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Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atra raproduit en un seul cllchA, II est fllmA A partir de Tangle supArleur gauche, de gauche A drolte. et de haut an bas, en prenant la nombra d'imagas nAcessaire. Las diagrammas sulvants lllustrent la mAthoda. ty errata Bd to int ne palurs. ipon A 1 2 3 32X 1 2 3 4 5 6 THE CHRISTIAN HEROINE Of CANADA. ^ IBS CHRISTIAN HEROINE or CANADA; OB, LIFE OF MISS LE BER. ^raitshifcb from i^t d^rcitt^. '/ PRINTED BY JOHN LOVELL. 18G1. r I i.i Qa> *^-' ^*^^ ■ A ty'/'^-'i'' S'/^i^ H INTRODUCTION. A desire of extending the knowledge of Catholicity, was the principal motive that induced the kings of France, Francis I, Henry IV," and Louis XIII, to estahlish a French colony in Canada ; and this intention is fonnally expressed in their royal mandates. Even Lescarbot, Avho, at that time, was gener- ally known not to be a great practical catholic, and consequently cannot be accused of partial- ity towards our Religion, was so struck with the pure and disinterested intention that directed these princes, that he rendered the follow- ing testimony in their favour : " Our kings, v^ *' taking an active part in these discoveries, " had a different end in view from that which " guided our neighbours (the English and '" Dutch), for I see by their letters, that they " sought only the glory of God, and the pro- VI INTRODUCTION. *' ^re33 of the Christian religion, indcpcn- " (lently of any personal advanta;j;c." Jac(iues Cartier, who, in obedience to an order from Francis I, braved the |)erils of the deep in these unknown regions, had no other ambition than the hope of affording an asylum to the Catholic Church, then so violently per- secuted in Europe by the growing protestant heresy. In dedicating the memoirs of his second voyage to this monarch, he says : " As the *' sun, in his daily revolution round the earth, *' imparts both light and heat to the entire globe ; so has it pleased God, in his infinite goodness, that all human beings should be enlightened by our Holy Faith, which, for- *' merly sown and planted in the Holy Land, " has since been brought to us ; and finally, " like the orb of day, will pass from Europe " to the far west. And as the sun, in his daily " course, is often eclipsed and then suddenly •■' bursts forth with more dazzling brilliancy ; *' thus also our Holy Faith has been persecuted " by false legislators, and calumniated by their " followers, such as the Lutherans of the pres- " ent day ; and it has always been in these " trying circumstances that its divine strength " has been miraculously proved. This is partly " owing to the fact that Christian princes, those ii i( (( INTRODUCTION. VII (( pillars of the Catholic church, act in direct " opixisition to the children of Satan, and stren- *' uousl y endeavour to increase and vstreneconio the bulwark of the Catholic chiu'ch in that part of the new world ; and as Mary's name has ever been the terror of heretics and the banner of the true children of the Church, they wished that this infant city should be called Ville Marie, and be most specially con- secrated to this mighty sovereign, the invin- cible shield of the true Faith. Their aim was also the honour of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph : for which reason they wished to establish three religious communities, each consecrated to one of these august persons ; but, whose separate efforts would have one common end ; namely, the formation and support of this new Church. The following lines are an extract from the prospectus of colonisation : " the associates, '' whose only reliance is in God's infinite good- " ness, hope that a new Christian society shall " soon arise, which by its purity and charity " will be a perfect copy of the primitive church.'* The success that crowned these efforts is too well known to mention it at present. Wo shall not here dwell on the zeal of these first colonists who sundered all ties of home and kindred, to carry out their pious design, nor on the trans- ports of holy joy manifested when first they set INTKOIiUCTION. IX foot on Mary's special dnmain, and tlie hymns of ^ratot'ul jtraisc which hurst forth on tliiit occasion ; nor shall we call to mind the fervour with which they assisted at the adorahle sacri- fice of tlie Mass, the day after their arrival ; nor that profound reli,i;ious feelin;^ whi<'h in- duced th the J Messed St i\ •anient pul)lic worshij) durinj^ the entire day, the more openly to acknowledge l>y this au;^ust ceremony that Jesus Christ Himself took possession of the land ; and in order that succeedin;j; I 111! When Miss Le Ber had attained her eighth year, sister Bourgeoys, being unable to meet the educational wants of the country, went to France to obtain assistance which could not be had in Canada; at the same time she solicited letters paient to insure the future success of her institu- tion. During two years the colony was thus deprived of the presence of the holy foundress. It was probably during this interval that Mrs. Le Ber placed her daughter at the Ursuline Convent in Quebec. This devoted mother, aware that her daughter would receive the greatest care, and that her mind would be properly trained, hesitated not to part with her and send her 60 leagues from Ville Marie : hers was truly Christian tenderness; God's will being her law, she wavered not when thoroughly convinced that her child's welfare demanded this sacrifice. Miss Le Ber was therefore sent to the Ursuline Convent in QuebeOi If a tree can be judged by the fruit it bears, and the ability of teachers by the pupils whose minds they form, the greatest eulogium which can bo pronounced on the Ursulines' manner of training children, is the fact that they were chosen by an All-wise Providence to form the mind and heart of this wonderful child, who afterwards became the prodigy of her age, and the most perfect model that can be offered to young perr^'-ns in Canada. The result proved that God had so ordained things, in order to bring this child's virtue to light, and to show what bless' ngs he had showered upon her ; BOOK I. — CHAPTER n. 11 as also to impress her teachers and her companions with a profound idea of her virtue. Forty years later the Ursulines rendered the following testimony in her favour : "Miss LeBer, '■ while a boarder in our institution, gave from her ' earliest youth instances of sublime acts of virtue, ' far beyond her age. She manifested a particular '■ distaste, or rather a decided horror, of vanity and ' of all wordly grandeur : having a singular love of ' solitude and silence, a marked inclination for an ' interior life ; and mental prayer seemed to be ' her favorite exercise. She was most submissive ' and respectful towards her teachers. Such were ' the qualities we remarked in her. Some in- ' stances will give an insight into her general con- ' duct. Several persons in Quebec, acquainted ' with Miss Le Ber, were in the habit of sending ' her various objects of amusement, and some ' delicacies of which children are generally so ' fond ; on such occasions she would apologize ' politely for declining to accept them, for her spirit ' of mortification would not allow her to indulge in '■ any sensuality, but prompted her to use all avail- ' able means to mortify her inclinations." What consummate virtue in such a tender age I what a perfect model for all school girls ! What a difference between her and those delicate or rather sensual children, who ask for various delicacies, and who always receive them with such unbecoming de- monstrations of joy : Miss LeBer refuses those that are offered to her. This Christian conduct proves 12 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. how she had mortified every propensity to sen- suality. All who saw her were edified and pro- foundly touched by such extraordinary mortifica- tion. Notwithstanding her strong love of mortification, it never led her to neglect any duty imposed by custom or Christian charity. When she thought that a refusal of any offering would displease those who presented it to her, she accepted it willingly, preferring self mortification and the sacrifice of a legitimate and even holy desire, rather than dis- oblige the persons who bestowed so much kindness and attention upon her. Such enlightened conde- scension on the part of our heroine proved that her love of mortification, was a certain mark of solid virtue, and not the effect of caprice, as is the case with some children who mould devotion to suit theii^" fancy. Her teachers conclude by these words : " When " politeness prompted her to accept various articles " and delicacies which were offered to her, it was " for the purpose of distributing them among those " of her companions whom they might please." By this generous sacrifice she was enabled to practise charity towards others, without diminishing her love of mortification. Though we sometimes meet children who are so selfish as not to share with any of their com- panions the delicacies which are given them, and others who will not allow their playmates to use any of their toys, yet we must acknowledge that a BOOK I.-— CHAPTER U. 13 greater number are induced by kindness or by vir- tue to make others partakers in their enjoyments : but an example of heroic virtue which had perhaps never before been seen, was given by Miss Le Ber, who deprived herself so voluntarily of all such en- joyments to impart them to her companions. This cannot surprise us when we are reminded that God destined this child of predilection, to be a model of mildness and mortification for all school girls. I ^ 1 1 CHAPTER III. i i xAIISS LE BER PROVES BY HER SIMPLICITY IN CHOOSING THE PLAINEST ARTICLES, HER HORROR OF VANITY ; AND GIVES TO HER COMPANIONS HUMILITY. EXAMPLES OF ADMIRABLE As Miss Le Ber was perfectly detached from self, she never endeavoured to gain the esteem of those who surrounded her ; and thus differed from the generality of children, who aim at being ad- mired, and, the better to ensure success, generally choose articles that are remarkable for their beauty and brilliancy, as if these objects would give them any personal merit. Our heroine, animated by a very different spirit, not only avoided sensuality, but also sought great simplicity, and every object destined for her use was first carefuUy examined : if it was merely ornamental, and likely to excite thoughts of vanity, she begged to be excused from accepting it, unless politeness or obedience obliged her to do so ; and even then she would BOOK I. — CHAPTER III. 15 find means of satisfying her simplicity, as the fol- lowing instance will prove. Knowing that idleness is the mother of all vices, she particularly avoided it. Among other acquire- ments she had begun to make lace work : A lady offered her a cushion to use for this sort of work ; it was ornamented with various ribbons which gave it a gaudy appearance. Miss Le Ber remarked it, her first impulse was to refuse it, and she politely apologized to the giver for so doing. Seeing how- ever that the lady persisted, and fearing that a reiterated refusal might wound the generous donor's feelings, our heroine consented to accept the cush- ion. As soon as she was free she unfastened all the ornaments, and, although they were valuable, she was about to throw them into the fire, when one of her teachers noticed her and prevented the execution of her design. She was reprimanded for this ; the cushion was again trimmed in its primitive style, and she was obUged to use it as the lady had given it to her. Miss Le Ber willingly submitted to her mistresses, for her obedience was so perfect that it alone guided her mortifications ; but this child's strong Christian spirit was proved by the fact, that she acted in such direct opposition to her own inclination when obliged to use this cushion, that she bedewed it with her tears. It was not caprice that made them flow, nor sorrow, because she was sacrificing her own will, as is generally the case when children are contradicted. The Ursulines, struck with 16 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. •t i i the purity of the motives which caused such abun- dant tears to flow, and fearing that the progress of grace might be impeded if they persisted, allow- ed her to untrim the cushion, and to use it in its simplest form. The Ursulines thus conclude their eulogium : " We always admired such disdain and disgust for " all trifles, at an age when most children are "generally so anxious to possess them. It was " evident that, even at that early age. Miss Le Ber " judged of every thing by the light of faith ; and " finding that all useless ornaments were connected " with the world which Jesus Christ had con- " demned, her tender piety led her to renounce " interiorly those pomps and vanities which all " Christians renounce in Baptism." This Christian conduct should awaken feelings of sorrow and confusion within the breasts of many children. Some who are never content with what their condition allows them, endeavour to acquire the most expensive and showy articles. Others who are deprived of such things, envy those chil- dren who possess them ; and these in their turn delight in the possession of them, and sometimes despise their companions who are less favored by fortune. Miss Le Ber was one of the most distinguished pupils in the Ursuline Convent. This was owing to the honorable position her parents held, to the natural abilities which she manifested, to her easy and graceful manner of speaking, to the success f. BOOK I. — CHAPTER III. 17 she obtained in her studies, and in the various styles of needlework which were then taught. All these advantages seemed to distinguish her from the majority of her companions, and to give her a right to some mark of distinction ; yet a more modest and retiring young person could not be met with ; her only aim was to remain unknown. The testimony given by her teachers will be read with edification. " On many occasions she " manifested her love of solitude and retirement. " It is customary for our pupils about Christmas " time, and sometimes at other festivals, to learn *' pastorals or other pious dialogues, to cultivate " and usefully adorn the memory, and to accus- " tom them to speak naturally and gracefully " Miss Le Ber always did so in a most becoming " manner ; but consented to do itvery unwillingly, " as it exposed her to attract attention and to re- " ceive applause. To avoid this, her humility " afforded her meana of attracting as little atten- tion as possible." " In these dialogues, each pupil receives a part. " Care is taken, in distributing these parts, to " suit them as closely as possible to the character " and inclination of the pupil. Although Miss " Le Ber liked retirement, she never refused to " take part in these exercises with her companions, " because she disliked dispensations and peculiari- " ties, but, though well calculated to play the most " prominent parts, she always preferred the most " insignificant, where little capacity was required, «< f^ f 1^ L M it. ;1. < I N ;i li ! 