ch

“
A m bassador wrote to Versai lles The D uchess of
Y ork s J esu i t Chaplai n Fa t her d e la Col om bi ere
’

, ,

h a s bee n take n i n t o custody charged with a tt em pt ,

i n g to con ver t a P rotestan t an d with havi n g t o ld h i m

”
that the E ngl ish K i n g was real ly a Cathol ic The .
106 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

i m p rison m en t howeve r although very rigorous

, , ,

on ly l asted th ree weeks A p etition was add ressed

.

t o the K i n g That i t wi l l please H is M aj esty to

com m an d that the said Colom bi ere may be for ever
ban i shed from th is ki n gdom an d from al l the
”
territori es and dom i n ion s of t he Crown Se n ten ce
.

was passed to th i s effec t H owever the close c o n

.

fi n e m e n t i n p ri so n had seriously a ffected the h oly

J esu it s heal t h an d he was forced t o beg for a
’

reprieve Ten days were gran ted to h i m an d h e

.

w a s given his freedom on parol e Thi s e n abled

.

hi m to take l eave of several people m uch to h is ,

own con sola t ion as wel l as to t hei rs .

H ow wi ll i n gly Fathe r de la Col om b i ere would

have given h i s l i fe i n order to wi n the n obl e
E ngl ish na t ion back to t he faith o f its fath ers an d
t o p resen t i t a s a con quest to the Sacred H eart o f
O u r Lord may be gathered from the words h e
uttered a s h e s t ood on th e deck of the vessel that
was beari n g h i m back to h is n ative land Watch .

i n g the shores of E n glan d disappear i n the m ist ,

he sai d wh il st tears started to his eyes

,

Thou kn owest O Lord that at a word at th e

, , ,

sl ightest i n ti mation from my S uperiors I am wi l l ,

i n g to retu rn t o that sh ore to work an d to s u ff er .

D oes Thy j ustice req u i re yet a n other vi cti m take ,

m y l i fe Veri ly O Lord shouldst Thou restore

.
, ,

t h is peopl e to the fold o f Thy Ch u rch Thou ,

wouldst fi n d am on gst the m man y true an d gen erous

hearts t here to glori fy as i n past d ays Thy
, ,
”
adorable Nam e .
10 8 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

that wi th M agdale n she had chosen th e better

par t wh ich should n eve r be take n away fr o m her
, ,

and givi n g her t h e pictu re of th e su ff eri n g l ife ,

H e said Th i s is what I have chosen for t hee ,

both for t he accom pl ish m en t o f M y d esign s an d

also to m ake th ee con formabl e to M ysel f The .

o ther i s a l ife of e njoym en t b ut n ot of m eri t ; ,

that i s rese rved for etern ity S ister M argaret .

M ary accepted t he pictu re of a l i fe o f sufferi n g ,

and kissed th e han d wh ich gave i t to he r althou gh ,

her whol e natu re S h uddered at the th o ugh t o f i t .

Ab o ut th is t im e O u r Lady p repared S ister

M argaret M ary st i l l m ore defi n itely fo r the work
s h e w a s to d o as a v icti m o f reparation O n the .

Feast of t he Assu m ption 16 7 7 sh e appeared t o , ,

he r a n d showed he r a c rown o f flowers wh ich

she had e n twi n ed for h erself s o that sh e m i ght ,

adorn hersel f with i t an d s o presen t herself to

,

the B lessed Tri n ity These flowe rs represe n ted

.

th e rel igi o us o f th e Paray Com m un ity O u r Lady .

the n gave her to u nderstan d that w ish i n g t o q ui t ,

th e e a rth S he foun d these flowers s o at t ached t o

,

it that on ly fiftee n remai n ed wi th her an d t hat ,

of t hese fi v e were received a s spouses of he r Son

,
.

An othe r ti m e O u r Lady sh owed her the Sacred

H eart o f J esus a s a l ivi n g Fou n tai n fr o m whe n ce ,

flowed fi v e chan n els i n to five hearts wh i ch H e

had chosen B el ow were five others wh ich received
.

m uch grace but al lowed m ost of i t to escape

,
.

A gai n on an other occas ion S is t er M argaret

M ary was sh o wn five hearts wh ich J esu s was
about to rej ect She was overcom e with sorrow
.
,
“
an d exclai m ed O Lord Thou m ayest d estroy ,

an d an n ih ilate m e but I wi l l n ot l eave T h ee u n ti l

,

Thou hast gran ted m e th e conversion of these

hearts .

I t w a s perhaps i n order to give H i s ch osen

, ,
THE V ICT I M O F TH E SAC R E D H E A R T 109

servan t a greate r com passion for others an d ,

t he refore a m ore arden t desi re to hel p t hose fo r

who m sh e w a s to make reparation t hat God ,

al lowed her t o be severely tri ed herself by t e m p t a

t ion O n e Th u rsday n igh t when sh e was maki n g
.
,

the H oly H our O ur L o rd told her that Sa t an ,

had asked t o tem pt an d t ry her by al l so rts O f

con t radic t ions h u m il iation s an d d esolation s a nd
, , ,

t hat H e had give n perm ission for her to be

subjected to al l t em ptati on s excep t th o se o f
i mpurity Sh e was to be especial ly upon her
.

“
guard agai n st prid e despai r an d gl u t ton y of, , ,
” “
wh ich s h e says ,
I had a greate r horr o r than
,
”
death .At th e sam e t i m e O u r Lord prom ised
t hat H e would H i m sel f protect he r ; s h e was t o
be par t icularly watchful over he r exteri or as H e ,

would take care of her i n terior l i fe .

The devi l l os t n o t i m e before t orm en t i n g her .

S he s a w h i m m ore than on ce a s a h ideous n egro ,

“
h is eyes b urn i n g l i ke coal s Accu rsed tha t y o u :
” “
are he said
,
i f I c a n once hold y o u i n m y
,

power I wil l make you feel wha t I can do

,
I .

”
wil l i nj u re you i n eve ry way .

We com e n ow t o an even t i n t he m on t h o f
N ove m ber 16 7 7 o n accou n t o f which som e ,

biographers have t aken a severe view o f th e

probabl e s tate Of the C o m m u n i t y at Paray at thi s
ti m e B ut we m us t rem em ber t ha t i t i s a ve ry
.

d i ffi cul t t h i n g to j udge people w h o l ived m ore

than two h und red years ago an d we m us t bear ,

i n m i n d also tha t God i n choosi n g t hat con ven t

at Paray l e M on ial as th e cradl e whence t he
- -

d e v o t i o n t o t h e Sacred H eart was to be made

,

kn own to the world m ust have had a special ,

love for i t an d m ust t herefore have exac t ed a

,

h igher standard of hol i n ess from t he m em bers o f

that privi leged Com m u n i ty than from others .
1 10 B LESSE D M A R G A R ET M . A L A C O QU E

Fau lts wh ich t o the world look l ight an d trivial are

“
n ot s o i n rel i gi ous fo r to wh o m m uch has been
,
”
given from h i m also m uch shal l be d emanded
,
.

The S isters we re certai n ly n ot perfect bu t then ,

agai n rel igious are h u m an S iste r M argaret M ary

.

m ust have bee n a puzzle to mos t Of them an d the ,

daughters o f Sai n t F ran ci s of Sal es would n atu r

al ly be particularly o n thei r guard agai n st an y
d epar t ure fro m t he beaten track i n t he way o f
S pi ritual i t y especial ly as to any s o —
, cal led n ew
d evotion seei n g tha t t he i r R ule expressly desires
,

them to be s o I t i s certai n that m any o f the

.

Sisters fai led i n chari t y t owards on e whom th ey

deem ed to be a m ere V isionary an d O u r Lord , ,
“
Whose Sacred H eart i s ful l o f ki nd n ess an d
love w a s d ispleased a t these an d o t her faul t s
, ,

an d deman ded repara t ion for them The V icti m .

H e chose was S ister M argare t M ary I w ish t o .

”
give thee M y H eart H e said t o her o n e day
, ,

but first tho u m ust make thysel f a victi m o f i m

m o l at i o n to turn aside by t hy i n terven t ion the
,

chastisem en t s which M y Father i s about t o i n fl ict

on thi s Com m u n ity At t hi s she S h uddered an d
.
,

n ot havi n g th e courage t o make t h e sacrifice of

hersel f repl ied that she cou ld n ot d o i t wi t hout t h e
,

con sen t of her S u peri or She s h ran k however .

, ,

from speaki n g to M o t her de S a u m a i s e but was ,

rep roached so persis t en t ly by o u r Lord for th i s ,

tha t s h e at l en gth told he r every t h i n g M oth e r .

d e S a u m a i s e advised her t o m ake a com plete sacri

fi c e of hersel f but she stil l con ti n ued to resi st
, .

A t last o n th e eve Of t he Feas t o f O u r Lady s ’

Presentati o n 2 0 t h N ovember whe n p rayi n g wi t h

, ,

the Com m u n ity an d struggl i n g agai n s t her re p u g

nan ce the d ivi n e j ustice was shown to her u n d e r
,

an aspect s o te rrible that s h e was qui t e ove rwhelm ed .

She heard the word s fo rm erly add ressed to St

 1 12 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

the w hol e . Sister M argaret M ary obeyed an d ,

related si m ply how God had made kn own to her

H i s di spleasure agai n st the Com m u n i ty the sacri ,

fi c e H e d eman ded o f her i n reparati on an d the ,

resistan ce s h e had m ad e t o H i s w i l l M othe r de

.

S a u m a i s e felt i n spi red by God t o subm it to t h e

warn i n g sen t to her by H is servan t S h e sen t t h e .

M o t her A ssistan t to tel l th e Com m u n ity the n ,

asse m bl ed for M a ti n s that they were to do a

,

certai n pen an ce i n reparation f o r fa u l t s w h ich

re ndered them d ispl easi n g to O u r Lord .

As m ay easi ly be i m agi n ed th is s udde n order,

w a s received wi th di smay The greater n u m ber

.

at on ce sub m itted th ei r j udgm en t an d obeyed i n a

truly rel igious spi ri t S om e ho w ever s u spec t i n g
.
, ,

that S iste r M argaret M ary had bee n t h e cause o f

it we n t to the i n fi rm a ry where s h e was an d ven ted
, ,

the i r vexati on agai n st h er M on seign eu r Lan guet

.
,

i n h i s bi ography o f th e Sai n t gives what w oul d,

seem to be a very overd raw n pictu re of th e scen e

wh ich took place Th is i s probably a ccou n ted for
.

by t he fact that at th e ti m e o f h is V isitation s o f th e

con ve n t at P aray l e M on ial i n 1 7 1 2 an d s u b s e
- -
,

q uen t years m an y o f the s isters w ho had bee n

,

co n tem poraries with B lessed M argaret M ary wou ld

sti ll have been al ive These Si sters as w e learn
.
,

fro m papers l e ft u s b y the elder rel igious were s o ,

overcom e with gri ef at the way they had treated

on e whom they n ow held to be a Sai n t that they ,

accused them sel ves i n n o m easu red term s to

M on seign eu r Lan guet an d so l ed h i m to t ake a
,

rather u nfavourabl e V iew o f the Com m u n ity a s a

whol e .

The S isters who wen t to fi nd S ister M argaret

M ary i n the i n fi rm a ry c e rt a i n l y t re a t e d her u n ki n dly .

Som e s upposed that S h e was possessed by th e

devi l : othe rs accu sed h e r Of hy p ocrisy Of fai l i n g ,
TH E V I CT I M O F TH E SAC R E D H EA R T 1 13

i n charity an d p retended that s h e was wan ti n g

,

both i n h u m il i ty an d p ruden ce At the sam e ti m e

.

w e read that o n th e fol lowi n g m orn i n g they had

al ready repen ted of thei r con d uct fo r wh i le S i ste r
,

M argaret M ary was assisti n g a t M ass s h e heard

th e followi n g words : At le n g th peace is restored
an d M y hol i n ess of j ustice i s sati sfied by the
sacri fice thou hast mad e M e I wi l l j o i n thy
.

sacrifice to M i n e an d apply i t i n favou r o f charity

as I have shown thee Therefore thou m ust n o
.

l on ger clai m anyth i n g for thysel f i n al l that tho u

dost do o r su ff er either by way o f m eri t or i n ,

satisfaction o r i n an y other way al l m ust be

, ,

sacrificed t o M e i n favou r o f charity I n i m i tation .

of M e t hou m ust act and suffer i n silen ce desi ri n g

, ,

on ly the glory of G o d an d the es t abl ish m en t of the

reign o f t he Sacred H eart i n the hearts of m en to
”
whom I wi sh to ma n ifes t M ysel f by thy m ean s .

I t would seem that O u r Lord often rewards

whole — hearted s acrifice by cal l i n g t he soul t o
close r u n ion with H i m sel f by m ean s o f n ew suffer
i n gs
. So i t was with S ister M argaret M ary .

After th e i n ciden t o f the z i s t o f N ovem be r he r ,

soul remai n ed pl u n g ed i n i n t erior d esolati o n an d

trial Everythi n g becam e m ore repugnan t t o h er
.

than ever She felt that s h e was a n obj ect of

—
.

c o n t rad ic t ion a very si n k to u s e her o w n ex

,

p ressio n — O f con tem pt an d hu m il iation She could .

n eithe r eat n or sleep Yet i n spi te o f i t al l s h e

.
, ,

wo u ld n o t al low herself to be d ispen sed from

any par t o f h e r work o r from t he strictest
,

observance o f the R ule M other de S a u m a i s e

.
,

n ot bei n g able fo r a ti m e to go to t he refec t ory ,

o n e o f t h e S i sters thought it her d uty to com pel

S is t er M argaret M ary to eat She obeyed but .

,

could re tai n n o food an d at last becam e s o weak

,
;

t hat sh e was told on ly to take what s h e could .

I
H
1 14 B LE SSE D M A R GAR ET M . AL A C O QU E
“
From th i s ti m e she says , eati n g becam e a
,

torme n t to m e I w e n t t o t he refecto ry a s to a
. .

”
place o f pu n ish m en t f o r m y si n s .

The devi l assaul t ed her viole n tly I should .

” “
hav e yi elded a thousand ti m es s h e writes had
, ,

I n ot felt an extraord i na ry p ower with i n m e ,

”
su pporti n g m e an d com bati n g for m e .

At last M other d e S a u m a i s e told he r to beg

O u r Lord to restore h er to her form e r heal th .

Yes M y daugh t e r w a s O u r Lord s reply t o

, ,
’

“
her request I wi l l give thee fresh vi gou r b u t
, ,
”
o n ly to make thee a victi m to n ew sufferi n gs .

The n ew trial was soon u pon he r A l l he r l ife .

,

as we have seen she had fel t a great fear o f bei n g

,

deceive d an d of d eceivi n g others N o w s h e w a s .

told by those about her that the devi l was th e

autho r o f al l that passed withi n he r a n d t h a t he ,
‘

would destroy her i f s h e d id n ot take care A gai n .

i t w a s O u r Lord H i m sel f Who consoled h e r .

“
What hast th o u t o fear i n the arm s o f th e
Al m ighty ? C o u ld H e al low thee to peri sh o r ,

abandon thee to th i n e e n em ies ? I have been thy

Fa t h er t hy M aster an d thy D i rector fro m thy
, ,
'

earl ies t years I have gi ve n th ee con stan t proofs

.

o f t he ten dern ess of M y H eart wh i ch I have eve n ,

given thee as thy dwel l i n g place n ow an d for ever -

;

Tel l M e what s t ron ge r proof thou d ost desi re of

,

M y l ove an d I wil l give i t to thee Why dost thou .

c o m bat agai n st M e W ho am alon e thy true an d

”
on ly Frie nd ? These rep roaches h u m bled he r ,
—
and S h e resolved n o l on ger to ta ke part i n the trials
th ey i n sis t ed on maki n g o f the Spi ri t which gu ided
he r but to c o n ten t herself w i th accepti n g whol e
, .

hear t edly an d h u m bly whateve r w a s requ i red o f he r .

Th e Con stituti on s of the O rd er o f t he V isitati on

d o n o t al low any S uperi or to be el ec t ed f o r m ore
than th ree years at a ti m e an d on l y twice c o n s e c u
,
 1 16 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

Whe n i n 1 690 G o d call ed S iste r M argaret M ary

t o H i m self M ot he r d e S a u m a i s e w h o ad m i red her
, ,

greatly an d l oved her d early wrote a few re m i n i s ,

ce n ces o f the y ea rs s h e had spe nt wi th her at

Paray .

The d esi re she felt t o resem bl e O u r Lord J esus

Ch rist as closely a s possi bl e l ed her t o d o an d
suffer m uch whi ch was ve ry crucifyi n g to n atu re
wi t h i n cred i bl e peace pa t i e nce a nd gen tle n ess
, .

I f she received an y h u m i l iat io n con trad ictio n or ,

m o rt i fi c a t i o n from he r si sters she begged earn estly,

t o be al lowed t o take the d i sci pl i n e o r perform othe r

penan ces for th ei r i n te n tio n She was n eve r better
.

pl eased than whe n s h e was despised I wi l l s a y .

n oth i n g of he r exactn ess i n all the practices Of

rel igious l i fe an d of h er seve re a n d ri goro us
,

m o rt i fi c a t i o n s as others have al ready spoke n o f

,

them . O ur Lord som eti m es al l owed he r t o

s e e th e pl easu re H e received fr o m certai n soul s .

Thus H e o nce showed he r th ree who were g o i n g

“
t o H oly Co m m u n i on an d said to her :
, I wi l l
give them th ree kisses O f peace l ove an d c o n fi, ,

de nce . She fel t i n expressi bl e d el igh t i n seei n g

O u r Lord s del ight i n these th ree souls
’
.

H av i n g see n al l that has bee n wri t t e n o f th is

perfect rel igious I can a ffi rm that i t coi n cid es
,

com pletely with al l I saw o f he r d u ri n g the s i x

years I had the hon ou r o f bei n g wi t h you r C o m
m u n ity an d also with a l l that I have l earn t of h er
,

fro m the letters I have s i n c e received i n wh ich she ,

gives m ore detai led explan ation s of the D evotion

t o the Sacred H eart o f J es us Pe rson s o f great .

m eri t who kn ew th e vi rtues of S iste r M argaret .

M ary had an d sti l l have a great respect for her

, , ,

an d declare that what passed withi n h er cam e from

G o d ; the S ign s were t o o stron g to ad m i t of an y
'

d o ubt especial ly that of he r si n ce re h u m il i ty

,
.
 C H A PTE R X I I

U N DE R M O T H E R G R EY F I E

( 16 7 8 -
16 8 4)

M O T H E R P ER O N N E R O S AL I E G R E YF I E seem s t o
have had a t wofol d m issi on regard i n g S ister Mar
garet M ary S he was a woman of great e n ergy of
.

character and w a s most zealous i n m ai ntai n i n g

,

regularity and the pri m i tive spi rit o f th e O rder

i n th e Com m u n i t ies she gove rn ed A lover of .

sim pl icity a nd Obed ience s h e possessed a sou n d

,

j udgm en t an d great d iscern me n t o f character j oi n ed ,

to a real te n dern ess o f heart These q ual i ti es fit t ed

.

her ad m i rably for h er o ffice o f S uperi o r at Paray ,

where s h e served n o t on l y t o man i fes t the u n

d ou btedly d ivi n e ori gi n o f t he favou rs r e ceived by
S iste r M argaret M ary b ut hel ped also to d i rect
,

and en courage her i n t he ways o f em i n en t san cti ty .

W riti n g i n 1 690 a few weeks after t he d ea t h o f

,

th e servan t o f God to M o ther de L evy Chateau

,
-

m orand t hen S uperior at Paray M o ther G rey fi é

, ,
“
says : Whe n I en t ered upon the servi ce of you r
h o use al t h o ugh you r C o m m u n ity was very g o od
,

an d ful l of vi r t ue a n d pie ty I n evertheless fo un d ,

Opi n ion very m uch d iv i d ed ab o ut th is t rue sp o use

o f J esus C ru c i fi e d I w a s wi t hout experi en ce o r
.

hel p fo r gu id i n g her i n such extraord i nary ways ,

an d the refore I t rusted greatly to the assu ran ces

s h e gave m e that O u r Lord would lead m e t o act
accord i n g t o H is Wi ll i n her regard O n th is .

accou n t I fol lowed my n a t u ral li ki n g for peace an d

117
1 18 B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

tran qui ll ity an d i n ord er to m ai n tai n thi s I h a rd l y

, ,

ever let an y on e s e e that I bel i eved anyth i n g extra

ord i nary about her I n eve r spoke of her ei t her
.

i n side o r outsid e th e house I f sh e d id any t h i n g

.

that d ispl eased others eve n by m y ord e rs o r pe r

,

m ission I al l o wed others to blam e h er an d blam ed

, ,

he r m ysel f i f i t was do n e i n m y p resen ce Sh e

, .

always t hought h e rs e l f i n th e wr o n g and conti n ual ly ,

asked for pen ances to satisfy the D i vi n e J ustice I f .

she had bee n all owed sh e would have tortu red her
,

poor body wi t h fasti n g wa t ch i n g d i sci pl i n es an d

, ,

othe r pe nances .

O u r Lord soon gave M other G re y fi é a p roof of

the real ity Of th e graces H e bestowed u pon H i s
chose n on e Si ste r M argaret M ary had Ob tai n ed
.

perm issi on from M other d e S a u m a i s e t o m ake th e

H oly H ou r eve ry Thu rsday n i gh t p r o s t rate up o n
t he grou nd M o the r G re y fi é first to ld her to kn eel
.

d u ri n g t he h ou r an d sh or t l y aft erwards w i thd rew

t h e perm issi o n fo r h er to m ake i t a t al l S h e w a s .

i m pl i cit l y obeyed an d herself gives the acc o u n t of

,

what happen ed
“
O ft e n d uri n g t hat ti m e S i ste r M argaret M a ry
cam e t o m e ful l o f app reh e n si o n t el l i n g m e t ha t i t
,

seem ed t o h er t hat O u r Lord w a s a ngry wi t h m e

because I had fo rbi dd e n t he H ou r s p raye r a n d tha t ’

s h e was afraid H e w o uld exac t sa t isfac t i on i n a

w a y I shou ld be sorry fo r and feel deeply I was

'

i n flexi bl e bu t the sudd e n death o n O c t ober 14t h

, .
,

o f Si ster M ary E l izabeth Carre a t t he age

’

16 78

of t w en ty —
, ,

o n e t o ge t he r with other ci rcu m s t an ces

, ,

made me t h i n k seriously on t he m at t er an d I l o s t ,

n o ti m e i n res t ori n g t h e H o u r o f p rayer to her for I ,

was con v i n ced t ha t th i s was t he p u n i sh m en t wi t h

wh ich she had t h reate n ed m e on t h e part o f O u r
”
Lord .

Towards t h e e n d o f the year 16 78 O u r L o rd ,

12 6 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

S ister M argaret M ary wil l p ray eve ry day to the

”
D ivi n e H ear t .

’
The n fol lows S ister M argaret M ary s signatu re ,
“
w ri tte n i n her o w n blood i n th i s form : S iste r
M argaret M ary d isci pl e of th e D i v i n e H eart of t he
,
”
adorabl e J esus .

O u r Lord th e n made over to her the treasures o f

H is H eart H e told her to write the word s H e
.

would d ictate to he r i n her blood I m ake thee

hei ress o f M y H eart an d of al l I t s treasu res for ti m e
an d etern ity perm itti n g thee to u s e the m accord
,

i n g to thy desi re I prom ise thee that t hou shal t

.

n ever fai l i n obtai n i n g assistan ce u n til M y H eart

shal l fai l i n powe r Thou shalt be for eve r I t s
.

bel o ved disci ple I ts d el i ght an d t h e v icti m of I t s

,

Wi l l I t al o n e shal l be the obj ect of al l thy d esi res

.

I t wi ll repai r an d s upply for all thy de fects and w i l l ,

ful fil al l thy obl igation s .

S iste r M argaret M ary havi n g wri tte n th is con

,

sol i n g prom i se thou ght she ought i n turn t o gi ve

,

O u r Lord a proof of love so taki n g a pe n kn i fe S h e ,

en graved u p o n her breast the H oly Nam e o f J esus

i n large an d deep l ette rs .

Shortly afterwards O u r Lord spoke agai n to he r

M y Saviou r told m e that H e wou ld take care to
recom pen se a h u n d red fold al l the good that shoul d
be don e to m e as i f don e to H i m sel f si n ce I n o
, ,

l on ger wished to lay an y clai m to i t ; an d i n order

to re ward her w h o had d rawn up the testam en t
i n H is favou r H e would bestow on her the sam e
,

reward that H e had gi ven to St Clare of M on te

falc o n e Therefore H e wou ld add t o h er acti o n s
.

t he i n fin ite m erit o f H i s o w n and by th e l ove of ,

H i s Sacred H eart w ould enable he r to m eri t the

same c rown a s th is Sai n t .

S is t er M argaret M ary s rem ark u pon th i s shows

’

u s how tenderly an d for what supern atu ral m o t ives

 U N D E R M O TH E R G R E YF I E

“
sh e l oved h er S uperior Th is p rom ise gave m e .

great con solation fo r I l oved her m uch because s h e

, ,

n ourished m y soul abu ndan t ly with the del icious

b read of m o rt i fi ca t i o n an d h um il iation .

Early i n J an uary i n 167 9 Father de la Colom , ,

bi ere arrived i n Fran ce H e paid a passi n g visit

‘

t o Paray m uch to the j oy of h i s revered spi ritual

,

daughter an d of her Superior M other G re y fi é .

sti l l hesitated i n bel ievi n g t hat t he work i n S ister

’
M argaret M ary s soul w a s e n ti rely God s Sh e ’
.

was q uite reassu red o n th i s poi n t by Fa t her d e la

Colom bi ere H e tol d her that h e had n o hesi t ati on
.

i n bel i evi n g her to be led by t he S pi ri t O f God .

“ ” “
What does i t ma t ter he said eve n though , ,

i t were an i l lusion of t he devi l provided it prod uce ,

i n he r th e sam e effect as would be prod uced by t he

grace of o u r L o rd ? B ut there is n o appearan ce o f
the devi l havi n g an y part i n it for i n tha t case , ,

i n wish i n g t o deceive her he would be deceivi n g ,

h i msel f fo r h u m i l i t y si m pl icity exact obedien ce

, , ,

an d m o rt i fi ca t i o n are n ot the fruits o f t he spi rit of

”
darkn ess At these word s says M othe r G re y fi é
.
, ,
“
I felt grea t ly reassu red because whateve r cou rse ,

I took I always fou n d S i ste r M argaret M ary faith

,

ful i n th e practice of these vi rtues a nd i n the exact ,

”
observance of her d uties .

I t was however to S is t er M argare t M ary hersel f

, ,

that Fathe r de la Colom bi ere s V i sit was especially ’

wel l t i m ed S he was su fferi n g t erri bly fr o m t h e

-
.

tem ptation s about which she had bee n warn ed by

O u r Lord At o n e t i m e i t was t o despai r The
. .

devi l represen t ed to h er t ha t i t w a s useless fo r her

t o hope for H eaven void as s h e was o f al l love ,

o f G od and that she would be deprived o f H i m

,
“ ” “
for etern i ty Thi s m ade m e she says
. shed , ,

fl o ods o f t ears At oth er t i m es she was t e m p t ed

.

t o vai n glory and very Oft en t o wha t s h e cal ls

,
12 2 BL ESS ED M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

“ ” “
that abom i n abl e te m ptation o f gl utto ny He .

” “
m ade m e feel she con fesses a raven o us h un ger ;
, ,

h e represen ted t o m e whatever w a s m os t calculated

to exci t e m y appetite an d th is d uri n g the ti m e of
,
”
p rayer Th e h un ger n eve r left he r except when
.

sh e e n tered th e refectory when s h e was seized ,

with such a disgust fo r food t hat i t w a s on l y with

the greatest d i ffi culty that s h e could eat a nyth i n g .

Scarcely had s h e left th e table when h er h u n ger

re t u rn ed m ore violen tly than ever an d th us s h e ,

passed he r days e ithe r i n an absol ute loath i n g

for food o r a n i nten se l on gi n g f o r i t M othe r
’
, .

G re y fi e from wh om S ister M argaret M ary co n

,

c ea l e d n oth i n g told h e r to com e an d a s k for

,

som ethi n g to eat wh en ever s h e felt h u n gry I t .

i s easy to i magi n e what a h um i liatio n thi s was

t o he r especial ly as S h e kn ew it to be a q u i t e
,

useless remedy " Som eti m es on these occasion s , ,

“
M other G re y fi é t old h e r t o reserve h er h u n ge r
an d sa t isfy it i n the refectory with th e rest of the
”
Co m m u n ity ; at other ti m es s h e w a s t old to go
to th e D ispe n se r an d ask for som e fo o d S he .

d id exactly as s h e w a s t old each ti m e an d as s h e , ,

”
says s h e remai n ed at peac e i n he r sufferi n gs
,
.

