Salesian Literature

LETTERS OF SFS

​

Madame de la Flechere

​

Francis himself gave high praise to Madame de la Fléchère when he wrote of her: “After Madam de Chantal, I do not know if I have ever encountered in a woman a stronger soul, a more reasonable mind, or a more sincere humility.”[1]  Indeed, Madeleine de la Fléchère resembled her close friend, Madame de Chantal, in talent and temperament, as well as in having known marriage, motherhood, and then the lot of a widow.  One of her daughters entered the Visitation of Annecy and some years later Madeleine offered her own house for the foundation of another Visitation Monastery.  She died there in 1632 after having been permitted to pronounce religious vows on her deathbed

 

Francis had become acquainted with the family de la Fléchère in 1608, when he was giving the Lenten sermons in Rumilly, a small town not far from Annecy, and in fact used to stay in their house.  Especially during the next two years many letters were exchanged, and most of Francis’s letters are extant.  In fact in a number of letters surviving, if not in total length, or spiritual depth, this correspondence is comparable to that which Francis addressed to Madame de Chantal.

​

Patiently accept being less than perfect

Do faithfully all the things you have to do

Indifference

We must hate our faults

 

​

Back to Top

​