Jewels from Jane, January 7, 1883

"When our Sisters from America went to Rome to have their rule approved, Madame the Comtesse [de la Rochejacquelin] had them come to Usse. The companion spent several days with us; from here they went to the motherhouse.

"It was for the first departure that the Comtesse de la Rochejacquelin, who was in exile and at Lyons undoubtedly at that moment, parted with all her jewels in behalf of the Sisters who were leaving for America. She could give nothing else for all her goods, her fortune, were seized. All these objects were turned over to Father Cholleton; one single chain was sold for 18,000 francs. One diamond could not be sold; the jeweler said he had not the price. It was placed in a crown of the Virgin in the cathedral of Lyons.

"I could not tell you the number of communities she encouraged, supported, or founded. It was she who was charged with requesting our Sisters for La Vendee, l'Anjou, Poitou, and Touraine. She encouraged benefactors to take care of the first expenses; she also loved to call us all her little Sisters. What did she not do for our sisters at Annecy, Chambery, Denmark, even England. These mothehouses kept her in touch with all their foundations and knew how to draw on her liberality.
"Madame, the Countess, was a saintly woman, a true Christian; I could even say a religious, for she was of the Third Order of St. Francis. For more than thirty years before her death she received Holy Communion nearly every day, read or had read a spiritual lecture, said her rosary, recited the Office of the Blessed Virgin. She worked for the poor. How much material we cut out, prepared, etc. I never knew anyone so charitable. She had no repairs made on her chateaux in order to have more for the poor, for good works, and she deprived herself of many things for the same end. God alone knows all the good she has done. Several months before her death she felt tired without, however, remaining in bed. On the first of January, 1883, she was seized with a weakness while going downstairs from her chapel; however, she regained her usual state of health. But in the night of January 6-7, toward midnight, she felt her end approaching. She recommended herself to God and died an instant later. The maid called the chaplain, who had just time to give her final absolution. She died the night of Saturday to Sunday; we kept the remains until Thursday. The photographer came Wednesday and was astonished she had not changed. The nobility came from all sides and viewed our dear Comtesse. They kissed her hand, they wept for their good friend. The entire parish assisted at the funeral. Madame, the Comtesse, died at her chateau d'Usse, January 7, 1883, aged 84 years."

Notes from a sister in France
Translated from the French

Jewels from Jane, January 4

"About 1834, Bishop Rosati, the first Bishop of Saint Louis, was in double perplexity. He had neither money nor priests. To obtain both, he wrote to Father Charles Cholleton, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lyons, hoping, through his agency, to obtain help from the original work which a Lyonnaise, Mademoiselle Pauline Jaricot, of the parish of Saint Polycarp, had just founded in that city. The work of distant missions had appealed to this virtuous Christian and she interested the young working-girls in it. Every Saturday, Mademoiselle Jaricot asked them for an alms of one cent for the missions. It was from this humble beginning that the Society for the Propagation of the Faith developed--a work solemnly approved in 1813 by Pius VII. Bishop Rosati came to it as a petitioner through the mediation of the Vicar General. Father Cholleton answered the prelate: 'It is in quality of your vicar that I presented myself to the Society of the Propagation of the Faith and that I hope to obtain abundant help. I do not doubt that Archbishop de Pins will also send you priests.' He might have added that the Superior General of the Sisters of Saint Joseph would find Religious for the schools. Father Cholleton did not then know that someone was thinking of endowing America with communities of that congregation. This person was the Countess de la Rochejaquelein.

"Even at that time, the 'Annals' of the Propagation of the Faith gave an account to the associates of the use of the sums received, of the progress of the work and the requests made. The reading of the 'Annals' had revealed to the countess the great poverty of the mission of the Mississippi. Her heart was touched and at once she thought of the Sisters of Saint Joseph to convert and teach the Indians. She felt that Religious are indispensable wherever missionary labors are to be performed. There are so many works created around a mission which the Sisters alone can efficiently accomplish. After obtaining the promise from Mother Saint John [Fontbonne] that she would give the Sisters for America, if His Lordship desired them, Madame de la Rochejaquelein asked Father Odin to propose them in her name, saying that she would defray the expenses of the first foundation.