B y far t h e greatest o f these trial s w a s the fear

lest s h e had offended Go d an d woul d be e t ernal ly
deprived o f H i m I n th i s su fferi n g sh e fo u nd n o
.

rel ief except before the Bl essed Sacram en t o r i n ,

open i n g her hea rt t o he r S uperio r .

M othe r G re y fi é en cou raged h er to write d o w n

he r d i fficulti es an d she herself ofte n repl ied by
,

n otes S o m e o f t hese have happi ly bee n preserved

.

to u s .

“
I pray J esus Ch rist o u r Al m ighty Lord an d
,

Saviou r to com man d th e tem pest with i n you to

,

cease an d I say t o y o u i n H is n a m e R emai n i n

,

p eace Y ou r soul bel on gs to O u r Lord and H e

.
,
1 24 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

trial s an d su ff eri n gs wh ich befal l u s w hatever they

m ay be B ear you rs i n th i s w a y Yo u ough t
. .

to esteem an d ch erish them ; rece i ve the m the n ,

with gratitude peace and h u m i l ity , Yo u wi l l, .

i n deed be happy i f they l ead you t o feel you r own

n oth i n gn ess an d n o l on ger to seek you rsel f i n
,
”
an yth i n g .

Father d e la Colom b i ere o n ly s a w S i ster M argaret

Mary on ce d u ri n g h is vi sit of te n d ays o r so to
Paray l e M on i al i n 16 79 ; an d even that visi t
- -
,

con sol i n g an d stren gth en i n g as i t was t o he r ,

was accom pan ied wi th h u m i l iation o n accou n t of

som e re mar ks that were made as to the l e n gth of
the i n tervi ew .

The d i rector s Opi n i on o f h i s pen i ten t may be

’

ga t h ered from a n ote h e wro t e to M o t he r de

S a u m a i s e o n 2 3 rd M arch 16 79 :
“
I w a s abl e to s e e S iste r A l a co q u e o n ly o n ce ,

but I derived great con solati on from the visit I .

fou n d her as u sual extrem ely h u m ble a n d su b

, ,

m issive with a great l ove o f the Cross an d of

,

h um il ia ti on These are the m arks o f the go od

.

S pi rit by which s h e i s l ed they are such as have

”
n ever deceived an y on e .

F rom Paray Fath er d e l a Colo m bi ere wen t to

,

Lyon s where h e w a s e m pl oyed as spi ri tual fa t her

,

to the you n g sch o lastics H e recom m e n d ed h i m .

sel f and hi s work to th e p rayers of S is t er M a rgare t

M ary We can easi ly form an idea of how fe rve n t
.

those prayers were an d of how deep an i n teres t ,

she t o ok i n seei n g th e devotio n t o th e Sacred H eart

begi n t o take root am on g the Fa t hers o f th e S ociety
o f Jes u s .

I n th e autu m n of 168 1 Fath er de la C olom b i ere

retu rn ed t o Paray l e M on ial bu t h i s h eal th was
- -
,

com pl etely broken O n h i s arrival h e w a s stron g

.

en ough to take a few wal ks and to say M ass i n the

 U N D E R M O TH E R G R E YF I E 12 5

Chapel o f the Visitation Con ven t where he ren ewed

,

h i s con secration to the Sacred H eart o f O u r Lord .

O n e day he s a w t he assem bled Com m u n ity an d i n ,

a voice scarcely above a wh i sper he add ressed ,

a few words of con solation and advice t o them .

S hortly after th i s he was e n tirely con fin ed to h i s

room . S ister M argaret M ary who n atu rally ,

would have wished s o m uch to p rofit by h i s

d i rection d uri n g h i s stay i n Paray s a w h i m but,

twice Sh e m en tion s th is i n a n ote to M o t her d e

.

“
S au m ai s e : I have seen h i m twice h e con verses ,

with m uch d i ffi cul ty perhaps God has so arran ged

i t that H e may be abl e to speak m ore abu ndan t ly
”
t o h i s heart O n o n e o f these vi sits s h e had said
‘

“
to h i m O u r Lord has revealed to m e t ha t were
you to recover y o u would doubtless glori fy H i m
by you r zeal but t hat i n your sickn ess H e g l o ri fi e s
,
”
H i m sel f i n y o u .

Father de la Colom b i ere grew s o i l l that t h e

R ector wrote t o h i s brother w h o hasten ed to
,

Paray H e asked the D octor an d the R ector t o

.

allow h i m to take Father de la Colom bi ere to

S t Sym phori en to see i f h is n ative ai r would n o t
restore h i m . Perm ission had o f course to be
Obtai n ed from the Provi n cial an d before aski n g
,

i t Father d e la C o lom bi ere wished Sister M argaret

M ary to be con sul ted o n t he subj ect A m utual
,
.

frie n d M adem oisel le de B i s e f ra n d was c o m

, ,

m issi on ed t o ask her advice . S is t er M argaret

M a ry t ho u gh t f o r an i n stan t an d the n repl i ed
I beg hi m n o t to leave Paray i f w ithout i n f ri n g
,

i n g the orders of h is S uperi ors he ca n remai n .

The m essage was carried to the i n valid w h o ,

d ictated a few l i n es to h is S pi ritual daughter aski n g ,

h er the reaso n of her deci sion Th e an swer w a s

.

return ed H e has told m e that i t is here t hat H e

”
wi l ls to accept the sacri fice o f you r l ife U pon .
12 6 B LESSE D M A R G A R ET M . A L A C O QU E

th is Fathe r de l a Colom b i ere b egged l eave to

rem ai n a t Paray H e di ed o n t he 1 st h of February
.

16 8 2 ,
i n t he forty fi rs t year of h is age an d the
-

t wen t y second of h i s rel igious l ife

-
.

The n ews was carried t o th e con ven t by

M adem oisell e de B i s e f ra n d shortly afte r five
o clock i n the m orn i n g The Sai n t on h eari n g
’
.

of h i s death exclai m ed P ray an d en treat others ,

”
to pray for h i m A t ten o cl oc k s h e wrote the
.
’

fol lowi n g n ote Weep fo r h i m n o lon ger rathe r ,

p ray to h i m an d fear n othi n g f o r truly he i s m ore

, ,

powe rfu l to assist us than ever .

M o t her G re y fi é expressed surprise tha t Si ster

M ar gare t M ary d i d n o t ask perm i ssio n to say
an y extra p rayers o r perform an y pe nan ce f o r o n e
”
to whom S he owed s o m uch D ear M oth er s h e
.
,
“
repl ied ge n tly he does n ot n eed t hem bei n g
, ,

h igh ly placed i n heave n by the good n ess an d

m ercy o f t h e S acred H eart H e i s i n a posi t ion .

to pray for us rathe r than we for h i m .

’

Fathe r de la C o lom bi ere s death w a s a great ’

sorrow to S iste r M argaret M ary w h o was b o u n d ,

t o h i m by such i n t i m a t e spi ritual t ies Y et deeply .

as she m ust have fel t h i s loss s h e n eve r o n ce ,

“
com plai n ed H er S uperi o r writes :
. I t was a
terri bl e bl ow to h er for sh e l o st i n h i m th e
,
-

best frien d she had i n th e world H owever S h e .

,

d id n ot gri eve for h im S i n ce s h e loved h er fri en ds

,

n ot for h e rself but for t h e glory o f God and thei r

,

advan cem en t i n d ivi n e l ove I n ever heard he r .

regret h i m , b ut o ften heard her rej oice over h is

happi n ess i n wh i ch s h e took par t by givi n g than ks
, ,

to the Sacred H eart for all the graces showered

on her frie n d both d uri n g h i s l i fe an d at h is
”
death .

S iste r M argaret M ary cel ebrated Father de la

Colom bi ere s an n i versary as though i t had been a
’
 C H A PTE R XI I I

UN D ER M OTH E R G R EYF I E

16 8 68 4)
( 7 -
1

IT wi l l be re m em bered that when i n 16 74 O u r Lord

had shown S ister M argaret M ary th e i n e ff abl e
secrets of H i s H eart H e had i n p roof o f th e
, ,

real ity o f H i s revelation s com m u n icated to her

,

som e sparks of I ts d iv i n e fire wh ich caused he r

i n te n se pai n i n h e r s i d e a pai n w hich i n a greater
'

or l ess d egree lasted a s lon g as she l i ved Th is .

was by n o m ean s he r o n ly physical s ufferi n g but ,

the m ore her bod i ly pai n i ncreased th e m ore s h e ,

rej oiced .

O u r Lord se n t h er about th is ti m e such an

'

i n t en se an d con ti n ual th i rst that n othi n g could

quen ch it I n stead o f seeki n g to lesse n th i s t o r
.

m en t s h e tried to m ortify hersel f ri gorously an d

, ,

resolved to d ri n k n oth i n g fr o m Th u rsday u n t i l

Satu rday H owever M o t her G re y fi é thought it
.
,

wiser t o forbid such m o rt i fi ca t i o n an d told her ,

to d ri n k n ot o n ly i n the refectory b u t two o r th ree

ti m es between m eal s S he obeyed but t h i n ki n g to
.
,

j oi n pen an ce with obed i e n ce she d ran k the

,
water
i n wh ich the d ishes had been washed H e r l ittle .

ruse w a s soon d iscovered an d sh e was severely ,

rebuked by he r S uperior who told her that t rue,

obed i en ce obeys n o t o n ly the lette r o f the c o m

m an d but the sp i rit i n wh ich it i s give n .

S i ster M argaret M ary refers t o th i s same t rial

“
o f thi rst i n the fol lowi n g words : O n e day m y
128
 U N D E R M O TH E R GR E YF I E 1 29

S overei gn Lord gave m e to u n derstan d that H e

wi shed t o wi t hd raw m e i n to s o l itude n ot t hat o f ,

the desert where H e H i m sel f had re t i red but i n t o ,

t hat o f H i s Sacred H ear t where H e would co n

,

verse i n t im a t ely with m e as a frien d w i t h h i s

,

bel o ved ; an d wh ere H e would give m e n ew i n

s t r u c t i o n s as t o H i s Wi l l an d n ew stren g t h to
accom pl ish it an d figh t gen erously u nti l death
, ,

because I stil l had powerfu l en em i es t o con t e n d

wi t h The n H e asked m e t o hon o u r H is fas t i n
.

the deser t by fas t i n g for fifty days o n bread an d

wate r M y S u peri o r however would n ot al low
.
, ,

th is s o H e told m e i t would be equally pleasi n g

,

to H i m i f I passed fift y days wi t hou t d ri n ki n g ,

i n hon ou r o f th e burn i n g th i rs t H e endu red upon

t he Cross and the con t i n ual thi rst o f H i s H eart
for the conversio n o f si n n ers I w a s al lowed t o
.

practise th i s pen an ce wh ich was m uch harder for

,

m e t han the ot her would have been o n acc o u n t ,

of t he t e rri ble thi rst wh ich always torm en ted

me .

N ot con t en t wi th welcom i n g every pai n se n t to

he r by G od S i s t e r M argaret M ary sough t t o i n fl ict
,

su fferi n gs on hersel f fo r t he love o f her D ivi n e

M aster About a year aft e r she had proved her
.

love fo r O u r Lord by cut t i n g H i s H oly Nam e

upon he r breast the wo u n ds healed an d c o n s e
, ,

q u e n tly t h e l e t t e rs began to be effaced Th is ti m e

'

s h e was determ i n ed that the writi n g sh o u ld be

i nd el i bl e s o t aki n g a l igh t ed taper an d applyi n g

,

the flame sh e slowly re n ewed th e en grav i n g o f

the H oly Na m e of J esus The resul t succeede d
.

even beyo n d her expecta t io n s an d t he wou nd s ,

were s o s eri ous that she t hough t i t was her duty

to m en ti o n them to her S uperior M other G re y fi e .

though t t hey m igh t be dan gerous and t old her to ,

use rem ed ies and to apply whatever was re c o m

130 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

m en ded by the I n fi rm a ri a n whom s h e would se n d ,

to h er . G reat was S ister M argaret M ary s d i s ’

“ ”
t ress. O m y on ly l ove she prayed , wil t Thou ,

al low others to s e e the wou n d wh i ch I have mad e

solely for love of Thee ? A rt Thou n ot powerful
en ough t o cu re m e Tho u Who art th e Sovereign
,
”
R e medy fo r al l evi l s ? O u r L ord heard her
prayer an d p rom ised to cu re her the n ext day .

She was i n fact cu red but before s h e had been

,

able to te l l M other G rey fi é about it th e I n fi rm a ri a n , ,

S ister M ary M agdale n des Escur es cam e to her

’

with a n ote pu t ti n g her u n der obed i en ce to show

,

he r t he wou nds S iste r M argaret M ary thought

.

the m i raculous c ure s ufficie n t t o d ispe n se her from

obeyi n g so s h e than ked the I n fi rm a ri a n told he r
, ,

s h e was cured an d therefore n o lon ger n eed ed he r

,

services Then s h e w e n t at on ce to her S uperior

. .

M o t her G rey fi é rep roved her severely an d d eprived ,

“
her of he r n ext day s Com m u n ion ’
a p enan ce , ,

says S i s te r M argaret M ary which was t he severes t ,

pai n I could suffer i n th i s l i fe Sh e also ordered .

her to S how the I n fi rm a ri a n th e i nj ury she had

i n flic t ed on hersel f S i ster M ary M agdalen fou n d
.

the w o u n ds heal ed though the scars were sti l l t o

,

be see n traci n g the H oly Nam e i n large characters .

“ ”
Nothi n g could be com pared says S ister M ar ,
“
’

garet M ary ,
to the grief I fel t at havi n g d is
pleased my D ivi n e M as t e r Who to p un ish m e f o r ,

my rel uctan ce to obey kept m e u n de r H i s Sacred

,

Feet f o r about five days showi n g m e how m uch ,

the sl igh t est faul t s agai n st obedi e n ce d isplease

H i m i n a rel igious A t last H e d ri ed up m y tears
.

H im self an d res t ored l ife to my soul I n p un ish .

m en t of thi s faul t O ur Lord told her tha t t h e traces

of H is H oly Nam e which had cost her s o dear
, ,

should be effaced an d that the fi rst marks als o

,

sho u ld e n ti rely d is a pp e a r A fter he r de ath S ister

.
13 2
1

B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

wh ich l ed m e and wh ich rei gn s

, so forci bly i n m e ,

would lead m e to five thi ngs

1 To an extrem e l ove fo r m y Sav iou r J esus
.

Ch rist .

To obey H is exam pl e perfectly .

T O su ffe r u n ceasi n gly f o r th e love o f J e s u s

Ch rist .

To wish to su ffe r i f possi bl e without

, ,

any on e n otici n g t hat I su ffe r .

To have an i n satiable t h i rst for H oly C o m

m u n io n an d for bei n g before th e B l essed
Sacram en t
“ “
I t seem s to m e s h e con ti n ues
, that al l these ,

graces have h itherto p rod uced these great e ffects

i n m e A s fo r everyth i n g else I see m ore clearly
.
,

than the day t hat a l ife wi t hou t th e l ove of J esus

”
Ch ri st i s t h e greatest m isery .

I n the di rection o f th i s soul s o especial ly dear to

H i m O u r Lord seem s to have made a n especial
,

poi n t of th e V i rtue of o b edi e n ce an d to have give n ,

S is t e r M argaret M ary freq uen t an d n otabl e O p p o r

t u n i t i e s of p ractis i n g i t M other G rey fi é gives us
.

an accou n t of o n e o f these i n stan ces .

“
She was recoveri n g fro m a severe i l l n ess an d
had n ot yet l eft h er bed I we n t t o s e e h e r
.

( wh ether o n a Satu rday m e n the eve o f som e

feast I do n ot re m em ber ) and s h e asked perm is
,

sion to get up for M ass the n ext day I hesi tated .

at th e req uest a n d j udgi n g from m y m an n e r t hat

,

I d id n ot th i n k he r wel l e n ough s h e said M other , , ,

’
i f i t i s you r wil l it wi l l be God s Wi l l also an d
, ,

H e wi l l gi ve m e stre n gth I th e n gave ord e rs to

.
’

th e I n fi rm a ri a n t o give her som eth i n g to take an d

al low he r to ri se i n ti m e for M ass D uri n g the .

even i n g the i n val id told th e I n fi rm a ri a n that sh e

’

w as very anxi o us to rem ai n fasti n g s o that sh e ,

 ’

U N D E R M O TH E R G R E YF I E 13 3

could go to H oly Com m u n io n The I n fi rm a ri a n .

p rom i sed to a s k m y perm ission but forgot it u n til ,

t he n ext m orn i n g when havi n g al lowed S is t er

,

M argaret M ary to rise fasti n g a n d earl ier than I

’

had said s h e l eft the I n firm ary to look for m e to

, ,

t el l m e o f th i s arran gem en t an d to obtai n m y

approval . G o d al lowed that as s h e left the
I n fi rm ary by on e door I sh ould en te r i t by an o ther .

Scarcely had I caught sigh t of the i nvalid an d

heard that she w a s fasti n g wi t h the i n t en ti on of
goi n g to H o ly C o m m u n io n than wi thout wai ti n g ,

to hear any explan ati on s I gave her a S harp ,

repri mand an d exaggerated he r fault wh ich I said ,

w as t he e ff ect o f self wi l l an d a wan t o f Obed ience

-
,

sub m ission an d h um il ity I told her she could

, .

go t o M ass an d Com m u n ion but that si n ce her ,

sel f wi ll had gi ve n he r su ffi ci en t stren gth for th is

-
,

I would i n my turn give my com mands : sh e was

to ta k e her bed cl o thes down to her cel l t o go to
-
,

O ffi ce wh en t he bel l ran g and to fol low al l the,

Com m u n i ty d uties for five mon ths without m aki n g

use o f an y remed ies d u ri n g that tim e o r settin g ,

foot i n the I n fi rmary except to visi t t he sick an d

assi st t hem if t h e I n fi rm a ri a n s had n eed of her .

She received my correction on h er k n ees her ,

hands j oi n ed an d wi t h a cal m a n d peaceful

,

dem ean our ; before risi n g from th e grou n d she

h u m bly asked my pardo n an d a penance and then ,

p roceed ed to carry out m y orders to the letter .

S ister M argare t Mary rem ai n ed i n perfect health

for exactly five m on t hs t hat i s un t i l th e Feast o f
,

th e P resen ta tion O n that day afte r th e ren ewal

.
,

o f her Vows ,
al l her form e r suffe ri n gs retu rn ed ,

i n creased twofold .

Thi s w a s n ot the on ly occasion on wh ich O u r

Lord gave S ister M argaret M ary perfect health
for a given period at the request of her S uperi o r .
13 4 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

The year 16 8 2 was on e o f con stan t sufferi n g for

her so m uch s o tha t s h e w a s on ly free from pai n
,

for fou r days i n th e wh ol e year O n D ecem ber

.

z i s t she received the followi n g n ote fro m M other

G re y fi é
I com m an d you i n vi rtue o f holy O bed i e n ce to
a s k o f God t o le t m e kn ow i f what passes an d has ,

passed i n you si nce I have had charge of you ,

com es fro m H is S pi ri t o r n ot and as a S ign that

,

it al l com es from H i m to suspe nd you r bod i ly

,

ai l men t s f o r five m on ths on ly so t ha t d u ri n g t hat

,

ti m e you m ay n o t requ i re an y rem ed ies n o r be ,

obl iged t o q u i t t he ord i n ary course p rescri bed by

th e R ule B ut if i t i s n ot from Go d ask H i m to
.
,

leave you i n you r ord i n a ry state som eti m es better

, ,

som e t i mes worse We shal l th us be assu red o f

.

”
the truth .

S ister M argaret M ary was told to leave the

I n firmary as soon as s h e had read thi s n ote She .

we n t at on ce to th e B lessed Sacra men t a n d m ad e

“
her req uest a nd O u r Lord an swered :
,
I assu re
thee M y daughte r that to prove that thou art led
, ,

by th e good Spi ri t I would wi l l i n gly have gran ted

,

thee as man y years of health as s h e has asked

m on ths o r i n deed any oth er proof s h e m ight have
,

desi red A t the m ome n t of the E levation of t h e

.

Sacred H ost at M ass on the followi n g m orn i n g ,

S ister M argaret M ary w a s restored to perfect

“
health . I felt al l my i n fi rm i t i e s sen si bly taken
from me j ust as o n e m igh t take off a d ress an d I
, ,

fel t perfectly stron g l i ke a p e rs o n i n robust h ealth

, .

S he took part i n al l the ord i nary lab o u rs o f th e

house an d w a s able to write i n A pri l t o M othe r
,
“
d e S au m ais e I have been i n such perfect heal t h
si n ce D ece m be r that i t seem s to m e as i f n oth i n g
could a ffect it
A nd yet n o soon e r had the even i n g of M ay
1 36 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

with an other vision desti n ed to m ake he r u n der

,

s t and m ore t han ever th e exten t o f the sufferi n g t o

wh ich H e cal led he r .

H e appeared to he r i n the state i n wh ich H e was

when P i late prese n t i n g H i m to th e people ex
, ,
“
clai med Ecce H om o H e was covered wi t h
.

wou n ds and bru ises H i s B lood flowed from eve ry

part ; H e bore u pon H i s sh oulders a heavy cross .

an d said sad ly Wi l l n o o n e have p i ty o n M e an d

,

com passionate M y grief ? Wi l l n o on e take part

i n M y sorrow i n the p itiable state t o wh ich I am
”
reduced by si n n ers especial ly a t th i s ti m e ?
,

S iste r M argaret M ary threw hersel f at H is feet

an d offered hersel f to H i m O u r Lord accepted
.

her offeri ng an d placed upon her shoulders a heavy

“
cross s e t wi t h sharp p o i n ted n ails
,
Feeli n g .

c rush ed with the weight I began to u n derstand , ,

“
sh e says , the m al ice of s i n H e told m e that i t
.

was n o t e n ough for m e to carry th is c ross but that ,

H e wished m e to attach myself to i t with H i m ,

that I m ight keep H i m faith ful com pan y by shari n g

” “
i n H is sorrows an d Opp robri u m I abandon ed .

”
m ysel f s h e added
, to whateve r H e wi shed to d o
,

with m e ; a n d i n fact H e fasten ed m e to H i s cross

by a V iol en t i l l n ess the pai n o f which had been
,

represen ted by th e S harp poi nted n ails .

Fro m th is day s h e was attacked eve ry year at

the ti m e o f the Carn i val with pai n an d i l l n ess an d
t hat i t m ight be kn own that he r si ckn ess cam e
from n o n atural ca use s h e w a s always c ured o n
,

A sh Wed n esday an d abl e t o fast d u ri n g Le n t .

I n 16 8 1 t h e Turks th reaten ed to overrun E u r o pe .

Pope I n n oce n t X I had recourse to p raye r an d s o

.
,

as to secure the i ntercession o f al l th e Fai t hful he ,

p ubl ished a J u bi lee givi n g special p rivileges to

,

al l w h o prayed that the powe r of the T u rks m ight

be checked The H oly Father was n ot decei ved
.
 U N D E R M O TH E R GR E YF I E 13 7

i n h is hope The O ttoman army was com pletely

.

overth rown before th e wal ls o f Vien n a J oh n .

Sobi eski gai n ed a m agn ificen t victory a nd glad ly

referred h is success to the prayers that had bee n
offered W h i ls t the Te D eu m was bei n g su n g i n
.

th e Cathed ral of Vie n na he lay prostrate o n t he,

grou nd i n than ksgivi n g for the marvel lous victory

, .

S is t er M argare t M ary p rayed m os t fe rven tly

d u ri n g th i s J ubi lee an d O u r Lord taugh t h er the
,

S pi rit i n wh ich s h e S ho uld pl ead fo r the great

obj ect put before all Cathol ics by t he Pope H e .

appeared t o her a s a J ud ge an d t old he r t hat H i s

,

j ustice was i rritated n ot s o m uch on accou n t o f

,

t he I n fi d e l s but because o f H i s chosen people who

, ,

had revolted agai n st H i m an d made use o f thei r

“
easy access t o H i m t o persecute H i m I f th ey .

” “
d o n ot am en d H e said ,
I wil l m ake them feel
,
”
the weigh t o f M y aven gi n g j us t ice J ust at th i s .

m o m en t the bel l ran g fo r M ati n s S iste r M argaret .

M ary rose to go bu t th e vi sion d id n o t cease and

, ,
“
J esus con ti n ued to speak t o her Weep an d .

s igh con ti n ual ly tha t M y B lood should be S hed

ro fi t a b l for man y soul s wh o abuse it
u n
p y s o ,

greatly i n these I n d ulge n ces They are satisfied .

with c u t ti n g down the bad weed s that grow i n

t h ei r hearts with o ut ever t ryi n g to r oo t them u p .

B u t w o e to th o se sou ls w h o remai n u n cl ean sed an d

i n sen sible i n th e m idst of these l ivi n g wa t ers they
wi ll n ever be either washed from t hei r stai n s o r
”
fin d t hei r thi rst q uen ched S ister M argaret M ary
.

kn ew tha t O u r Lord w a s H i m self thi rsti n g fo r

these soul s ; s h e t h erefore addressed he rsel f to
H i s Sacred H eart : Place al l these souls herei n ,

my Lord s o tha t they m ay be san ctified and glorify

,
“ “
Thee e t ernal ly Yes
. repl ied O ur Lord
, I ,

wi l l d o s o i f t h o u w il t an swer for t he i r perfect

,
” “ ”
amendm en t . Thou kn owest wel l O m y God , ,
138 BL E SS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

“
sh e rej oi n ed that th i s i s n ot i n my power u n less
,

Thou Thysel f enabl e m e by the e ffi cacious m erit

”
of Thy Passion .

The n O u r L o rd taught her to ask fo r th ree

th i n gs special ly i n ti m e o f J u bi lee .

F i rst t o offer to the Etern al Father the su p er

,

abundan t satisfaction H e had mad e to the D ivi n e

J ustice for si n n ers upo n the cross and to beg of ,

H i m to apply t he merits o f H is P recious B l ood to

al l soul s i n m ortal si n t hat they m ight be raised ,

to a l ife of grace an d glori fy God e t ern al ly , .

Secondly to o ff e r to H i m the bu rn i n g l ove o f

,

H is Sacred H eart i n sati sfaction for the tepid ity

an d coward ice of H i s chose n peopl e an d to beg o f ,

H i m by the ard e n t love wh ich mad e H i m su ffer

,

d eath to reki nd le the fi re o f H i s l ove i n th ose

,

tepid hear t s s o that they m igh t love an d glori fy

,

H i m eternal ly .

Thi rd ly to o ff e r the su b m ission of H is Wi l l to

,

H is E tern al Father an d to beg o f H i m th rough the , ,

m erits o f H i s Son that H e would com plete and ,

perfect Hi s graces an d con su m mate the a cco m

p l i s h m e n t of H i s W i l l .

There w as yet o n e m ore favou r o n e fu rthe r trai t ,

of resem blan ce to her D ivi n e M aste r wh ich w a s

gran ted to S ister M argaret M ary about th i s ti m e .

O u r Lord cal led he r to share i n H i s Crown of

”
Thorn s .A s I wen t to H oly Com m u n ion S h e ,
“
says , th e Sac red H ost appeared to m e re s p l e n
den t as a s u n the dazzl i n g brightn ess of wh ich I
,

coul d n ot bear O u r Lord w a s i n the ce n tre bear

.

i n g a c rown of thorn s Shortly aft e r I had re

.

ce i v e d H i m H e placed thi s crown on m y head ,

sayi n g to m e R ece ive th i s crown M y daughte r

, , ,

i n S ign o f t hat wh ich wi l l shor t ly be give n to thee ,

s o that thou m ayest bear a closer resem blan ce to

Me .
l 4o B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O OU E

de nce i n com i n g to m e or wri ti n g to m e i f y o u ,

wish or have n eed of doi n g s o I shall al ways be .

wi l l i n g t o h el p you fo r you r soul i s d ear to m i n e

, ,

i n spi t e of al l that may m ake you d isagreeable ,

i m portu n ate or a bu rd en
, I m ust i m itate our
.

H eave n ly Father W ho bestows H i s favou rs with

,

out an y m eri t on ou r par t Com e then n ot on ly .

,

t h ree t i mes a day b ut S ix i f you l i ke

, .

I have l ost the begi n n i n g of M ati n s i n orde r to

read y ou r n ote an d write these few wo rds o f reply ,

an d to tel l you my dear ch ild t o re mai n i n peace

, ,

i n th e m idst of th e war wi t h i n you H e W ho h a s .

raised i t wi shed t o save y o u thi s i s why H e p u r ,

sues you All ow you rsel f to be caugh t by H i m

.
,

o r rather cast yo ursel f to m orrow m orn i n g at H oly

-

Com m u n ion i n t o the arms of that l ovi n g con fide nce

y ou o ught to have i n H i m I f yo u have n ot
.

al ready got it fi n d i t i n th e adorabl e H eart o f O u r

,

Lord and m ake u s e of i t as y o u requ i re i t N o .

,

m a m ze ( a Fre n ch exp ressi on de n oti n g both te n

’

d ern ess an d i n ti macy wh ich i t i s i m poss ibl e to

,
“
tran slate i n to E n gl ish ) I do n ot wish ou r i n ti
,

macy to cease an d eve n we re you a h u n d red ti m es

,

worse than you are I sh ould w i sh i t to con ti n ue

,

always .