18 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. " and which even seemed to draw disdain upon " the actor." Such is the infallible mark of consummate vir- tue. If a naturally timid child, with a poor memory, preferred inferior parts, one could easily account for this, since a fear of exposing her inca- pacity might induce her to do so ; but true humility alone could lead a talented young girl, whose graceful elocution would win great applause, to select an insignificant part which placed her beneath her companions. What a contrast between. Miss Le Ber's feelings and inclinations and thcwj of some young persons who are placed in simiiav circumstances ! This holy child here finds means of amusing and edifying her companions, and also of giving an additional proof of her love for God, while others are led to neglect their religious duties, and some- times even to commit sin by the thought of vanity and self-complacency to which iuccess in these rep- resentations may give rise. It is true that such children neglect no means of acting their parts properly j and by so doing, they certainly accom- plish a duty, and deserve approbation ; but instead of aiming at God's greater glory and conformity to His divine will which is made known to them by their teachers, or endeavouring to instruct others, alas I no such christian motive guides them : the sole stimulant of all their efiForts is the ambi- tious desire of gaining applause, and of impressing BOOK I. — CHAPTER III. 19 all present with a great idea of their personal con- sequence. When thus actuated by pride, these children unfortunately forget that they arc Christians, for all true Christians ever endeavour to imitate Jesus Christ and to practice the evangelical maxim : *' Learn of me, because I am meek and humble of heart." Miss Le Ber, however, endeavoured to model her conduct on that of her divine ]M aster. It was in imitation of Jesus, who fled when the multitude wished to proclaim him king, that Miss Le Ber preferred insignificant parts to more prom- inent ones, so that she too might avoid public notice and lead a retired life. Miss Le Ber's ardent love for her divine Master also gave rise to her great desire of imitating Him. All persons willingly resemble those who have gained their affections, and if our hearts were in- flamed with the ardent love which burned in Mi^s Le Ber's, our only aim would be to follow her example by endeavouring to imitate our divine Lord. The Ursulines add the following edifying trait : " On one occasion, when parts were distri- " buted among the pupils, Miss Le Ber's tender " love of our Lord, and her desire of resembling " Him, betrayed her humility and gave a riost " striking proof of the admirable dispositions of " her heart. We wished to represent the adoration " of the shepherds at the crib. One of the teach- Le Ber whom she wished to u era asked Miss " represent. She replied, without the slightest I' 20 LIb'E or MISS LE B£R. " hesitation, * The infant Jesus.' * Your choice " is certainly not bad,' was the reply, ' but what " induces you to make it ? ' * The holy child " neither speaks nor moves, and my desire is to " imitate Him in all things.' Such was her cdify- " ing answer." i» CHAPTER IV. MISS LE BER's fidelity TO SILENCE WHEN PRESCRIBED BY THE RULE. — IIER CONSTANT RECOLLECTION OP THE DIVINE PRESENCE. — IIER LOVE FOR MEDITATION. I I- >l1 Miss Lc Bcr could bo held forth to all her schoolmates as a model of perfect conformity to all the rules of the institution. None could be com- pared to her for fidelity in observing silence at the hours when the rule prescribed it. It is true that this regulation, which is so repugnant to some children, was most pleasing to her. The result of her constant endeavours was to discipline all their natural inclinations, which might prevent the faithful accomplishment of her various duties. One can easily understand that a child, who endea- voured to eradicate all thoughts of vanity, of self- complacency, of attachment to the most agreeable objects, and who was so generous in serving God, must also have been endowed with similar mastery over her tongue. That insatiable desire of talking, which worries some children, originates in their 22 LIFE OF MISS LE BEIl. 'I! dislike of tho least mortifioation, and in the un- bounded scope they give to all their caprices and to their most ridiculous desires. It was not the desire of being esteemed by her teachers that led Miss Le Bcr to conform to silence : such an interested motive was too vile and too base for hor pure high-minded soul. Her only aim was the fulfilment of God's divine will, which she rec- ognized in tho rule that ordained silence. She also hoped by such means to imitate tho child Jesus, who remained silent during his childhood, notwith- standing the consolation he would have found in conversing with his mother. The consequence of such holy dispositions was that Miss Le Ber found silence an easy means of acquiring interior recollection, and her teachers add that such was her greatest delight. This rec- ollection was no useless occupation. It united her more closely to God, it reminded her of His divine presence, and led her to make frequent interior acts of love. This opinion is confirmed by the re- mark her teachers make in the above-mentioned memoir : " Constant recollection of the Divine " presence was the result of the profound respect " she had always manifested towards God's sov- " ereign majesty." Such happy dispositions naturally led this holy child to make great progress in solid virtue. The thought of God's presence is truly a most eflGicacious and infallible means of acquiring all other virtues. When God chose Abraham for the father of the BOOK I. — CHAPTER IV. 28 faithful, that in, of all porfcot souls, IIo gave him but one commandment : " Walk in my presence and be perfect," as if to let him know that this exercise includes all other virtues ; by walking in my presence you will avoid evil, and do good, you will be humble, charitable, patient, tiually you will attain the pinnacle of perfection. Whence comes it, however, that some cliildren seldom endeavour to acquire this holy habit, and always experience such difficulty in thinking of God ? The fact is, their hearts are still in the world, ife still slaves of all tlieir natural feelings. Such children cannot bear the slightest humiliation, not even tlie mildest reprimand : their sole motivo is the gratification of their various inclinations. They wish to see and hear everything, they seek nought but enjoyment, and never consent to the slightest mortification. They know not what it is to sacrifice to God, an inquisitive look, a useless or uncharitable word, a sensual desire, or an act of self-love. Their eyes and ears are open to see and hear everything, and they are always willing to express their sentiments and desires. This state of habitual thoughtlessness brings with it a distaste for spiritual exercises, rendering it impossible to think of God's presence ; and thus exposes youth to innumerable temptations which finally lead them to deplorable errors. The presence of God became so faiiiiliar to Miss Le Bcr, that it inspired her with a great love for meditation. She thus greatly edified her teachers, I I . I ;' 'I ^ ill 24 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. who could not refrain from admiring lier. When a soul is fully penetrated with Divine love, she ex- periences no diflSculty in conversing with God ; and the more she is detached from created things, the greater will be her ardour to possess the Author of all good ; her wishes are then more fully gratified, her contemplation is more enlightened, and her spiritual enjoyment is greatly heightened, for our Lord himself says in the Gospel : " Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God," that is to say, they will not only enjoy His divine presence, but His adorable perfections will be manifested to them in meditation, even during their sojourn in this vale of tears. This was verified in Miss Le Ber even in her childhood ; and it was owing to her endeavours to mortify her senses and all her natural affections, so as to live in continual recollection. Her first teachers confirm this opinion : " Her constant " recollection gave rise to a great taste for medi- " tation, in which her only guide seemed to be the " Divine Spirit. Her zeal for meditation was so " ardent, that when she was but a mere child she " would withdraw from her companions, and was *' often found in prayer. When absent from the " recreations taken by all the pupils, she was al- " ways found before the L'lessed Sacrament, or in " an oratory in some remote part of the house." Teachers can be called truly happy, when their efforts are only required to suppress such excesses* of fervour. Far from being pernicious to others, BOOK I. — CHAPTER IV. 25 >> these holy exercises inspire them with feelings of respect and admiration for the fervent piety which leads to them ; and teachers can form well-founded anticipations for their pupils' future welfare. This was proved by Miss Le Ber. One may reasonably agree with the Ursulines in the belief, that this holy child, called by God to an angelic life, as will be hereafter seen, was in- duced by the Holy Ghost to separate from her companions, in order to give indications of her future destination. Such instances have been met with in holy indi- viduals, who, in their earliest years, have mani- fested some striking proof of the extraordinary life to which they are called. This praiseworthy avi- dity which induced Miss Le Ber to practise medi- tation, was also a certain proof of the celestial consolations this holy exercise aiforded her, and that God was the sole object of her most tender aflPections. In return, the Almighty bestowed inef- fable consolations on this generous and self-sacri- ficing soul. Many children find no delight in meditation or in any other exercise of piety, because their hearts are engrossed by unlawful afiiections, M'hich accom- pany them everywhere, and which they will not sacrifice even to God. They consider such exer- cises as painful and disagreeable ; they accomplish them unwillingly through routine, and always with indifference and distaste. If they could only cleanse their hearts of those affections which sully them. k^ ! 