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, July 14

"In 1805, the wearing of a religious costume was permitted by law. Clothed in secular dress, they [The Black Daughters] had been living the life of Sisters of Saint Joseph in Maison Pascal for almost a year. The time for wearing its habit had come. On July 14, 1808, the twelve postulants were clothed in the habit and received a religious name. The Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Lyons was just restored. Here are the names of the first Sisters:

“Mother Saint John, Superior and foundress

Anne Matrat, Sister Saint Francis Regis

Jeanne Marie Matrat, Sister Saint Claire

Anne Marie Didier, Sister Saint Paul

Suzanne Marcoux, Sister Saint John Baptist

Jeanne Poitrasson-Gonnet, Sister Saint Francis de Sales

Philippine Menard, Sister Saint Teresa

Benoite Perrin, Sister Marie

Antoinette Monteillier, Sister Saint Michael

Marie Anne Pitiot, Sister Saint Augustine

Antoinette Cessier, Sister Marie Joseph

Marie Louise Foret, Sister Saint Madeleine

Elizabeth Placon, Sister Saint Agnes

“From that day, no longer existed the Society of Black Daughters; it was now the Society of Saint Joseph. They had taken care not to say ‘Congregation,’ as that term would have been sufficient to make the society suspected in the eyes of the Revolutionaires. It was not of importance to let the public know that they were reviving the Institute. The important thing was to revive it. Under a different name the Sisters continued to occupy themselves with the same works; and not only were the Sisters themselves appreciated, but their habit was saluted with veneration wherever they went.

“With respect to the dress, let us say that it underwent a transformation at that time. In the first Rule, printed with the permission of Monsignor de Villars, Archbishop of Vienne, in 1693, we read: ‘The Sisters of Saint Joseph shall be dressed as virtuous, modest widows.’ The head-dress of the widows of the seventeenth century, the epoch of the founding of the Institute, consisted of a hood of white linen, joined under the chin and partly covered with a cap of black silk. When, after the Revolution, the Sisters of Saint Joseph could resume their religious habit, widows no longer dressed in that fashion. Mother Saint John thought it possible, without deviating from the spirit of the founders, to replace the cap by the veil. In 1650, widows wore a white fichu over their shoulders; the Sisters had adopted this fichu. After the Concordat, the fichu was replaced by the guimpe. The habit then assumed a monastic tone which is suitable to virgins.”

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