I n t he n ext extract we fi n d that M oth er G re y fi é

stri kes the n ote of dow n right com m on sen se o n
the subj ect of m o rt i fi c a t i o n an d th is it m ust be, ,

re m em bered to o n e who was call ed by God to

,

grea t exteri or p ractices of pen ance I t m ay be .

n oted i n passi n g that S iste r M argaret M ary p ra e

t i s e d t he ord i n ary form s o f m o rt i fi c a t i o n perfectly .

S h e d id n ot n eglect these o n accou n t o f t he great

austerities s h e u n dertook She kn ew wel l that the
.

great precept i s that of sel f den ial an d also that -

,

sel f i s oft e n m ore e ffi ca c i o u s l y p ut to d eath i n th e

'

s mal l occurren ces o f dai ly l ife than on great occa

 UN D E R M O TH E R GR E YF I E 14 1

si o n s . Th e fo l l owi n g n o te wh ich she received

from M oth er G re y fi é m ust have suited and pl eased
h e r m uch .

K
(
B e faith ful to the obl igation s o f you r
rel i gi ous l i fe an d t o the pract i ce o f Vi rtue .

You r m ost excel le n t pract i ce of m o rt i fi c a t i o n a n d

pen an ce wil l be to adapt you r hu m ou rs an d i ncl i n a
t ion s to each occasion as i t com es and n o t to S h ow
,

exteriorly what you su ffer i n teri orly Be gay at .

recreati on always am iable a n d ki nd to you r S i sters

,

a n d with a nybody y o u may have to deal wi t h ; an d

be dev o ut i n al l you r d ut i es to Go d W hether it
.

t h u nd ers blows or hai l s with y o u always bless

, ,

God peacefully an d h um bly and H e wi ll gran t y o u

,
”
th e favou r o f p raisi n g H i m th rough al l e t ern i ty .

The last n ote received by S is t e r M argaret M ary

d u ri n g t he ti m e of M othe r G re y fi e s Superi ority at
Paray was t hi s
M ay O u r Lord Who a f flicts you accord i n g to
,

H is good pleasu re i n body an d m i nd be also by , ,

H i s grace an d t h e m e rcy o f H is l ovi n g H eart the ,

s t ren gth an d con sola t i on o f you r whol e bei n g b o th ,

bodi ly and sp i ritual ly S uch my beloved S iste r

.
,

an d dear chi ld i s my wi sh for y o u and the reply I

,

m ake to y o u r n ote descri bi n g th e s t a t e O f you r soul .

I s e e n o t h i n g i n i t wh ich n eed make you fear .

S uffe r o r re joice i n peace accordi n g as God gives

o crosses o r con solati o n s D ur i n g the rest of
y u .

the ti m e that I remai n i n charge of this Com m u n i t y ,

I gran t y o u H ol y Com m u n ion o n th e Fi rs t F rid ay

o f each m on th accord i n g t o the d esi re of O u r
,

Lord s Sac red H eart ; m oreove r u n til my dep o si

’
,

tion y o u may com m u n icate als o o n the last Sa t u r

,

day o f each m onth i n hon our o f the B lessed Vi rgi n ,

that s h e may obtai n from t he D ivi n e H eart of her

S o n a Superior accordi n g t o H is Wil l and f o r m e ,

th e grace o f a true and p rofou n d h u m i lity .

14 2 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

Toward s the e n d o f Apri l 1684 th e last eve n t o f ,

M other G re y fi é s S uperi ority took place O n e of

’
.

the ch i ld re n A n toi n ette R osal i e d e Sen n ec e lay i n

, ,

a dyi n g state havi n g been sudde n ly s t ricken with

,

apoplexy The ch il d was q uite u n con scious an d

.
,

M othe r G re y fi é told S i ster Margaret M ary to ask

O u r Lord to restore her to con sciousn ess s o that
s h e m ight recei ve the Sacram en ts O u r Lord w a s.

wil l i ng t o gran t th e request but o n o n e con d ition

, ,

S i ster M argaret M ary w a s to make a v o w n ever to

S how repugnan ce to an y e m pl oym e n t s h e w a s give n ,

to an swer al l th e letters sh e received an d always

to go t o th e parlou r wi th out resista n ce as the R ule
enj oi n ed . Noth i n g cou ld have cost her m ore .

“ ” “
Sh e appeared says M othe r G re y fi e
’

, afraid to ,

bi n d hersel f but I exhorted her to do s o She

,
.

obeyed an d the ch i ld recovered con sciousn ess and

,

received al l the hel p we were anxious to sec u re for

”
he r for h er last j ou rn ey .

S is t er M argaret M ary s repugnan ce i n fu lfil l i n g

’

th is Vow n ever l eft her To the e n d of h e r l i fe s h e

.

had to force hersel f to Obey when ever s h e w a s

cal led to the parl ou r .

I ndeed he r stron g repugn ance t o m an y o f th e

th i n gs O ii r Lord requi red of her i s a remarkabl e
,

trai t i n h er character an d o n e wh ich th rows he r

,

faithful an d sel f forgetti n g love for Ch rist i n to

-

stro n g rel ief .

M other G re y fi é left Paray l e M on ial i n M ay - -

1 68 4 to take up th e post o f S uperior at Se m u r

n ear A uxerre She corresponded frequen tly with

.

S iste r M argaret M ary en cou ragi n g h er an d assist

,

i n g h er material ly to p rom o t e d evotion t o th e

Sacred H eart .
144 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

over w hel m ed w ith gri ef N oth i n g attached m e s o

.

stron gly to you as th i s con duct o n your part I .

can n ot th i n k of i t without feel i n gs O f m ost t en d er

gra t itude toward s you . Wh en I th i n k o f
O u r Lord on the Cross l ife without s u fferin g,

becom es i n sup p ortable t o m e I could n o t

.

make u p my m i n d to fol l ow you r cou n sel an d

ask for a lon g l i fe u n less every day could be
em ployed i n hon ouri n g the h u m i l ity silen ce an d , ,

pa t ie n ce o f the Sacred H eart o f J esu s an d u n less ,

al l m y ti m e coul d be passed i f p ossible before the

”
B lessed Sacram en t .

Later on sh e wrote o n the sam e s ubj ect to o n e

of her d i rectors I ackn owledge that O ur Lord
l ead s m e i n a way en t i rely Opposed t o m y i n cl i n a
tion s I have a great aversion to bei n g i n an y
.

O ffi ce an d al so to wri t i n g le t ters a n d goi n g to

,

the parlou r I have con ti n ually to sacri fice mysel f

.

as to al l these thi n gs for O ur Lord l eft m e n o

,

rest u n ti l I had m ade a vow to obey bl i n dly about

them and as far as possible n o t t o S how any
,

repugn an ce I felt M y d isl i kes see m rathe r to

.

i ncrease than d i m i n i sh H owever I accep t th is

.
,

cross as wel l as every other it pleases my D ivi n e

Saviou r to sen d m e I assu re y o u I should t h i n k
.

G o d had abandon ed m e i f H e left m e wi t hout

sufferi n g .

S ister M argaret M ary w a s i n deed n eve r to be

wi t hout sufferi n g but at thi s ti m e t he special trial
,

o f hold i n g the post o f M other A ssistan t was n o t

lon g l eft to he r . G o d was about to give H i s
servan t an opportu n i ty o f plan t i n g devo t ion t o
the Sacred H ear t i n th e sou ls o f several who we re
wel l fi t ted to receive i t I n J an uary 168 5 the
.

N ovi ce M istress fel l i l l an d M other M el i n a t on ce

,

appoi n ted S ister M argaret Mary to fil l he r p lace .

S he held th is i m portan t o ffice for t w o years years ,

 M I ST R ESS OF N O V I CES 14 5

w hich w ere perhaps amon g the m ost i m po rtan t

o f her l i fe .

The n ovices seve n i n n um ber fou r o f whom were

, ,

al ready p ro fe s s e d f looked u p on S ister M argaret

"

M ary as a Sai n t a nd eagerly welcom ed her as thei r

,

M othe r .

The n oviceshi p at Paray l e M on ial m ust have - -

bee n a beautifu l pictu re i n the S igh t o f God an d

H is an gels d u ri n g the years 168 5 an d 1686 .

F e rv o u r reign ed there sup rem e the n ovices seem ,

i n g to v i e with each other i n tryi n g to carry o u t

the i n s t ruc t ion s o f thei r sai n tly M istress .

S is t er M argaret M ary began by m aki n g herself

al l to al l S he soon w o n the con fiden ce O f he r
.

n ovices by her gen tle ki n d n ess and p rude nt fi rm

n ess There w a s n oth i n g hard i n he r firm n ess
.

o r soft i n her ki n d n ess but s h e gave hersel f u p,

to the study o f each character com m itted to her

care an d led each o n e i n the w ay best suited to
,

d raw her to God .

She n eve r exacted anyth i n g from them that s h e

d id n o t hersel f p ractise bu t sought to i n stil i nt o ,

thei r soul s a stron g love of thei r vocation an d ,

l ed them gradual ly to s e e the n ecessity i n rel igious

l i fe of i n t erior an d exterior m o rt i fi c a t i o n o f thei r
se n ses and of th ei r o w n wi l l and j udgm ent .

The poi n t however wh ich specially characterised

, ,

S iste r M argaret M ary s trai n i n g of her n o vices ’

w a s her con stan t and em pha t ic teach i n g o n the

subj ect o f detach me n t R aise you rselves above
.

“
t ri fl e s , sh e u rged and attach y o u rselves to
,
”
G o d alon e She tried to i n flam e thei r hear t s
.

with a real love o f a h u m ble h idd en l ife an d , ,

th us led them by degrees to devotio n towards

I t i s u s u a l i n C o m m u n i t i e s f o r t h e y o u n g p ro f e s s e d S i s t e rs
t o s p e n d o n e o r m o re y e a rs i n t h e n o v i ce s h i p a ft e r t h e y h a v e
.

m a d e t h e i r v o ws .

K
146 B L E SS E D M A R G A R E T M . ALA C O QU E

th e E ucharistic H eart of J esus h idd en for thei r

l ove i n the Tabern acle .

Th e n ovices were e n chan ted an d S i ster M argaret ,

M ary seei n g h o w wel l d isposed t hey were ofte n

, ,

spoke t o t he m o f the love of th e Sacred H eart f o r

m en wh o m ake H i m s o l i ttle retu rn
,
This th em e .

of love rec u rred so often i n that l ittl e n ovicesh ip

“
at Paray that the n ovices used t o s a y :
,
Our
M o t her i s l i ke a nother Sai n t J o h n an d ca n on ly ,
”
speak th e lan guage o f love but u n l i ke the , ,

d isci ple s o f the E van gel ist the Paray n ovices ,

were n ever ti red o f heari n g th e bu rn i n g word s

wh ich fel l fro m the l ips of t hei r M i stress .

I n thi s way it cam e about that the h u m bl e an d

obsc u re l ittl e n oviciate o f Paray l e M on ial becam e - -

the crad le when ce th e devotion t o the Sac red

H eart we n t for t h to the world ki n d l i n g love i n
“
the hearts of m e n an d cal l i n g al l to taste an d
”
s e e that the Lord is swee t The ve ry si m pl ici ty .

of the l i fe o f S iste r M argaret M ary an d her

n ovices recal ls t he si m pl e l i fe of B ethl ehe m an d
Nazareth There w a s n oth i n g extraord i n ary about
.

i t excep t that each on e vi ed wi th the others i n

,

the fe rven t p ractice o f those vi rtues wh ich are

par t icularly characte ri stic of the H eart of J esus .

Charity h um i l i t y and detachm en t togethe r wi t h

, , ,

absol ute obed ie n ce were the vi rtues wh ich shon e

,

out i n that l it t l e ci rcle Su rely the fe rvour o f

.

her n ovices m us t have bee n a real con solati on

to S i ster M argaret M ary whose o n e an d on ly ,

d esi re was t o see the H eart of her Lord praised

an d l oved an d served .

'
O f o n e Of th e n ovi ces Ch risti n e B o u t h i e r w e
, ,

a re t o ld tha t s h e passed h er n ovicesh i p i n a very

weak s t ate o f h e a l t h barely abl e to follow th e
'

com mo n l i fe .She w a s howeve r received f o r , ,

h er P rofessio n O n th e day o n wh ich s h e w as

.
‘
14 8 B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

altar Offeri n g acts of reparati on an d o f c o n s e c ra

,

t i on t o the D iv i n e H eart ; look at th e thousan ds

o f fai t hful adorers before the Tabe rn acl e wherei n

beats t he H eart that has l oved m e n so m uch ;

s e e the ch urches erected i n hon ou r of th i s sam e
m ost Sacred H eart an d look t o day over th e
,
-

world i n to th e cou ntless hom es where J esus rei gn s

as Ki n g S u rely i n n oti n g these thi n gs o u r
.
, ,

thoughts g o bac k to that hu m ble begi n n i n g at

“
Paray an d w e say to ourselves
,
th e fi n ger o f
,
”
G o d i s here .

The de t ai ls of the p re paratio n s for that h u m bl e

feas t 2 0t h J uly 168 5 have been preserved to u s
, ,

i n t h e arch i ves of Paray a nd are writte n by on e

,

o f t he n ovices wh o w a s presen t .

“
O u r Ve n erabl e S iste r M argaret M ary becam e
M i stress of N ovices i n the year 1 68 5 to o u r great ,

j y
o . As she had a great desi re to e n ki n d le
d evotio n t o t he Sacred H eart s h e began by ,

teach i n g i t t o us by the p ractice o f the t w o

special vi rtues of th i s D ivi n e Heart W e remarked .

th i s i n her con duct t oward s us an d we were ,

charm ed by it a nd by her i n structio n s which

, ,

were fu l l o f u n ctio n an d of th e l ove of God She .

gave us p ractices i n hon ou r o f the Sacred H e a rt ,

so that we m igh t u n ite ourselves t o I t i n all

our action s from m orn i n g to n ight I n thi s .

w a y s h e con ti n ued t o speak to u s about the

D i vi n e H eart u n til he r feast wh ich as it fel l
, ,

on a F riday s h e asked us to keep by payi n g to

, ,

the H eart o f O u r Lord al l the hon ou r we sh o uld

wish to give to he r She had fasten ed o n the
.
,

F riday after the O ctave of Corpu s Ch ri sti a ,

small etch i n g o f the Sacred H eart to o u r al tar .

We we re s o an xious to a ccom pl ish h er w ishes

tha t w e got up soon after m id n igh t t o get an al tar
ready o n wh ich we p u r the etchi n g su rrou nded
, ,
 M I ST R E SS O F N O V I CES 1 49

by al l the o rnam en ts and flowers we could get .

As we wished to b e free afte r P ri m e we we n t t o ,

p repare t h e refec t ory but we were n ot qu i et e n ough

,

over o u r work an d d rew down upon ou rselves a

,

correction fro m R everen d M other M el i n to whom ,

we were sen t half a n hou r aft e r th e cal l for ri s

- -

i n g We explai n ed al l to her an d s h e was qu ite

.
,

satisfied .

Aft er P ri m e ou r dear M o t her cam e as usual to

the Noviciate S he read us a Con secration s h e had
.

com posed i n hon ou r of the D ivi n e H eart an d ,

seem ed v ery pleased wi t h o u r altar She i n vited .

each o f us to wri t e ou r own con secration pr o m i si n g ,

t o add a word to each accord i n g t o the disposition s

,
”
of each o n e .

H ere the quai n t accou n t abruptly en ds It is .

val uable as i t gives us a gl i m pse i n t o the S i m ple

,

everyday l i fe o f S ister M argaret M ary s n ovices ’

.

The day passed i n great j o y i n t h e secl usi o n o f

t he Novicesh ip bu t it was n o t t o end wi t h ou t bei n g
,

marked a s were al l the j oys o f this favourite o f

,

t h e Sacred H ea rt with the cross of h u m iliation

, .

S he was ve ry an xious that t he C o m m u n ity should

have an Oppo rt u n i t y of taki n g part i n t he hon ou r
paid t o the D ivi n e H eart s o she sen t o n e o f the
,

n ovices to i nvi te som e of the elder S i ste rs on ,

whose piety an d d iscretion s h e t hought s h e could

rely I n t h is s h e was m i stake n ; the n ovice w a s
.

sen t about her b usi n ess an d t old that t he i 8 t h

,

Con s t itution forbade a ny to adopt n ew prayers

o r o ffi ces u nder an y c o nd iti o n whateve r an d t ha t ,

i t was n o t t he place of t he n ov ices or of t hei r M i s

“
t ress to i n troduce n o v elties G o and tel l y o u r
.

”
M istress said S is t er M ary M agdalen des Escures
, ,

w h o was a great friend o f Sister M argaret M ary

“
g o and tel l y o u r M istress t hat t he b est devo t i o n
i s the p rac t ice o f ou r R ules and Con stitu t ion s an d ,
1 56 B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

that th i s i s what sh e m ust teach y o u an d what ,

you should p racti se .

The n ovice S ister F ra n eo i s e R osal i e Verchere

, ,

to whom these m essages were given was grea t ly ,

s u rp rised an d n o t wi sh i n g to h urt S ister M argare t

,

M ary s feel i n gs wen t back a nd si m ply said that t he

’
,

S ister s had been p reven ted from com i n g “

Say .

”
rather tha t they wi l l n ot com e replied th e servan t
, ,
“
o f God but the Sac red H eart wi l l make them
,

yield They are opposed to it t o day bu t the ti m e

.
-
,

wil l com e whe n they wi ll be t he fi rst t o give th em

selves u p to i t Th e Sacred H eart wi l l have al l
.

fro m love n oth i n g by con strai n t We m ust wait

,
.

”
for the ti m e wh ich H e has fixed for H i m self .

S ister M argaret M ary repeated ly than ked he r

n ovices for the w ay they had spen t the feast .

“
Y ou could n ot have give n m e greate r pleasu re ,

my deares t Si s t ers tha n by th e ho n ou r you have

,

paid to the Sac red H eart i n t h us con secrati n g you r

se lves to I t What a happi n ess it i s f o r you that
.

O u r L ord has chosen you to begi n thi s devotion .

We m ust go o n p rayi n g tha t H e m ay rei gn i n

al l hear t s A h " wha t a j oy i t i s t o m e t hat th e
.

D ivi n e H eart shou ld be kn own loved and glorified , , .

Y es d ear S i sters t hat i s the grea t est con sola t i o n

, ,

I could have i n th is l ife N o t h i n g cou ld give m e .

so m uch pl easu re as to s e e H i m rei gn i n g Let .

us love H i m t he n without exceptio n Le t u s give

al l an d sac rifice al l t o ob tai n t h i s happi n ess I n .

t h e D ivi n e H eart of J esus we possess al l t h i n gs .

H e wil l be A l l i n al l to t he sou l that l oves H i m ,

”
but t h is wil l o n ly be by su fferi n g for H i m .

The j o y of t hat si m ple feast w a s soon des ti n ed

to be checked The even t s of th e N ovicesh i p got
.

n oised abroad i n the Com m u n ity an d m an y com ,

plai n ts were made agai n st bo t h t h e n ovices a n d

thei r holy M is t ress M o t he r M el i n wh o w a s o f
.
,
1 52 B LESSED M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

i n con stan t correspon de nce with S i ste r M argaret

M ary an d w h o was d oi n g al l sh e could to promote
,

devoti on to th e Sacred H eart se n t her a fram ed ,

pictu re I n i t the Sacred H eart was represen ted

.

su rrou n ded with flam es an d e nci rcled by a crow n of

thorn s the sy m bols o f l ove an d su fferi n g Si ste r
,
.

M argaret M ary an d her n ovices were d el i ghted .

“
I can n ot tel l you wrote the form er
, the c o n ,

solatio n y o u have given m e i n se n d i n g m e t h e

l ovely pictu re o f the Sacred H eart an d by tell i n g ,

m e that yo u an d al l you r Com m u n i t y wi l l j oi n

with us i n hon ou ri n g th i s D ivi n e H eart Th i s .

n ews gives m e a thousan d ti m es m ore j oy than i f

o u p ut m e i n possessio n of al l the treasu res i n the
y ”
world .

“
I can n o l on ger occ u py m ysel f wi th an y th i n g
but the Sacred H ea rt o f J esus P rovided that I ‘
.

l ove I t an d tha t I t rei gn s I am satisfied The , .

con trad icti on I have m et with h a s often b rought

m e to t he verge of ceasi n g to speak o f I t bu t the ,

vai n fears by wh ich Satan tried to d i scou rage m e

have bee n so stron gly rep roved an d I have felt s o ,

stren gthe n ed an d e n cou raged that I have resolved , ,

cost what it m ay to ca rry out to th e utm ost what I

,

am al lowed to d o with the n ovices who are warm ly ,

attached to the d evoti on Yet i f obed ie n ce did n ot

.
,

al low th i s I woul d give i t up e n ti rely because I

, ,

sub m i t to obed ien ce al l my own vi ews an d

”
i n cl i nati on s .

Som e o f th e Paray Com m u n ity were s o u pset

”
by what they con sidered the n ew d evoti on that ,

th ey th rea t e n ed to d en ou n ce S ister M argaret

M ary to the B ishop Th is howeve r could n ot
.
, ,

troubl e the peace an d seren i ty o f o n e who cared

so l ittle for h e r o w n reputation as s h e d id : what
real ly cost her was th e d ep rivati on of h er Fi rst
,

Friday Com m u n ion s S h e u se d ofte n at th is

.
 M I ST R ESS O F N O VICES 153

ti m e to en cou rage hersel f by sayi n g these

words
J e v eu x t ou t i
s o u ff r r s a n s m e p l ai n d re
P u i s qu e s on p u r a m o ur m e m p é ch e d e
’
i i
r e n c ra n d re .

O u r Lord however w a s about t o g i v e h e r back

'

, ,

th e Com m u n ion s s h e had sacrifice d by obed i en ce .

S iste r F ran coise R osal i e Verch ere o n e of t he ,

you n g professed S is t ers who were s t i l l i n t he

n oviceship fel l dan gerously il l an d appeared t o be
,

dyi n g A s S i ster M argaret M ary w a s prayi n g for

.

her recovery O u r Lord m ade kn o wn t o h er that

,

the S ister would remai n i n her su fferi n g state u n til

M other M eli n ren ewed the perm i ssi on for t h e Fi rst
Friday Com m un ion s S ister M argaret M ary w a s .

grea t ly troubl ed O n the o n e h and s h e wan t ed t o

.

obey her S uperior and on the other O u r Lord,

‘

con t i n ually u rged her t o let M other M el i n kn ow

h o w m uch t he p roh i bition had d ispleased H i m .

S he made up he r m i nd to con su lt o n e o f t h e eld er

S is t ers an d chose Si ster M ary M agdal en des
,

E scu res o n whose v i r t ue s h e kn ew s h e could rely

,
.

She explai n ed her d i fficulty i n a n o t e

“
I wri t e y o u t h is i n th e Sacred H eart o f J esus ,

m y dear S is t e r because i t i s H i s Wi l l that I S h o uld

,

d o so . D o n o t be aston ished at my appeal i n g

t o y o u i n th e troubl e I am i n c o n cern i n g S is t er
F ra n eo i s e R osal i e Verch ere This m orn i n g o n .
,

risi n g I seem ed t o hear these word s : Tel l thy

,
‘

S uperior that s h e has d ispleased M e grea t ly .

W ishi n g to please crea t u res s h e has fo rbidden ,

t hee the Com m u n ion I t o ld thee t o make on the

Fi rs t Friday of every m o n t h i n order t o sa t isfy
t he D ivi n e J u st i ce by off eri n g M e t o the Etern al
Father for th e si n s agai n st chari t y o f which I have
chose n thee t o be a vic t im As she has fo rb i dden .

thee t o do M y Wi ll i n th is I am resolved to ,
“
1 54 B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

sacrifice to M ysel f th e victi m wh o n o w suffers .

’

This is what torm en ts m e I ca n th i n k of n oth i n g ,

else an d am con ti n ual ly u rged to speak to ou r

,

M other about i t To tel l yo u the truth I fear to

.
,

d o s o i n case it m ay al l b e a stratagem of the devi l

, ,

who wan ts to m ake m e appear si n g u lar by th is

com m u n ion or el se that i t i s m erely a del usion
, ,

f o r it is n ot to a m iserable hy p oc rite s u c h a s I
'

am that O u r Lord would S how such a favou r I .

i m plore y o u to tel l m e what y o u th i n k about it ,

both to rel ieve m e fro m m y d i ffi culty a n d also

because H e wi shes i t D o n o t fla t ter m e because
.
,

I have such a fear o f resisti n g God an d I can n ot ,

e nd u re to s e e o u r S iste r so i ll A s k H i m to make .

kn own the truth to you an d what H e wishes you to ,

s a y to m e after wh ich I wi l l try to th i n k n o m ore

,

abo ut it I beg y o u to bu rn thi s n ote and t o keep

.

m y sec ret .

Si ste r M ary M agdale n kept the n ote an d u rged

S ister M argaret M ary to explai n the wh ol e ma t te r
to th e S u p erio r M oth er M el i n con sen ted at o n ce
.

to what w as asked on con d itio n that Si ster

,

M argaret M ary would p ray for the recovery o f

th e i n val id A t on ce Sis t er Fran coise R osal i e
.

ral l i ed an d t h e dan ger was past W hether o r n o t .

th e S uperior forgot actual ly t o tel l S ister M argaret

M ary to resu m e h er Co m m u n ion s or whe t he r t h e ,

h um bl e Novice M istress m is un derstood an d thought .

a m ore defi n i te perm ission w a s n ecessary we do ,

n ot kn ow but th e i n val id though ou t o f dan ger

,

d i d n o t get well Seve ral Fi rst F ridays passed

.

wi t hout S i ste r M a rg a re t M a ry resu m i n g her C o m

,

m u n i o n s : sh e was afraid to m ake h ersel f si n gular

by aski n g a seco nd t i m e for leave to go O ur .

Lord w a s n ot pl eased an d gave h e r t o u n derstan d

,

that u n til she actual ly com m un icated on t h e days

H e d esi red th e i n valid would con ti n u e to s u ffer
, .
1 56 B LESS E D M A R G AR ET M . A L A C O QU E

d u ri n g a severe trial to wh ich s h e w a s subj ected

about th i s ti m e .

T o p repare he r for th is fresh di ffi c u lty Sai n t ,

Fran ci s o f Sal es appeared to h er o n h i s Feast ,

J an uary 2 9 t h H e m ade her u nd erstan d what a

.

great desi re h e had to s e e the Sacred H ear t kn own ,

loved an d hon ou red i n h is I n stitute sayi n g that ,

thi s was th e m ost eff ectual m ean s to p reve n t it

from succum bi n g to the spi ri t o f prid e and am b i
tion whi ch w a s about to try to rui n th e S p i rit of
,

hu m i li ty an d si m pl icity upon which i t had been

based I n gen eral th i s probably refe rred t o t he
.
,

spi ri t of J an sen ism wh ich wrought such havoc

, ,

especial ly i n F ran ce but doub t l ess i t als o had

,

referen ce to the am bition of i nd ivid uals fr o m on e ,

o f whom S iste r M argaret M ary was t o suffer s o

severely .

Th e fam ily of de Vichy C h a m ro n on e o f th e ,

best kn ow n an d best con n ected i n th e P rovi n ce o f

B u r g u ndy had given several of i t s m e m bers t o
,

th e V isitation C on ve n t at Paray The i n fl uen tial

.

d A m a n z e fam i ly had i ntermarried with th e d e

’

Vichy C h a m ro n s
- Thr ee siste rs o f th e form er
.

fam i ly had bee n professed a t Paray on e O f wh o m ,

was stil l l ivi n g T w o other m em bers of th e Paray

.

Com m u n i t y were cou si n s of a M ade moisell e d e

Vichy C h a m ro n who aft er havi n g bee n b rough t
-
,

u p i n the con ve n t school togeth er wi t h tw o O f he r

si sters an d th ree m ore o f her cous i n s asked an d ,

obtai n ed ad m ission a s a p o stulan t i n 168 6 .

I t i s p robabl e that h er father t he Cou n t de,

Vichy C h a m ro n had u rged h is daughte r to en ter

-
,

t h e co nven t where s h e had s o m any relation s a n d ,

that the poor gi rl stood too m uch i n awe of h i m t o

tel l h i m that s h e had n o real V oca t ion .

At fi rst s h e managed to conceal h er feel i n gs s o

wel l that the Com m u n i ty though t she w a s called t o
 M I ST R ESS OF N O V ICES 1 57

follow thei r l ife B ut S ister M argaret M ary who

.
,

saw thi n gs i n t he l i ght of t h e Sacred H eart kn ew ,

othe rwi se S he took every possi bl e m ean s to

.

assu re herself that her opi n ion was correct an d ,

the n con vi n ced that i t was so s h e told M other

, ,

M el i n about the postulan t u rgi n g that i n o rde r , ,

t o avoid al l p ubl icity M ademoisel le de V ichy

,

C h a m ro n should withd raw q uietly t o he r fam ily .