"The Bishop of Saint Louis saw at once the increase of burdens which would result from the opening of schools, and delayed his answer. [But after receiving a letter from the Countess he] accepted the offer and even asked that, to the six Sisters proposed, they send two more, specially trained to teach the deaf and dumb. In the meantime, Mother Saint John was preparing her daughters for the uncertain mission that might be confided to them. Instructions and counsels were given to these souls destined for this special apostolate. She reminded them that they would often be without spiritual help, when circumstances required it. The priest, obliged to traverse long distances in the vast forests to carry the consolations of religion to the sick and the dying, would not always be with them in the morning to give them the Eucharistic Bread. It might happen that sometimes he would not be present on Sunday to celebrate Mass. In these days of spiritual poverty they will have to remember that they carry their temple within them and that God has more than one way of giving Himself to souls. In these days, also, when all will seem to be lacking to nourish, enlighten and console them, they must remember that grace is never wanting, and that they have all the necessary means of sanctification in the actual state of things. Deprived of all exterior help, they can, by means of interior assistance, increase in themselves the life of God which will sanctify them and make their own lives fruitful.

"Bishop Rosati's answer settled all doubt and the Sisters of Saint Joseph accepted the invitation to the American missions. As Mother Saint John did not wish to impose this exile on anybody, she made an appeal to her daughters, recommending them to pray, to consult their director, to weigh the matter well and, after that, to follow Divine inspiration. Divine inspiration grouped a goodly number. When the Sisters came to offer themselves to the Superior General, the latter saw, foremost among them, her two nieces, Sister Febronia and Sister Marie Delphine Fontbonne, daughters of her only brother, Claude Fontbonne. This sight afflicted the heart of the venerable Superior, but she generously accepted the sacrifice.

"From this numerous group, seven were chosen. Six were to leave within a short time, Sisters Febronia and Delphine Fontbonne, Sister Febronia Chapellon, Sister Saint Protais Deboille, Sister Philomene Vilaine and Sister Marguerite Boute. The Christian name of the countess was added to that of the last. She was thenceforth called Sister Felicite. The seventh, Sister Celestine Pommerel and Julie Fournier, a postulant, began at once to study the language of the deaf-mutes and would depart for America when they were capable of teaching it.

"Archbishop de Pins asked for volunteers. From them, he chose a priest and two seminarians, as the needs of the diocese would not permit greater sacrifices. The priest chosen was Father James Fontbonne, Mother Saint John's nephew. The immolation was complete.

"At the motherhouse, everybody was edified at the sacrifice and the simple, sublime manner with which it was made. One of the Sisters inspired by the circumstances, dramatized the biblical scene of the father preparing to sacrifice his son. Abraham's sacrifice was represented in the novitiate a few days before the departure. The allusion was too striking not to bring tears; they flowed abundantly, but hearts were comforted by them.

"All was ready. Father Cholleton appointed Sister Febronia Fontbonne Superior of the little colony. Through delicacy and fear of acting from natural inclination, Mother Saint John did not wish to make the choice. She even felt sorrow in signing the new Superior's letter of obedience. Since the Vicar General had decided and regulated everything, the virtuous aunt gave the niece, whom she cherished, counsels full of wisdom and affection.

"The departure was fixed for January 4, 1836. On the eve of this day, the six chosen ones said goodby to the assembled community. There was a scene of touching humility in this last reunion. The six missionaries casting themselves at the feet of their Sisters begged them to bless them and to pardon them for the trouble they had caused them and for any bad example which they had given. With great overflowing of heart, Mother Saint John blessed the six valiant missionaries and the Sisters whom they were about to leave."

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

Jewels from Jane, Jan. 3, 1836

3 Jan. 1836

We, Superior General of Sisters of Saint Joseph

Have given and by these testaments we give obedience to

Sister Febronie, nee Fontbonne
Sister Marie Delphine, nee Fontbonne
Siser Marie Febronie, nee Chapellon
Sister Marie Felicite, nee Boute
Sister St. Protais, nee Deboille
Sister Philomene, nee Vilaine

For the parish of St. Louis America

Diocese of St. Louis

Department of

Given at Lyon, the third of January in the year of our Savior Jesus Christ 1836.


Mother Fontbonne Superior
(signed)

Sealed for legality of the signature and witness of Mother Fontbonne, Superior General of St. Joseph, Lyon, 3 January 1836

Cholleton, V.G. [Father Charles Cholleton, Vicar General of Lyons]
(signed)

Seal of Motherhouse
Seal of Archdiocese of Lyon

The above named Sisters left this day for the American mission.