11 "ii i lii 4 26 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. by performing one perfect act of self sacrifice, the Almighty would reward them most liberally by let- ting them feel the lightness of His burden, they would then fully appreciate how true it is, that " Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God." Such children would find greater consolations and more exquisite delight in meditation, and in exercises of piety, than in recreations or in other agreeable pastimes. Finally, they would sigh for the moment when it is given them to return to such exercises ; for experience has proved that there- in are found the purest joys, and the most perfect happiness that can be enjoyed here below. I f the 1*1 CHAPTER V. MISS LE BER's piety TOWARDS THE HOLY AN- GELS AND THE BLESSED VIRGIN. — HER PRO- FOUND REVERENCE TOWARDS THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. Miss Le Ber's constant recollection of the divine presence, her desire of communing^with God, the ardour with which she sought all occasions of men- tal prayer ; her sole aim of pleasing God in all things, and other holy dispositions, stamped her existence with an angelic character, and seemed to associate her with the heavenly spirits, although she still inhabited a mortal body. The great veneration she had always manifested towards the Holy Angels, induced her to select them for her models. Her teachers inform us : " that the thought of the Holy Angels who are " always in God's presence, aflFected her in a most " extraordinary manner ; when she reflected on " those happy spirits, she ever experienced won- " drous feelings of love and confidence." As this confidence was founded on the charity of the Holy m m I m Id I! s^ ii I J l_...i -Jlll.1. I 28 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. Angels and on their power before the Ahiiighty, it led Miss Le Ber to have recourse to them in all her wants ; she experienced the efl&cacy of their inter- cession in several circumstances, as some subsequent instances of her life will hereafter prove. Saint Michael and her Guardian Angel were her most ordinary intercessors among the heavenly hierarchy. The archangel Saint Michael inspired her with peculiar confidence, owing to the energy with which he had avenged the Divine honour on the rebel angels, exclaiming : " Who is like unto God ?" This induced her to have frequent recourse to him in temptation, that he might obtain for her that divine strength required in order to triumph in the combats, which we are compelled to wage against the enemy of our salvation. She had still more frequently recourse to her Guardian Angel, as the being to whose care God had committed her at Baptism. It would be no easy task to tell what profound respect and unbounded confidence she always manifested towards the Guardian of her innocence ; invoking him in all trying circum- stances, often communing interiorly with him ; fol- lowing his inspirations in her doubts. This unal- terable fidelity being amply rewarded, tended but to increase her confidence, and to induce her to have more frequent recourse to his intercession. We cannot doubt that the Holy Angels, being our elder brethren, are united to us by the bonds of true fraternal love, and are very powerful interces- sors in our behalf. Each one of us received at BOOK I. — CHAPTER V. 29 Baptism one of those heavenly spirits to be our guide through Hfe. Notwithstanding the univer- sality of this belief, how happens it that so few Christians have recourse to these ever-watchful guardians, while others are so completely neglect- ful towards them ? Miss Le Ber's example should lead us henceforward to honour our Guardian An- gel, and to have recourse to him in all our wants, with a firm conviction, that he can and will assist us. This holy practice ought to be acquired by young girls during their st£ y at school, the better to prac- tise it afterwards during life ; and thus secure these holy protectors' assistance in all the crosses they may meet on earth, and particularly at the hour of death. A child endowed with such rare spiritual gifts as our heroine was, could not be deficient in piety towards th immaculate Virgin, the fond Mother of all Christians. Devotion to Mary was inherent in Miss Le Ber's nature, and it seems to have been the foundation of her piety and her subsequent angelical life. She gave striking proofs of it when she became a pupil of the Ursulines. She consid- ered herself bound to particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin ; and in a more special manner than any of her companions, and that on account of her native city. She was wont to say, that, tender and sincere devotion to this JSoly Mother should ever be the peculiar characteristic of all the inhabitants of Ville Marie, since that city had been founded, in order to promote the honour of the If lii; IkJ Si m '< 1 80 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. Blessed Virgin throughout North America. Al- though she joined in the honour bestowed on all Mary's mysteries, her natural inclinations led her to prefer those interior dispositions which accom- panied the Blessed Virgin's actions, and imparted a high degree of sanctity to even the most insignifi- cant of them. The better to ensure the faithful imitation of Mary's interior life, she united her intentions to the feelings and dispositions which had animated this glorious model during her mor- tal career. She always thought of this when pray- ing, when working, or when conversing, so that similar actions might be actuated by similar mo- tives. We will not here dwell on her other prac- tices of devotion toward the Blessed Virgin : the remainder of this life will contain an uninterrupted series of means, which she employed to become more and more like unto her Immaculate Mother. It was by thus uniting her interior dispositions to those of Mary, that she found such delight in honoring Jesus in the adorable Sacrament of the altar. This mystery was always the centre of her devotion, as the continuation of her life will prove. Even in her earliest years, she had exhibited strik- ing proofs of this profound respect. It is also said that she made her first communion with inex- pressible feelings of love and fervour. This can be easily believed, when one is reminded that the AL mighty seemed to have poured down his choicest blessings on this favoured child. The fervour she then evinced never afterwards decreased ; which 300K I. — CHAPTER V. 81 unfortunately ia not the case with many young persons. Miss Le Ber endeavoured to increase her fervour, after her departure from the Convent, by her fidelity in preparing herself for the frequent reception of the blessed Eucharist, which was ever the object of her most ardent desires, and to her, the true bread of life. fh )i i' I ! -1 i i pi P I 34 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. parochial mass, which she attended regularly;. Her lively' and ardent faith in the dogma of the real presence of our Lord in the Holy Eucharist, in- spired her with the practice of prostrating herself, and of kissing the ground, at the elevation of the Sacred Host. This action she always performed with most profound religious feelings, and with such sincere humility that she edified all who saw her. She acted in like manner before approaching the Holy Table, when about to enjoy the happiness of communicating with our dear Lord in His sac- rament of Love, which happened very frequently. Although this practice of kissing the ground may now appear rather singular, at that time it edified all the faithful, owing to the simplicity and fervour then reigning throughout the colony. When Miss Le Ber received Holy Communion, she was wont to withdraw to the most retired part of the church, the better to avoid all distractions and public no- tice, and to give vent to transports of holy joy during her thanksgiving, which she endeavoured to lengthen as much as possible. The inclemency of the weather never prevented her from paying a daily visit to the Blessed Sacra- ment, thus rendering homage to Jesus Christ, real- ly present on the altar. While there, she impressed all present with a profound feeling of respect, in beholding the touching modesty, and seraphic fer- vour, with which she expressed her feelings of adoration, love, and confidence towards her Be- loved. [■'If i BOOK 11. — CHAPTER I, 85 We may here remark, that the year after Miss Le Ber had left the convent, her father and her uncle, Mr. Lemoyne, desiring to give a public tes- timony of their profound respect for Jesus Christ, concealed under the sacramental veils, presented a silver lamp to the parochial church, that it might burn night and day before the tabernacle. But the daily homage offered by Mr. Le Ber's daughter, that terrestrial angel, was a still more striking tes- timouial of religious feeling, both before God and before men. Miss Le Ber edified the whole parish by her modesty and by her ferment piety, not only when she assisted at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, when she received Holy Communion, and when she visited the Blessed Sacrament, but also while practising less important acts of religion ; for instance, w'len she presented the blessed bread at High Mass, and what is still more remarkable, even when she col- lected in the church on Sunday, which she always did in her turn. This custom then existed at Ville Marie ; but it has since been abolished, owing to the abuses to which it gave rise, when fervour had decreased. Finally, Misd Le Ber's modest deportment in the streets greatly edified all the citizens. Whether going to Church, or returning from it, she was never seen to stop on the way to converse with her acquaintances, nor to enter any house to visit its inmates ; for she found time too precioup, to be thus idly squandered. Apart from the conversations V fee I. H 30 LIFE OP MISS LE BEU. she had with lior parents, and those she sometimes held with the Hospital Nuns, and the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame, as we shall soon see, her time was wholly devoted to spiritual lectures, work, and prayer. Miss Le Ber's dislike of the world did not orig- inate in a fear of occupying a disadvantageous position in it; for she might have lield a very distinguished rank, and been much sought for. Among the Canadian young ladies she was undoubt- edly the one in whom was centered all that the world so highly honours. She was not void of grace and beauty ; and those exterior advantages were heightened by natural wit and penetration, improved by careful education, which adorned her mind with useful and agreeable knowledge. Her naturally good and generous disposition was en- hanced by her modesty, her unaflFected gaiety, and her sweet gravity. Such qualities gave her great ascendancy over all those who surrounded her. Polite, aifable, and always willing to conform to adopted customs, she acted so easily and gracefully that she pleased all around her. Belonging to the richest family in the country at that time, and, as an only daughter, being a special favourite of her parents, they determined upon giving her a dower of fifty thousand 6cus^ : thus rendering her the richest heiress in New France. As her parents intended that she should hold a ♦ Aa old .French coin, worth about 55 cents of American money. HOOK IT. — CTIAPTEU I. 87 •ViHtinc^iishod position in tlio world after slio had lo(> the Convent, they desired her to dress in smli a manner as to suit their viewp, whieh were qui* <''">.|. foniiahle to her eoni true that the purely rcHjiious feelings which actuated both i^Ir. and Mrs. Le Ber, and their delicate and enlighten- ed conscience, prevented them from adopting any 8tylcof dress condemned by Christian modesty; for they well knew, that, owing to the variety of con- ditions which has existed since man's disobedience, God has allowed persons of higlier ranks to l)e dis- tinguished from others, in their style of dress, as trees are known by the variety of their fruit and foliage ; but this distinction must never trespass on the limits of mode8ty,which should be equally sacred and equally respected in all ranks of society. They were also aware that persons occupying an elevated position, arc more strictly bound to conform most scrupulously to this principle, on account of the influence of their example, which the lower clashes endeavor to follow, not only in the form of wearing- apparel, but also in the liberty of dress. But, alas! how many evils have followed from a neglect of this important duty. How many im- modest fashions have been introduced into entire Parishes, by the vanity of some mothers who al- lowed their children to adopt them ; and these m h 88 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. 'i person 3, occupying distinguished positions, have been imitated by others. Numberless sins have unfortunately been caused by i^iimodesty, which, from being but partially concealed, becomes the more j^er .icious and the more criminal in its conse- quences. This false veil is merely an additional means of corruption, used to induce a young per- son to set aside all restraint, and to lead others to banish all delicacy. Thus, by a subversion in the order of things, those whom God raised to dis- tinguished social positions, so that they may lead others to Him by word and example, seem to com- bine their united efforts to lose souls, by banishing from their hearts all thoughts of virtue and inno- cence. Although Miss Le Ber's obedience to her pious parents, had led her to accept costly apparel, which was however always regulated by modesty ; her consummate virtue never allowed her to find therein, thoughts of vanity, or even the smallest degree of self-complacency. The horror with which sis had always viewed the pomps of the world, inspired her also with distaste for fasti- diousness in her style of dress; those brilliant outfits, which are generally, for other young persons, a source of ostentation, and of a desire of winning admiration, afforded her so many oppor- tunities of performing meritorious and virtuous actions. As Esther of old, our admirable heroine, when obliged to wear superfluous ornaments, would hum-i- BOOK II. — CHAPTER I. 89 ble herself before God, with many interior protes- tations of fidelity to Him alone. The better to nurture these Christian sentiments in her heart, she always, notwithstanding the delicacy of her constitution, wore instruments of penance conceal- ed beneath her costly garments. Young persons who take similar precautions, when obliged to indulge in some ornamental style of dress, need fear, neither for themselves, nor for others, notwithstanding the costliness of their ap- parel ; provided that, like Miss Le Ber's, it be always suitable and modest. I, •■■| i Iil CHAPTER 11. THE BETTER TO PRESERVE HER INNOCENCE, MISS LE BER AVOIDS WORLDLY ASSEMBLIES. PAYS FREQUENT VISITS TO THE SISTERS OF THE CONGREGATION DB NOTRE DAME. Although Miss Le Ber's parents intended her for a married life, and desired that she should dress according to her rank ; yet they never brought her forward in those brilliant assemblies which take place in the world ; nor even in more limited social circles, composed but of a small number of friends and acquaintances ; convinced that the latter are often as dangerous as the former. They were too sin- cerely' attached to their daughter, to