Th i s decision o f the holy N ovice M is t ress

provoked marked d ispleasu re am on g several i n
the Com m u n ity A s fo r the m em bers o f th e
’
postulan t s fam il y and o f he r other fri en ds i n the
world m an y o f whom were extremely i n fluential
,

people it was as i f a thu nderbolt had fal le n am on g

,

them .

S ister M argaret M ary was a hypocrite a ,

visionary deceived by th e devil i n com peten t to

, ,

form any j udgm en t " These an d m any other thi n gs

were said agai n st he r N evertheless the mal ign ed
.

N ovice M istress remai n ed fi rm i n h er deci sion an d ,

bore al l the abuse with the greatest m eekn ess and

i n si len ce .

Perhaps the m ost bitter o f he r oppon en ts w a s

the Card i nal de Boui llon an i n ti mate frien d o f the
,

d e Vichy C h a m ro n fam i ly
-
H e was Lord of .

Paray i n V i rtue of h is di gn ity o f A bbot of Cl u n y .

B ut S iste r M argaret M ary l ooked whol ly to God

fo r support an d d id n ot quai l before the power
,

even of o n e s o great as the Cardi nal de B ouil l o n .

She was th reaten ed with d ism issal from h er o ffi ce ,

an d eve n with i m prison m e n t but s h e remai ned ,

s o cal m an d peaceful that s h e won th e adm i ration

of th e whol e Com m u n ity .

Am on g those w h o caused S i ster M argaret M ary

m ost su fferi n g was a rel igious i n a h igh position ,

w h o held amon g the peopl e a grea t reputation fo r

sanctity H e kn ew the fam i ly de Vichy C h a m ro n
.
-
15 8 BL ESSE D M A R GA R E T M . A L A C O QU E

wel l an d w as probably p rej udiced by the m agai n st

,

he r . I n an y case h e l os t n o Oppor t u n i ty o f
speaki n g agai n s t her chargi n g her wi t h hypocrisy ,

an d o bs t i nacy an d sayi n g t ha t he r seem i n g V i rtu e

,

was n othi n g but d el usion .

I n a le t te r t o M other G re y fi é we have S ister ,

’
M argaret M a ry s own accou n t Of h ow th is a ffected
h er .

“
Len t 16 86 I s e e n othi n g i n m ysel f but what
deserves etern al pu n ish m en t for I have n ot on ly ,

been dece ived but I have been u n happy e n o u gh

,

t o d eceive others by m y hyp o crisy without h o w , ,

ever i n t en d i n g i t
,
Wha t con firm s m e i n th is
.

opi n ion of m y s e l f i s t hat i t i s also the op i n ion o f

,

t ha t good servan t o f Go d I have reason to bless .

God a t housan d ti m es for havi n g brought hi m

he re to put an e n d to t h e false opi n i on peopl e had
of me . P ray that I m ay be perfec t ly con verted
”
t o the Sacred H eart .

A l i ttle late r i n M arch she wrote

“
O u r Lord has sen t m e q uite u n expected hel p .

A great se rvan t of God has wri t ten tel l i n g m e ,

tha t he feels stro n gly u rged t o o ff er M ass for m e

every Satu rday for t h e rest o f the year that i s , ,

to s a y i t for my i n te n t io n an d I can d ispose of ,

i t as 1 l i ke s o I wi l l share it with y o u o n alte rn ate

,

Sa t urdays We shal l also par ti c i pate i n ev e ry

.

M a ss he says Th is good rel igious d o es n o t

.

kn ow m e n o r I h i m excep t by n ame I n eve r

, ,
.

fel t m ore at peace D o than k th e Sacred H eart .

o f O u r Lord J esus Ch ri st for th is .

D uri n g al l th i s t i m e o f trial P ere R ol i n showed

h i msel f a stau nch frien d to the p e rsecuted N ovice
M istress H e wrote to en co u rage her
.

“
M y dear S i ste r i n Ch rist I have read you r ,
-

two l etters an d than k G o d for al l H i s m erci es

,

to you . I d o n ot th i n k after con side ri n g the ,

160 B LE SS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A CO QU E

the bad use w e are m aki n g o f s o precious an

Opportu n ity of givi n g Go d proofs o f ou r l ove an d
fidel ity I n stead of l ovi ngly em braci n g t his cross
.
,

we o n ly try to ri d ou rselves o f it a n d n o t bei n g ,

able t o succeed we com m it a thousan d faults

,

wh ich fil l the D ivi n e H ear t with sorrow When ce .

com es th is i f i t i s n ot t hat we have too m uch love

,

for ou rselves an d fear to l ose o u r rep utation an d

,

the good Opi n ion of others Th i s it i s t hat makes

us seek t o j ustify ou r cond uct We bel ieve that .

we are i n n ocen t an d others gu i lty We th i n k we .

are right and th ey wron g O h " bel i eve m e dear .

,

Sisters h u m bl e souls are far from e n te r t ai n i n g

,

s uch thoughts A bstai n from speaki n g of

.

, do n ot m en tion he r amon g you rselves .

Let the re be n o m ore excuses o f self love but l e t -

,

us b e si le n t W e m us t be charitable an d h um bl e
.

i n o u r thoughts as wel l as i n o u r words I f you .

are faith ful i n th is the Sac red H eart wi l l be m ore

,

l i beral to you than eve r ; but i f o n the con trary , ,

y o u are n ot fai th ful I wi l l m ysel

,
f ask H i m to
pu n ish you G ive yoursel ves t o God yes al l t o
.
— ,

God ; carry H i s cross an d carry i t cheerful ly, ,

j oyously courageously otherwise you wi l l have

, ,

to re n der a rigorous accou n t o f it .

I t w a s by m ean s o f th i s severe trial co n n ected

wi t h th e d ism i ssal o f M adem oisel le d e Vichy
C h a m ro n that G o d p repared the soul o f H i s
,

servan t fo r the great j o y H e was about t o bestow

on her —a j oy beside wh ich al l others would appear
to her bu t s mal l for i t was n oth i n g less than a
,

tri um ph for the Sac red H eart of the M aster sh e

loved s o well .
 C H A PT E R XV

T R IU M P H OF T H E S A C R ED H EA R T
( 1 68 6 )
T H E m on th o f J u n e 168 6 was the ti m e chosen by
O u r Lord for establ ish i n g the devotion to H is
Sacred H eart i n t he Com m u n ity at Paray H e .

W h o ordereth “
al l thi n gs sweetly an d Who ,

i s M aster o f al l the hearts that H e has m ad e ,

kn o w s how to d raw those hearts to H i m self whe n

“ ”
H e s o wi l ls. Fear n o t I wi ll reign , H e had ,

said to S is t e r M argare t M ary an d she placi n g

, ,

al l her trus t i n H i m kn ew that H e would tri u m ph

,

i n spi t e of al l obstacles .

O u tside t he conve n t the storm rai sed by the

d ism issal of t he p o stulan t wi thout vocation w a s
n o t yet spen t W ith i n t he C l o ister peace reign ed
.

o n ce m ore but t he devo t io n o f t he n oviciate was

,

n ot al lowed t o pass beyon d i ts wal ls .

F rom M othe r G re y fi é at S em u r and M other d e

S a u m a i s e at M oul i n s an d late r at D ij on m ost
, ,

con soli n g accou n t s cam e to S ister Margaret M ary

o f t he progress of devotio n t o the Sacred H eart

i n those Com m un ities Both o f t hese good

.

S uperiors d id al l i n t hei r power to p ropagate

the l esson s t hey had learn t from t h ei r form e r
spiritual daughter an d she on her side ga t hered
,

t he first frui t s of her zeal from the han ds of the

M others by whom s h e had been s o severely tested .

N everthel ess s h e yearn ed to s e e her own S isters

i n rel igion yield t o the sweet at t raction o f the
L 161
16 2 B L ESS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

H eart o f J es u s an d j us t wh en there seem ed to be

,

n o i m m ed iate S i gn o f th is it w as brough t about ,

by what w a s man i festly the work of grace

, , .

O n the last day o f t h e O ctave o f Corp us Ch risti

‘

S i ster M ary M agd ale n d es Esc ures was con vi n ced

by a n i n terior l ight that s h e had bee n qui t e
m i s taken i n Op p osi n g the devotion to the Sacred
H ear t . Th is ven erabl e Sis ter was o n e o f th e
elders o f the Com m un ity and w a s looked up to by
,
“ ”
al l as a l ivi n g R ule S is t e r M argaret M ary
.

loved he r dearly an d i n spi te of al l the opposi tion

,

S he m et wi th from h er s h e co n ti n ued to con sult

,

he r on man y poi n t s because s h e kn ew her to be

,

a m ost V i rtuous rel igi ous .

W hen u n der th e i n fl uen ce of the Holy S p i rit

, ,

Siste r M a ry M agdale n s a w that s h e had been

m istaken she was overwhel m ed wi th gri ef an d
, ,

resolved to d o al l i n h er power to make ame n ds .

S he we n t to S i ster M argaret M ary an d asked

her to l en d h er the p ictu re of the S acred H eart ,

wh ich had bee n se n t by M oth er G re y fi é to th e

n ovices at th e sam e ti m e tell i n g h er t ha t S h e
,

wi shed to expose i t o n a sm al l al tar i n t he Choi r ,

an d th at sh e would ask the Com m u n i ty t o j oi n

he r i n payi n g i t hon ou r .

S ister M argaret M ary w as d el ighted ; she gave

her the p ictu re without maki n g an y rem ark and ,

awai t ed the res u l t i n sil en ce an d p raye r .

Th e n ext m orn i n g the day fixed by O u r B lessed

,

Lord H i m sel f for the Feast o f the Sacred H eart ,

S iste r M ary M agdal en p re p ared a s mal l altar

j us t i n fron t O f the gri l le i n the Choi r Th is sh e .

o rnam e n ted with flowers and upon i t S he put ,

th e pictu re i n a gi lt fram e the n wi t h h er o wn ,

han d s h e wrote a card w h ich sh e l eft o n t he

,

a l t a r i nviti n g al l th e religious to co m e an d pay

,
'

th ei r homage to th e Sacre d H eart .

164 BLESS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

j oyful day o f the 2 1s t o f J u n e I n th e even i n g

.

s he gathered her n ovices roun d her an d together ,

“
th ey san g a Te D eu m of than ksgivi n g I have .

“
n oth i n g m ore to desi re she said
, si n ce th e ,

Sacred H eart is kn own an d begi n s to rei gn i n

th e h earts of others D O what you ca n my dear
.
,

S isters that I t may reign i n yours for ever as

,
”
you r S overeign Lord and S pouse .

S iste r M ary M agdalen des Escures cam e i n f o r

“
a special word o f t han ks I t is i n obed ie nce to
.

the adorable H eart o f J esus m y dear S ister that

, ,

I co n gratulate you on you r happi n ess i n havi n g

bee n chose n to re n der th i s service to the H eart
of ou r good M as t e r by the courage you have
,

sh own i n bei n g the fi rst t o procu re I ts bei n g loved ,

hon oured an d kn own where i t seem ed al m ost

,

i m possi ble for I t to gai n access H e wishes to .

have th e love an d homage O f H is creatu res from

a free a n d lo v i n g wi ll without con s t rai n t or d is
,

si m ula t ion I t seem s to m e that the great desi re

.

O u r Lord has that H i s Sacred H ear t should be

hon ou red by a special worsh i p i s i n orde r to
ren ew i n soul s the e ffects of H is R edem ption by ,

maki n g H i s D ivi n e H eart as i t were a n ew the

, ,

M ed iator between Go d an d man Th e si n s of .

m an ki n d are s o m ultipl ied that it requ i res the

wh o l e exten t o f I t s power to obtai n m ercy for
t hem and t he graces of salvation and s a n c t i fi ca
tion which I t desi res s o earn estly to give them
i n ab u n dan ce E special ly does th e Sacred H eart
.

d esi re t o i m par t them to o u r I n stitute wh ich has ,

so grea t a n eed o f th i s help I th i n k i t is on e o f

.

the m ost e ffi cacious m ea n s for raisi n g i t fro m i ts

fal ls and for provid i n g as it were an i m p regnable
, , ,

fortress agai n st the assaults wh i c h th e e n em y is

con stan tly m aki n g u pon i t s o as to overth row i t
,

by a foreign sp i ri t of pride an d a m bition i n place ,

 T R I U M P H O F TH E SAC R E D H E A R T 16 5

of that hu m il ity an d si m pl icity wh ich i s i t s fo u n d a

tion . I ackn o w l edge that i t seem s t o m e tha t ou r
H ol y Fou nder earn estly desi res t o see th i s devotion
i n trod uced i n to o u r I n stitu t e because h e well kn ows
i t s eff ects I write y o u these few words as my dear
.

”
frien d i n the Sacred H eart .

Devotion to th e Sacred H eart w as n o soon er

es tabl ished i n th e Com m u n i ty at Paray than an
extraord i nary re newal of fervou r took place The .

R ul e was m ost exactly observed by al l P rayer .

,

si len ce an d m o rt i fi ca t i o n we re fai th fu l ly practised

,

by those w h o had perhaps been som ewhat n egl i

gen t o u these poin ts I n fact true l ove for J esus .
,

Ch ri s t w a s better u nderstood n ow that al l had

aban don ed t hem selves to H is D ivi n e H ear t .

M othe r de S a u m a i s e an d M other G re y fi é cam e

i n for a share o f S ister M argare t M ary s j oy T o ’
.

t he latter s h e wrote I shal l d i e happy n o w

th at the Sacred H eart o f m y Saviou r begi n s t o
be kn own an d mysel f u n kn o wn ; for i t seem s t o
m e that I am n ow by H i s m ercy al m ost an n i
, ,

h i l a t e d a s t o estee m and reputation i n t he op i n ion

o f others Th i s gives m e greater con solati o n than
.

”
I can express .

I n retu rn for the favou rs H e had bestowed o n

he r O u r Lord n ow i n spi red H is servan t to m ake
,

a V o w o f Perfection
'
Fo r th i s H e p repared h er
.

by placi n g h er u n der t he special pro t ection of

Sai n t F ran cis o f Assisi O n the day o f h i s Feast .
,

O ctober 4 t h 1 68 6 she s a w th e Sai n t su rrou nded

, ,

wi t h l ight an d raised as i t were ab o ve other

, , ,

sai n ts because o f hi s c o n form ity w i th the sufferi n g

,

l i fe o f O u r Lord an d h is special love fo r t he

m ystery of H is Passion Sh e u ndersto o d t hat i t .

was th is that had u rg ed O u r Lord t o bestow the

S t igm ata u pon h im and make h i m a special ,

favou rite o f H i s Sacred H eart and tha t i n con ,

1 66 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

seq u e nce h e possessed great p ower i n a p plyi n g

th e m erits o f Ch ri st s P recious B l ood particularly
’
,

on behal f of si n n ers and o f appeasi n g the offe n ded

,

j ustice o f God Sh e s a w t o o tha t he used h i s

.
, ,

power es p ecial ly i n favo ur o f reli gious w h o had

fal le n from t hei r fi rst fervou r an d that he c o n ,
“
s t a n t l y pleaded for th em A fter showi n g m e.

” “
these th i n gs wri tes S iste r M argare t M ary
, th e ,

D ivi n e S p ouse o f my soul gave hi m t o m e to be

m y guide as a m ark of H i s d ivi n e l ove that he
, ,

m ight pro t ect m e i n th e trial s t hat awaited m e .

O n e o f these t rial s was the serious i l l n ess of

he r broth er the Cu ré o f Bois Sai n te M ari e H e
,
- -
.

was attacked with apoplexy an d the doctors ,

declared th e case hopeless Ch rysostom A l a co q u e .

,

who w a s m ayor of th e sam e town of which h i s '

brother J am es was C u re sen t to Paray l e M on ial

,
- -

to beg thei r si ste r s p rayers ’

B oth th e bro t h ers .

l oved and ven e rated thei r holy sister a nd s h e had ,

for the m a dee p aff ection wh ich gave he r grea t

i n fl uen ce ove r th em a powe r she used to lead
,

t hem to a tru e d evotion t o the Sacred H eart She .

succeeded s o wel l that Ch rysos t o m proposed o f

h i s o wn accord to bui ld a chape l i n B ois Sai nte -

M arie i n I t s h on o u r .

A m essen ge r th en was se n t t o Paray an d S ister ,

M argaret M ary as of o l d the S isters o f Be t ha n y

, ,

carried he r troubl e to O u r Lord S he left the .

chapel cal m an d sm i l i n g ful ly con vi n ced that her

,

bro t h e r would be cu red S he gave t he m esse n ger

.

th ree s mal l bi llets o n each o f whi ch was i n scri bed

,

an i n v o cation t o th e Sac red H eart an d t old h i m ,

t o tel l he r brothe r Ch rysos t om to give som e wa t er ,

i n wh ich these bi l lets had bee n d i pped t o the ,

i n val id H er advice was foll o wed an d the pries t

.
,

rose from h i s bed s t ron g an d well S ister .

M a rgaret M a ry to o k t h e oppor t u n ity t o u rge hi m

168 B L ESSED M A R GA R E T M . A L A C O QU E

n um ber of pe rson s whom i t was fou n d i m possi bl e

,

to p reve n t e n teri n g the garden .

The cerem on ies las t ed for two hou rs and d u ri n g

,

al l that ti m e an d for l o n g a fte rw ards S ister

, ,

M argaret M ary kn elt m otion less i n the con ven t

chapel whol ly absorbed i n God
,
. What passed
i n her soul d u ri n g that ti m e w e d o n o t kn ow
Th e secret i s her o w n —an d God s H e r c o n
.

’
.

tem porari es i n wri ti n g of th is eve n t sup p ose t hat

the words she had writte n to M othe r G rey fi é t wo
years before fou n d an echo i n h er h eart du ri n g
“
th ose hours o f p raye r . I shal l d ie happy n o w
tha t t he H eart of my Savi ou r begi n s to be
”
kn own . Probably he r S isters were right but ,

looki n g back on t hat day i n th e l i gh t of th i s

twen ti eth c e n t i i ry m ay w e n ot ven t u re to su ppose
,

that perhaps Alm igh t y G od g ave H i s se rvan t a

gl i m pse i n to the futu re and that h er h eart super
,

abou nded with j oy i n seei n g that a ti m e would

com e whe n thousan ds o f al l n a t i on s w o uld love
an d hon o u r the D ivi n e H eart ; a ti m e whe n O u r
Lord woul d be e n th ron ed as Ki n g i n m any an d
man y a Cathol ic hom e al l th e world over an d that ,

i n th is God S howed he r the frui t o f that fi rst

,

h u m ble yet most lovi n g E n th ron em en t wi th wh ich

she an d her n ovices had strive n to hon o u r H i m as
Ki n g an d Lord o f th ei r hearts .
 C H A PT E R XV I

AD VIC E TO N O VI C E S

IT i s i m possi bl e t o give here ful ly all the treasures

of advice an d d i rection wh ich we fi n d i n th e
writi n gs of o u r Sai n t Som e exam ples are give n
.
,

however bo t h because t hey show forth the hear t

,

an d sou l o f S iste r Margare t M ary i n a very special

way and also because they con tai n such val uable
,

teach i n g for th ose w h o have t o trai n sou ls fo r God ,

an d fo r those who wish t o give t hem selves u p

en ti rely t o th e l ove o f the Sacred H eart .

To a N ov i c e on D et a ch m en t

I have on ly o n e l ittle word t o s a y to you my ,

d ear S iste r I t i s th is : tha t y o u wil l on ly fi n d

.

true peace an d perfect happi n ess i n en ti re detach

m en t fr o m yoursel f an d from al l t ha t is n ot God ;
f o r havi n g n oth i n g you wi l l possess al l i n the
,

Sacred H ear t of J esus Who desi res t o save you

,

by th i s m ean s So do n o t make m uch o f anyth i n g

.

except that wh ich hel ps you to th i s detac h m en t .

B e deaf to al l t h e argum e n ts o f n atu re an d sel f

love ; bl i nd to al l V iews of h uma n respec t f o r al l ,

th i s i s a great obstacl e to pu re love which i s n ot ,

give n to the tep id but on ly to those w h o are

,

h u m ble and ferven t This i s what I have t o say

.

to y o u . B e faithful to you r go o d resol utio n s .

Lov e H i m an d l eave an d forget you rself

,
.

169
176 B LESSE D M AR GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

On t h e sam e S u bj ect

M y - dearest S ister — I recom m end y o u p a rt i c u

,

l a rl y to attach you rsel f t o G o d alon e I f you .

d ivide you r heart with H i m i f you do n o t give u p,

th i s h um an respect an d al l th is sel f l ove which -

preven t y o u from lead i n g a n i nterior l ife H e wi l l ,

withd raw H i m self from y o u R em em b er m y .

,

ch i ld that vi rtue does n o t con sist i n pi o u s

,
.

thoughts a n d resol uti on s n or i n fi n e words b ut

, ,

i n doi n g good an d kee p i n g o n e s resol uti o n s ’

.

U n less yo u d o th i s they wi ll on ly serve to

,

condem n you B e faith ful then an d give God al l

.
,

y o u have prom ised H i m t ryi n g y o u r utm

,
ost t o

beco m e m eek an d h u m bl e towards you r n eighbou r ,

taki n g rep roof an d correction from al l withou t

excusi n g you rself an d receivi n g al l tha t D ivi n e
,

Providen ce se nds wi t h subm i ssion sayi n g always ,

”
My Go d Thy Wi l l be d on e
, .

To a n ot h e r N ov i c e

B efore read i n g you r n ote I wan ted to say this t o

you W hen I w a s offeri n g yo u yesterday to O u r
.

Lord th i s thought cam e to m e : Le t he r go her

,

way faithful ly su fferi n g without c o m plai n t for S he

, ,

can n ot be of the n u m ber o f the perfect fri en ds of

M y H eart u n l ess sh e is pu rified an d proved i n the
c rucible of s u ff e ri n S uffer t hen an d y o u wil l
please the D ivi n e (good n ess to Who m y o u ought
,

always to be i m m olated a n d sacrificed with a firm ,

hope an d con fide nce that H i s Sacred H eart wi ll

n eve r abandon y o u for H e i s n earer t o you when
,
17 2 B LESSED M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

s po nd wi th H is love G ive H i m al l yo u rs by an
.

exact fidel i ty t o al l ou r holy Observan ces ban ish i n g ,

al l vai n cu riosity an d al l surprise an d d iscou rage

,

m en t at d i ffi culties Keep you r sou l i n p eace

.

without com plai n i n g o f a nyth i n g tryi n g to fi n d ,

you r d el ight i n self ab n egati on I f you love -

.
,

n othi n g wi ll seem d i fficul t to you .

To On e i n I n t er i or Afl i c t i on

I beg th e Sacred H eart o f O u r Lord to be

H i m sel f you r suppor t as i t is n o t H i s Wi l l t o ,

cal m t he storm with i n y o u The n y o u wi l l be .

steadfast and p eac eful i n the m ids t of th e tem pest ,

about wh ich yo u m ust n ot be troubl ed as l on g as

you keep close to J esus by lovi n g con fide n ce an d
cal m stre n gth whatever you feel an d h owever
,

m uch you r e n em y d istu rbs y o u I t i s a good .

S ign when the devi l makes a n oise ; he has n ot

g o t what he i s ai m i n g at as lon g a s h e clam ou rs

for it . H owever you m ust be faithful i n n ot

,

con sen ti n g to h is suggestion s ; tu rn away from

the m q uite si m ply without forci n g you rself to feel
your wi l l acti n g Th e Sacred H eart O f J esu s
.

kn ows wel l what passes withi n you rs an d th i s ,

i s why H e al lows you to su ff e r Keep cal m and .

,

aban d o n yourself to al l H is design s for you r soul .

Hope i n H i s Good n ess an d wh en you r t roubles ,

i n crease let you r c o nfiden ce also be red oubled

, .

B e faith ful an d n ever wi l ful ly n eglect o pportu n i t ies

,

of p ractisi n g vi rtu e Look upon yoursel f as a

.

tree plan ted by the river sid e an d beari n g frui t -

,

i n du e season t h e m ore it i s s w ayed by th e wi nds ,

th e deepe r i t s t ri k e s its roots i n to the grou nd S o

'

. .

i n th e sam e way th e more the wi n ds of tem pta t ion

 ADV I CE T O N O VI CES 17 3

su rro u n d you th e d eeper m ust you bury you rsel f

i n the Sacred H eart o f J esus by profoun d h u m i l ity .

I beg H i m to su rrou n d you with H i s powe r as

wi th a w al l of s u re defen ce .

To On e wh o wa s a b ou t to E n t er t h e N ov i ces h ip .

As G o d has placed you i n the barq u e o f H oly

R el igi o n y o u have on ly to aban don yourself to
H i m an d let yoursel f be guided by obed ie nce
, ,

the su re S ign of God s W i l l fo r you I n all that

’
.

y o u do t ry to please G o d an d s e e H i m al on e i n
,

al l that happen s to you H i s good pleasu re m ust

.

s u ffi ce . R es t l i ke a ch i ld without anxiety on
, ,

H i s H eart ; H is love wi l l take care of you Be .

h u m bl e toward s God an d ge n tl e t owards y o u r

n eighbou r J udge an d accuse yoursel f o n ly an d
.
,

always excuse o t hers I f you wish to h on ou r th e

.

Sacred H eart of O u r Lord Jesus Ch rist make ,

H i m t he D epositary o f al l that y o u do o r suffer .

O ffe r H i m al l you r action s so that H e may d ispose

,

o f t he m accord i n g t o H i s Wi ll u n iti n g yoursel f ,

t o H i m i n al l that you d o an d i n al l t hat happen s

,
"
to you Dwel l i n th i s adorable H ea rt ; t ake all
.

you r sm al l trou bles an d al l t hat i s bitter t o H i m ,

H e wi ll swee t e n i t al l ; there you wi l l fi n d the

rem edy fo r al l you r evi ls stre ngth i n you r weak
,

n ess an d a refuge i n every dan ge r Treat with

,
.

O u r L o rd with en ti re si mpl icity D o n ot am use .

y o u rsel f with reflec t i n g too m uch o n you r fau lts ;

t hat on ly leads t o th e fla t tery o f sel f love and to -

d iscouragem en t When you have don e wron g

.
,

h u mble yoursel f before G o d an d ask H i s par

don an d the n s e t to w ork agai n wi th ren ewed
,

cou rage .
17 4 B L E SSED M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

On P u r i ty f
o H ea r t

I d o n ot see tha t th ere i s a nyth i n g t o add regard

i n g you r n ote except t o u rge the fa i thfu l p ractice of
all t hat i t co n tai n s T ry wi t h all you r s t ren gth to
.

n eglec t n o thi n g whi c h ca n hel p to make yo u

con formabl e t o you r C ru c i fi e d Spouse Th i s m ust .

be by th e faith fu l p rac t ice o f al l tha t th e R ul e

e nj o i n s l ivi n g i n lovi n g aban don m e n t to the care
,

o f D i vi n e Provide nce ; ban ishi n g al l th oughts o f

sel f l ove an d con vers i n g s im ply with the Sacred
-
'

H eart s o as to u n i te you rsel f as m uch as possi ble

,

to H is love an d H i s i n te n tion s i n al l tha t happen s

t o you Wheth er you a c t o r whether you su ffer
.
,

keep you r soul i n peace resti n g o n H i m , W hat .

ever y o u feel do n o t al low you rsel f to be troubled

, ,

bu t le t G od ac t a n d u n ite you rsel f to H i s Wi l l .

Th is i s what i t see m s to be H e desi res of you for ,

the pu ri ty w hich y o u speak o f i n you r n ote c o m

prises freedom n o t o n ly from S i n bu t f rom al l
, ,

v o l u n tary i m perfection wh ich could s ul ly you r

heart which ought to be the t h ron e of you r
,

B el oved G ive H i m love for love wi th the fidel ity

.

y o u kn o w H e requ i res o f y o u .

Aband on all for l o ve an d t o love wi thout an y ,

mo re reserve M ake good u s e o f al l t h e occasi on s

.

of m o rt i fi ca t i o n an d h um i l iation wh ich m ay com e

t o you without tryi n g to avoid them fo r th i s i s the
, ,

pri n ci pal m ean s of u n i ti n g yoursel f t o the Sacred

H eart o f J esu s .

VIII
I am qu ite wi ll i n g m y dear S ister t o se n d you a
, ,

l ittl e word a s you wish it an d because I h ope very ,

17 6 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M A L A C O QU E

E xterior si le n ce by n ever sayi n g anythi n g to

prai se or excuse you rsel f or to blam e or accuse
an other B e sile n t as t o al l the l ittl e sal l ies of
.

sel f love to wh ich o u r n atu re i s p ron e i n order to

-
,

S how pl eas u re when thi n gs go wel l an d d ispleasu re

whe n they d ispl ease us C ut off al l superfl uous
.

words You r si le n ce wi l l be i n hon ou r of O u r

.

