Jewels from Jane, January 30

"...the devotion of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, at first exercised only in the prisons of Lyons, had gone beyond the city. Everywhere their influence had produced such improvements that the Supervisory Commission was struck by it and conceived the project of prison reform. It drew up a report which was printed and addressed to the Minister of the Interior. This report, quite full of praise for the Sisters of Saint Joseph, gave an unexpected expansion to the work of the prisons...

"Three months after the publication of this report, the Prefect of Bas Rhine asked for six or eight Sisters of Saint Joseph for the central prison of Hagueneau, where only women were imprisoned. Some time later, the Prefect of the North asked for some for the prison of Lille. Since these requests had not been foreseen, the Superiors were not prepared to answer at once. In the Chamber of Deputies, everybody agreed that the reform of the prisons was needed, especially in the prisons for women where men supervised. But not everybody wished the reform to be made in the same manner. Hence, the different systems, and the hot discussions which ended in one decision,--the need of immediate action and the finding of supervisors who possessed all desirable qualities.

"'Give me five hundred Sisters,' exclaimed M. Thiers, 'and I will undertake to reform all the prisons in the kingdom. With their rosaries on their sides, they will certainly have more influence than the keepers with their swords.'

"'That is possible,' somebody answered, 'but where shall we find these five hundred Religious who will consent to enclose themselves with the prisoners day and night.?'

"A member of the Assembly spoke of the Sisters of Saint Joseph and the well-conducted prisons of Lyons. The Inspector General of the prisons, Charles Lucas, was commissioned to ascertain the state of affairs for himself, to see the Superior of this convent and to ask her if she would accept the supervision of all the prisons of France, beginning with the central houses. The offer was accepted, in principle, but on the condition that the prisons would be served according to the possibilities of the community.

"At once, the Minister of the Interior asked for two hundred Sisters. These would have been given willingly but the community did not have them. The Superior asked for time and as God wanted this work, He bestowed vocations. The Novitiate of the Solitude was filled and it was with the greatest care that these young subjects were prepared for this special mission which requires as much firmness as kindness and supernatural spirit.

"Demands came from every quarter. On January 30, 1840, the Inspector General announced that the Minister of the Interior sanctioned the Prefect of Herault, who made an agreement with the congregation...

"The prisons suddently assumed an unforseen importance. This work had already necessitated a special training. The unexpected growth of this second division could harm the good progress of the Institute, the unity of spirit and the entire observance of the Rule. That was a subject of great anxiety for Mother Saint John [Fontbonne]. This useful and fruitful apostolic movement must not be stopped, but the other works of the community must neither be submerged nor compromised. One way alone would settle all difficulties: that is, to have two different congregations. The Archbishop having approved this plan, the Sisters worked at once to realize it and to look for a place where they would locate the novitiate for the Sisters who were to have the service of the prisons. [It was decided to locate it at Haute Vienne.]

"Cardinal Fesch died in Rome, in 1839. The Bishop of Le Puy, Monsignor de Boland, succeeded him as Archbishop of Lyons. On January 30, 1841, he issued an ordinance which permitted the Sisters of Saint Joseph to choose freely between the community for the prisons or the community for teaching and other charitable works. Those who chose the prisons were authorized to leave the diocese under the direction of Mother Saint Augustine Quinon.

"The new congregation retained the name of Saint Joseph, but it added that of Mary. The Sisters also kept the original habit. The black underveil was replaced by a white one; over this white underveil was in turn placed a blue one and the black veil was pinned over these two. One could soon see a few of the Sisters Marie-Joseph in all the prisons. Those who desire to know them will still find them in the Prison Saint Lazare, Paris. The Sisters of Saint Joseph continued their work in the prisons of Lyons until the Sisters of Marie-Joseph, having satisfied the most pressing needs, were in a position to furnish subjects for Lyons.

"We can admire here the supernatural disinterestedness of Mother Saint John, as we can throughout the entire course of her life. She never tried to draw profit from a situation. Interest for souls was the only motive of her deeds and her decisions. She never put God at the service of her Institute; she put her Institute at the service of God."