expose her to lose her innocence : a treasure, incomparfibly greater than any they could bestow ; since it alone, could render her truly happy. Their conduct, in this respect, may appear too severe, to many so called Christian parents ; but, alas ! many are strangely deluded on these important matters. Their daughters have scarcely left school, when they are ushered into private assemblies. They say .M BOOK II. — CHAPTER II. 41 that their intention, in doing so, is to form their manners, and to give them a knowledge of the world. They do not reflect, that, by thus exposing them to many dangers, they initiate them into vice, hitherto unknown. They forget, that, at this critical age, a young person has to combat sufficient interior ene- mies who are incessantly attacking her imagination and heart. Besides, these private assemblies give rise to many evils, without exposing her in such reu- nions to a multitude of others more perfidious and more dangerous. The choice of the guests, the confi- dence evinced, and freedom allowed to friends and acquaintances, the conversations which are held, the amusements which take place ; finally, all tends to produce the most fatal impressions, on a young girl who is aware that every eye is fixed upon her, and that she is become an object of special attention. This conduct, which exposes her to so many dan- gers, is a conspiracy against innocence, or, to say the least, an open provocation of God's goodness; particularly, when the approving looks of a father and mother lead her to believe that such amuse- ments arc legitimate. If such parents are still Christians, how can they hope that a young girl's heart, which is naturally so weak and inclined to form attachments, can remain faithful to God in the midst of such innumerable enticements ? Ange- lical virtue could scarcely undergo this ordeal. Mr. and Mrs. Le Ber being fully instructed in the manner of fulfilling this important duty, and being i:iost sincerely attached to their daughter, used every ftH 1!. a^ m 42 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. means in their power to keep her heart pure and unsullied. Though kind and aflfable towards all, she never centered her affections in particular on any one. The only persons whom she visited were the Hospital Nuns, and the Sisters of the rising insti- tution of the Congregat >n de Notre Dame ; not that she desired to entv-i either of these Institu- tions, for the monastic life had no attractions for her ; but merely to talk of God with the kind reli- gious, and to stimulate herself to the practice of virtue by their holv conversation. Among the nviXi. of St. Joseph, she most fre- quently visited Mother Mac^, whom ttie entire community venerated as a living relic. Our hero- ine had become acquainted with this religious when a child, during her visits to Mile. Mance, at the Hotel-Dieu. - On her return from school, she re- newed the acquaintance, and continued to visit her very frequently, until the moment of her reclusion, of which we shall soon speak. But her most con- fidential friend was sister Margaret Bourgeoys, who had been destined by the Almighty to sanctify the young persons of this rising colony, and who was then founding the institution since known, as the Congregation de Notre Dame. The favorable impressions produced on Miss Le Ber by convers- ing with this holy foundress, the atmosphere of sanctity which seemed to pervade the Congrega- tion, the tender piety there manifested towards the Blessed Virgin Mary, who was honored as Supe- rioress, as Queen and Mother of this Institute, its BOOK n. — CHAPTER II. 48 appellation, Congregation de Notre Dame : — these and many other motives gave rise to Miss Le Ber's well-founded predilection ; as also to a profound veneration and to an unchangeable attachment to this holy house, of which she became one of tlie most illustrious benefactresses. Miss Le Ber was so devoted to the Blessed Virgin, and so f'esirous of procuring Her honor that her acquaint- ance with Sister Bourgeoys soon ripened into a friendship, which was daily strenghtened by their mutual devotion to the Mother of God; for the Foundress of the Congregation had willingly severed all ties of Home and kindred in the hope that, by so doing, she might lead the youthful gen- eration of this rising colony to love and honor Mary. Tuis thought had borne her up in all her trials, and had induced her to submit voluntarily to all the privations, which had fallen to her lot since her first departure from her native country. A fact worthy of note is, that the chapel in honor of Notre Dame de Bonsecours was erec- ted in 1678 by the zealous eflForts of Sister Bour- geoys, a year after Miss I.«e Ber had left school. The motive which led to the erection of this chapel was a desire of increasing devotion towards Mary. This opinion is confirmed by a public act registered by Sister Bourgeoys at the Protho- notary's ofl&ce, on the 24th of June of the same year. " As the Sisters of the Congregation de " Notre Dame," says she in this memorable act, " wish that the devotion which they have always " had for the Blessed Virgin, their Mother, their ir 'It 44 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. " Foundress, and the Protectress of their order, " would daily increase, and become more general " in Montreal than it has been until this date ; that " it might likewise be transmitted to posterity ; " they requested and obtained that the chapel, " which they had erected, might be annexed to the " parish, and serve for public devotion ; that the " Blessed Virgin might be honored therein, under " the title of Notre Dame de Bonsecours." This prophetic declaration made by Sister Bourgeoys, is literally fulfilled, even at the present day, by the spontaneous concourse of innumerable pilgrims who resort thither, and who are quite ignorant that it ever was made. This declaration, inspired by God alone, would be sufficient to prove Sister Bourgeoys' divine mission in the colony : and is also a proof of Miss Le Ber's discernment and sound wisdom in choosing this estimable person to be her confidential friend. In 1672, Sister Bourgeoys brought out with her from France twelve or thirteen assistants, who were all partakers of her zeal and fervor. She was also surrounded by a certain number of young persons born at Ville Marie, whom she had trained from childhood, and who were about to fulfil various of- fices in the community of the Congregation de Notre Dame. Several among them were related to Miss Le Ber, particularly two, Frances and Mar- garet Lemoyne, who were her cousins. The en- tire detachment from all earthly things practised by these Christian virgins, their sincere humility, their evangelical simplicity, their love of poverty, BOOK II. — CHAPTER II. 45 their zeal and generosity for the sanctification of souls ; in a word, the practice of all those virtues which so greatly edified the colonists, were for Miss Le Ber, a sort of celestial perfume which led her frequently to the Congregation de Notre Dame, where her visits were also a source of great satis- faction to the sisterhood, from the fact that she her- self was a subject of peculiar edification. Our heroine considered all these young persons as so many models of fervour ; but, by a special permission from on high, one of them gained still stronger ascendancy over her youthful afiections. She was one of those privileged souls who, from the abundant graces she received, and from her fidelity in corresponding to them, seemed to ad- vance with astonishing rapidity in the ways of that entire detachment which Miss Le Ber was so desirous of acquiring. As their conversations always tended to unite our heroine more closely to God, the attachment became greater. Solid virtue alone was the foundation of this friendship. God destined it as a means of leading Miss Le Ber to still greater perfection, and more absolute detachment from the world and all earthly things. She never left this holy friend without feeling a singular attraction towards universal detachment. God, to give her an opportunity of practising this abnegation so necessary to a per- fect life, was pleased to deprive her of the presence and advice of this holy friend j whom He called to Himself, shortly afterwards. n 'Ml I CHAPTER III. THE EDIFYING DEATH OP ONE OP THE SISTERS OP THE 0ONGR:fiQATION DE NOTRE DAME, INDUCES MISS LE BER TO LIVE ENTIRELY APART PROM THE WORLD. — SHE MAKES A VOW OP CHASTITY FOR FIVE YEARS. The holy friend of whom we have spoken was a fruit ripe for heaven; for, notwithstanding her youth, she had already reached the pinnacle of perfection. It seemed as if Miss Le Ber's friend- ship had been allowed, the better to enable her to make an agreeable sacrifice to God, which drew down upon her most abundant blessings. As human friendships are founded upon natural motives, they separate hearts from God, by attaching them one to another ; but sacred ties tend, on the contrary, to unite all affections more closely to the Creator ; their first beginning, and last end. So death, far from sundering such ties, purifies them and renders them still more lasting ; for it excites a desire of imitating the lost friends, so as to be sharers in the happiness they enjoy before the throne of BOOK II. — CHAPTER III. 47 STERS DAME, IRELY KES A I was a ng her acle of friend- 3 her to h drew human es, they 1 one to jvaxy, to >eatoj' ; sath, far renders desire of larers in irone of God : but when purely human bonds are formed between those whose hopes do not extend beyond the grave, then is the separation truly painful, for it leaves nought but bitterness, affliction, and despair. The death of a young Corinthian maiden was bitterly felt by a faithful attendant who was most tenderly attached to her. As a means of alleviating her grief, she collected various articles which the young girl had valued during her lifetime, and placed them in a wicker basket on her tomb ; covering them carefully with a tile, so that the rain might not injure them.* This vain homage was the sole tri- bute that a pagan could offer to her, whose loss she mourned ; it was her only token of affection, as it was also her only means of lessening the heart- • Vitruvius, who relates this trait, adds : It happened that a root of Acanthus lay on the spot where the bas- ket was placed. When spring came, the plant grew, and spread among the openings around the basket; thus the leaves and branches protruded wherever an aperture was found ; their various folds giving the whole a very graceful appearance. The sculptor Callimachus, sur- named the Industrious, by the Athenians, was struck with the elegant appearance which the leaves gave the basket. He thought that an ornament of the same shape would form an elegant summit for the columns then used in constructing edifices. Architecture is indebted to this able artist, for the elegance and grandeur which characterize Corinthian capitals. Such was the origin of these capitals, called Corinthian because first used in Corinth. \ I M ii 1 48 LIi?E OP MISS LE BEIl. rendinf^ sorrow caused by that death which filled her soul with bitterness. The Incarnation of the Son cf God not having yet reunited those ties sunde''ed by man's disobedience, this was indeed the only consolation pagans could enjoy, when death parted them from those who were near and dear to thorn : as Saint Paul says, they beheld death with fear and trembling, and no hope lessened their affliction. But the impressions made on Miss Le Ber by her holy friend's death, differed much from pagan despair : all she beheld was replete with hope and consolation. This worthy follower of Sister Bour- geoys had given such edifying examples of piety, of obedience, and of patience, during all her suffer- ings ; she had evinced such inexpressible joy at the thought of quitting the world to be inseparably united to God ; she seemed so anxious for that hour of her indissoluble union with her Divine spouse, her soul being filled with such unspeakable delight and happiness while she peacefully breathed her last; all this made such a profound impression on Miss Le Ber, that, from that moment, she con- sidered she had done nothing for God, and resolved to consecrate herself entirely to Him. These resolutions were strengthened on beholding the remains of her holy friend : death seemed to add new charms to that now inanimate form. The perfect calmness and celestial expression of mild- ness, innocence, and sanctity, which beautified her countenance, aroused within Miss Le Ber's heart, B'? I BOOK n. — CHAPTER III. 49 feelings of holy oraulation to walk in the footstepft of her departed friend. Her sole ambition from that day, was to become more thoroughly pene- trated with all her friend's dispositions, that she might one day merit the graee of so happy a death. Judging from the effects which this event pro- duced, one might be led to suppose that the deceased had assumed a ne,v life in the person of Miss Le Ber, and that, in the separatit)n of body and soul, her spirit of entire consecration to God and of absolute detachment from the world had been communicated to our heroine. It was im- mediately after this edifying death, that Miss Le Ber took the generous, but astonishing resolution which she soon after executed. As the religious life did not possess any attraction for her, she in- tendcd to live in her own home, with as much recollection and separation from the world, as could be practised in the most fervent communities, and to imitate thobe saints whom she most admired on account of their union with God. Such was the state of he: mind, when a proposal of marriage induced her to carry out her design without further delay, and inspired her with a still greater distaste for the world, than she had hitherto experienced. As her parents had always intended that she should remain in the world, they were very desirous that she should contract this alliance, which was most honorable and conformable to their desires. They neglected nothing to obtain her consent; but all their efforts proved E 'J \M 60 LIFE OF MISS L£ B£B. abortive, or rather tended but to increase hor opposi- tion tt» such a union. The more they expatiated on the advantages and enjoyments wliich mi^ht be hers in the world, the movM she despised them. Her parents, edified by the virtue of their worthy daughter, ceased to urge her any longer. They consented that she should lead a single life in her own home, there live in entire solitude, not imagining to what a degree she would carry her love of silence and retreat. So far, Miss Le Ber's life has presented nothing which could prevent its being offered to the imita- tion of all young persons desirous of sanctifying themselves in the world. Faithful in the paternal mansion to all the exercises of piety she had practised in the convent : the better to conform to her parents desires, she avoided any style of dress that would have distinguished her from others. She refrained from appearing in worldly assemblies and in meetings *here her virtue would be exposed; her only connections were persons whose holy examples were cal- culated to edify her. All Christian virgins who wish to be faithful to their baptismal vows are so far bound to imitate her. If Miss Le Ber's life from this date, cannot serve as a model for young persons in the world, her example will, at least, lead them to renewed fervour in the fulfilment of their various duties, by proving the power of grace over souls. To accomplish the generous resolution which she had taken after her friend's death, of BOOK II. — CHAPTER IH. 61 pposi- tiated Lrlit bo them, their ionger. njle life ie, not rry her lothing D imita- ctifying paternal ho had conform .y style led her iring in lere her inections ere cal- gins who ws are so Ber's life or young least, lead t of their 'race over resolution death, of living in entire Bcclusion from the world, she desired to unite herself more closely to God, by a vow of perpctup.l chastity. The naturally virtuous inclinations which she had evinced from her ear- liest years, her invincible dislike to all earthly grandeur, her refusal of the offer which she had received, the strong impressions of grace produced by her holy friend's death, and the innocent life which she had always led ; — all these motives seem- ed sufficient to procure for her the happiness of making this vow. Notwithstanding all these reasons, Mr. Sdguenot, priest of the Seminary of Saint Sulpice, who had first guided her steps in the path of virtue ; thought proper that she should not then contract any perpetual obligation. Although he hid no reason to doubt the solidity of her resolutions, or her constancy in fulfilling them, he found her too young to bind herself irrevocably by vows. This occurred in 1679, Miss Le Ber being in her seventeenth year. He advised her to take the vow for five years ; so that, after this trial, she might be free to act according to her in- clinations : and if she still persevered in her reso- lution to have no other spouse but Jesus Christ, she might then bind herself by a perpetual vow. Notwithstanding her great desire of contracting an irrevocable engagement, she willingly submitted to her confessor's decision ; for never before, perhaps, had any one beheld such profound and entire obe- dience as that which our heroine practised to all persons whom God had placed over her. Al- :l A I Bi I 62 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. 'ii t J though she was obliged to limit the duration of her vow, the obligation nowise lessened the fervour with which she pronounced it. This can be easily understood when one reflects that this pure soul was already far advanced in perfection, and sighed for God alone. This \ow, although it did not alter her manner of living, enforced what she had hitherto most willingly practised ; and tended to incrsase her fervour, and to strengthen the celest-ial flame of divine love which already burned within her. The thought that she was Jesus' favoured spouse, induced her to consecrate herself wholly to Him, by offering Him her heart, her thoughts, and ail her afiections. She applied to herself those words of the Canticle of Canticles, addressed by the heav- enly spouse to the faithful soul, to excite her to a perfect fidelity and delicacy of love ;" my sister, my beloved, place me as a seal on thy heart and on thy arm." Hence, she desired that her heart ghould be closed and sealed to all that was not Jesus ; that all thoughts which did not emanate from Jesus should be banished ; finally, she desired that he should be as a seal on her arm — that is to say, that all her actions (figured in Scripture by hands and arms) should have no other end but the glory of Jesus, — no other motive but his pure love. The better to realise tnis, she after long and repea- ted solicitations, obtained permission to give up all intercourse with the world, and to lead a most retired life in her own house, as the following chapter will relate. CHAPTER IV. MISS LE BER IS CALLED TO LIVE IN SECLUSION IN HER father's HOUSE. HER PIOUS PARENTS ACCEDE TO HER DESIRE. The Holy Ghost, sole sanctifior of the Church, arouses within the hearts of the faithful a desire of avoiding sin and detachment from creatures to be more closely united to Cod alone. For this purpose, this Divine Spirit raised up, in preceding ages, men of eminent virtue in whom this horror of sin and detachment from the world was mani- fested in a very high degree. The ce'ebrated solitaries and world-renowned anchorites, St. Paul the Hermit, St. Anthony, and many others, who peopled the ancient deserts, and whose life seemed to be one continued miracle ; what were they, but powerful preachers, whose flight from the world and holiness of life openly condemned the pagans sensual and profane manner of living, while they stimulated the faithful to the exact fulfilment of all these duties. This sort of silent preaching has always been most efficacious. Among other in- -.-i I: ' lann 54 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. stances, history presents us with the numerous con- versions which took place among th^ crowds who flocked around the pillar of Saint Simeon Stylite to behold the holy hermit. To produce similar > . locts among the weaker sex, God allowed, that, from the first ages of Christi- anity, there should not only be far-famed penitents, such as a Saint Mary of Egypt, but that spotless virgins should isolate themselves entirely from the world, and live in perpetual voluntary reclusion, holding communication with no other, save those chosen to attend their indispensable wants. Sul- picius Severus remarks in his dialogues, that these examples were very frequent during Saint Martin's time.* The fervour evinced by these virgins who lived without any intercourse with the exterior world, appears to have given rise to cloistered com- munities subsequently formed on the same plan ; this was also allowed by Divine Providence as a means of strengthening faith in those persons who had but lately embraced Christianity, and to induce them to aspire to perfection. God wished to renew this prodigy in the Catholic Church in Canada : hence, Miss Le Ber was chosen as an unparalleled example for all young persons in America, and one well suited to excite their fervour. Thus it was that the same Divine (*) Sulpicii Sever ij Dialog, ii, de Virtutib, Martini^ B. Martiuus magnificans Virginis illius reclusae, cum exultatione virtutem, inusitato, in his duntaxat regioni-* bus, gaudebat exemplo. BOOK n. — CHAPTER IV. 55 Spirit who had inspired the first recluses with their generous and heroic determination of entire sepa- ration from the world, also led Miss Le Ber to choose a similar line of conduct ; and our heroine was not less favoured than those admirable virgins who had received from above the strength and constancy requisite to follow it until their last breath. She was at first led to imitate the reclusion of Saint Catherine of Sienna, who had remained some time in a cell in her father's house so as to live more closely united to God. When Miss Le Ber first intimated her design to her parents, they were naturally both surprised and afilicted, for she wish- ed to break all intercouse, not only with strangers but even with themselves, and that in their declin- ing years. Notwithstanding their piety, such a resolution taken by their only daughter, the sole object of their most tender aflfections, must have been a severe blow particularly as this cherished child's superior qualities had made them consider her as the legitimate source of all their joy and crn~jilation. Judging from Miss Le Ber's love of retreat, one must not believe that hers was one of those dull and melancholy characters ; ill suited for society, and void of all attraction and amiability. Far from being sullen and morose, she was remarkable for a quick and penetrating mind, for mild and agreeable man- ners, and for a most interesting conversation ; replete with vivacity and ingenuity, when the subject : i| ■I 56 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. suited her taste ; that is, when it related to piety ; because one of her invariable rules was never to converse on any other topic. One can easily per- ceive, that, with such qualities, having had all that was necessary to render her the delight of her pa- rents, so pious and virtuous themselves ; such a design of giving up all intercouse with them, how- ever pure the motives, could not but afflict them. Hence, they deferred acquiescing to her desire, and that prudence, which is inseparable from true Christian piety, guided their conduct. But after mature deliberation on the nature and consequences of such a step, after consulting the most disinte- rested and enlightened persons, they finally agreed to offer this sacrifice to God ; for they acknowledged that the Almighty had inspired their daughter with this design, and that the fulfilment of it was destined for His Glory and the sanctification of souls. Subsequent events proved the truth of this opinion. While reading this life, many may be astonished that Mr. and Mrs. Le Ber consented to their daughter's reclusion : they may even think that the motive which led them to do so, was a ridicu- lous devotion, which differed vastly from a truly religious spirit. A few remarks on this important matter may not only contribute to explain, to see and to justify Mr. Le Ber, but also to remove illusions in which so many are prone to i'jdulge. Parents are intended by God as representatives \ BOOK n. — CHAPTER IV. 57 i of His paternal solicitude ; and that love which chil- dren bear them should have God alone in view. Hence, when truly Christian children give their parents any proof of affection, it is not merely through a desire of satisfying their natural inclina- tion. A propensity which is common to brutes, ia far too terrestrial and too base for a Christian soul« These proofs of affection should be given to God, whom they reverence in their parents ; and this view of God, far "rom weakening filial love, tends to strengthen and elevate it, and renders it constant and unchangeable. A child actuated merely by natural motives, is all affection for his parents, while he receives from them, reciprocal marks of tenderness; but he who honors God in the person of his parents, will always love them notwithstanding their faults, as fondly as if they were the most accomplished persons in the world. His fondness continues un- changeable in the midst of persecution, and unjust treatment meets with the same return, as kindness and benevolence. This is owing to the fact that God is equally deserving of respect and honor, un- der whatever envelope he may hide his authority. God had thought proper to enlighten the French colonists in Canada, by inspiring them all, with a special devotion towards Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, that Holy Family, the model of all Christian fa- milies. Children were thus taught how to fulfil their duties towards their parents, and they in turn learned how pure should be the love which they owed their offspring. Each individual en- 4 4 ,-i» U 'I 58 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. deavoured to mould his conduct on that of this sublime original ; children took the child Jesus for their model, while fathers sought to imitate Saint Joseph, and mothers neglected no means to resemble the Blessed Virgin.