Lord s si len ce i n th e B lessed Sacram en t By th i s

’
.

m ean s you wi l l learn t o con verse with H i s Sacred

H eart an d t o l ove H i m i n si len ce
“

To On e wh o wa s v ery F erv en t

R e m em ber i f I d ie before you that you are t o ,

take my place before t h e B l essed Sacram en t an d

a s k pardon for al l the i rrevere nces an d outrages

H e has recei ved from m e A n d i f G o d has m ercy

.

on me I p rom ise n ot to forget you but t o do

, ,

everyth i n g i n my powe r fo r you Let u s love each .

o t her i n t h e Sacred H eart Let us love H i m fo r .

each other love H i m u n der al l ci rcu m stan ces an d

“ ”
take for m otto Thy W i l l be don e Love an d do .

w hat y o u wil l for whoever possesses love has al l

,
.

D o everyth i n g by love i n love a nd for love ; for

, ,

i t i s love w h ich gi ves val ue to eve ryth i n g Love .

—
does n ot desi re a d ivid ed h eart i t m ust be al l o r
n othi n g Love wi l l m ake al l th i n gs easy to you
. .

Gi ve H i m then l ove for love and n ever forget H i m

, ,

Who d ied for love o f yo u Yo u wi ll love H i m i n .

the measure i n wh ich you su ffer i n si le n c e an d

prefer H i m to al l creatu res an d etern ity to ti m e .

M y dear S i ste r i f you wan t to becom e the

,

disci ple an d ch i ld of the Sac red H eart of Jesus ,

 ’
ADV ICE To NO V I CES 17 7

y ou m ust con form yoursel f to H i s h oly teach i n g

an d becom e m eek a n d h u m bl e l i ke H im B e meek .

i n beari n g with th e smal l defects an d h um ou rs o f

others D o n ot be vexed at sm al l con trad iction s
.
,

but o n the con trary re nd er your n eighb o u r al l the

, ,

smal l services i n you r power for thi s i s a su re way ,

o f pleasi n g the Sacred H eart B e m eek cal m and .

,

u n ru ffl e d n o t on l y i n al l that happen s c o n trary t o

,

you r i n cl i n ati on s but even after th e faults that you

,

com m it ; n eve r excuse yo u rself fo r O u r Lord d id ,

n o t do s o d u ri n g H i s Passion D o n ot look for .

th e praise and esteem of crea t u res but rej ect al l ,

such th oughts R ej oice whe n y o u are forgotte n

.

o r despised f o r the true m ean s o f establ ishi n g

,

O u r Lord s rei gn i n you r heart i s to be hu m ble

’

an d to al l o w o t hers t o h u m bl e you When you are .

al lo wed t o d o s o try to choose fo r you rself that

,

wh ich is worst an d m ost repugn an t t o you

I beseech y o u by al l the love y o u bear t h e Sacred
,

H ear t o f J esus to attach you rsel f con stan tl y a n d

,

fi rm ly t o you r R ul e an d t o al l t ha t y o u have bee n

taught i n you r N oviceshi p Study how to becom e .
,

a good rel igious fai t h fu l to si len ce the p ractice o f

. ,

the Presen ce o f God and th e m o rt i fi c a t i o n of you r

,

sen ses . H u m bl e you rsel f with true h um i l i t y o f

heart o n al l occasion s .

Sp i r i t u a l Tr ea s u r es .

Yo u r '

wil l be the Sacred H eart o f J esus

t rea s u re ,

when ce you w i l l d raw th e love o f a ch ild towards

Go d t h e l ove of a fathe r toward s you r n eighbou r ;
an d t he love o f a j udge towards you rsel f .

Y o u r treasure wi l l be i n the Wou n d o f O u r

L o rd s right hand whe nce y o u wi ll d raw wherewith
’

to satisfy f o r all you r fau lts agai n st charity a n d

agai n s t pu rity of i n te n tion .

M
17 8 B LE SS E D M ATG A R E T M . A L A C O QU E

You r treasu re wi l l b e i n the Gard e n o f O l ives

with J esus sorrowful u n to death H e wi l l make
.

satisfac t ion for al l you r l ove o f pl easu re H is .

p raye r wi l l repai r t h e ti m e lost du ri n g you rs an d ,

wil l ob t ai n for y o u a gift o f p rayer an d u n io n w ith

Go d .

You r treasu re w i l l be Jesus i n th e B lessed

Sacram en t i n W hom you wi l l fi n d a hidde n sweet
n ess wh ich wi l l di sgust you with al l earth ly th i n gs
an d lead you to p refe r H is h idden an d sel f
S a Cri fi c i n g l i fe
.

On t h e P r es en c e of God .

O n e o f th e ways m ost p l easi n g to God o f

re mai n i n g i n H is H oly P rese n ce is to en ter th e
Sacred H eart of J esus a n d give ou rselves up
en ti rely to H i m s o that H is power m ay take the
,

place o f o u r weakn ess Whe n we fal l i n to a n y

.

fault w e m ust ask th i s D iv i n e H eart to sati sfy

,

H is j ustice f o r us and to give u s H i s g ra ce an d ‘

m ercy although we are n ot worthy Have recou rse

, .

to H i m always an d every w here : H e del i ghts i n

doi n g us good L et us u n i te ou rselves to H i m
.

i n al l ou r action s for th us al on e shal l we m eri t

, .

A bove al l l et u s try to p le a se H i m by a lovi n g

,

con fid en ce .

Th e S a cr ed H ea r t fj
o es u s , a n A by s s f
o

Wi sd om and Lov e .

The Sacred H eart o f J es u s i s an abyss o f love ,

i n wh ich we m ust l ose al l other l ove especial ly ,

self love and i t s evi l fru its such as h um an res p ec t

-
,

an d the desi re t o foll ow o u r o w n i ncl i nation s ”

.

I f you a re i n a n abyss o f p riv a tio n an d d esol a

186 B LESS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

I f you fi nd you rsel f i n an abyss of agitation ,

i m patien ce o r an ger go an d bu ry you rsel f i n the

, ,

swe etn ess o f th e lovi n g Heart o f J es us so that He ,

may re nder you m eek an d h u m bl e o f heart .

I f y o u are i n an abyss of d istracti on s an d d is

s i pat i o n
,
go and rest i n th e tran q ui l l ity of t h e
Sacred Heart a nd He wi l l i n fal li bly gai n th e
,

victory for y o u .

I f you com bat gen erously y o u can lose you rself i n

,

the abyss o f H i s pu rity an d consolation an d there ,

pu ri fy you r i n t e n tion s an d obtai n al l you r d es i res

, .

I f you are l ost i n darkn ess H e wil l clothe you ,

wi th H is l i ght s o that you can give you rsel f up

,

bl i n dly to H is gu idan ce .

When you fi n d you rsel f pl u n ged i n an abyss

of sad n ess g o and lose you rsel f i n th e j o y o f the
,

Sacred H eart there y o u wi l l fi nd a t reasu re wh ich

wi l l cause al l you r sad n ess to d isappear .

I f y o u are i n troubl e an d an xiety g o and pl u n ge ,

you rsel f i n to th e peace o f H i s adorabl e Heart

n o on e can t ake th i s place fro m y o u .

O fte n p l u n ge yoursel f i n to th e charity o f th i s

lovi n g H eart so that you may n ever do an yth i n g
,

to an othe r wh ich could wou n d th is vi r t ue b ut i n ,

al l th i n gs act towards you r n eigh bour as y o u would

wish h i m to act towards you .

I f you are pl u nged i n su ff eri n g h ide you rsel f i n ,

th e H eart of J esus wh ere y o u wi l l fi n d a treasu re

,

o f j o y which wi l l make you s u b m issi ve t o H is Wi ll .

R e mai n i n th e abyss of H i s H eart sil en tl y an d wi th

out com plai n t .

A re you i n an abyss o f fear ? B u ry you rsel f i n

that of t he confiden ce of th e S acred H eart a n d
you r fear wil l give place to love .

I f you feel overwhel m ed w i t h d i s co n t e n t an d /

bittern ess bu ry yoursel f i n th e Sacred H ear t so

,

that y o u may fi nd you r j oy i n H i m al on e .

 C H A PTE R XVI I

MOTH ER A S S I S TA N T
( 1 68 7 -
169 0 )
W H E N i n Jan uary 168 7 S i ste r M argaret M ary
l eft th e o ffice o f N ovice M i stress , s h e w a s named
Assistan t I n fi rm a ri a n I n th i s em ploym en t s h e
.

showed th e sam e ki n d n ess to th e sick the sam e ,

hu m i lity a n d obed i en ce a s s h e had shown when ,

on first en teri n g rel igion s h e was e n gaged upon

,

th is work .

A ve ry few weeks later h er charge was chan ged ,

an d th is ti m e s h e w a s renamed M istress o f th e
School . H ere agai n S he showed the sam e
, ,

devoted n ess and sel f s a c ri fi c e though i t wi l l be

-
,

rem e m bered t ha t s h e had a par t icularly stron g

d isl ike to thi s o ffi ce H er l ove o f m o rt i fi ca t i o n had
.

n ot lessen ed wi th h er years Th e ch i ld re n used .

t o s e e he r col lecti n g th e c rusts and sc raps which

they l eft o n thei r plates an d carryi n g them off t o
the n u n s refectory to form part o f her n ext meal
’
.

They were ful l o f ad m i ration t o o fo r the way i n , ,

wh ich she bore physical pai n About th is ti m e .

s h e su ffered from very bad gathered fi n gers ; she

bore t he pai n i n silence for a con siderabl e ti m e ,

but as o n e can we “ i magi n e s h e got n o sleep at

, ,
’
n ight As she w a s i n the ch i ld re n s d orm ito ry
.
,

s h e s a t qu ietly by the fi re avoid i n g the sl igh t est

n oise s o as n o t to d istu rb he r charges O n e of .

the ch i ld ren h owever s a w h er an d tol d M other

, , ,

M el i n about i t Th e Supe rior at on ce asked to see

.

18 1
18 2 B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

S ister M argaret M ary s hand an d i n qui red W hy ’

,
“
s h e had said n oth i n g ab o ut i t O h M other .
, ,
“
was t he repl y i t i s such a small th i n g that I d id
,
”
n ot t h i n k i t wor t h wh il e D octor B i lle t however
.
, ,

was n o t o f the sam e opi n i on H e lan ced t he .

fi n gers i n t wo o r th ree places d own to the bon e .

Th e patien t n eithe r m oved n or spoke wh ich greatly ,

ed i fi ed t h e D octor ; bu t whe n th is happe n ed

seve ra l ti m es he kn owi n g what the pai n m ust
,
“ ”
be rem arked sm i l i n g
,
I t i s wel l to be a Sai n t "
,

Far from seeki n g any sym pathy from others i n h er

su fferi n g S is t e r M argaret M ary was t ro ubled
,

whe n s h e received i t S hortly afterwards s h e

.

“
wro t e to M othe r G re y fi é : I th i n k it m ust be i n
p un ish m en t for m y si n s tha t I am n o t al lowed to
bear t h e sl igh t es t cross wi t h o ut every o n e kn owi n g
abou t it . B el ie ve m e dear M other n atu re , ,

so loves t o be fla t te red an d sym pa t h i sed with t ha t ,

I can n ot cou n t m y gathered fi n gers as a s uff eri n g ,

because every o n e kept remarki n g how m uch I

S uffered I though t i n the e n d they were m ocki n g
.

m e because I mad e such a fuss over s o sm all a

,

thi n g and I have l earn t by experie n ce how agre e

,

abl e i t is t o n atu re t o have such con sola t ion s .

N atu re can n o t m ake u p i t s m i n d t o suffe r without

s upport am idst h u m i l iati on s co n t e m pt a n d aban ,

d o n m e n t fro m creatures Y et th i s i t i s that p u re

.

”
l ove requi res .

Ot he r physical s u f feri n gs were n ot wan ti n g .

F rom th e F east o f t h e E pi phan y u n til A sh W ed

“
n es d a
y S,he fel t s h e says,
as if stretched
, o n a
”
c ross o f pai n .

O n Good F riday O u r Lord con soled her S he .

had passed t he day i n a great des i re fo r H oly

Com m u n i o n shedd i n g tears because i t was i m
,

possibl e for her t o receive O u r Lo rd o n tha t day .

”
M os t lovi n g Lord S he repeated ,
I wish to be ,
1 84 B LE SS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

F ive m on ths later o n th e Feast of O u r Lady s

,
’

V isita t ion Sister M argare t M ary w a s agai n plead

,

i n g for h er S iste rs but O u r Lord seem ed t o tu rn

,
“
a d eaf ear to he r p rayer Th ey do n o t l isten
.

“
to M y Voice H e said
,
an d t h ey d estroy the
,

fou ndatio n o f the bui ld i n g I f t hey t h i n k to rai se

.

”
it on an y other fou n dation I wil l d estroy it At .

these words s h e s a w O u r B l essed Lady s u rrou nded ,

b y an gels prostrate he rsel f before her D i vi n e S on

, ,

plead i n g i n her turn for the rel igious They are

th e daughters o f m y heart ; I wi l l be a m an tl e of
p rotection t o them to receive the blows Thou
”
w ouldst i n flict u p on them The n O u r Lord .
,
“
tu rn i n g ten derly t oward s H is M oth er said : My ,

M other tho u hast al l powe r to bestow M y graces

,
”
upon the m as thou wi lt O u r Lady the n begged
.

tha t pu n ish m en t m ight n ot be i n fl icted at l east til l

the Feast o f her P rese n tation prom isi n g to d o al l ,

i n he r powe r to con q ue r thei r hearts for her D ivin e

S on an d to re es t abl ish am on gst the m that sp i rit o f
-

h u m il i ty an d si m pl icity wh ich H e h ad said should

keep the d aughters o f the Vi si tation h idde n i n
H i m thei r C ru c i fi e d Love
, .

The d evi l seem s at th is ti m e to have redoubled

h is fu ry agai n st the Co m m u n i ty I t i s related .

that h e twice t ore i n to pi eces th e cu rtai n s i n fron t

“
of th e gri l l e i n thei r choi r sayi n g T h us would , ,

I destroy t h e O rd er of the Visi ta t ion were i t n ot ,

supported by th i s stron g col um n ( O u r B lessed

”
Lady ) agai n s t whom I have n o power
, .

O n several occasio n s S ister M argaret M ary saw

O u r Lady wearied a s i t we re wi th th e effor t s S he
, ,

had mad e to rescue t h e hearts o f the rel i giou s for

h er Son an d c o m plai n i n g sad ly that the re were
,
“ ”
som e wh o desp ised th e hel p s h e offered them .

Fr o m the begi n n i n g of h er rel igiou s l i fe S i s t e r

M argaret M ary had been especial ly d evout toward s
 M O T H E R ASS I STA NT 18 5

the Soul s i n P u rgatory M any were the pen an ces

.

s h e i n fl icted on herself i n order t o rel i eve them ,

an d very i n ti ma t e w a s her i n tercou rse wi t h them .

They oft en appeared t o her aski n g earn estly for ,

hel p an d n early always tell i n g her the reason s for

,

wh ich they were detai n ed i n thei r place o f p u ri fi ca

tion . D u ri n g th e years 16 8 7 an d 168 8 S i ster M ar
gare t M ary seem s t o have been especially a ffi i c t e d
with i n terior sufferin gs o n behalf of t he H oly
Souls .

“
I n ever re member s h e wro t e to M other de
,
“
S au m aise to have passed such a year o f su ffer
,

ing . I t seem s to m e that every t hi n g serves as

an i n s t ru m e n t i n t he hand s of D ivi n e J ustice to
torm e n t m e Nothi n g makes m e su ffer m ore than
.

th e sanc t i ty of j ustice .

“
A n d agai n we read : The Sacred H eart o f
J esus often gives H is poor victi m to the S oul s i n
P urga t ory i n orde r to help the m to satisfy H is
,

D ivi n e J ustice ; and at such ti m es I suffe r pai n s

very l i ke thei rs an d I get n o repose ei the r day o r
,
”
n i ght .

M other G re y fi e gives us an accou n t of two

’

am on g m an y of th e appari t i on s con n ected wi th th e

H oly Souls wh ich were gran ted t o S ister M argaret
“
M ary . I have heard from hersel f t hat two re
l i g i o u s fo r whom she prayed aft er t hei r death
, ,

were shown to her i n the prison s o f d ivi n e j ustice ,

but th e pai n s of the o n e were i n com parably greate r

than th ose of t he other Th e first greatly re
.

p ro a c h e d herself sayi n g that

,
o n accou n t of her

faul t s agai n st chari ty and the affection wh ich ought

t o reign i n rel igious com m u n i t ies s h e had i n curred , ,

amongs t man y other p u n ish m en ts tha t o f n o t b e ,

i n g allowed to have an y par t i n t he suffrages that

the C o m m u n ity o ffe red fo r he r on ly receivi n g rel ief
,

i n her frightful pai n s from the p rayers o f t h ree or

186 B LE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

fou r S isters for w hom d u ri n g l i fe s h e had had less

esteem and l i ki n g S he also lamen ted th e great
.

faci l i t y with wh ich she had exem pted herself from

he r R ul es and the p ractices o f Com m u n ity l i fe .

A nd i n the th i rd place she deplored the troubl e

, ,

she had take n to p rocu re he r own personal ease

an d com fort add i n g that i f i t had n ot bee n for O ur
,

B l essed Lady she would certai n ly have bee n lost .

“
The other soul su ffe red less an d did n ot ask ,

fo r an y hel p ; S i ste r M argaret M ary w a s very

m uch aston ished at th is an d w a s tol d t hat s h e w as
,

forbidden to ask because S he had n ot correspon ded

,

to the attractio n of grace which G o d had give n he r ,

of goi n g to H i m th rough p u re sufferi n g He .

w ished h er to m eri t th is crown but i n opposition ,

to H i s desig n s she had eagerly sought her co n

solation i n creatures .

S t i l l on e m ore exam p le m ay be o f i n terest .

D octor B i llet w h o s o devoted ly attended the Paray

,

Com m u n ity d u ri n g th e whol e o f th e l i fe of ou r

Sai n t l os t h is wife i n 168 3
,
Madam e B i l let .

appeared to S iste r M argaret M ary aski n g he r ,

prayers an d beggi n g h er to t el l her h usban d two

sec rets o n which d epe n d ed the pu rificat io n an d
,

del ive ran ce o f h er soul S iste r M argaret M ary

.

told th i s to M other G re y fi e who would n ot pay

’

any atte n tion to it b u t the fearful n oises s h e heard

,

i n her roo m d u ri n g th e n ight m ade he r chan ge

her m i n d D octor B il let o n bei n g told ackn ow
.
, ,

ledged that the advice ca m e from God an d acted ,

u p o n iL
A l t h ough Siste r M argaret M ary su ffered from
such grea t i n teri or trial s s h e was n ot l eft witho u t
,

equally great co n sola t ion s .

O n the Feast of the V i sitation 168 8 s h e p assed ,

the whol e day before the B lessed Sacram en t an d ,

O u r Lord gave her to u n dersta n d ho w i n ti mately

18 8 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

Sai n t F ran cis o f Sales the n i n vited hi s daughte rs

to com e an d d raw the wate rs of sal vation from th e
S ou rce whe n ce thei r Co n sti tution s had sp ru n g .

” “
I n th i s D ivi n e H eart h e said you wi l l fi n d
, ,

m ean s of acq u itti n g yourselves perfectly of what is

enj oi n ed you i n the fi rst poi n t of you r D i rectory
wh ich con tai n s i n itsel f the whole perfection of
your I n sti tute — L et th e ob j ect of the i r wh ol e
‘

l i fe an d of al l th ei r exe rcises be to u n i te them

selves wi t h God .
’

“ “
To attai n to th is h e con ti n ued ,
the Sac red ,

H eart m ust be th e l ife w h ich an i mates y o u an d the

love of that H eart your co nsta n t exercise for thi s
alon e can u n i te you to God so as to hel p H oly
C h urch by you r p rayers an d good exam pl e an d ,
”
t o advance the salvati o n o f you r n eighbou r .

The year 1689 the last com plete year o f S iste r

,

M argaret M ary s l i fe w a s passed wi t hout an y very

’
,

n otabl e exteri or even t The d uties of the o ffi ce of

.

M other A ssistan t occupied the servan t of God an d ,

to these d uties sh e oft e n added those o f a Lay

sister by hel pi n g them i n eve ry way sh e co uld ,

al ways ready to sacrifice hersel f i n t h e cause o f

charity .

B u t though the year passed u n even tful ly i n th e

eyes o f othe rs the Sai n t s deep i n teri or l i fe of
,
’

u n io n with God flowed o n ever m ore fully an d

m ore stron gly .

She had a s was usual o n the 2 9 t h o f J an uary

, ,

an o ther visit from h er H oly Fou n de r an d th i s ,

ti m e he was accom pan ied by Sai n t J an e F ran ces

d e Chan tal .

Sai n t F ran cis o f Sales gave S ister M argaret

M ary to u nd erstan d that God had prom ised that
H e would recei ve as H is spouses al l true dau ghters
o f the Visi t ati o n an d Sai n t J an e F ran ces spoke o f
,

th e marks wh ich these t r u e rel igi ous S hould

 M O T H E R ASS I STA NT 1 89

bear . They should rej oice o n l y i n the Cross .

Let th em put aside al l idea of doi n g eith e r m ore or

less than i s requi red by the R ule The best m ean s .

we have o f risi n g fro m o u r fal ls is the Sacred

H eart o f O ur Lord . Satan wi l l n ever s u c
c e e d i n h i s d esi gn as l on g as ou r I n stitute has th e
”
Sacred H eart for Defend er and S upport .

O n the Feast of the S acred H eart an other V ision

“ ”
was vouchsafed to her O ur Lord showed m e
.
,
“
s h e says , th e d evotion to th e Sacred H eart as a
beauti ful tree wh ich H e had desti n ed from al l
,

etern ity to take root i n ou r I n stitute an d to spread

its bran ches th rough al l o u r H ouses so that each ,

m ight ga t her i t s fruits accord i n g t o the i r wi l l an d

taste These fruits are to ren ew i n us t h e pri m itive
.

”
S pi rit of ou r voca t ion .

T h e n t h e M ission reserved for the Society o f

‘

J esus w a s m ore ful ly revealed t o her O u r good .

“
Father d e la Col o m bi ere sh e wri tes
, has ,

ob tai n ed that after o u r I n stitute the Society o f ,

J esus shal l be favoured wi t h all th e graces an d

S pecial p rivi leges o f the Sacred H eart of J esus .

O u r Lord prom i ses t hat H e w il l shed H is blessi n gs

i n abu ndance o n thei r labou rs fo r the salvation o f
souls I t seem s to m e tha t th i s D ivi n e H eart has
.

so arden t a desi re to be k n own loved and adored , ,

especially by these good Fathers that H e p rom ises ,

them if I am n ot m istake n s o to S hed t he u n ctio n

, ,

o f H is love on thei r words an d to accom pan y them

w ith such stron g an d powerful graces that they ,

wi ll be l i ke two edged swords to pen etrate th e

-

hearts of the m ost harden ed si n n ers B ut fo r th is .

th ey m ust d raw al l thei r l ight from th i s i n o x

h a u s t i b l e Sou rce o f the scien ce a nd charity o f
th e Sai n ts .

A few days afte r th is S ister M argaret M ary

,

wrote t o P ere R ol i n an d wi t h th i s l etter wh ich

,
1 96 BLE SSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

con tai n s an acco un t of O u r L ord s m ost con sol i n g

’

p rom i ses w e wil l close th i s chapte r

,
.

“
Why can n ot I m ake kn own to every on e al l
tha t I kn ow of th i s m ost am iabl e d evotion ? I
beseech y o u Father n ot to n eglect an yth i n g by
, ,

which y o u can make it better kn own J esus Ch ri st .

assu red m e m ost u n m i s takably t ha t i t i s by m ean s

of the Fath ers of the Society o f J esus tha t H e
wi shes to establ ish th i s devo t i on an d by i t to,

secu re for H i m sel f a n u m ber o f faith fu l servan ts ,

p erfect fri en ds an d grateful ch ild re n

,
.

I do n ot kn ow of an y d evotion i n th e spi ri tual

l i fe m ore calculated t o raise a soul to h i gh sa n ct i ty
i n a short ti m e and to e nabl e it to tas t e t he tru e
,

sweetn ess there i s i n th e service o f G o d Yes I .

,

repeat i f o n e kn ew how pl easi n g th is devotion i s

,

to J esus Ch rist th ere i s n o Ch ristian wh o would

,

n o t p ractise i t .

D o al l you can to get rel igi o us to p ractise it for ,

they wi l l d raw so m uch h el p from it tha t they wi l l

wan t n oth i n g else to re establ ish thei r fi rst fervou r
-

an d th e m ost exact regulari ty i n thei r Com m u n ities ,

even those wh ich are t he least regu lar A n d it .

wi ll d raw those w h o l ive acco rd i n g t o thei r R u l e

t o th e heigh t of san ctity .

O u r Lord gave m e to u n derstan d that those who

w ork f o r th e salvation o f soul s wi l l receive the
power of tou ch i n g the m ost harde n ed hearts a nd ,

wi ll work wi th m arvellous success i f th ey are

themselves pen etrated wi t h a ten der d evo t ion to
H i s D ivi n e H eart .

“
A s fo r secu lar p erson s they wi l l fi n d by t hi s
,

m ean s the graces n ecessary f o r the i r state o f l ife ,

that i s to s a y : peace i n thei r fam i l ies hel p i n thei r ,

labou rs an d the blessi n gs of H eaven o n al l thei r

u n dertaki n gs . They wi l l fin d i n th is adorabl e
H eart a place o f re fu g e i n l i fe an d particularly at
‘
 C H A P T E R XV I I I

LETTE R S

IF the l ife of B lessed M argaret M ary reveals h er to

us as an h eroic sou l a p rivi l eged V i rgi n an d the
, ,

con fidan t o f th e Sacred Hea rt h er l etters wi l l give

,

us a pictu re o f h er a s a devoted siste r a l ovi n g ,

subj ect a rel igious si m pl e i n the practice o f h er

,

R ul e i n the d ischarge o f he r em pl oym e nts an d

,

such al ways as th e Fou nde r o f her O rder wou ld

have had her to be They speak to us of sel f
.

s a c ri fi c e sel f i m m olation sel f an n i h ilatio n and o f

,
-
,
-

th e love wh ich alon e makes these t hi n gs possible .

The graces give n to he r were n o t for h ersel f

“
on ly ; th i s sh e tel l s us : M y D ivi n e Savi ou r
mad e kn ow n to m e that th e graces H e had give n
m e were n ot for mysel f s o m uch as for those whom
He wo u ld se n d t o m e to wh om I was to reply
,

si m ply as H e i n sp i red m e because H e would attach

,

the u n ction of H is l ove t o m y an swers an d thereby

”
draw man y hearts to H i s love .

B etwee n o n e h u nd red a nd th i rty and o n e h un dred

an d forty let t ers have been preserved . Extracts
from on ly a s mal l n u m ber of these can be give n
here bu t they wi l l se rve to make B lessed M argare t
,

M ary m ore clear to u s an d wi ll pe rhaps sti r u p i n

, , ,

the hearts o f som e a d esi re to stud y h er writi n gs

at greater l en gth .
 L ETTE R S

To M ot h er M a ri e F ra n goi s e d e S a u m a i s e .

E nd f f
e a ne 16 7 8 .

Very hon o ured an d dear M othe r —I t w a s n o t for ,

m o rt i fi ca t i o n n or t h rough an y wan t o f a ffectio n

that I i n ten ded to deprive mysel f o f the con solati on
o f writi n g t o you and t ell i n g you t hat I have always

t he sam e esteem for you r Chari ty because as you , ,

wel l kn ow o u r good M aster has u n i ted m y heart

,

so i n ti mately to you rs tha t I have n o fear of a n y

,

separation A n d as I have n o words with which

.

to express my gratitude for your m atern al ki n d n ess ,

i t m ust su ffi ce for m e to tel l you that I shal l n eve r

forget i t before O u r Lord .

I beg H i m to bestow o n yo u H i s m ost p reci ous

graces an d l ov i n g con solati on s i n you r retreat th e ,

del igh ts of wh ich I share with you I m us t s a y a .

word abou t those I am at p rese n t receivin g from

H i s g o od n ess an d I c a n o n ly express t hem by
,

tell i n g y o u that e v e i y t h i n g seems a cross ei ther t o

my body o r m y soul Y et I can not com plai n o r
.

desi re any con sola t i on save t o be with ou t al l c o n

solati on i n t h i s world a n d t o l ive h idde n i n J esus
C r u c i fi e d u n kn own i n my sufferi n gs s o tha t n o
, ,

c rea t u re m ay have compassi o n on m e o r rem e m be r

m e except t o augm e n t m y pai n I flatter m ysel f
.

that y o u are s t i l l su ffi ci en tly i n terested i n m e t o

rej oice with m e an d to than k o u r good G o d W h o ,

h a s n oth i n g m ore p recious aft er H i m sel f than H i s

l o ve an d H i s Cross I t i s H i s m ercy that al lows
.

m e t o share i n t he m for I am m os t u nwor t hy o f s o

,

p reci ous a gi ft a s I am t o o of the ki nd n ess H e has

,

shown us i n givi n g us ou r hon o ured M other

( M other P é ro n ne R osal ie G re y fi é who had arrived
,

N
19 4 B L E SSE D M AR GAR ET M . A L A C O QU E

as S u perior at Paray o n J u n e i 7 t h ) for w hom I ,

can n ot express m y esteem an d affec t ion I have .

an en ti re con fide n ce i n he r chari ty w h ich I have ,

al ready ofte n experien ced an d I assu re you t hat I

,

th i n k God w i l l accom pl i sh H i s prom ise i n her .