Jewels from Jane, January 1, 1829

"God blessed the works of the Institute in such a visible manner that appeals came to the Motherhouse of the Chartreux from all sections. Whenever she could do so, Mother Saint John [Fontbonne] answered these requests; but, though subjects came in large numbers, it was impossible to satisfy everybody. Besides the local parishes of the Diocese of Lyons, always the first supplied, convents of Saint Joseph were opened in many other dioceses...

"A priest wrote to Mother Saint John: 'There is, in my parish, a group of devout women who are called Sisters. They live in community and have a Superior although they have taken no vows. They occupy themselves with the schools and the children. Send us a Superior from Lyons, to teach and train them.'

"We have in our possession a collection of letters full of praise for these modest workers; almost all have come from priests whose apostolate they assisted. Let us quote a few of them: 'Since I have had the happiness of having this convent in my parish, I have had the greatest consolation; and I see that the Lord is pleased to bless my people. With the assistance of a religious community, priests can do something; without them, their ministry is paralyzed.'

"from another: 'With this spirit of humility and perfect self-denial which distinguishes them, the Sisters have done immense good.'

"and again: 'M.P. is surprised that two Sisters have been able to do so much and to be sufficient for so many employments.'

"another writes: 'They are more loved and respected than the priests.'

"If from some places, the motherhouse was congratulated with the reports of the affiliations, in others subordination was not wanted. Each bishop was anxious to have a motherhouse and novitiate for his own diocese. Mother Saint John was not surprised by that. It was the original idea of the founders and, until the Revolution, each convent had its autonomy. The constitutions...say: 'The Sisters of the congregation will recognize as their lawful Superiors, the bishops of the dioceses in which they reside. They will always have for them a deep respect, a great submission and a very exact obedience in all things which they command them, considering them as holding the place of Jesus Christ, invested with His character and His authority over them. The bishops can visit the houses and the Sisters in their dioceses, and demand an account from the Superiors, of both the spiritual and temporal state of their houses. They can make rules for the general good of the house and the conduct of the Sisters, in order to maintain or renew the full observance of the present constitutions. They may also, if they deem it useful or necessary, change the Superiors and Sisters from one house to another, and even send them out of their dioceses when other bishops ask for them.'

"The Archbishop of Lyons had been wisely inspired in introducing into the Institute a central government which attached the communities to one another and placed them under the direction of a Superior General, who, knowing the needs and resources of each, could establish a wise balance, which favored the good functioning of the works of the congregation. He had been wisely inspired in prescribing a single novitiate in which all the members of the congregation would be imbued with the same spirit and find the necessary means for the proper religious training..

"This indispensable reorganization, the two founders, Bishop de Maupas and Father Medaille, would have surely exacted if they could have foreseen that the 'Little Design' would assume such great proportions and that the Sisters of Saint Joseph would one day cover the globe. Nevertheless, the Archbishop could not take from the bishops their rights of jurisdiction over the communities in their dioceses. To decide all difficulties, there was an understanding among the prelates and it was agreed that henceforth the communities established by the Motherhouse of Lyons would remain attached to their center, and thus disputes and demands were closed.

"When everything was settled, Archbishop de Pins issued the following ordinance:

"...Wishing to assure to all and to each of our dear daughters, the Sisters of Saint Joseph, the valuable and important fruits of a complete novitiate in the motherhouse where they will draw at the same time the spirit of their state, a solid piety and the knowledge necessary to them;...we have decreed what follows:
'1. Dating from January 1, 1829, no Sister of Saint Joseph, without exception, will be admitted to holy profession until after spending an entire year in the Novitiate of the Motherhouse of Lyons, so that everyone will spend there two or three months before the reception and nine or ten months after the reception in the space of two years prescribed by their constitutions from which we do not intend to deviate in any way.
'2. We authorize the Superior General to shorten this trial, even by six months, when she will judge it suitable in favor of the lay Sisters.
'3. Copies of the present decree will be sent to Mother Saint John [Fontbonne] who will have them entered on the registers of the congregation and who will testify for us, at least every three months, the execution of the present ordinance...

"The Vicar General who was to give an account of the execution of this ordinance was, in 1828, Father Charles Cholleton, nephew of Father Claude Cholleton, of saintly memory. The nephew, like the uncle, had great love for the community. He assisted Mother Saint John in her delicate and painful task. The Novitiate of Saint-Pons was closed in spite of the regrets of the Bishop of Montpellier, who did not wish to oppose the Archbishop of Lyons in removing the novitiate from his diocese. Montpeyroux, Bedarieux and Meze, which opened shortly after, received their subjects from the Motherhouse of Lyons and had to send their postulants there.