* The child Jesus loved both Mary and Saint Joseph, through love for God; and because they were His represen- tatives. Notwithstanding their manifold perfec- (*) Mention is made in Miss Manco's life of the in- stitution of the confraternity of the Holy Family, and of its rapid extension throughout Canada. A most strik- ing testimony of the first colonists' zeal, is still found at the prothonotary's office in Montreal. On the 2'7th of January 1663, one hundred and forty citizens of Ville Marie, accepting Mr. de Maisonneuve's invitation, came forward of their own accord to form the militia of the Holy Family ; they were divided into detachments each containing 7 men, twenty detachments thus forming the total 140, such was the number of men then capable of bearing arms at Ville Marie. Mr. Jacques Le Ber's name is in the eighth detachment, with that of his brother-in-law, Mr. Charles Lemoyne, of Longueuil. Mr. de Maisonneuve thus explains his design, in the preface of this catalogue. " Having been informed " that the Iroquois intend to attack this place, we call- " ed to mind that this Island was specially consecrated " to the Blessed Virgin ; and therefore considered it our " bounden duty to exhort all her faithful servants to " unite in defending her dominion. We hereby order " that the following names be registered at the protho- " notary's oflSce as an honorable testimonial in favour " of the bearers, who have thus consented to expose " their life to defend our Lady's interest and the public " weal." BOOK n. — CHAPTER IV. 59 tlons and the benefits which they conferred upon Him, He loved them not for themselves alone, but because His Heavenly Father had sent them to watch over Him. When He gave them any proofs of affection, He revered them for the Eternal Father. Such was the model which Miss Le Ber endeavoured to imitate in her affection for her pa- rents. She loved them for God alone j and the marks of respect and fondness which she gave them, might be considered as so many acts of religion ; for God alone was their object. She well knew that God, the Father of all, has the strongest claims on our obedience ; and when thoroughly convinced that the Almighty desired her withdrawal from the world and even from all intercourse with her parents ; she wavered not as to which path she should follow. In acting thus, she imitated the child Jesus who parted with Mary and Joseph, heedless both of their tears, and of the love He bore them ; because His Heavenly Father exacted this separation. She was also aware, that as Jesus had first taught fide- lity to God's will by His example, He had subse- quently confirmed it by these words: He who gives up father and mother, brother and sister to work for God's kingdom, that is for the Church, will receive a hundred fold in this world, and eter- nal happiness in the world to come. On the other hand, although Miss Le Ber's pious parents were most tenderly attached to her ; they loved her not for her own sake ; they did not even love her because she was amiable, virtuous, and ggtm 60 LIFE OF MISS LE BEB. accomplished ; their fondness sprung from a nobler source ; they loved her because they considered her as a being created to God's likeness and as the cho- sen temple of the Most High : God was the centre of the love which they lavished upon her ; they thus differed vastly from those parents, who, losing all sight of God, fairly idolize their children, and who from the pernicious habit of never attributing to * ! 1 the affection shown them by their children, centre it all in themselves, as if they were mere idols. Both Mr. and Mrs. Le Ber acted very dif- ferently, and always attributed to God all the proofs of affection given them by their daughter ; they thus endeavoured to imitate Mary and Joseph, whom they had chosen for their models. When Mary and Joseph bestowed any marks of tender- ness on the child Jesus, they sought not to satisfy any natural propensity ; their sole aim was to tes- tify their love towards the Word made flesh : and their caresses were not intended for Jesus' Huma" nity but for his Divinity. In like manner do we, in adoring the blessed Eucharist, render homage not to our Saviour's cor- poreal presence solely, but to the Divinity to which it is united. The primitive Christians, animated by the same spirit which guided the Holy Family, thus loved their children. Among many examples we select the following. The holy martyr Saint Leonidas was wont to uncover the bosom of his son Origen, when he was a child, and kiss it most res- pectfully as the temple of the Holy Ghost. BOOK n. — CHAPTER IV. 61 When God's will was expressly made known to Mr. and Mrs. Le Ber, they no longer opposed it, though it required many personal sacrifices. They knew that Mary and Joseph, whom they had chosen for their models, would never have urged the child Jesus to remain with them, when His Hea- venly Father had ordained oth( rwise ; and far from considering the great privation which a separation would impose upon them, they would have done their utmost to direct the Ho) Child in the path wherein the Almighty Fathei d ired that He should walk. As such maxims of true Christian piety had al- ways been impressed on Miss Le Ber's mind, we cannot be surprised at the ^ eroism with which she overcame all natural sensioility, and the firmness and constancy with which she first requested her parents to accede to her desire. The Holy Ghost always fills the heart of Christian children, with that zeal and magnanimity requisite to induce parents to fulfil their duties conscientiously. When Origen, of whom we have just spoken, heard that his father Leonidas had been imprisoned by the persecutors of Christianity ; this pious child, endea- voured by all possible means to visit his father, in order to exhort him to endure martyrdom rather than renounce his Faith. His mother seeing that threats and caresses proved alike incapable of deterring him, and finding no means of retain- ing him ; concealed his clothes, so as to exclude all possibility of quitting his dwelling. His design >'1 ., ■(. , ;. t , 'i' ■Bfit.. I \: 62 LIFE OF MISS LE B£R. having been thus frustrated, he wrote a most ardent letter to his father; from which we shall cite a remarkable passage : " Be firm and do not allow any thought of us to trouble you ;" this was to remove all anxiety from Leonidas who was separated from six sons, all younger than Origen. We have selected this trait to illustrate the gene- rous sacrifice thus oflFered to God, both by Miss Le Ber, and by her worthy parents ; and to prove a striking resemblance between the primitive Church, and the first years of Catholicity in Canada. If such heroic virtue excite not our admiration, it must be, that fervour has greatly decreased ; and that the religious feelings which animated the first colonists are almost extinct among us. CHAPTER V. MISS LE BER EMBRACES A SOLITARY LIFE FOR THE SPACE OP FIVE YEARS — HER MANNER OP LIVINO HER HEROIC CONDUCT, AT HER MO- THER'S DEATH, When Mr. S^guenot and other priests of the Seminary, consulted on Miss Le Ber's calling, had seriously reflected, they agreed in considering her inclination for solitude as a divine inspiration, and concluded that if such an extraordinary life were embraced by a young person such as Miss Le Ber, her example would greatly contribute to God's glory, and to the edification of the faithful. They also concurred in the opinion, that, instead of pronouncing any final vow, as she had hoped to do ; the wisest plan for her, was to try for awhile, this manner of living. Five years was the time appointed for the Novitiate, which was to begin in 1680. They also added that Miss Le Ber's director, would be at liberty to restrict or relax his penitent's rule of life, according to the exigencies of unforeseen circumstances. 'tS ■i'vl" J ' " n ■B. 64 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. •I ■!•! As soon as, this long-wished-for permission was granted, she deferred not a single day, but imme- diately took up her pbode, in the unpretending apartment, whi'^h was henceforth, destined to be the sole witness of her angelic fervour. Her fa- ther's house opened on Saint Paul street, and was situated very near the Church adjoining the Hotel- Dieu, then considered the Parish Church ; tlie side of his residence, in the rear of this Church, was the secluded part of the house, that Miss Le Ber chose for her retreat ; there, she wished to dwell without entertaining the slightest communication with any one; save, the person appointed to minister to her wants, and to whom a special permission of entering her apartment, when absolutely necessary, had been granted. Scarcely had she entered this voluntary solitude, than considering herself a victim chosen to expiate both her own oflfences, and those of her fellow-citizens, she immediately adopted an under-garment of hair-cloth, to which she sometimes added a belt of similar material ; these instruments of penance were set aside, but to be replaced by others more painful. She even went so far as to macerate her body in the most cruel manner. Were we not aware that the piirest souls are those, who, through a spirit of penance, practise the greatest mortifications ; the austerities of which we have just spoken, would be a source of amazement, particularly when we reflect not only on the delicate constitution of her who prac- tised them, but also on the holy life which she BOOK n. — CHAPTER V. 6^ had previously led. Spotloss purity is iu itself a great incentive to mortification, by oonsiituting a striking resemblance between pure souls and Jesus Ctirist ; rendering them more worthy to be offered in union with the Immaculate Lamb to expiate the crimes of man. In embracing this manner of living, Miss Lo Ber had given up all communioation with the world and was no longer bound down to its exi- gencies ; she resolved therefore to wear linen of the coarsest textv.re, inferior to that, then, worn by the poorest Classen ; her outer garments were made of woolieu material, and of a very simple form. The same simplicity and poverty were observed in her diet. When some choice or delicate food waa offered her, she accepted it, to conceal her mortification, but it generally remained untasted. She even requested her attendant to bring her se^ cretly, the bread which waa left after the servants' meals. This request was very unwillingly complied with ; but as it seemed to be a source of pleasure to our admirable heroine, these fragments of bread were brought to her, and beoame her ordinary food. She took so small a quantity of victuals, and of this bread, which was sometimes, most unpalatable, that many could not understand how life could be prolonged, by so little food. In language and taste she was equally mortified ; the better to practise silence during her simple repasts, she ate only when the servant had left her coll. Her entire obedience to her spiritual director V 71 I' 1 '1 . LIFE OP MISS LE BER. was the only preventive ^rom carrying her mortifi- cations still furthar. On entering her cell, Miss Le Ber had given up all communication with her parents, and would willingly have embraced perpetual reclusion, had she not been obliged to go daily, to the Parish Church to attend her religious duties. She arose every morning at half past four. The inclemency of the weather never prevented her from attending the five o'clock mass, both in winter and summer. On these occasions she was followed by her atten- dant who was always struck by her extreme modes- ty. On Sundays and holy days she attended both mass and vespers. Her time was distributed in the following man- ner. She devoted an hour every morning to men- tal prayer, and then recited a part of the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin. At eleven o'clock, examina- tion of conscience, as she had seen practised by the Sisters of the Congregation de Notre Dame. In the afternoon she employed half an hour in spiritual reading ; after which, she recited the remainder of the Office and the whole of the Rosary. After her very frugal evening repast, another half-hour was devoted to mental prayer. Finally, when the dark- ness of night had enveloped all in slumber, our angelic heroine would rise from her hard bed, and even in the depth of winter, would move towards the spot where the Blessed Sacrament resided. There, she would spend a whole hour in adoration before her heavenly spouse ; the light which BOOK n. — CHAPTER V. 67 burned before the tabernacle beinj; but a feeble image of the ardour of her pure soul. Her sweetest hours were those of this silent midnight adoration of Jesus Christ, in the most holy Sacra- ment. She vsed to say that she offered it as a slight atonement, for the worship refused him, by most Christians, then wrapped in slumber. Such was her life during the five years of trial, and which, she continued as long as she remained a recluse in her father's house; that is, from 1680 until 1695, when she took up her abode in the Congregation de Notre Dame, as shall be men- tioned after relating some facts, worthy of notice which occurred during her seclusion beneath the paternal roof. Miss Le Ber's entire separation from the world, from all social intercourse, and even from all com- munication with her parents, is a proof, that, in forming the church in Canada, the Almighty had chosen this admirable child of grace to renew in this infant colony, that spirit which had animated so many female recluses, during the primitive ages of the church. We shall here mention a very me- morable instance, which elicited the admiration of antiquity, and even that of the Thaumaturgus of the Gauls, the illustrious St. Martin of Tours. It may edify our readers, and prevent any erroneous ideas, which might hereafter arise from Miss Le Ber's great fidelity to reclusion. Sulpicius Severus, the disciple and historipn of saint Martin of Tours, informs us, that on one I m H ' 11' ! : 68 LIFE OP MISS LB BER. occasion, while accompanying this prelate on one of his pastoral visits, they heard of the faith and vir- tue of a christian virgin, who for many years had lived entirely isolated from the world. Her dwelling was in a small house, where none had admittance, save her attendant. St. Martin, notwithstanding his severe rule never to visit a female, thought that on this occasion he might depart from this rule, and honour, by a motive of