From Mother Saint John Fontbonne: A Biography adapted from the original French edition by a Sister of Saint Joseph Brentwood, New York

Jewels from Jane, January 5

"The year 1839 was marked by...memorable events for the congregation. His Eminence, Cardinal Fesch, father and benefactor of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, died in Rome. Archbishop de Pins was relieved from his duties as administrator of the diocese...At the same time Father Cholleton resigned his position as Vicar General and Superior of the congregation...On this occasion Mother Saint John opened her heart about her sorrow to her daughters in America and exhorted them to have absolute confidence in God in their trials. 'That has been,' she said, 'all my resource in the troubles, miseries and tribulations of my long life. God can do all things. Without Him, we can do nothing. We must cast ourselves like little children into His arms.'

"Shortly after his installation, Archbishop de Bonald visited the motherhouse and saw her whom he already knew in the retreat of her own choice. He did not approve of this obscurity which, though inspired by humility, might produce an unfavorable impression. Mother Saint John had to leave this room and take one more suitable to her dignity in the convent. The Sisters keep, in the treasury of the motherhouse, a magnificent cross of massive gold in which precious relics are encased. We do not know whether this cross was given to Mother Saint John by Archbishop de Bonald at this visit or under other circumstances.

"Some rather troubled letters arrived...from America. Mother Saint John answered in 1842: 'Do not be uneasy. Thank God, I am enjoying all my faculties as well now as if I were but fifty, although I am eight-three. I rise with the community; I assist at all the exercises; I write, read, sew and knit without using spectacles. Help me to bless God for the time and strength He is giving me to prepare for eternity.

"Bishop Rosati had to return to France on account of his health. On January 5, 1842, she wrote: 'For three or four months, I have hoped that Bishop Rosati of Saint Louis would come to Lyons. I have waited for him until now, but, since he has not arrived, I can wait no longer. I have a great desire to write to you.'

"One day during the winter of 1843, Mother Saint John fell on the ice in the yard. As she was unable to rise, her daughters ran to her assistance and carried her to her room. After examination, it was found that besides several bruises, she had dislocated her shoulder. The doctor considered an operation necessary. He added that it would be long, hard and painful and asked to be assisted by another doctor. The operation was performed. Doctor Bonnet, chief doctor of the Hotel-Dieu, and Doctor Berlioz performed this painful task. She, with eyes fixed on the crucifix, offered no complaint, nor uttered a single moan. 'It is very good to deal with saintly people,' Said Doctor Bonnet, 'one can operate as he wishes.' This good Mother in the midst of great suffering has just given her daughters an example of heroic patience and sublime resignation.

"The operation over, Mother Sacred Heart [Mother Saint John's successor as Superior General] continued her care for the patient in the most delicate manner. She and her community persevered in prayer to obtain the recovery of the dear one. God was not deaf to these supplications. Mother Saint John recovered more quickly than they had expected and one could see the venerable convalescent walking again through the corridors of the house, though now she had to use a cane to make her step more steady. At length, laden with years and merits, the Mother bent like the sheaf of wheat that is ripe for the harvest. Sadly realizing that the end was more and more imminent, Mother Sacred Heart sent a letter to all the convents.

"'I regret to tell you that the health of Reverend Mother causes us great uneasiness.' Later she wrote: 'Since our last letter, the state of Mother Saint John alarms us, although she is somewhat better. Let us continue to ask of Our Lord the prolongation of a life which is so dear to us.'"

From Mother Saint John Fontbonne: A Biography translation adapted from the original French edition by a Sister of Saint Joseph Brentwood, New York

Jewels from Jane, November 25

"In order to know better the needs of all the works of charity in the Empire and the means for satisfying them, the Emperor called together, in Paris, in 1807, a general chapter of all the Religious Hospitalers of the Empire. The assembly was set for November 27. Long before this date, the Cardinal [Fesch] had gone to Paris and when the time came for the chapter, he wrote to Father Cholleton to attend it.