( O ur Lord had prom ised to H i m sel f i n spi re her

S uperiors wi th that wh ich S hould be m ost c o n
formabl e to H is greater glory an d H i s design s o n
her soul ) I hope H e wi l l receive from he r al l the
.

glory H e d esi res I t i s s h e who has told m e t o

.

wri te to you to day I was goi n g to p ut off doi n g

-

s o on accou n t o f a smal l i n d isposition a n d al so

because I feared you wo u ld be overwh el med with
letters B ut d o n o t h u rry to an swe r m e whatever
.

yo u d o I shal l n eve r d oubt o f you r affectio n for on e

w h o w i l l be i n ti m e an d etern ity you rs i n the love
o f the Sac red H eart of J esus .

I have fel t o u r se p aration alth ough on ly i n

,

body m ore tha n I c a n tel l you but whe th er I am

,

con sol ed o r af flicted d oes n ot matter m uch pro ,

v i d e d you are con te n t A n d as I bel ieve you are

tha t is su ffi cien t —Y ou r ve ry h u m ble and n u
.
,

worthy daughte r a n d servan t i n O u r Lord ,

S I S T E R M A R GA R ET M A R Y A L A C O QU E .

To M ot h e r d e S a u m a i s e .

j u n e 1680 .

M y very ho n o u red M other —I t w a s a con sola

,

t ion t o m e to get n ews of yo u Although I feel .

i n d i fferen t about o t hers you are always m y ki n d

,

M ot her for whom O u r L or d has give n m e a special

affection . I n eve r forget you before God an d I ,

beg H i m t o accom pl ish H i s W i l l i n u s Y ou .

19 6 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

c rosses con tem pt an d s u ffe ri n g wh ich are the real

, ,

treasures o f th e l overs o f J esus Christ Ask H i m .

,

dear M o ther n eve r t o l eave m e without these i n

,

the accom pl i sh m e n t o f H i s holy W i l l Th is .

d ivi n e Wi l l also reign s i n Fath e r d e la Colom

bi ere s su fferi n gs fo r rec o m m e nd i n g hi m t o G o d
’
, ,

I heard these words The se rvan t i s n ot greater

t han H i s M aste r an d there i s n oth i n g m ore a d v a n
,
”
t a g e o u s to h i m t ha n con fo rm ity wi t h h i s M aster .

So that although from a h u man poi nt of V iew h is

health would see m to be m ore to th e glory of G o d ,

h i s sufferi ngs are real ly far m ore so ; f o r there is

a ti m e for everyth i n g A ti m e t o su ffer a n d a tim e
.

t o ac t ; a t i m e to s o w an d an othe r to water and

cu ltivate This i s what he i s d oi n g at p rese n t ;
.

f o r the Lord takes pl easu re i n attach i n g a great

price to h i s suffe ri n gs by u n i t i n g them to H i s own ,

i n o rder to sh ed th em l ike d ew o n th e seed h e has

sown i n so man y places an d al so to i n crease l ove,

i n h is own soul We m ust su bm it ou rselves to

.

the ord ers of ou r K i n g an d con fess that i n spite of ,

a l l t hat seem s hard to u s H e i s good an d j ust i n

,

al l t ha t He does and always m eri t s ou r praise and

,

l ove I f you on ly kn ew h ow He con strai n s m e to

.

l ove H i m wi th a love o f con form ity to H i s su ffer

i n g l i fe Wi sh i n g my l i fe to be a con ti n ual sacri
.

fi c e H e H i m self gives m e th e m ean s by the

,

e m ploy men ts i n which H e p uts m e where every

‘

th i ng i s a trial to m e o n accou n t of th e grea t

repugnance H e al lows m e to feel Thi s p leases .

H i m a n d I am ofte n obl i ged to say i n spite

, ,

of all m y n atu ral Oppositi on that i t i s good t o ,

wal k i n the stre n gth of H is l ove co n t rary t o ,

o n e s o w n i n cl i nation s with out an y othe r c o n

’

solation than that o f bei n g d eprived o f al l com fort .

I t m ust su ffi ce that God does H i s W i l l as He

wi lls .
 L ETTE R S 19 7

To M ot h er L ou i s e H en r i et t e d e S ou d ei l l es ( R el ig i ou s o f
t h e Vi s i t a t i on a t M o u l i n s ) .

Oct o ber 16 8 2 .

I d id n ot w a n t to g o i n to retreat wi thout havi n g

an swered you r l etter a n d at the sam e tim e as ked,

for you r p raye rs I have great n eed of th e m an d

.
,

I hope O u r Lord wi l l m ake kn o wn m y n eed to

y o u o,
r at l east make m e such as you beli eve m e t o
be for I am far from bei n g what y o u th i n k m e
, o
I .

wish I could prove to you h o w m uch I love an d

hon ou r y o u i n th e Sacred H eart o f O u r Lord I .

beg H i m t o gu i d e y o u so that al l m ay be don e

accord i n g to H i s W i ll I kn ow H e wi l l n ot refu se
.

H i s l igh t to you becau se H e wi shes you t o go

straigh t to H i m I f you wan t H i m to h ave special
.
‘

care of y o u aband o n you rsel f en ti rely to H i s

,

adorabl e H eart L eave al l your o w n i n te rests an d

.

th row you rsel f hear t an d soul i n to the work H e h a s

give n y o u to d o s o that you m ay be abl e t o s a y
,

that as far as y o u have kn own i t y o u have a c co m

, ,

p l i s h e d H i s H oly W i l l I ask H i m w i th
. al l m y
heart dearest M oth er to give us H i s p u re l o ve
, ,

which wil l u n ite us i n ti m e an d e tern i ty .

To M ot h er d e S ou d ei l l es .

r a ct i ca l a d v i ce reg a r d i ng d ev o t i o n t o
( Th i s l e t t e r g i v es s om e p
t h e S a cr ed H ea r t )
.

N o v em b er 3 r d , 1 6 84 .

I am goi n g to speak to y o u si m ply a s ,

a t ru e f ri e n d i n t h e adorable H eart of O u r L o rd
19 8 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

J esus Ch rist . Whe n ever I p ray for you thi s ,

thought com es to m y m i n d : I f you desi re to l ive

e n ti rely for O u r Lord an d t o arrive at the pe rfecti on
H e desi res of yo u y o u m ust sacrifice you rself a nd
,

al l that d epe n ds upon yo u withou t a n y rese rve to

H i s Sacred H eart You m ust wil l on ly by H i s
.

Wi l l ; love wi th H i s affecti on s ; act on ly by H is

li gh t n eve r u n dertaki n g an y t h i n g withou t fi rst
,

con sul t i n g H i m an d aski n g H i s h el p You m ust .

gi ve H i m the glory of eve ry t hi n g than ki n g H i m ,

al i ke fo r fai l u re as for success an d remai n i n g c o n te nt

,

with whatever He se n ds for i t m ust su ffi ce us that

H i s Divi n e Heart be pl eased loved an d gl orified , , .

I f you wish to be am on g the n u m be r of H i s fri ends ,

offer H i m th is sacrifice o f you rself som e F i rst

F riday afte r Holy Com m u n ion O ffer you r C o m.

m u n ion for th is i n te n ti on an d con sec rate you rsel f

,

t o H i m e n ti rely s o that you may procu re H i m al l

,

t he love hon ou r a n d glory i n yo u r powe r i n the

, ,

w a y i n wh ich He i n sp i res you Aft er t h is y o u m ust

.

l ook u pon you rsel f as belon gi n g to an d bei ng ,

e n t i rely d e pen de n t o n t h e adorable Hear t o f J esus

, ,

havi n g recou rse to H i m i n al l you r n ecessi t ies and

maki n g you r dwel l i n g i n H i s H ear t H e wi l l .

repai r al l t hat i s i m perfect i n you r action s an d wil l ,

san c t i fy those t hat are good i f you u n i te you rsel f

,

t o H is d esign s for you r sou l wh ich are great and

, ,

wh ich wi l l p rocure H i m m uch glory i f o n ly you

allow H i m to a c t as H e wi l ls .

You m ust pardon m y p ride dear M oth er wh ich , ,

perm its m e to S peak to y o u so freely D o n ot be .

vexed but be s u re that I t al l com es fro m o n e w h o

,

h a s for your Charity al l t he frien dsh i p este em , ,

an d respect possibl e but w h o i s n ot pl eased to

,

t h i n k that y ou i magi n e s h e forgets y o u Can o n e .

forget those w h om God has m ad e so d ear ?

26 6 B LES SE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

T0 M ot h er Gr ey/
fie .

F eb ru a ry 1 686 .

I can n ot express m y j o y at the growth o f th e

devotion to th e Sac red Heart of m y Saviou r I .

see m to l ive o n ly for tha t S om e t i m es He e u

.

ki n dles i n m y hear t s o great a des i re t o fu rther H i s

reign i n al l hearts that i t seem s to m e th ere i s
n oth i n g I woul d n ot do or su ffe r fo r that e nd .

O n ce whe n I w a s before th e B lessed Sacra

,

m en t overcom e wi t h t h i s d esi re th e ardou r o f th e

, ,

Seraph i m for th i s sam e e n d was shown to m e an d ,

“
I heard th ese word s : Wo u l dst thou n ot m uch
rather rej oice wi th th e m than suffe r an d be h u m i l i
ated an d d espi sed i n o rde r to con tri bute to th e
”
establ ish m e n t of M y reign i n th e hearts of m en ?
I m m ed iately an d withou t an y hesitati on I em braced
the cross studd ed with n ai l s an d su rrou n ded by
thorn s wh ich was presen ted to m e an d I repeated ,
“
agai n and agai n : Ah m y on l y Love I wou ld ,

far rath e r su ffer to m ake Thee kn own a nd l oved i f ,

Thou dos t hon ou r m e with th i s grace than be ,

”
depri ved O f i t a n d be o n e o f these ard en t S eraph i m .

These d ispositi o n s have con ti n ued eve r si nce ,

togethe r with s uch p roofs of ten d ern ess from th i s

D ivi n e Heart that I am altogether i ncapa b l e o f ex
p ressi n g them .

V 111 .

To h er B rot h er t h e Cu re f B oi s S a i n t e M ari e
’

, o - -
.

Apri l 168 7 .

My very dear B rother M ay th e Sac red Heart

'

,
-

of J esu s establ ish H i s rei gn i n o u r hearts I feel .

 L ETTE R S 20 1

q u ite asham ed of the i nterest yo u take i n m y health ,

which i s o f l ittle use for th e glory o f God My .

l ife u p to n ow has been s o i nj u rious to th is glory

that I coun t i t am on g H i s greatest m ercies that H e
al lows m e to suffe r som e t h i n g here below by con
form i n g m y l i fe to H i s o w n sufferi n g l i fe By th is .

m ean s I hope to pay o ff som e par t o f the great d ebt

I owe on accou n t o f m y si n s an d y o u m ust h el p
,

m e by your M asses upon wh ich I cou n t s o m uch

, .

Please con ti n ue t o bes t ow t hi s charity o n m e for ,

al l m y hopes are found ed o n it an d I pro m ise ,

n ever t o forget you when eve r I have th e happ i n ess

of ass isti n g at th e H oly Sacrifice .

I have retu rn ed fe rve n t than ks to th e Sacred

H eart of O u r Lord for t he great graces H e has
given y o u aski n g H i m t o con ti n ue th em an d to
,

m ake y o u corresp o nd faithful ly to t hem an d s o to ,

persevere i n the holy desi res H e has give n you t o

m ake H i m better l o ved an d gl orified by m aki n g
H im bette r kn own .

Yo u are quite right i n sayi n g that ou r

hearts are u n i ted i n the Sacred H ear t Th is i s .

why I tel l you m y though t s so fran kly ; i f I loved

you l ess I would n o t do th i s Yo u wi l l con sol e .

m e greatly i f I hear that y o u are l ivi n g u p to you r

vocation an d to the p rom ises y o u have m ade t o the
Sacred H eart .

To h er B rot h e r , t h e M ay or o f B oi s - S a i n t e-M a ri e .

A a co u e h a d , a t h i s o w n s ug g es t i on , pr op os ed t o
( Ch ry s o s t o m l g
er ect a Ch apel i n h o n o u r of t h e S a cr ed H ea r t a t B o i s
S ai n te M a ri e )
-
.

Af ri l 168 7 .

M y very dear B roth er —Y ou could n ot h a Ve

,

give n m e greater p l easu re t han i n tell i n g m e that

2 02 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

yo u r devotio n to the Sacred H eart i s al ways the

sam e I w as afraid it had grown cold an d was
.
,

d istressed abou t it I d id n ot dare speak to yo u.

of i t because n o devotio n i s sol id which does n o t

,

S pri n g from th e i n spi ration of grace I have n o .

do u b t yo u rs does com e fro m grace as i t gives y o u ,

such good d esi res I wan ted th i n gs to be j ust as

.

you propose but n ot kn owi n g i f you r l ove for the

,

Sacred H eart would exte nd to such an expen se as

you n ame I d id n ot dare s a y a nyth i n g a nd tu rn ed
, ,

m y thoughts to the other place I m en t ion ed to

you th i n ki n g that the greate r n u m ber o f peopl e
,

t here would supply what was n eedful N o w .

,

however y o u m ust pu t i n to execution what you

,

have proposed without eve r tu rn i n g back Th is .

w i l l be o n e o f th e greatest con sola t ion s I could

possibly recei ve because n oth i n g real ly gives m e
,

j oy except t o s e e the D ivi n e H ear t o f O u r Lord

loved hon oured an d glorified and to su ffer mysel f
, , ,

for H i s l ove .

O h m y dear b rothe r how happy y o u wi l l be i f ,

H e gives yo u the grace to accom pl ish yo u r

plan s "
H old fi rm ly t o th e graces H e gives y o u s o ,

that you may n ot fal l short o f H i s design s to

make you a sai n t H i s grace wi l l n eve r fai l y o u
.
,

but H e asks from you a ve ry faithfu l correspon d

en ce to it i n retu rn for the great l ove H e h as for
,

yo u .

I hope o u r brother the p riest wil l furthe r you r , ,

p lan s f o r th e glory of th e D ivi n e H eart a s far

as h e possi bly can an d that th ey wi ll d raw ,

d own m any blessi n gs an d graces for you r fam i ly .

2 04 B L ES S E D M A R GA R ET M . A L AC O QU E

assu re her that I do al l that is possibl e for h er

befo re O ur Lord t hough m y si n s m ake m e ,

u n worthy o f bei n g heard Th i s i s al l I c a n write .

th i s ti m e excep t t o beg you to con ti n ue the

,

erectio n Of th e Chape l o f the Sacred H eart .

( D i fficulties had ari sen about its c o n struction ) .

'

To S i s t er d e Th e l i s at Ly o ns .

( Th e E x t r a ct s f r om th e t w o f o l l o w i ng l et t er s s h ow u s t h a t S i s t e r
M a rg a re t M a ry co u ld p
re r ov e s e v er ely w h en s h e co n s i d er ed

it n e ces s a ry .
)
S ep t em ber 16 8 7 .

I n al l that you r Chari ty tel ls m e o f yourself that ,

wh ich i s m os t h opefu l i s the accou n t you give o f

t he con s t an t u rgi n g o f d i vi n e grace i n s pite o f a l l
you r fal ls Thi s proves t he ard e n t desi re G o d
.

has to save you r soul b u t H e will n o t do th i s ,

u n l ess y o u c o ope rate wi t h H i m I t is n o u s e

-
.

flatteri n g ou rselves i f we con ti n ual ly resist H i m

,

H e wi l l leave us by d egrees an d we shal l be ,

i n se n si bl e to o u r loss I f t h erefore y o u hear O u r

.
, ,
’
Lord s voice t o day d o n ot hard en you r h eart bu t
-
, ,

try to p rofit by th e retreat you are about t o make .

You m ust con quer you rsel f with a stron g wi l l ,

doi n g V iolence to you rself bei n g detached from ,

you rsel f an d from the othe r stu m bl i n g blocks you -

kn ow of B ut there m ust be n o m ore q uestion o f

.

del i berate fa u l ts i f y o u wan t to please O u r Lord ,

otherwi se you wi l l seek H i m i n vai n I have n o .

dou bt that i t is God s W i l l that you r con fessor ’

should treat you as h e does for I bel ieve h i m to be ,

a holy man Th ere i s n o u s e i n a d oc t or i f w e do

.

n ot w ish to be cu red an d wi l l n ot use the rem edi es

p rescri b ed or refrai n from that wh ich wi l l make
,
 L E TT E R S 20 5

us i l l . B ut a s an evi l kn own 15 hal f cu red al l that ,

“
i s wan t i n g n ow is a determ i n ed I wi l l a nd al l ,

wi l l go wel l .I f we could on ly u n de rstan d the

harm w e do o u r po o r soul s by de privi n g them o f
s o man y graces an d exposi n g th em to such eviden t

peri l by these freq uen t vol u ntary fall s God

can n ot l iste n t o us or to those w h o pray for us a s
l o n g as we refuse to l isten to H i m and be c o n
ver ted t o H i m Let u s p rofi t by the ti m e H e
.

gives us an d n ot put o ff an y lon ger but do n ot le t

, ,

us be troubled for troubl e o n ly augmen t s the evi l

, .

The Spi rit o f G o d works i n peace Let u s have .

rec o u rse t o H i m with love an d con fiden ce an d H e ,

wi l l receive us i n the arm s o f H i s m ercy but after

that we m ust be carefu l n o t to withd raw from H i m
,

agai n for vol u n tary faul ts are m ost da n gerous

, ,

especial ly fo r a rel i gious .

XI I I .

Th el zs Ly on s
'
’
To S zs t er
' ’

ae at .

As you ask m e I wi l l tel l y o u si m ply what I

,

thi n k T here i s n o m iddle w a y ; i t i s a q uestion

.

o f savi n g on e s sou l o r o f losi n g it for e t ern i ty

’
.

Bo t h o n e an d the oth er depen d on u s Therefore .

either we m ust choose to love God eternal ly wi th

the Sai nts after hav i n g don e violence t o ou r
,

sel ves by m ort ifyi n g an d crucifyi n g ou rselves

here as t hey have don e o r else we ca n ren ou n ce
, ,

th i s happi n ess and give n ature al l it desi res .

Why such disput i n g an d reason i n g about keep

i n g resol uti on s which seem t o m e so useful to you r
perfection that wi t hou t them you wi l l n ot make
m uch progress ? Y ou s a y it i s because th ey keep
down an d m ort ify natu re Tha t 15 the very reason.

y ou m ust practise th e m faithful ly ; for nature an d

2 06 B L E SS E D M A RGA R E T M . A L A C O QU E
‘

grace can n ot exi st togethe r i n the sam e heart ,

o n e m us t give place t o t he o t her What i s the .

use d ear S is t er of m aki n g resol uti o n s i n retreat

, , ,

i f w e d o n o t pu t the m i n p ractice aft erwards whe n

occasion s occu r ? W hat i s that excep t writi n g
o u r o w n condem nation wh ich wi l l be shown to
,
“
us at j udgmen t wh en i t wi l l be said :
,
Th is i s
wha t she wr o te an d that i s wha t she d id i
, B ut
I have said en ough A l l you have t o do i s t o.

keep th e resol u t ion s you have made whateve r i t ,

costs natu re th ere i s n o n eed to m ake oth ers .

XI V .

To S i s t er F . M . d e l aB a rg e .

( F if t een of S i s t er Al a rg a re t M a ry s
’
l et t ers t o S i s t er d e l a
B a rg e h a v e b een p r es erv ed . Ex t ract s f rom t w o of t h es e
a r e g i v e n h ere) .

A ug u s t I 2th ,
168 8 .

I t matters l i ttl e of what wood o u r cross

i s mad e p rovided that i t be a c ross an d that the
, ,

love o f H i m W ho d ied u p on it keeps us close

t o it That should be su ffi cien t for u s ; an d I
.

con sider y o u happy becau se you r em ploym e n ts

give y o u the m ean s to d o th i s by m aki n g you
a ct con trary to you r i n cl i nation s A l l that is .

good except the gri ef a n d troubl e wh ich you m ust

, ,

cast away far fro m you for O u r Lord m akes H i s ,

d w el l i n g on ly i n th e peace of a soul w h o truly

loves to s e e i tsel f an n ih i lated s o as to be as i t ,

were lost i n the love o f its abj ection

,
I n readi n g .

yo ur letters I always feel con vi nced that O u r Lord

had traced o u t this way for you Whether H e .

lead s y o u H i m sel f o r by m ean s of creatu res o r

,

of yoursel f matters l ittl e I f H e i s satisfied it i s

,
'
.
,

su ffi cien t L eave H i m to a ct i n you Let you r

. .
208 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

I o ff er Thee i n reparatio n o f whateve r i s i m p u re

an d i m perfect i n m i n e an d so o f al l th e rest .

When any pai n a ffl iction or m o rt i fi c a t i o n befalls

,
“
y ou , s ay t o you rself : M y soul take what the ,
”
H eart o f J e s u s sen ds th ee to u n ite thee t o H im sel f .

T ry especial ly to p reserve peace o f hear t wh ich ,

i s bette r than al l i magi n abl e treasu res The m ean s .

o f p reservi n g i t i s t o have n o lon ger an y wi l l o f

o u r own bu t t o pu t t ha t o f the D i vi n e Heart i n

,

i ts place s o that I t m ay wi l l fo r us whatever is

,

mos t for I ts glory Thi s lovi n g Heart wi ll supply

.

whatever i s wan ti n g o n y ou r part fo r I t wi l l love ,

G od for y o u an d y o u wi l l l ove i n H i m an d th rough

,

Him .

To S i s t er f ea n n e M .
j ol i ( E x t ra c t on ly ) .

Ap ri l I 690 .

Yo u can hard ly bel ieve , d earest S ister ho w ,

greatly I rej oice a t you r zeal i n m aki n g the Sacred

H eart o f J esus bet t er kn own an d loved an d o f t he ,

tro ubl e you are t aki n g that thi s m ay be s o He .

wi l l n ever forge t i t an d wi l l be you r etern al re

com pe n se A fter al l the D ivi n e Heart wi l l reign
.
,

i n spite of al l w h o Oppose H i m and Sa t an an d h is ,

fol lowers w i l l rem ai n con fou n ded How happy .

are those whom He uses to hel p H i m to establ i sh

H i s reign I t seem s to m e tha t H e i s l i ke a ki n g
.

w h o does n o t th i n k of givi n g reward s wh il st h e i s

con que ri n g an d overth rowi n g h i s e n em ies but ,

w h o gives the m largely whe n he reign s V ictoriously

o n h is th ron e .

The ad o rabl e H eart o f J esus d esi res to esta b l ish

the reign o f H i s l ove i n al l hear t s by rui n i n g an d
destroyi n g the reign o f Satan I t seem s to m e .
 L ETTE R S 2 09

that H e d esi res thi s s o m uch that He prom ises

great reward s to those who take part i n thi s work
accord i n g to t h e l igh t s an d m ean s He gives them .

D o n ot then let us fear eith er trou bl e o r su f fer

, ,

i n g i n so holy a work bu t rather l et u s con sider

,

ourselves happy that He deem s us w orthy to su ffe r

'

fo r s o good an obj ect—to suffer I sa y eve n i n, ,

con trad icti o n cal u m n ies an d eve ry sort o f trial

, , .

The m ore su fferi n g there is the mo re I feel e n

,

c o u ra g e d and the m ore h O p e I have that al l wi l l

succeed for the glory of th is lovi n g H eart an d t he
salvation of so u l s Howeve r i t i s a d evotion that
.
,

m us t n eithe r be forced o r con strai n ed Let u s o n ly

.

m ake i t kn own and l eave t he Sacred Heart to pou r

,

the sweetn ess o f H i s grace i n t o t h e hear t s tha t He

has chosen .How happy are those who are of th i s
n u m be r "
 C H A PT E R X I X

N O TE S OF R E T R EAT

N o d a t e, p r ob a bly 1 67 4 o r 1 67
5 .

R es ol u t i on s f
o my R et r ea t

I wi ll always S peak o f Go d wi th respect and

h u m i l ity ; o f m y n eigh bou r with esteem and
chari t y ; o f m yself n ever ,
.

I wi l l take pl easu re i n seei n g oth ers l oved an d

es t eem ed well treated an d made m uch o f th i n ki n g
,
-
,

t hat all that i s d ue to them an d n ot t o m e whose ,

on ly glory m ust be i n carryi n g m y c ross upon ,

wh i ch I wish to l ive poor a n d abj ect u n kn o w n

despi sed an d forgotte n —on ly desi ri n g to be
, ,

n ot ic ed i n order to be h u m i l iated accused an d c o n ,

t ra d i c t e d
. I n spite of al l th e repugnan ce of my
i m m o rt i fi e d n a t ure I w i l l t ry to h id e myself beh i n d
,

h u m i liati on s .

I m ust l earn i n the Sacred H eart o f J esus t o bear

every t hi n g without com plai n t P u rgatory sho u ld .

be sweet to on e who has m erited hel l .

I wi ll try n ot t o d o an yth i n g for the m ere

pleasu re o f doi n g i t turn i n g awa y my atten ti on by
,

som e holy thought and re n ou n c i n g t he pl eas u res

o f sen se i n such t h i n gs as eati n g d ri n ki n g sl ee p , ,

i n g an d warm i n g mysel f tryi n g to u n ite m yself l n

,

every action to t he Sacred H ear t o f J esus .

I wish to l ive s uffer a n d act accord i n g to His

, ,

Wi l l an d by H i m I de 5 1re to l earn how to su ff er

,

w el l a n d to l ove it .
2 12 B LESS E D M A R GA R E T M . A L A C O QU E

a n d adore M e p rostrati n g thysel f before M e

,
.

O ffer M e to the E tern al Father i n the way that I

wi l l teach thee so as to a p pease H is j u st an ger
, ,

an d move H is m ercy to pardon the m Tho u shal t .

offer n o resi sta n ce to M y Wi l l whe n I make i t

kn own to thee n or to the way I shal l d ispose of
,

thee th rough obed ie n ce for I wi sh thee to serve ,

”
M e as an i n stru m e n t to d raw hearts to M y love , .

B ut I can n ot u n dersta n d m y God h ow t hi s wi l l , ,

”
be accom pl ish ed B y M y Al m ighty powe r wh ich
.

made all thi n gs out o f n oth i n g N eve r forget th i n e .

own n othi n gn ess an d that thou art th e victi m o f

,

M y H eart an d m ust al ways be ready to be i m m o

lated i n the cau se o f charity B ut thou shalt .

always possess t he treasu res of M y H eart as I ,

have p rom ised thee i n exchan ge an d th ou mayest, ,

d ispose o f the m a s tho u d ost desi re i n favou r of

those who are wel l d i sposed D o n ot be spari n g .

of the m fo r they a re i n fi n ite

,
.

The retreat o f 168 1 w a s i n so me respects re

m arkabl e A t t h e ti m e i t w a s to take place Sister
.

M argaret M ary was con fi n ed to h er bed with feve r .

M o t her G re y fi é t ru sti n g t o the power obed ien ce

,

had over her told h e r to l eave the I n fi rmary an d

,

take her place am on g the rest o f the Com m u n ity .

” “
I con sign you S he said to th e care of O ur
, ,

Lord J esus Ch rist M ay H e d i rect govern and.

, ,
” “
cu re you accordi n g to H i s Wil l Though the .

”
orde r rathe r su rp rised m e writes S i ster M argaret ,
“
M ary , for I was at that ti m e sh iveri n g w i th fever ,

I we n t m y way n everthe less full o f j oy at such

, ,

an obed ien ce both on accou n t o f t he pl eas ure I felt

,

at seei n g m ysel f gi ve n over to the care of my good

M aste r and at havi n g an o p portu n ity of su fferi ng
 N O TES OF RET R E AT 2 13

som eth i n g for H i s love The obed ien t S iste r had

.

n o soon er got to her cel l than O u r D ivi n e Lord

appeared to h er She w a s lyi n g o n the floo r
.
,

ben um bed with cold an d p ros t rate wi t h pai n .

“
H e raised me u p s h e says and loaded m e
, ,

w i th caresses say i n g t o m e : N o w thou art w hol ly

,
‘

M i n e an d e n ti rely u nder M y care I wi l l therefore .

give thee back i n good heal th to those w h o placed

thee sick i n M y S he w a s i m med iate l y
”
cu red . I n ever spe n t such a r e treat s h e wrote , ,
“
I seem ed to be i n H eave n s o great were the ,

con stan t favou rs caresses an d i n ti macy I e nj oyed

,

both o n the part o f m y Sovereign Lord J esus

Christ and al so o n that o f H is B l essed M othe r ,

m y Guard ian A n gel an d my Father Sai n t F ranci s ‘

,
”
of Sales .