religion, a person of such rare merit. Those who accompanied St. Martin, naturally thought thattherecluse would be delighted to receive a visit from this renowned prelate ; but to their great surprise, she declined the bishop's visit saying, by her attendant, that she could not deviate from the rules she had adopted ; thus refusing to see her own bishop, who deigned to honour by his presence, her lowly cell. Sulpicius Severui, makes the following reflections. " Who but " Saint Martin would not have considered this " refusal as a personal insult ? Who but he would " not have felt displeased, even irritated ? Who " would not have indulged in resentful feeling's ? " The man of God, far from being offended at this refusal, quitt/cd the recluse's dwelling with feelings of jojT. Although he had not been allowed to see her, he spok: in the highest terms of her rare virtue, and was delighted to have met with one 'capable of giving an example, until then unknown in the country. Night having overtaken him, he remained in the neighbourhood. This circumstance BOOK 11. — CHAPTER V. 69 enabled the recluse to send him different presents, which he accepted, saying : A bishop ought not to refuse offerings madeby one, who should be preferred to many bishops. Sulpicius Severus thus concludes his remarks on this incident : " Let all know this " prodigy : a virgin consents not to be seen by Saint " Martin — a saint whom foreigners flocked to " see, and who was frequently visited by angels." We may add, had the generous virtue of our Canadian heroine been known to Saint Martin, it would have elicited no smaller degree of admirar tion. We will even go so far as to say he would have bestowed still greater eulogiums upon her ; viewing the heroic constancy she manifested, by remaining in her cell during the last moments of her departing mother. Two years after our heroine's reclusion, her mother fell a prey to the disease which was soon to end her days. Strong natural claims of affection, strength- ened by deep gratitude, bound Miss Le Ber to this fond parent ; hence, what secret anguish must not have rent this loving daughter's bosom, when her dying mother's sobs reached her cell ; but, knowing that she could in no-wise alleviate these sufferings which she so keenly felt ; she assumed a calmness which differed vastly from her inward grief. She did not even quit her cell, to bestow the last proofs of filial love, on her dying parent. Her great sub- mission to the decrees of Providence, even in the most trying circumstances, induced her to bear this severe trial, and to devote her time to earnest suppli- 11 ii 70 LIFE OF MISS LE BER, ■Us, cations to the Most High, for her mother's salvation, and restoration to health ; if, such would contribute to His glory : but divine wisdom willed it othe wise ; for Mrs. Le Ber died on the 8th of November 1682. The news of this sad event soon reached tl e cell of the holy recluse. Although she had previously led a very austere life, her love for God had sweet- ened all the mortifications she had practised to crucify human nature, and to immolate herself entirely to him. But the keenest and most cruel suffering she had to endure, that which pierced her heart in its most sensible and tender part, was the death of her fond mother : nevertheless, she with- stood this severe trial with a fortitrido worthy of her piety, and magnanimous courage. Those loud lamentations, common on such occasions among persons of ordinary merit, were not witnessed in our heroine. Without loosing for a moment, that holy peace which reigned within her soul; she adored the secret Judgments of God, and bowed beneath tl> :'roke of his paternal hand with the mostprofv-r resignation. Animated with celes- tial fortitude, she quits her cell, and enters her mother's apartment for the first time, since her seclusion. Modestly approaching the bed of death she bends her knees in prayer, presses to her lips the hand of her departed mother, and bathes it with her tears ; then, without uttering a single word, although penetrated with most bitter sorrow, she leaves the apartment, and withdraws to her lonely cell. There, in the presence of her God, BOOK n. — CHAPTER VT. 71 she giv ;3 vent to her feelings ; her tears come not from a desire of lightening the heavy burden, but that, united to fervent prayers and mortifica- tions, they might appease God's Justice, and has- ten for the departed soul, the moin:nt of eternal bliss. If young persons, can only admire Miss Le Ber's heroic fidelity, in remaining in her solitude under such very trying circumstances ; all can imitate her sincere and generous charity, in endeavouring to deliver her mother's soul, from all sufierings in the other world. How many boast of their filial af- fection, and mourn, when death separates them from those they loved ; yet, strange as it may appear, they searccly breathe a fervent prayer for their eternal repose. Were these young persons true in their love, would they neglect this efficacious means of re- lieving departed souls ? Should they not do all in their powor to alleviate sufierings which are per- haps inflicted to expiate the excessive indulger ; with which these parents treated them during liv 'f Such young persons would dread the censur^ f.f the world, were they otherwise than clothed vi mourning ; lest they might be called heedless ; the mere thought of such a thing uwakens feelings of horror. They seem, however, to forget that true af- fection is not proved by a particular style of dress, or by wearing sombre-coloured garments, but by the dispositions of the heart, and by an earnest desire of procuring the eternal happiness of those we have loved. The use of mourning is doubtless a laudable Jfi iifjiifilir I h ^1 il^ IjII.,' tt ' t'i f ■: , ■ 72 LJFE OF MISS liE BEB. custom, being an exterior mark of inward grief and of sincere affection ; but when mourning is a mere exterior sign of feelings ; it deceives the world, and even the deceased themselves, to whom this exterior garment, is nowise beneficial. On perusing this chapter, many may consider Miss Le Ber's conduct as harsh and ungrateful ; let them remember, that those alone, are ungrateful and hard-hearted, who n^lect the most important of all duties, that of alleviating their parents' suf- ferings by prayers, and good works ; or who, by remaining in a state of mortal sin, prevent these prayers from being beneficial to the departed. When persons voluntarily remain o,', enmity with God, they give evident proofs that they never had any real afi^jotion for their relatives, since they prefev their own gratification, which is both guilty and evanescent, to the eternal felicity of those from whom they are separated. CHAPTER VI. MISS LE BF:t PRONOUNCES A VOW OF PERPETUAL SOLITUDE. — HER PURITY OF HEART AND SPIRIT OF POVERTY. — HER CONDUCT AT HER brother's DEATH. As Miss Le Ber -was an only dai^hter, it seemed natural, that, after her mother's death, she should take upon herself the various household duties ; and endeavour to console an afflicted father, who had always lavished upon her, marks of the fondest aflfection ; she might reasonably have taken advantage of the various modifications, which had been made, when she pronounced her vow ; and would have been further justified in so doing, Mr. Le Ber being left with three sons younger than our heroine. This event, far from disturbing our recluse's manner of living, tended to inspire her with an earnest desire of consummating her sacri- fice, by embracing perpetual soliiude, as the five years of trial had elapsed. Her hopes were soon realized. Her fathei took advantage of her being free, to ■I ' 1 V ■ ! i; 74 LIJ/E OF MISS LE BER. induce her to leave her solitude, and lead a less retired life, a consolation he might naturally expect from his only daughter, and Mr. Le Ber may have had plausible reasons, for requesting his daughter to take an active part in his household concerns, without neglecting her exercises of piety ; her presence and conversation, would have enabled him to taste the sweetest enjoyments, which can be granted to a fond parent. But this self-sacrificing girl, thoroughly convinced that God required that she should lead a more perfect life, was far from abandoning her primitive fervour. She considered the happiness she had experienced du dng the five years of trial, and the benefits she hs d received during that time, as certain proofs t' at her sacrifice was agreeable to God ; and instead of desiring the conversation, even of persons re- nowned for their piety ; she seowtly meditated some plan which would enable her to lead a still more solitary life, by absolute separation from the World. Puring her years of trial, she had attended Mass and Vespers and other public offices, both on Sundays and holy-days. It is natural to suppose that a person so extraordinary, would attract unusual attention on account of her own virtue, and her father's social position. All eyes were turned upon her, and they deeply wounded her modesty for her sole desire was to live unknown. When the years of her probation had elapsed, she requested Mr. Seguenot, her Director, and Mr. BOOK II. — CHAPTER VI. 75 Dollier de Casson, Superior of the Seminary, to allow her to bind herself by a solemn vow, to the manner of living which she had heretofore followed. She also solicited the favour of being dispensed from attending any of the offices of the church ; except first mass, when she received Holy Com- munion. She explained her reasons in such a persuasive manner, that her Directors, firmly convinced that God had inspired this desire, for the salvation of souls ; at length, acceded to her request. When Mr. Le Ber wa.s informed of her decision, he readily consented to it although he keenly felt the sundering of this last tie ; but when convinced that God's glory and the edification of the colonists required it, he hesitated not, but willingly renounced the sweetness of his daugh- ter's pompauy, and agreed to live far from her, during the remainder of his life. This was undoubtedly the greatest sacrifice which a kind and virtuous father could make: Mr. Le Ber ofibred it to God with the exemplary generosity of 1 perfect Christian. Miss Le Ber wished to consummate her sacrifice by taking a vow of perpetual seclusion. She chope for this purpose, the festival of Saint John the Baptist, June 24 th 1685, and from that date, she felt a particular devotion to this great saint, whom she considered as the first holy hermit, and conse- quently, the model of all the solitaries of the New Law. This choice seems to indicate that the same spirit, which had led St. John to seek the it I I J 1 :l W-^: M^ 76 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. desert, even in his childhood, had also inspired her. The Spirit of God had led St. John, while yet a child, to quit the paternal roof and to retire to the desert, though exposed to no danger, '^hile Hying with Saint Zachary and Saint Elizabeth ; l^eir ex- amples could only tend to inculcate lessons of virtue ; yet the holy precursor, faithful to what God required, remained in profound retreat ; thus sacrificing the holiest and the greatest of consola- tions, that of beholding Jesus and of conversing with Him, for until our divine Lord had presented himself to be baptized by his hand, John had not yet beheld Him, as he himself informs us. Miss Le Ber took her vow on this day, that this sub- lime model might induce her to be faithful to her r^- elusion. Through obedience to her directors, she added, that her vow would be subject to the au- thority of her ecclesiastical superiors, so that they might be at liberty to introduce any modifications which prudence might suggest ; and, which would be conformable to the rules followed by ancient recluses. The vows of chastity and poverty were added to that of perpetual seclusion. The second was the most painful and the most meritorious ; not on account of the impossibility of disposing of all her worldly goods, except as her director might think proper ; but because she was not allowed to give up all, and to practise real poverty. Her father a iid her directors exacted this restriction, so that, at any future period BOOK n. — OHAPTBR VI. 77 she mij^litbo froc to dispose of her property as God's j,lory would require She humbly acquiosccd in all that was ro([uirod of her ; and in after years, often acknowledged, that had this restriction not been made, she would most probably not have been enabled to realiae many important designn, which contributed to glorify God. This admirable solitary remained within her cell, not holding communication even with her relatives. She assisted at first mass with her attendant, but never quitted her reclusion to attend any of the other ceremonies of the Church, not even on the most solemn festivals. She found a compensation for this sacrifice by uniting her prayers, to those of the faithful. As her chamber window was situated opposite to the sanctuary, she was enabled to hear all that was sung during Divine service. She thus enjoyed the advantage of raising her heart to God, with these pious chants, and could give vent to her fervour without attracting attention. During her hours of prayer, she turned towards the Church, and thus imitated Daniel, who was wont to turn towards the temple of Jerusalem. The adorable presence of Jesus Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, waa the magnet which, attracted her towards the tabernacle> during all her exercises of piety, during her long and sublime r ^ditations, both of the night and of the day : such was the strength and tenderness of her devotions, towards the blessed Eucharist. Before embracing perpetual reclusion, she had lit 1 ': fl IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) /> ^ >. ^ ^ %>,;^ ^0 1.0 I.I l^liS 125 £ U£ 12.0 u U& « III -^^ III '-^ '-^ ^ 6" — ► y] ^.