"Father Cholleton [founder and spiritual director of the Black Daughters] had hardly recovered from an illness that had brought him to the brink of death. He went, nevertheless, at the invitation of the Cardinal; and scarcely had he arrived in the capital, when the fatigue of the journey obliged him to go to bed from which he never arose. On November 25, [1807] two days before the opening of the Assembly, he expired, dying in as saintly a manner as he had lived."

From Mother Saint John Fontbonne by a Sister of Saint Joseph of Brentwood, New York

Jewels from Jane, August 14

"On August 14, 1807, Mother Saint John [Fontbonne] was, for the first time, in the presence of those whom Heaven destined to become her daughters [The Black Daughters]. She did not know them, nor did they know her. At once, however, a supernatural feeling drew them together and a bond of love united them. In a transport of faith, the daughters cast themselves into the arms of their Mother, and trembling with emotion, the Mother pressed the children to her heart, an affecting scene which fills one with admiration...

"These twelve Black Daughters [To teach them to crush human respect Father Cholleton, their founder, made them dress in a costume which was neither religious nor secular]who renounced, at the desire of the Cardinal [Fesch], their first formation, to submit to the demands of a Rule which they had not chosen, to an authority which had given no proof yet of devotion nor of ability, and to a direction of whose wisdom and gravity they were as yet ignorant, were also admirable.

"With a simplicity above all praise, she, who had been directress of the group, immediately resigned her authority and became the humble disciple of the new Superior [Mother Saint John Fontbonne]. She was Anne Matrat, of Valla-en-Gier, in the Department of the Loire. She was the first to enter Maison Pascal. We do not know whether or not that was the motive for placing her at the head. We rather believe that it was on account of her rare qualities...

"Mother Saint John wanted to know and to study thoroughly the life these pious women had lived in order to adapt them, as gently as possible, to the one which would replace it...The fourth floor of Maison Pascal was a home of fervor. Seeing this, Mother Saint John was overwhelmed with sentiments of humility and gratitude towards Him Who had led her into the midst of these cheerful, frank and generous souls, who showed neither defiance, annoyance, nor reserve with respect to a Superior whom they did not know and to whom they opened their hearts as children to their mother. An affection full of confidence and charity was established between them and it never relaxed.

"The Rule of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, composed by a priest of the Society of Jesus, Father Medaille, is full of the spirit of Saint Ignatius. It is wise and, at the same time, firm. This Rule was written, keeping in view the apostolic life that was the life of Jesus Christ Himself, the perfect Model of Religious.

"Every religious life, even every Christian life, must have its portion of penance, expiation and reparation; but there are different ways of doing penance, of expiating and of making reparation. The mortification, at times very hard, of the mutual living of a common life; the fatigue of service; the demands of the sick; the ingratitude of those who are the objects of our devotion, and a thousand other things have an expiatory and a reparatory value. Are they not more difficult to bear than the penances of one's choice?

"Mother Saint John tried to make her dear daughters understand this truth. One day she made them bring her all the instruments of penance they had for their use. These fervent souls had to make the sacrifice of them through obedience, and, gradually, the wise, prudent Mother abolished from their life what might have endangered their health. At the same time she carefully preserved the character of austerity that gives nobility to the religious life and a redeeming value to the simplest deeds. The community of Maison Pascal kept this character of fervor and holiness so well that it is still called with good reason "The Pearl of the Institute."

From Mother Saint John Fontbonne: A Biography from the original French edition adapted by a Sister of Saint Joseph of Brentwood, NY

Jewels from Jane, January 3

On this date, January 3, 1836 the sisters who were to come to America were preparing to leave Lyon. From Sister St. Protais Deboille's handwritten journal we read:

"The third of January we went at Archbishop palace to ask the benediction of Archbishop Monsigneur of Pins who had the administration of the Diocese. Cardinal Fesch, uncle of Napoleon, was exiled in Rome. He gave us feu advice.

"Father Fontbonne was with us and present[ed] us to the Archbishop. After we arrived to the community they [from here the references to the sisters includes herself even though she usually refers to the sisters as 'they'] pay visit to the parish priest and they had supper in Revd. [Reverend] Mother St. John room."