M y Sovereign M aster bestowed H i s graces

u p o n m e i n such p rofusi o n that it would be d i ffi
c ul t for m e t o exp ress al l H e d id fo r m e On .

th e fi rst day O u r Lo rd p resen t ed H i s Sacred Heart

'

to m e as a fu rnace of l ove i n to wh ich I seem ed to ,

be i m mersed a n d so pe n etra t ed wi th its flam es t hat

I th ought I shoul d have bee n reduced to ashes I .

h eard t hese words : This i s the d ivi n e P u rgatory

o f M y l ove where thou m us t pu ri fy thysel f d u ri n g
,

th is l ife ; late r thou shalt fi n d i n it an abode of

,
”
l ight an d fi n al ly o n e o f u n ion an d t ran sformation
, .

H e all owed m e t o feel th i s s o e ffectual l y d uri n g

my retrea t that som e t i m es I hardly kn ew wheth er
I w a s o n earth o r i n Heaven s o e n ti rely w a s I ,

fil led with God and lost i n H i m The first few .

days I w a s t r o ubl ed at th is a s I could n ot th i n k ,

of m y si n s However th e n igh t before the day on

.
,

wh ich I w a s t o go t o con fessi on I fel t mysel f ,

awake n ed a n d i n an i n stan t my si n s were s e t

,
2 14 BLESS E D M A R GA R E T M . A L A C O QU E

before m e as though they had been writte n out .

I made m y con fessi o n with s o m an y t ears an d

s uch con tr i t i on that I though t m y hear t would
break with s o rrow at hav i n g offe n ded such I n fi n i te
G o od n ess Whom al l th e t i m e I felt sen si bl y
,

p resen t with i n m e .

After the first th ree days of th is retreat O u r Lord

con soled H is servan t so abu n dan tly that she says
o n e hour of such deligh t wou ld be su ffi ci e n t to
ou t weigh al l the m ar ty rs have ever su ff ered .

H e espoused m y soul t o H i m sel f i n a n i n effabl e

u n ion chan gi n g m y heart i n to a flam e of the fi re
,

of H i s l o ve t hat i t m igh t co n sum e eve ry earthly

”
l o ve that approached i t .

O ur Lord also gave he r to u n dersta n d that as

H e had ch osen her to hon ou r H i m a s Victi m i n
th e B lessed Sacram en t s h e was to sacrifice h e rsel f
,

to H i m by love ad ora t i on a n d sel f ab n egation

,
-
,

a n d p ractise he r vows i n i m i tati on of H is E u c h a r

i s t i c l i fe
.

T hi s retreat led her to make the fo l l o w m g

R esol uti on s

I m ust abandon mysel f i n to the han ds of m y

S u periors whoeve r they may be to be d i sposed of
, ,

accord i n g to thei r pl easu re without S howi n g t he

,

l east repugnan ce to an yth i n g howeve r con trary to ,

m y i ncl i n ati on s .

To be t ran sform ed i n to J esus i t i s n ecessary to ,

l ead a l ife with out cu riosi t y a l i fe o f l ove a n d,

p rivati on rej oici n g to be d espised an d forgotte n so

,

as to repai r the fo rgetful n ess an d con te m pt that

m y J esus re ce 1v e s i n th e S acred H ost
’

M y i n terior an d ex t erior si len ce shal l be to

ho nou r th e D ivi n e Word h idde n i n the B lessed
Sacram ent .

When I go to th e refectory I w i l l th i n k o f t h e ,
2 16 B LESS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A CO QU E

M ary s arm s s h e all o w ed he r to hold H i m a n d

’
,

e m brace H i m as m uch as s h e d esi red When she .

could do s o n o l o n ger O u r Lord s a id to he r : ,

“
A rt thou n ow con ten t ? Let th i s se rve thee for
th e rest o f thy l i fe f o r I wish thee to abandon ,
”
thyself to M y p ower even as I h ave don e to thee .

’
Sister M argaret Mary s retreat o f 168 6 w a s
m arked by t h e Vow o f P erfection wh ich s h e mad e ,

at its cl o se with th e perm ission o f h er d i rector ,

P ere R ol i n S J u n d e r th e co nd ition that i f i t

, . .
,

p roved a sou rce o f troubl e or O f scru p le to h er s h e ,

was by that fact di spen sed from it .

I make th i s Vow to u n ite mysel f m ore closely

to the S acred Heart of J esus an d to en gage mysel f ,

to d o whatever H e makes kn own to m e to be H i s

W i l l I feel such weakn ess an d i n con stan c y i n
.

myself that I sho u ld n ot dar e to m ake i t except i n

rel ian ce upon th e good n ess m ercy an d chari ty of , ,

t h e Heart o f J esus Ch ri st f o r th e l ove of Whom ,

I m ake it .

Vow m a d e o n the V i gi l o f A l l S ai n ts i n the

,

year 168 6 to u n ite con secrate and sacri fice m ysel f

, ,

m ore d i rectly absol u tely an d perfectly to the

, ,

Sacred Heart of O u r L ord J esus Ch ri st .

1 I n the fi rst place O m y O n ly L ove I wi l l

.
, ,

e n deavou r to subj ect al l that i s with i n m e to Thee ,

by doi n g whate v er I bel i eve to be m ost perf ect o r ,

th e m ost con d ucive t o t he glory o f Thy Sacred

Heart I p rom ise to d o a l l that i s i n m y po w er
.
,

an d n ot to refuse to do an yth i n g s o th at I t may be ,

kn own l oved a n d glorified

, , .

. 2 I wi ll n eithe r n e g l e c t n o r o i n i t a n y o f m y
.

e xe rcises o r th e O b se rva n ces o f my R ul e except

, ,
 N O T ES OF R ET R E AT 2 17

t h rough chari ty real n ecessity o r obed ien ce to

, , ,

wh ich al l my p rom ises m us t be s u bj ect .

3 I wil l try to fi nd pleasu re i n seei n g othe rs

.

exalted wel l trea t ed loved an d esteem ed thi n ki n g

, , ,

that th is i s thei r d ue an d n o t m i n e wh ich i s to be

, ,

bu ried i n the Sacred Heart o f J es u s Ch rist m aki n g ,

it my glory to carry my cross wel l an d to l ive

poor u n k n own an d despised on l y desi ri n g to be
, , ,

see n that I m ay m eet with h u m i l at i on con tem pt ,

an d con tradiction 1n sp ite o f th e repugnan ce my

,

proud n a ture m ay feel .

4 . I wi l l su ffer l n si l en ce an d w ithout com plai n t

howeve r I am treated an d n eve r t ry t o avoid any,

su ff eri n g o r pai n e i the r of body or m i nd n or an y ,

h um i l iati on con tem pt o r con t rad icti on

, , .

5. I w i l l n either expect n o r seek an y con sola

tion pl easure or satisfaction except that Of bei n g
, , ,

desti t u t e of al l sen si bl e com fort W h e n P ro v i .

*

den ce sends m e any o f these th i n gs I wi l l accept ,

t hem S i m p ly ren o u n ci n g t he pl easu re I may fin d

,

i n them , an d on ly th i n ki n g of t h e l o v e I owe i n
re t urn to m y Sovereign Lord .

6 I wi l l obtai n n o o t h er rel ief than that wh ich

.

I fin d really n ecessary an d th is I wi ll a s k fo r wi th
,

the si mpl icity exacted by the R ule Th is i s to .

free mysel f from t he con ti n ual fear wh ich hau nts

m e that I pam per and a l l ow t o o m uch t o my body
, ,

wh ich I s my m ost cruel e n e my .

7. I wi l l l eave t o my S uperior t h e e n ti re l i b erty

of d isposi n g of m e as she t h i n ks best accepti n g ,

hu mbly an d i nd i fferen tl y an y occu pa t i on Obed ien ce

may assi gn t o m e i n sp it e o f m y very great re p u g
,

n an ce to al l o ffi ces I wi l l try n o t t o S how an y

.

sign o f t h i s especia l ly that wh ich I feel about

,

writi n g le t ters and g o i n g t o t he parl ou r but I wi l l ,

try to do t hese t h i n gs as t hough I li ke th em .

8 I wil l aban don mysel f whol ly to the Sacred

.
2 18 B LESSE D M A R G A R ET M . A L AC O QU E

Heart o f O u r Lord J esus Ch ri st to be con sol ed ,

or affl icted acco rd i n g to H i s W il l W ithout refer ,

e n ce to m y o w n con ten t i n g myself with ad heri n g

,

t o H i s acti on i n m e an d H i s desi res for m e looki n g ,

u pon myself as H i s victi m always ready to be ,

i m m olated an d sac rificed for H i m an d desi ri n g ,

n oth i n g bu t t o love H i m an d to satisfy H i m by

acti n g and su fferi n g i n si le nce .

9 . I wi l l n ever i n form m ysel f o f the faults o f

others ; when I am obl i ged to speak of the m I
wi l l do i t i n the chari t y o f th e Sacred H ea rt o f
J esus con sideri n g i f I should be con ten t for the
,

same t o be don e t o or said o f m e I f I s e e an y on e .

com m i t a faul t I wil l offe r th e con trary vi rtue o f

the H eart of J es u s i n reparation to the Etern al
Father .

10 .I wi ll l ook upo n al l those who a f fl ict m e

o r speak i l l of m e as m y best fri en ds an d try to ,

render them al l the services I am able .

I wi l l try n ot to speak of m ysel f or on ly ,

very bri efly an d n ever i f possi bl e ei th er 1n p rai se

, , ,

o r j ustification .

12 .I wi l l n o t seek the fri en dsh i p of an y creat u re ,

except when t h e Sacred H eart of J esus cal ls m e

to d o so to d raw i t to H i s l ove
, .

13 .I wi l l always be atte n tive to con form an d

sub m it my wi l l e n ti rely t o that o f m y Sovereign
Lord .

14 .I wi l l n ever wil l i n gly con sen t to any useless

thought m uch less to on e that 18 bad
, I wi l l look .

upon m yself as a beggar i n the house of God ,

who ought to be subm i ssive t o every on e an d to ,

whom al l i s don e an d give n th rough chari ty I .

wil l always thi n k t hat I receive too m uch .

As far as I can I wi l l n either do an yth i n g n o r

,

l e a v e a n y t h i n g u n don e th rough hu man respect or

‘

to p l ease cre a t u res .

2 20 BLESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

The secon d d ay of m y re t reat whe n befo re the ,

B l essed Sacram e n t prepari n g fo r con fessi on th e ,

sight o f m y si n s by wh ich I had so m uch d i s

,

hon oured G od th rew m e i n to suc h great sorrow

,

an d con fus ion t hat I could n o t cease weepi n g fo r

th e five o r s i x hou rs I had the happi n ess of
remai n i n g i n the chapel .

Afte r t hat my D ivi n e Lover prese nted H i msel f

t o me an d said
,
M y dau ghter wi lt t hou sac rifice ,

t o M e t he tears t hou has t shed to wash the feet ,

Of M y beloved wh ich are sul l ied i n fol l owi n g a

” “ “ ”
stran ger ? O my Lord I re p l i ed
,
Thou ,

knowest that I have sacrificed everyth i n g to Thee ,

and have reserved n o t h i n g t o mysel f o f al l that I

d o except th e d esi re of pl easi n g Thy S acr ed
,
”
H eart .

A n othe r ti m e wh e n I w as i n th e sam e s tate

, ,

H e made m e the sam e req uest tel l i n g m e i t was ,

f o r the so u l O f H i s bel oved who had fall e n i n to

,

s i n and w h o d esi red to be rel eased from i t

,
.

Agai n a th i rd ti m e H e m ad e m e th e sam e
, ,

req u est sayi n g that Hi s bel oved was i n P u rgatory

, ,

an d tha t I ought to h el p he r because s h e desi red ,

to be u n ited t o H i m S hortly afterwards H e asked

.

m e i f I kn ew w h o H i s bel oved w a s ; an d t old m e

that it was the Co m m u n i ty of the Visi tatio n wh ich
S hould have bu t o n e h eart an d o n e so ul and t hat ,

t he Pu rgatory o f which H e spoke w a s th e retrea t

on wh ich the rel igious had j ust e n tered

1690 .

S i ste r M argaret M ary d ied at the ti m e o f the

Com m u n i t y R etreat i n th e autu m n Of 169 0 D u r .

i n g th e J u ly o f that yea r sh e asked an d obtai n ed

 N O TES O F R ET R E AT 22 1

p erm i ssion to m ake an i n terior retreat of forty

days as a p reparatio n fo r death wh ich she felt to ,

be approachi n g .

The n otes o f th e two fi rst days on ly o f th i s

retreat have been p rese rved .

J uly 1690 . S i n c e th e feas t o f Sai n t M ary

M agdal en I have felt greatly u rged to reform m y
l i fe so as to be read y to appear before th e hol i n ess
,

o f Go d ,
w hose j ust i ce i s s o severe a n d whose
j udgm en ts are i m pen etrable I m ust the n keep .

m y accoun t s ready that I may n o t be su rp ri sed ,

for i t i s a terribl e th i n g t o fal l at death i n to th e

han ds of t h e l i vi n g G o d whe n d u ri n g l ife we ,

have by si n wi th d raw n from th e arm s of th e God

, ,

Who d ied fo r u s .

I n o rder then to reform my l i fe I propose to

, , ,

m ake an i n t erior retreat i n the Sacred H eart o f

J esus Ch rist I expect a nd hope for al l th e grace
.

n e cessary for m e I place al l m y con fidence i n

.

H i m fo r H i s great good n ess n eve r fai l s m e when I

,

add ress mysel f t o H i m o n the con t rary H e seem s ,

t o t ake pleas u re i n fi n d i n g m e so poo r an d m ise r

able as I a m s o that He ca n fil l m y n othi n gn ess
wi th H i s i n fi n ite riches O ur B l essed Lady wi l l
.

be m y M oth er and Sai n t J oseph and ou r Holy

,
”
Fou nd er m y protectors .

The fi rst day o f m y retreat I w a s occupied i n

th i n ki n g whe n ce cam e th i s great d esi re I have to
d i e si n ce it i s n ot usual with cri m i nal s s u ch as I
, ,

am before Go d to w ish to appear before thei r

J udge —a J ud ge too whose hol i n ess o f j ustice
,

, ,

p en etrates even t o the marrow o f th e bon es t o ,

whom n othi n g i s h idden and by whom n othi n g ,

i s left u n p u n ished How then m y soul can st

.
, ,

thou feel s o great a joy at the app roac h o f d eath ?

Thou t h i n kest on ly of e n d i n g thy ex i le an d art
222 B L ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

tran sported with j o y at the thought that thou wi lt

soon leave thy p r i son B ut t ake care les t from a
.
,

tem poral j o y wh ich m ay on ly com e from bl i nd n ess

,

an d i gn oran ce t hou be n ot pl u n ged i n to e t ernal

,

sad n ess and t hat from th is m ortal an d peri shabl e

priso n th ou d ost n ot fal l i n to that etern al d u n geon ,

whe re there can be n o m ore h O p e L eave the n .

, ,

my soul th is j oy and these d esi res of dy i n g t o holy

,

an d ferven t souls for wh om great reward s are

prepared ; an d let u s whose wo rks deserve o n ly
,

pu n i sh m e n t i f i t we re n o t that G o d i s sti l l m ore

,

m erci fu l than H e 15 j ust i n H i s d eal i n gs wi th u s

l et us con sider what wi l l be ou r fate Wi lt thou .

be abl e m y sou l to s upport for etern i t y the

, ,

absen ce of H i m Whom thou s o arde n tly d esi res t

to e nj oy the p rivati on of wh om causes t hee such
,

p ai n ?
O my Go d how d i fficu lt i t is for m e to settl e
,

th is accou n t si nce I have wasted m y ti m e an d

,

kn ow n ot how to repai r it To whom c a n I

.

add ress mysel f but to m y adorabl e M aster whose

, ,

g o od n ess i s wi ll i n g to do t his for m e Th i s is .

why I have placed i n H is Han ds al l o n wh ich I

—
a m t o be j udged o u r R u les Con sti tution s an d, ,

cus t om s. By these I S hal l be j usti fied o r co n

d e m n ed. A fter placi n g al l my i n t erests i n H i s
Han ds I fel t a deep peace th ere at H i s Feet where
,

He has l on g kept m e buried as it we re i n m y o w n

,

n o t h i n gn ess whi l e awai ti n g H is j udgm en t

, .

The secon d day al l tha t I have been and am

,
“
w as shown to m e i n p rayer M y God where
.
,

could a m on ster m ore h orri ble or deform ed be

fou nd ? I saw there n o good bu t so m uch evi l ,

that i t was a tor men t to m e to thi n k of it It .

see m s to m e that everyth i n g con d em n s m e to

eternal pu n ish m en t because O f m y abuse of s o
man y graces to wh ich I have bee n so u n faithful .
 C H A PT E R XX

LA S T DA Y S AN D DEAT H

W E n o w com e to the last year of Siste r M argaret

M ary s l ife Early i n M arch s h e had a vi si t from
’
.

he r brother C h rysosto m an d h is w i fe A n gél iq ue ,

A u m On i e r
. Ch rysostom was n o t a l ittle surprised
to fin d that his wi fe i n stead of showi n g pleasure ,

at seei n g h is sister d id n o t hi n g but w eep

, .

N o man l i kes t o s e e a woman i n tears so h e ,

l eft the parlou r l eavi n g h is sister to com fort

,

A n gél ique as best s h e could Hal f a n hou r later .

h e retu rn ed an d fou n d h i s w i fe cal m but q u ite

u nable to tal k A t th is he apologised to S ister
.

“
M argaret M ary but s h e repl ied
, O h " I a m wel l ,
”
p leased at such tears as these " S he the n told
h i m u n de r secrecy o f th e co n versation s h e had had
w i th he r sister i n law I t appears that A n géli que
- -
.

had begged her to ask of God her salvation ,

“
cost w hat i t m ight Have ou con sidered the
m atter wel l ? asked S i s t er Mi l rg a re t M ary an d
.

”
,
“
o n recei vi n g th e reply that s h e had I wi l l ask ,

you r salvation o f God wi th as m uch fervo u r as I

w ould m y own respon ded t h e holy rel i gious
, ,
“ ”
b ut I assure you that i t wi l l cost you dear .

” “
N O matter ,repl i ed M adam e A l a co q u e I ,

subm i t mysel f en ti rely to th e Wi l l of God to d o ,

w i th m e as H e pleases .

The n tu rn i n g to her brother S i ster M argaret ,

“
M ary remarked S O bo t h o f you m ust have
 LAST DAYS A N D D E ATH 225

patie nce an d beg th is grace o f G o d

, H er sub .

”
m i ssion and you rs wi l l pu t an e n d to all .

Ch rysostom an d h is wife wen t away m ystified .

Two days later after thei r retu rn to Bois Sai nte

,
-

M arie A n gél ique was seized with viol en t pai n i n

h e r head —S O vi olen t that she could n o t refrai n
,

from scream i n g Every doctor i n the n eighb o u r

.

hood was ca lled i n bu t n o rem edies were Of an y

,

use . Heari n g o f a cleve r physician i n Lyon s ,

Ch rysostom took h is w ife to h i m but h e gave ,

up the case as hopeless sayi n g that i t w a s beyo n d,

al l m ed ical science Th e n a con sultati on o f al l

.

the doctors o f Lyon s was held but n oth i n g could ,

be don e an d o n seei n g the surp rise o f t he patie nt

, ,
“
they said to h er M adam e we do n ot lay clai m ,
”
to m ore than h u man power .

Ch rysostom n o w tu rn ed t o Go d for hel p He .

visi ted several rel i gi ous houses to ob t ai n prayers ,

an d am on gst others the Vis ita t ion Con ven t at

B e l l e c o u r Ly o n s whe re he we n t t o ful fil a vow he
, ,

had made t o vi si t t he heart o f Sai n t Franci s o f

Sales . H e also wen t to t h e J esu i t Col lege at
Lyon s . The R ector w a s P ere B i l let u n cl e to ,

t he doc t o r at Paray l e M on ial P ere Croiset a

- -
.
,

great fri en d o f S ister M argaret M ary happen ed to ,

be at Lyon s at th is ti me ; h e freq uen tly visited

M adam e A l a co q u e an d led h er to resign hersel f
whol ly to God s W i l l H owever the h usban d
’
.
,

an d wi fe retu rn ed to Bois Sai n te M arie an d sen t - -

,

word o f thei r arrival t o S ister M argaret M ary .

S he wrote them a n ote sayi n g that as soon as ,

A n gél ique was pe rfectly resi gn ed to G o d he r ,

t rou bles would cease M adam e A l a co q u e read the

.

l et t er mad e an ac t o f en ti re resi gn ation a nd di ed

, ,

t he n ex t day She w a s buri ed i n the fam i ly vault

.

a t B o i S Sai n te M ari e ben ea t h the recen tly com

- -
,

p l e t e d Chapel o f the Sacred H eart .

P
226 B LESS E D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

The year 169 0 was th e year o f th e com pletion

o f t he term o f o ffice o f M oth e r M el i n A n ew .

S u perior had to be ch osen an d so chan ged w a s ,

the Opi n ion o f th e Com m un i ty about thei r h u m ble

S i s ter that al l eyes were turn ed o n S ister M argaret
,

M ary a s M oth e r M e l i n s p robable s uccessor ’

.

Siste r M argaret M ary he rsel f had received an

i n t i matio n of th is o n M au n dy Th u rsday M arch ,

2 3 rd .O u r Lord prese n ted her with a cross which ,

s h e accepted withou t u n d erstan d i n g what it m ean t

,
.

H ea ri n g rum o u rs however o f what th e Com , ,

m u n ity i n tend ed to d o she was overwhel m ed wi th ,

“ ”
d istress I s it possi bl e 0 m y God
. S h e ex , ,

clai m e d i s i t possi bl e that Thou wou ldst al low a

,

creatu re such a s I am t o b e exposed to dan ge r by

bei n g placed at th e head of a Com m u n i ty ? I beg
of Thee to rem ove th is cr o ss fro m m e I subm it to
”
a n y other .

O u r Lord gran ted h er request an d M oth er ,

Cath eri n e A n toi n ette de L evy C h a t e a u m o ra n d w a s

chose n S u p eri or to the great jo y of S iste r M argaret
,

M ary .

The O ffice o f M o t her Assistan t howeve r aga 1n , ,

fel l to he r l ot Sh e begged h er S uperi or to rel i eve

.

h er from i t b ut O u r Lord rebuked h er fo r th is

,

What M y daughter I gave i n to thy wil l an d

, , ,

n o w thou wi lt n o t do viol en ce to thysel f f o r love o f

”
Me . A t thi s she retu rned t o M othe r d e Chateau
mo ran d begged h er p ardon an d told h er s h e w a s
, ,

wi ll i n g fo r any t h i n g S he wished her to do The .

C o m m u n i ty were al l gl ad to have he r i n stall ed

agai n i n th e O ffice an d th ey add ressed them selves
,

to her with grea t co n fi d en ce an d profi t ed grea t ly

by he r cou n sels He r co n versati on w a s al l of G o d
.
,

an d s h e sp ok e s o m ovi n gly o f H i m tha t every o n e

‘

w a s d raw n to H i s l ove O fte n too S he spoke o f .

, ,

s u bm i ssi on to God s Wi l l from th e m otive o f l ove

’

,
22 8 B LESS ED M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

God an d favou red with H is spec ial graces from he r

crad le .

S ister M argaret M ary had for years bee n s o

u n ited t o God that n o occ upation c o ul d distract
he r S he was en ti rel y d e tached from he rsel f an d
.

f rom al l crea t u res H er on ly s ufferi n g arose from

.

“
t h e fact t hat s h e n o l on ger s uffered I do n o t .

”
kn ow what t o th i n k of th e sta te I am n o w i n sh e ,
“
wrote to P ere R ol i n every desi re has so ceased
,

with i n m e tha t I do n ot kn ow wha t to th i n k I am .

afraid t hat th i s peace may be on ly an effect o f t hat

t ran q uill ity i n wh ich God som e t i m es l eaves fai t h
less soul s D oubtless m y great u n fai thful n ess has
.

d raw n m e i n to th i s sta t e which i s pe rhaps a mark,

of reproba t i on I declare to you that I a m u n able

.

to d esi re or wish for an ythi n g i n this world ,

although I fi nd m ysel f q ui t e d esti tute of vi rtue .

Som eti m es I wish to grieve for th i s but I am n ot ,

abl e to d o so it i s n o l o n ger i n my power t o act

, .

The o n ly th i n g I feel i s a perfect s ubm issi on t o th e

d l e a s u re o f G o d an d u n speakable del ight i n
g o o p ‘

sufferi n g Th e t hought wh ich con soles m e from

.

ti m e to ti m e i s that the Sacred Heart of O u r Lord

wil l do al l for m e i f I place n o obstacl e i n t he
,

way ; I t wi l l resolve love an d desi re for m e a nd

, ,

wi l l su pply for al l my defects .

Toward s the last weeks of h e r l i fe al l remarked

'

that if possi bl e t he vi rtues wh ich had charac t erised

, ,

Si ster M argaret M ary al l her l i fe becam e m ore

an d more faithful ly practised He r m o rt i fi c a t i o n
.

was seen eve n i n the smal lest th i n gs Everyth i n g .

was t o o good for h er an d s h e n ever showed the ,

least repugn an ce fo r a nythi n g whatever She .

bu ried herself d eeper and deeper i n the vi rtue s h e

—
l oved best profou nd h um i l ity he r on e obj ect -

w a s to remai n h idden with H i m Whom s h e loved .

The ti m e of t h e an n ual retreat approached O n .

 LAST D AYS A N D D EAT H 2 29

the eve S iste r M argaret M a ry was attacked by a

sl ight fever O n e o f the S i sters asked her i f s h e
.

were abl e t o make t h e retreat “

Ye s s h e repl i ed
”
.
, ,
“ ”
but i t wi l l be the great retreat " The n ext
day O ctobe r 8 t h S h e w a s un able to leave her bed
, , ,

but n o anxiety was felt about her as s h e had ve ry ,

Oft e n been apparen t ly fa r m ore dan gerously i l l .

D octor B i llet was called i n bu t said there was ,

n o occasio n at al l for alarm S ister M argaret .

M ar y kn ew bet t er an d p repared hersel f for the

,

com i n g o f her S pouse Day by day D octor B i l le t

.
,

cam e to s e e h is pat i en t fo r whom h e h a d great

,

respect bu t up t o the ve ry day of her d eath h e

,

fou n d n o dan gerous sym ptom s O n e day th e .

Sisters were aski n g th e i n val id h o w S h e could

persist i n sayi n g s h e was dyi n g i n spite o f al l th e ,
“ ” “
docto r said . O h " s h e repl ied sm i l i n g it is ,

better f o r a secu lar to speak u n t ruly than for a

rel igious to d o s o She i m pl ored he r Superi or to
allow he r to have Holy Viaticum but as th i s w a s ,

refused S h e begged to receive th e B lessed Sacra

,

m en t i n Holy Com m un ion as S h e w a s sti l l fas ti n g

,
.

Thi s was gran ted to her an d s h e received her

,

Lord kn owi n g wel l that i t was for th e last ti m e

, .

O n e o f the S isters seei n g t hat s h e su ff ered

,

greatly tri ed to get he r som e rel ief

, S iste r .

M argaret M ary t han ked her but told her that the ,

shor t ti m e S he had stil l to l ive w a s t o o precious to

be lost All arou n d he r were struck wi t h t he j oy
.

with wh ich s h e welcom ed d eath B ut she had ye t .

on e m ore p roof o f l o ve to give to her Beloved on e ,

m ore trial to su ff er for H i m S h e was seized with

.

a terri bl e fear o f the j udgm ents of God She .

t rem bled from head t o foot an d kept repeati n g , ,

“
wh ils t ki ssi n g her c rucifix M ercy O m y God
, , ,
”
m ercy " A n d t hen on ce agai n the s t orm was
“
cal med an d j o y rad ia t ed from he r face
, Th e .
2 30 B L ESS ED M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

m e rc ies o f t h e Lo rd w i l l I s i n g for ever she ,

exc lai me d a n d agai n a n d a g ai n

,
“
W ha t have I ,

i n H e aven a n d besid es Thee wha t d o I d esi re u pon

”
ea rth ?
Lo ng b e fo re h w h e n M i s tress o f N o v 1c es S iste r ,

Ma rga re t M ary had p re d icted that s h e wo uld d ie

i n the arm s o f two wh o w ere then h e r n ovic es .

A nd S O i t wa s for bei n g u n abl e t o b reathe Siste r

, ,

F ra n oo i s e Ve rc h ere a nd S i ster P eron n e R osali e d e

“
Farges su p por t e d h er i n th ei r a rm s I am .

” “
bu rn i n g I am bu r n i n g s h e exclai m ed
, , w ould ,

that i t were wi t h d ivi n e l o v e " B ut I have n eve r

“ ”
kn o w n how to love m y G od pe rfec t ly Beg .