"The means of communication becoming easier from day to day, the difficulty of traveling was lessened. 'Holy souls increased and flourished at the motherouse under the impetus and influence of the worthy Superior General.'"

From Mother Saint John Fontbonne: A Biography adapted from the original French edition by a Sister of Saint Joseph of 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, Sept. 4

"At times as close as possible to one another, warm rays of the sun, piercing the Lyonnais fogs, were directed to America. The letters from the Chartreux addressed to Cahokia or to Carondelet were indeed rays of sunshine. Once, one of these letters announced to both communities, the reception of Mademoiselle Fournier, to whom Mother Saint John had given her own name, to recall to her dear missionaires that she did not forget them. The young novice was to leave with Sister Celestine Pommerel and both would soon join them. There was a great feast in the two convents the day this news arrived. It was the beginning of 1837, when, calculating according to their own voyage, the Sisters remarked that surely the two Sisters would be with them before the end of May. It was not so. May passed, then June, July and August. No Sisters and no news--only a letter from Lyons stating that the travelers had embarked at Brest, on the frigate Hermione which had on board six hundred soldiers and forty officers. At Cahokia, at Carondelet and at Saint Louis everybody was very anxious, and, without daring to voice their fears, they believed that the travelers were lost at sea.

"On September 4, [1837] the two Sisters disembarked at Saint Louis and presented themselves at the episcopal residence, stating their names. His Lordship, agreeably surprised, received them at once. The Sisters had resumed the secular dress, therefore there was nothing to prove that they were Sisters. He invited them to converse together in signs to assure himself of their identity. The Sisters, who were suffering from hunger and fatigue, would have preferred to put that off until later. They had to submit however. Sister Celestine asked Sister Saint John in the language of the deaf and dumb: 'Of what are you thinking, Sister?'

"'I am thinking of the good bread we ate in France and which I need so much at this moment.'

"At this unexpected answer, Sister Celestine lost her gravity. The Bishop, seeing her laugh, asked the reason. Sister Celestine repeated her companion's answer. At once, the good Bishop crossed the room, opened a closet, took food and obliged the Sisters to eat. Their hunger ended the examination.

"Father Cholleton had given a letter to the Sisters for the Bishop: 'It is a great consolation for me to present to your Lordship the two Sisters for whom you asked last year. The first, Sister Celestine, twenty-three years old, is professed. The second, Sister Saint John, a novice, is twenty-two years old. She will esteem herself very happy to make her profession into your hands when you find her sufficiently prepared. Both are animated with the best dispositions, are capable of assisting your plans and of bringing your work to a good end. Madame de la Rochejaquelein has given them three thousand francs. If you wish to thank her, her address is: Lausanne, Switzerland.'

"After narrating their voyage to the Bishop, it was decided that the Sisters would remain some days in Saint Louis; and then, Doctor Rodie, a Catholic native of San Domingo, would lend his carriage, and Black Margaret would take them to their convent. Black Margaret was the doctor's colored servant. She spoke excellent French and, on the way, entertained the Sisters with the history of Saint Louis and its surroundings. She told them that Carondelet was originally called Prairie a Catalan, the name of the one who first occupied it; then it was called Louisburg; and finally, in 1796, Carondelet, the name of the last Spanish governor of Louisiana. The inhabitants of this country were called, jokingly, Vide Poche (Empty Pocket); while the trappers named Saint Louis, Paincourt (Short-of-Bread) because the inhabitants were not rich.

"The travelers arrived at Carondelet during the evening recreation. As the Sisters had not been notified, there was great surprise and still greater joy at seeing again, in the flesh, those whom they had no longer expected to see. Astonishment reached its height, when the Sisters learned that the newcomers were better informed than they about the history of the country and the past and present conditions of the village.

"The Sisters had been three months on sea, never suspecting the anxiety they caused on both sides of the ocean. After [they narrated their experiences on the water] the Te Deum and the Magnificat burst from all hearts. Sister Celestine gave Mother Delphine a letter from Father Cholleton: 'You will be pleased at my promptness in sending you these two zealous and well-instructed aids, so capable of helping you...'

"At once the large trunks from Lyons were opened. They found clothes for the Sisters and the orphans, and beautiful things for the chapel which, until then, existed only in a dream. Then everybody felt that the great heart of Reverend Mother Saint John [Fontbonne] was beating quite near theirs, and that the power of her love threw a bridge over the ocean and abolished distances."

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