” “
pardon o f H i m for m e s h e e n tr ea t e d
, an d love ,

H i m wi th all you r hear t s t o make reparati on f o r

al l that I have fai l ed to d o O h " what a happi n ess
.

t o l ove G od " Lo v e H i m th en fo r H e i s Lo ve
, ,
”
a nd l ove H i m perfectly Whe n told that the
.

docto r d i d n o t thi n k s h e would d i e s h e said ,

Lord when wi lt Tho u withd ra w m e fro m th is

,

p lace o f exile ? Ye s " I h o p e that th ro ugh t he

me rc y o f th e Sacred Heart w e shal l g o i n to the
House of the Lo rd .

D u ri n g t he aftern o o n of O cto be r 1 7 th S h e ,

b e g ed tho se aro u n d h e r to reci t e t h e Litan i e s of

the acred Heart a nd of O u r Lady an d to i n voke ,

her H oly Fou nd e r S a i n t J o s e p h an d her Guard ia n

, ,

A n gel . S he b egg ed h er S u pe ri or to p rom i s e

n ever to repeat a n yth i n g s h e had told her wh ich
could redo u nd t o he r p rai se A n d tu rn i n g to
.

S iste r P eron n e R osal i e d e Farges s h e asked her ,

to wr ite t o P et e R o l i n to i m plore h i m to bu rn he r
,

lette rs an d kee p i n vi olably th e secrets s h e had

con fid ed to h i m
Abo ut five o cloc k S he ask e d to recei ve Ex t rem e
’

U n ction When it h ad bee n a d m i n i ste red s h e

.
,

tha n ked her Su p erior and al l h er S isters fo r al l

 C H A PTE R XX I

B EA T I FIC A T I O N A N D S TE P S T O W A R DS C A N O N I S AT I O N

F R O M th e very day o n wh ich S ister M arga ret M ary

breathed he r last con stan t recourse w a s had to her
,

i ntercession an d n um erous favours were obta i n ed

,

which con ti n ual ly i ncreased the rep utation of he r

san cti ty I n 1 7 1 5 th e fi rst process of i n q ui ry was
.

held regardi n g the l i fe an d m i racl es of the servan t

o f God I t was mad e th rough the B ishop o f
.

Autu n M on sei gn eu r d H a l l e n co u rt at the earn est

,
’
,

e n treaty o f M othe r A n n e El izabeth d e la Garde at ,

that ti m e S uperi or o f the V isitation Con ven t at

Paray Th is j u rid ical process i n stituted duri n g
.

the l i feti m e o f man y o f S iste r M argaret M ary s ’

con tem porari es form s the basis o f al l subsequen t

,

proceedi n gs The origi n al docu m en ts relati n g to

.

i t are preserved i n th e arch ives o f th e B ishop of

A utu n an d i n those of the con ven t at Paray .

O wi n g however to publ ic even ts which greatly

, ,

affected th e i n te rests o f the Ch u rch an d es p ecial ly ,

to t h e R evol uti on the Cause was suspended for

,

m ore than a hu n d red years I t was on ly by a .

D ecree of M arch 3 oth 18 2 4 that i t was ac t ual ly

, ,

i nt rod uced at R o m e thus con ferri n g th e titl e o f

,

Ve n erabl e on t h e hu m ble d isciple o f the Sacred

H eart . Thi n gs were desti n ed to p roceed very
sl owly Everyth i n g that S ister M argaret M ary
.

had writte n or taught an d all he r acts were

subj ected t o th e m i n u t e an d severe scruti ny o f the
Sac red Con gregatio n H er revelation s her
.
,
23 2
B E AT I F I CAT I O N AND CA N O N I SAT I O N 233

writi n gs an d s ayi n gs were con stan tly touch i n g o n

poi n ts o f dogm atic m oral an d mystical theology
, , ,

s o m uch S O t hat the advocate o f the Cause a man ,

o f great learn i n g and experien ce declared that o f

,

al l the n u merous Causes he had d efen ded at R om e ,

n on e had cost h i m m ore labou r than th is I n M ay .

1 8 64 the D ecree establ ishi n g th e heroic character

,

Of the vi rtues Of Ven erable M argaret M ary w a s

prepared but G regory XV I d ied that sam e m onth
, .
,

an d i t w a s reserved for H i s H ol i n ess Pope P i us I X , .

,

t o prom ulgate the D ecree i n A ugust o f the sam e

y ear
.

S ixtee n years however were stil l to pass wh ile

, ,

the m i racles at t ributed to th e i ntercession o f Ve n er

a b le M argare t M ary were u nd er d iscussion .

I n 1 8 5 9 th e E n glish B ishops u n ited i n Coun ci l

u nder the P residen cy of Cardi nal W iseman ,

add ressed a Pe ti tio n to the Sovereign Pon ti ff i n

favou r of her B eatification .

O n th e 2 4t h of Apri l 18 64 the Decree w a s ,

p ubl ished es tabl ish i n g the truth o f th e m i racl es

, ,

an d on t he 2 4t h o f J u n e th e sam e year th e D ecree ,

o f Beatification was publ ished with great solem n ity

i n th e Lateran Basi l ica .

The Solem n Exal ta t ion o f Blessed M argaret

M ary s rel ics took place o n t he 1 3 t h o f J uly the
’
,

ceremon y bei n g presided over by M o n seign eu r

Borgh i Cham berlai n t o the P ope an d Postu la t or o f
,

th e Cause The rel iquary was taken i n p r o cession

.

from the cloister t o t h e i n teri or of the c o n ven t ,

where t he rel ics were placed i n a rich case sealed , ,

and then born e i n procession t o the th ron e wh ich

had been p repared 1n the cen tre o f t h e Choi r .

T h e day fixed f o r the Solem n i ty of the Beati

fi c a t i o n w a s Septem ber 18 111 18 64 O n e reads
, .

“
acc o u n t s o f the splendou r of St Pe t er s t he ’
,

i l l u m i nati o n s the i n scri ption s the n otes o f j oy

, ,
2 34 B LESSE D M A R G AR ET M . A L A C O QU E

pealed forth t o the c ity by the bel l s an d t hu n dered

by th e can n on from the Castl e o f St A n gelo as
the Te Deu m was i n to n ed on th e read i n g o f th e
A postol ic D ecree of th e B eatificatio n an d the ,

vei l fel l from before the pic t u re o f Bl essed

M argaret M ary represe n ti n g her as ce n d i n g o n
,

he r w a y to H eaven .

What the j oy at Paray and i n al l th e Con ven ts

o f t he V isitation m ust have bee n can be bette r ,

i magi n ed t han d esc ribed The e n th usiasm o f t h e

.

publ ic was S hown i n th e erectio n o f a beautiful

Chapel n ear the e n tra n ce to the town of Paray i n ,

1 86 5 .

P reparatory to the celeb ratio n of th e solem n

Trid uu m o f Than ksgivi n g fixed for t he 2 2 n d 2 3 rd , ,

a n d 2 4t h O f J u n e 1 8 6 5 th e rel ics O f B l e s s e d M argaret

,

M ary were placed wi t h great care i n a magn ificen t

c ase of S i lver , ad orn ed with gold en am el an d , ,

p recious ston es th e u n ited gift o f France Bel gi u m

, , ,

S pai n a nd the B ritish I sles

,
.

B lessed M argare t M ary s cell the l ittl e room ’

i n wh ich she had h eld such l ovi n g con verse with

h er Lord an d i n wh ich s h e had breath ed o u t he r
,

soul to H i m was tran sform ed i n to a Chapel

, .

Th i s O ratory w a s blessed o n J u n e 10t h 1866 by , ,

M o n seign eu r de M a rg u e ry B ish o p o f Autun w h o

, ,

there O ffered the H oly Sac ri fice o f t he M ass Th i s .

sam e P relate took every op p ortu n ity o f advan ci n g

the Cause o f B less ed M argaret M ary U rged by .

h i m m an y Card i n als B ishops an d person s o f

, , ,

ran k peti t i on ed the H oly See to resu m e t he

Cause an d the order for S O doi n g w a s sign ed o n
,

Sep t em ber 6t h 18 66 , B ut m an y l on g years were

.

sti l l to pass before the fi nal D ecree bri n gi n g th e ,

Cause o f Can on isation t o a co n clusion was to b e ,

com e an accom pl ished fact d u ri n g th e fo u rth yea r

,

o f the G reat E u ropean Wa r .

2 36 B LESS ED M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

to O u r satisfactio n i n h eari n g o f the further de

v el o
p m e nt of the work of t he con secratio n o f
fam i l ies to the Sacred Hear t of J es us I n the .

sad n ess i n wh ich O u r P o n t i fi ca t e m ust go o n as ,

i t was born m ore an d m ore does the Lord make

,

U s feel H is han d of a father an d We wi sh that ,

al l the m e m be rs of t he Ch ristian fam i ly may p rai se

an d than k H i m for it .

’
B ut to d ay s D ecree wh ich bri n gs to i t s co n
-
,

c l u s i o n the Cause of th e Can on isa t i o n o f B l essed

A l a c o q u e i s far m ore el oq ue n t than tha t o n the

m i racles . T O day too We m ust tu rn O u r ear
-
, ,

an d hear the word Of God Who shal l determ i n e ,

if a n a wh en th e h u m bl e i n m ate of the cl oister o f

’

Paray l e—
-
M on ial S hal l be rai sed to th e hon ou r O f
the al t ars Nevertheless t h e h istorian m ay s a y
.
,

that to day he r story i s com pleted t he theologian

-

an d the can on ist have carri ed the i r researches an d

exam i nation s to th e ful l l en gth ; i n th e han ds o f
eve n the m ost cri tical the arm s are b roken an d ,

n ot eve n an y outsid e ci rcu m stan ce h i nd ers t he

sen ten ce that n o w i t i s possi bl e t o go o n wi t h
,

secu rity to th e Can on i sation o f M argaret M ary

A l a co q u e S o th i s happy even t may be greeted
.

as i m m i n en t by those t oo who d o n ot al low them

, ,

selves to be guided by a too warm i m agi n ation .

B ut does n o t h e who kn ows that he i s close t o

h is goal haste n an d m ove m ore quickly ? S o
S hould al l t hose d evoted t o B lessed A l a c o q u e
haste n an d perfect them selves i n t he devotion to
the Sacred H eart o f J esus i n p roporti on t o t hei r
p resen t hope for the approach o f t he Can on isa t ion
o f the heroi n e th e e ffi cacy o f whose apostolate has
,

grown ever si nce the day of the app ro v al o f t h e

m i racl es at t ri bu t ed to he r ; i n deed by th e m ean s
o f that approval .

“
We said o n an othe r occasi on that al l the
BE AT I F ICAT I O N AN D CA N O N I SAT I O N 237

faithful shoul d hel p forward t hat apostolate by

welcom i n g an d maki n g t hei r o w n all t he holy
ac t ivi t ies sugges t ed by devo t ion towards t he
D ivi n e H ear t o f the Saviou r B ut as w e
.

approach t h e Can on isation o f M argare t M ary

A l a c o q u e th is d uty has bec o m e eve n stron ge r
, ,

because m o t n s i n fi n e v el oci o r an d t h e re can be

,

n o r o o m for delay i n recogn isi n g t h e u n iversal

charac t er of he r apos t olate Tha t i s t he i m por tan t
.

less o n t augh t us by t h e n ew D ecree i n the Cause

of Can o n isation o f B lessed A l a co q u e M ay al l .

the ch i ldre n o f t he Chu rch accep t i t an d may i t ,

be a fu r t her i n cen t ive t o y o u be loved chi ld ren

, ,

fo r whom the first D ecree was m otive for i n crease

o f d ev ot io n to the Sacred H eart D id the approval
.

o f the m i racl es at t ri buted to B lessed A l a c o q u e

place o n th e l i ps on e o f t he p rayers with wh i ch
s h e w a s w o n t to assai l the H ea rt o f J esus ? Then
may the declara t ion wh ich the Church makes
to day t ha t i t i s p o ssi bl e to go on with secu ri ty
-
,

t o the Can on isa t i o n of B lessed M argare t M ary ,

bri n g t o you r m i nds the desi re o f em ula t i n g t h e

frequ e n cy a nd ard o u r o f ej aculato ry p raye rs with
which she sal utes her B eloved Th e previou s
.

Decree e n l ighten ed you as to the sanc t i t y o f t he

devo t i o n t o t h e Sacred H eart to d ay s D ecree
,
-
’

sh o uld fil l you wi t h l o ve o f it Th e fi rst D ecree

.

m i ght cou n sel vi rt ue the l as t should con vi n ce

. ,

even t o heroism i n the p rac t ice of the devo t io n

y o u

to t he M os t Sacred H ear t of J esus M ay the

.

blessi n g o f God d esce n d copi o usly o n F ran ce ,

crad le o f B lessed A l a c o q u e an d bri n g abou t that

,

fr o m the place whe nce ca m e the fi rs t ray of

d ev o t i o n to t he Sacred H eart may com e ever th e
exam ple o f con s tan cy and fe rvou r i n t his beautifu l
devo t ion t o rej oice n o t o n ly th e Salesian C l o isters
,
”
but t he e n ti re Ch ri stian fam i ly .
2 38 BL ESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

That the actual ce rem on y o f Can on isation should

be postpon ed w a s i n ev i tabl e owi n g t o the awfu l
,

War that was ragi n g i n E u r o pe u p to N ove m be r

19 1 8 . Now t hat God has heard o u r prayers for
peace w e may su rely hope that B lessed M argaret
, ,

M ary s fi nal tri u m ph m ay soon gladden th e hearts

’

“ ”
of al l true l overs o f t h e H eart o f J es u s If .
,
“
said the H oly Fathe r i n J an uary 19 1 8 i f from
,

that C a n on isatio n there resul ts a mo re com plete

d i ff usi o n o f the w o rshi p o f the Sacred H eart w h o ,

would n o t by desi re an d d eed th us haste n th e

sp read of S O excel le n t a d evoti on ( that of t he
E n t h ron e m en t o f t he Sac red H eart i n fam i l ies ,

an d thei r co n sec ra t io n to I t) ? The dawn gives u s

an id ea of what th e m idday wi l l be l i ke an d we , ,

w h o i n t hi s p rai se worthy con secratio n o f fam il ies

,

t o the Sacred H eart recogn i se the dawn O f that

,

m u ch desi red day when the soverei gn t y o f J esus

-

Ch rist S h a l l be ackn owl edged o n al l sides repeat ,

wi th co n fide n t j o y the words o f St Paul Opp or t e t

i l l n nz r eg n a ra —H e m ust reign .
2 40 B LESSE D M A R GA R ET M . A L A C O QU E

Nati on ; an d Th i rd that the i mage o f th e Sacred

,

H eart should be pai n ted o n the sta ndard an d

e n graved o n t he arm s o f the F ren ch t o ren der
them victorious ove r al l t hei r e n em ies .

N on e of t hese requests had bee n com pl i ed with

by Louis X I V Th e wi fe of Loui s XV Queen
. .
,

M arie L e cz i n s ka wrote u pon the subj ect t o the

,

Soverei gn Po n ti ff H e r daughter e m broidered

.

magn ifice n t ch u rch han gi n gs with the sy m bol o f

the Sacred H eart ; and t he Dauphi n e rected a
Chapel at Versai l les i n hon ou r of th i s D ivi n e
H ear t : but he d ied before ascen d i n g the th ron e .

Loui s XV I who i n h is extrem i t y thought of

.
,

tryi n g to real ise the th ree great design s perished ,

on the sca ffold wi t hout havi n g accom pl ished

an yth i n g The devi l w h o do ubtl ess beli eves i n
.

d ivi n e pro m ises tried agai n a n d agai n t o bu ry

t hem i n obl ivion J an se n ism V o l t a i ri a n i s m t h e
.
, ,

horrors of the R evol ution Positivism A n ti , ,

clericali sm al l len t thei r aid

,
H oweve r i n 18 70 .
, ,

the hear t s o f t he Fren ch were sti rred and i n a ,

m ee t i n g of several i n fl ue n tial and truly Ch ri stia n

Fre nch m e n at Poitiers it was p rop o sed to m ake
,

a V o w to the Sacred H eart pro m isi n g t o erect i n ,

Par i s a ch urch i n I ts ho n ou r i f the D ivi n e Heart ,

wou ld gran t the cessati on o f the troubl es with

regard to the te m poral powe r of the Pope an d the
“
troubles of Fran ce i tsel f Let us go to the
.

”
Sacred H eart w a s t he cry an d the words were ,

take n u p an d echoed from cou ntry to cou n try

th rough out t h e e n ti re world The Bas il ica of .

M on t m artre was the result I t was voted for by .

“
t he Assem blée n ational e i n 18 7 3 by a m aj ority
Of 3 8 2 votes agai n st 13 8
'

I n J uly 19 14 at the
.
,

close o f th e E ucharistic Con gress at Lou rdes th e ,

Papal Legate befo re te n card i n als two h u n d red

, ,

bishops two thousan d p riests an d a n i m m e n s

,
pd ,
 T O D AY 24 :

cro w d o f peopl e an n ounced t h at the co n secration

,

o f the Ch u rch o f M on tm artre w as t o take place o n

the com i n g 1 7 th o f O ctobe r the Feast o f B lessed ,

M argaret Mary E ight days later the Great War

.

broke o u t an d the cere m o ny had to be postpon ed ,

bu t by the express wish o f the Sovereign Ponti ff ,

the B ishop of Aut u n read o n that day t he 1 7 t h o f ,

O cto b e r 19 14 i n the Chapel o f t he Visitation

,

Con ve n t at Paray l e M on ial an d i n the Basi l ica i n

- -

that town a solem n act of con secration re p eate d

, ,

by the people i m plori n g the Sac red H eart to

,

e stabl ish H is reign over F ran ce .

D u ri n g th e last fo rty years the devotion to the

Sa c red He a rt o f J esus h a s gon e o n rapid ly
i nc reasi n g I n 18 5 6 Po pe P ius I X d ecreed that
.
,
.

th e Feas t which up to that ti m e h a d been c on fin ed

to c ertai n d ioce s es should n ow be prom ulgated
,

th rougho u t the U n iversal Chu rch A step further .

,

and a ve ry i m portan t o n e w as take n d uri n g the ,

P o n t i fi c a t e o f Leo X I I I M o ther M ary o f the

.

Divi n e H ea rt D roste z u V i s c h e ri n g a holy n un o f ,

the O rd er of the Good Shepherd felt i m pelled by ,

O ur Lord to petition the Holy Fathe r to con sec ra t e

th e en ti re world to the Sacred Heart This .

L eo X I I I was very wi l l i n g to do and on the Feast

.
,

of the Sacred Heart J u n e 9 t h 18 99 i n a voice , , ,

trem bl i n g wi th em otion the ven erabl e Pon tiff ,

i m plored Christ to be the Ki ng o f al l Catholics

.

, ,

he retics sch i smatics i n fi d e l s an d pagan s

, ,
F rom .

” “
po le to pol e ,
he p ray e d let on e on ly voice ,

reso u n d : Praise to the D ivi ne H eart whi ch has

gi ve n us sal va tion to I t be hon ou r and glory for
” “
eve r an d ever .I wi l l reign i n sp ite of M y
e n em i es
,
said O u r Lord to Blessed M argaret
M a ry an d He seem s to have ech oed the same
,

words to M othe r M ary o f the D ivi n e Heart fo r ,

i n her le t t e r t o th e H oly Fath er we fi nd that

Q
242 B LESSE D M A R G A R ET M . A L A C O QU E

speaki n g of her com m u n ication s from O u r L ord ,

“
sh e says : H e added C o n fi d e i n M e M y H eart
, ,

wi l l reign M y H eart wil l tri u m ph

,
.

O n the z rs t of J u l y o f the sam e year 18 9 9 , ,

Card i n al M azel la P refect o f th e Sacred Con grega

,

ti on of R ites add ressed a l etter i n t he n am e o f t he

,

H oly Father to al l th e B i shops o f the world u rgi n g ,

the m to spread an d d evelop the devotio n to th e

'

Sacred H eart by con frate rn iti es d evoti on s d u ri n g

,

th e m on th of J u n e an d th e cel ebration of the Fi rst

F riday of each m on th s o that these practices
, ,

becom i n g c u stom ary am on g al l peopl e m ay be as ,

a freq u e n t an d perpetual a ffi rmation of th e royal

and d ivi n e ri ght that Ch rist received from H i s
Father over the w hol e h um an race a righ t w h ich H e,

acq u i red by th e shed di n g of H i s P recious B lood .

N o w i n o u r ow n d ay whe n the world i s bu t

,

slowly em ergi n g from the terri bl e sh ocks that have

co n vulsed it d u ri n g the years o f Wa r th e Sacred ,

Heart pl eads o n ce m ore w ith ever growi n g te nd e r -

n ess an d pe rsisten ce for ou r homage an d o u r love .

“ ”
Th e w ords of O u r B l essed Lord I wi l l reign
, ,
”
I wi l l gi ve peace to the i r fam i l ies I wi l l bl ess,

the houses wherei n th e i mage of M y Sacred Heart

”
S hal l be ex p osed an d hon ou red are vi brati n g
,

t h rough th e Cath ol ic world to d ay and fi n d i n g ,

t hei r fulfil m en t i n th o u san d s an d thousan d s o f

hom es i n eve ry cou n try whe re the Sacred Heart
has bee n en thron ed as Ki n g .

The d evotion of th e E n th ron em e n t of th e Sacred

Heart O f J esu s took i ts rise i n the Con ve n t Chapel
of the V i sitatio n n u n s at Paray l e M on ial i n that
- -
,

ve ry Chapel where two h u n d red an d th i rty years

,

ago B lessed M argaret M ary rece ived her wonderful

,

revelation s and d ivi n e p rom ises I n 190 7 a priest

.
,

n am ed Fathe r M atthew Crawley B o e v e y o f th e -

,

C on gregation o f th e Sacred Hearts of J es u s and

2 44 B LESSE D M A R G AR ET M . A L A C O QU E

an d rec om m en dati on to the practice J esus the .

,

Ki n g an d Ce n t re of al l h earts has been e n t h ron e d

,

i n hom es i n n u m erabl e al l over th e world I n J an .

uary 19 18 Father Crawl ey B oe v e y h i m s el f wrote

-

“
The sole m n E n th ron em e n t of the Heart of J esu s
as Ki ng h as bee n mad e i n th e palaces of K i n gs
an d P ri n ces an d i n the hom es Of thousands an d
1
,

t ho usan d s of w o rk me n an d of th e p o o r ; i t has
bee n carri ed o u t i n Parl iam en t s ; am id s t whol e
p opulation s hear
,
t h by hearth whe re th es e
, house
to house co n sec ration s have been c row n ed by an
-

o ffic ial E n th r o n e m en t at whose publ ic pe rformance

the eccl esias t ical an d ci vi l authorities have pre
sided The re have been E n t h ron em en t s O f rare
.

beau t y perform ed i n th e secl usion of th e cl oi ster

, ,

i n bri l l ian t ga t heri n gs h eld i n t he hall s of C athol ic

cl ubs ; E n th ro n e m e n ts ful l o f d ivi n e p o e t ry carried
out i n con ve n t schools h o m es an d o rphanages
hospi t als—eve n i n prison s ; spl en d id E n th ron e
, ,

m en t s i n the houses o f bishops an d p ries t s

( especial ly i n France ) th e hom age of shepherd s
,

an d thei r fam il ies t o the Shepherd K i n g ; the -

O ffi cial E n th ro n e men t Of a n ation whose Cham be rs

rati fy by law of the land a n ation al homage which
sets u p the Hear t of J e s u s K i n g as sol e Lord ,

and M aste r above th e powe rs o f the State ( Col u m

bia ) . I n an othe r place Father Crawley B o e v e y -

goes on to s a y that th e h osan n a of l ove t o the

“
Sacred H eart i s su n g am id A rctic s n ows an d i n
the cen t re of Africa ; it resou n ds fro m th e arch i
l o e s o f O cean ia to the d istan t lands o f Ti bet
p e a g
an d Ch i n a . I t has pen etrated even to t he le p e r
settl e m en t o f M ol o kai i n to th e Con go Eth i opia
, , ,

A laska an d the Fij i I slan ds as wel l as to al l th e,

“
1
( Lu x e m b u rg an d S p ain ) H e d e s i re s t o e n t er w th i p om p
”
an d m a g n i fi c e n ce i n t o t h e h o u ses of p ri n c e s and k in g s
( B l e s s e d M a r g a re t M a r y)
.
 TO - D AV 24 5

cou n tri es of E ur o pe an d A m erica By J an uary .

19 1 7 th e E n th ron em en t had take n place i n m ore

than five m il l ion fam i l ies S i nce that ti m e the

.
'

n u m ber has greatly i n creased .

The B ritish I sles are n ot b eh i ndhan d i n the

devot i o n o f the E n th ro n em en t I t wi l l be re .

m em bered how i t w as t o E n glan d t hat the m essage

o f love from t he Sacred Heart was br o ugh t by
B lessed M argaret M ary s o w n con fessor t he
’
,

Ve n erabl e Claude d e la Colom bi ere I t was i n the .

E n gl ish Cou rt i n th e Chapel R oyal o f S t Jam es

,
’

Palace that the d evoti on t o th is D ivi n e H ea rt was

,

preached ; and it was M ary B ea trice of M oden a ,

Q ueen o f E n gland form

, erly D uch ess o f York ,

w h o i n 169 7 peti tion ed th e Holy See f o r the

i n stitutio n o f the Feast of th e Sacred Hea rt .

Cath o l ic E n glan d c a n n ever forget t hese fact s

wh ich con n ect he r cl o sely with O u r Lord s chosen ’

apostl e of devo t i on to H i s Hea rt B less ed M argaret

,

M ary N or d o w e forge t that the actual d evoti on

.

o f the E n t h ron em en t as w e n o w practise it spran g

‘

, ,

from an i n spi ration received at Paray by a priest

o f E n gl i sh paren tage .

The B ishops o f E n gland I relan d an d Scotlan d

, ,

have u rged thei r people i n th ei r Pastorals to

proclai m O u r Lord as thei r Ki n g O ur o w n .

Card i nal Archbisho p Bou rn e wrote o n O ctober

12 t h , 19 1 7 We earn es t ly com m end t o the piety
o f th e Fai t hful th e Work O f th e E n th ron em en t of

the Sacred Hea rt whereby fam i l ies place the m

,

sel ves col lecti vely u n de r the protec t ion o f ou r

D ivi n e M aster an d con secrate to H i m al l thei r
,

h ope s a n d j o ys and sorrows s o t hat i n al l th i n gs

,

they m ay l ive i n accordan ce with H is Holy W il l ,

an d gu ard al l the m em be rs o f th e fa m i ly agai n s t

an y thought word or deed con trary t o t h e la w of
,
”
God .
2 46 B L ESS ED M A R G A R E T M . A L A CO QU E

We have see n how th e fi rst ceremo n y o f E n

t h ro n e m e n t of the Sacred H eart took place i n the
‘

n ovicia t e of the con ve n t at Paray l e M on ial ; that - -

the devoti on n ow bei n g p ropaga t ed d i ffers i n n o

way from the devotion p ractised by the h u m bl e
N ovice m istress an d her n ovices i s p roved by the
-

words O f the great theol ogian Card i nal B i l lot who , , ,

writi n g o n A pril 2 6t h 19 1 5 to Fathe r M atthew

, , .

“
Crawl ey B o e v e y says :
-
,
Th e work i s the pu re ,

si m ple an d u n al loyed devotion to th e Sacred

H eart wh ich has bee n han ded d own to us i n the
,

revelatio n s o f B l essed M argaret M ary an d such

‘

as t he Chu rch has san ction ed by her sup rem e

authori t y I t i s n oth i n g m ore ; n othi n g l ess
. .

F o r what is the O bj ec t o f th e work ? T O i n trod uce ,

that i s to s a y to s e t up i n th e place of ho n o u r i n
,

each household a rep rese n tati on o f the Sac red

Heart i n recogn i ti on of the s u p rem e rights o f J e s u s
Ch rist over the fam i ly as a wh o l e an d ove r each ,

of i t s m em bers ; to recite fa m i ly p raye rs each

even i n g before it an d to re n ew each n ight by th e
,

l i ps of t h e fath e r o r m othe r the co n secrati o n m ad e

o n the first day ; to be faith fu l to th e p ractice of

Holy Com m u n i on an d as far as possi bl e to that

,

of the Holy Hou r on t h e eve of the first F riday of

the m on th ; to m ed itate upo n th e lesson s a n d
exam ples give n u s by th e Sacred Hear t to have ,

recourse to thi s Fou n t o f al l g races i n th e fam i l y

j o ys as wel l as i n its sorrows i n good as wel l as i n ,

evi l days i n s ufferi n gs i n reve rses i n pa rti n gs

, , , ,

am id the tears shed at th e graveside an d the s m i les

bestowed u po n t he crad l e —i n a word am id s t al l ,

the eve n ts that i n te rru pt the n orm al a n d reg u lar

cou rse O f the fam ily l i fe I s e e i n i t a S i m pl e
.

and practical m ethod for real i si n g th e d es i res

expressed to B lessed M argaret M ary O u r Lo rd .

asked of h e r that H i s Heart sh ould be th e Obj ect

P RI N T E D B Y T HE E D I N B UR G H
9 AND 11 YOU N G S T R E E T .