^* ^ fliotographic Sdences Corporation 23 WIST MAIN STRICT WIBSTIR.N.Y. 14580 (716) 872-4S03 .tl' ra LIFE OF MISS LE BER. always adhered to the practice of kissing the floor in the Parish Church, both at the elevation of the Sacred Host, and before receiving Holy Commun- ion; but having taken her vow, her confessor advised her to drop this custom. He doubtless thought, that as the decrease of fervour had induced the faithful to do away with this practice, our heroine's adhering to it might draw too much attention on her whose only desire was to remain hidden and unknown. Ill disposed people might have taxed her with singularity and condemned her mode of living; and he desired that she should be distinguished from others, only, by her modesty, and profound recol- lection. Our heroine's wonderful humility added to her separation from the world ; and the care she took to keep her attendant in total ignorance of her various practices of virtue, have doubtless deprived us of many edifying traits, which would have given additional interest to her admirable life. From the yr ii 1685, when she took her vow of perpetual reciusion, until 1695, when she entered the Con- gregation de Notre Dame, she was seen but once, and that at the moment of her brother's tragical death. Her presence then produced the strongest impressions on the beholders, who were struck with that heroic virtue which she had previously practised at the death of her mother. Mr. Jean Le Ber du Chesne's death occurred in the following manner. In the middle of August 1691, intelligence reached Yille Marie that 140 BOOK n. — CHAPTER "VT. 79 English, and 80 Indians were about to attack the town, and that they had already reached Lake Champlain. Mr. De Callidre, then governor, im- mediately assembled both the regular troops and the militia, thus forming a body of about 1 200 men. He then camped at the " Prairie de la Madeleine," where for the space of eight days he awaited the enemy. Seeing no signs of their approach, he attributed the delay to an attack on the Fort of Chambly, and therefore despatched Mr. de Val- lerene in that direction with a detachment of eighty Canadians and eighty soldiers ; the former com- manded by Mr. Le Ber du Ghesne, our heroine's brother. The next day, Saturday, August the 11th, the enemy suddenly appearing an hour before the break of day, surprised the troops who had fallen asleep, and withdrew after having killed 30 men and wounded as many more. Mr. de Vallerene's detachment had gone but a short distance, when they heard the noise occasioned by the attack, and at once retraced their footsteps. About nine o'clock in the morning, as they were midway, between La Prairie and Chambly, they perceived the enemy approaching, and were attacked amidst the most fearful yells. On the enemy's first charge, Mr. de Vallerene ordered his men to conceal themselves behind a large fallen tree. His stratagem succeeded. They afterwards marched to meet the enemy, killed upwards of a hundred, and wounded many more. But the tree, which they had used as a 1 r 'I tj - ' f i ■ f I . r i\ if ^M I i- ■I- f n m "l; 80 LIFE 07 MISS LE BER. rampart, was not large enough to protect all : five or six were wounded, and Mr. Le Ber du Ghesne wafl among them. He was at once brought to his father's house, where he died, in his twenty-third year, having feoeived the rites of the church. He was buried on the 13th of August*. Sister Bourgeoys, ac- companied by sister Barbier, hastened to this afflicted dwelling, in order to minister consolation to its sorroWHstrioken inmates ; She also wished to embalm the body of the deceased. Miss Le Ber then quitted her cell, and remained with the nuns for a few minutes, not betraying the slightest weakness. The love she had ever ente?- talned for her brother, did not even lead her to complain. She gave them what was necessary to lay out the body, but without uttering a word ; having prayed for some time, then retired to her cell. This conduct surprized and edified Sister Bourgeois, and her companion; for they well knew in what true merit consists; and could appreciate fidelity to Gk)d, and heroic constancy in such trying circumstances.f 1 1-^ ; 1 t 1 H. 1 1' 1 1 * An error wa3 oommiited ia Sister Bourgeoyg' life relating' to the day on which the skirmish which proved fatal to Mr. Le Ber took place ; it is spoken of as having occurred on the 3rd of August. t According to the custom prevalent among the natives, an Indian prisoner was given to Mr. Le Ber to replace the ion whom he had loat. BOOK n. — CHAPTER VI. 81 The following day, August the 14th, Mr. Le Ber, his daughter, and one of his sons, (these were probably his only children residing in Ville Mijrie), performed an action truly worthy of the profound religious feeling, which had ever animated them, and which also served aa a memorial of their noble minds. Knowing that the deceased had intended to assist Mr. Francis Charron in carrying out his design, for the establishment of the General Hos- pital for the poor of the town, they employed a notary to draw up an act, whereby they gave a farm for this purpose at Point St. Oharles, with all its dependencies, " in order, " said they, to carry out the desire manifested by the late John Le Ber du Chesne." This farm covered an area of about 35 acres, which were included in the concessions belonging to John de Saint P6re and to Nicholas Godt^, who had been cruelly put to death on that spot by the Iroquois in 1657. l^hat property had been given to Mr. le Ber in 1661 by the proprietors of the Island. The donation made by Mr. Le Ber and his children in favour of the General Hospital, was accepted by Mr. Guyotte of the Seminary of Saint Sulpice, who was then officiating as parish priest. Provision was made in the contract, that should this design not be carried out, the revenue of the farm bhould be always employed in succouring the poor of Ville Marie. Miss Le Ber and her brother Peter, of Qt ^I7l 1 ^ if } If ^^ i ■•'i 1 ■ \ n r • \ ( > 1 M 82 jjjm OF MISS ha 9m. wbom we shall shortly speak, ngned this aot, to prove that they agreed with their father. As Miss Le Ber had sobmitted her role of silenoe to her direotori he probaUy advised her to communiGate with persons of note, who w^re very desirous of knowing her opinion on. somo points. This supposition arises from the fact that Mx, Tronson informs us of» in 1693, Mr. De La Colombi^re wishing to reenter theSeminary of Saint Sulpice, which he had voluntarily quitted, vii^- ted Miss Le Ber, and had a long convosation with her, which did not produce the desired result. Although our admirable heroine lived in endro seclusion, her manner of living did not satisfy hev heart's most ardent desire, that of being still more retired. It was with feelings of piety, that she daily repaired to the Parish Church for first mass, at which she often received Holy Communion : but her happiness would have been complete, had it been possible for her to enjoy the same privileges without leaving her ceD. During nearly fourteen years she mourned in secret over the imperfect soH- tude in which she dwelt ; but after that lapse of time, God was pleased to grant the fulfilment of her desires, as shall be related in the following book. 3S: BOOK THIRD. ji I \\ MISS LB BER ENTERS THE CONVENT OP THfi CONGREGATION DE NOTRE-DAME, HER LOVE AND DEVOTION TOWARDS THE BLESSED SACRAMEr 2. ' l!l CHAPTER I. MISS LB B&B WISHES TO ENtEll THE CONVENT OF THE OONOREOATtON DE NOTRE-DAME, THERE TO LIVE IN ENTIRE REOLUSION. Although the privilege of having the Blessed Sacrament beneath her roof had been sister Boor- geoys' most ardent desire, since the fijundation of her commnmty ; still, her profound veneration for the adorable presence of our Lord in this mjs>> tery, prevented her requesting the Eoclesiastical superiors to grant this favor, on account of the diminutive sise of the oratory, and its proximity to the other apartments. She however finally " ■ ' ' '/ ■ ■ ( ' - ^" ' i y. 84 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. agreed with the Nuns on this point, and resolved to build a church in the garden alongside the buildings occupied by the community ; this church was to be 54 feet long, and 26 feet broad; constructed in such a manner that it might be a fit dwelling for our Lord. The preliminary arrangements were made in the spring of 1694, and the workmen agreed to finish the maponry before the end of the following July. Afj this determination interested all pious souls; Miss Le Ber soon heard of it, the news rejoiced her, as it led her to hope that she might one day take up her abode near this new church, and there enjoy the happiness for which her soul languished ; that of worshipping the Blessed Sacra- ment with her wonted fervour, without quitting her reclusion. Many motives induced her to choose this abode ; the veneration she had always entertained towards sister Bourgeoys and her companions, the strong impressions of grace produced upon her by their example, — for to them did she attribute her perseverance in her retired mode of life ; the inCvStimable privilege of living and dying in an institution so specially con- secrated to the Blessed Virgin seemed to promise the realisation of her fondest hopes. Her spiritual director Mr. Seguenot, and her father, in no way opposed it, and allowed her to give the amount ne- cessary to finish the new church in which she wished her cell to be placed, and where she desired to end her days. She therefore communicated her BOOK m. — CHAPTER I. 85 plan to the sisters of the Congregation, and ex- pressed her desire of assisting them, if they would receive her in their institution, not to follow their rules, but to be considered as one of the sisterhood, and be henceforth known, as sister Le Ber. The Sisters of the Congregation had ever re- garded this favoured soul as a prodigy of grace ; hence, they were delighted at the prospect of being thus enabled to contribute to God's Glory, to the edification of the colonists, and to the complete hap- piness of this child of predilection. Secondary considerationa also induced them tx) comply with her request : \3nerali0n for the Blessed Sacrament had led them to undertake, what worldly prudence condemned; their funds being very low, owing to the money lately expended in erectinpr the buildings then occupied by tho Community. They consequently accepted Miss Le Ber's propo- sal with gratitude, and rgreed that she should make such arrangements as she might think pro- per ; adding, that she would be at liberty to choose and place her ^^^ll in whatever manner she would deem most suitable. Miss Le Ber wished thit the general appearance of the church of the Congregation should resemble, as much as possible, the holy house of Nazareth, wherein the great mystery of the Incarnation had been accomplished, and which is now seen in the Cathedral ofLoretto in Italy. This revered dwelling is of an oblong shape : a slight partition encloses that part so respectfully visited by pilgrims. 1-1 u i< iH i n I 'I I ?'■ '.■- '11 86 UFB 07 BHSS LB BER. and knowu as thd Holy Ohamber ; this is entered by two doors, one on she right, the other on tho left ; the altar is placed in the most spacious part of the chapel between the two doors. It was Miss Le Ber's desire that the new church should be erected on a similar plan, that a small space should be reserved behind the altar to form a cell about 10 or 12 feet in depth, including the width of the church ; she drew up the following plan for this particular part of the Church. It was to be divided into three stories, reserving the second and third for her own use ; the first, situated on the ground floor was to be used as $ vestry. She proposed to desceod to this apartment to receive Holy Communion, and to go to Confer* sion ; for this purpose, she desired that one of the panels of the door on the Gospel side, should be replaced by a moveable) grating ; behind which she might kneel, to receive Holy Communion without being seen, and go to Confession without quitting her cloister, or her confessor entering her apartment* Another door opened on the Nuns' garden, so that her food might be brought to her this way, and not through the church. Her proximity to the Blessed Sacrament was the advantage she most highly prized : nought but a slight partition was to separate her from the dwell* ing of the Loved Spouse of her heart. The plan had been so laid out, that her humble oouch might be on a line with the Blessed Sacrament, in whose immediate vicinity she was henceforth to dwell. BOOK m. — OHAPTBR I. 87 This thought filled her with a pure and holy joy, or rather, it caused her heart to dissolve in feelings of the most lively, and tender gratitude. The third story was to be her laboratory where- in she might keep articles she used in working. (. 1 ■ fll '» 1 ^H '^^^H ' -'^S^^B * i i I;! m Ill "( i } . •. r. Iff. . i. :1 1$ ' r.:* r - :i CHAPTER II. EXAMINATION OF MISS LE BEB'S VOCATION. THE OEREMONT OF HER SOLEMN BEOLUSION. ■M ■ >l;r Although fifleen years had elapsed, since Miss Le Ber had first embraced the solitary mode of life, in which she had so zealously persevered, to the great edification of the faithful ; still her reclusion could not be considered, as sanctioned by Ecclesi- astical authorities, such as had formerly been the case with recluses of the primitive ages ; no public ceremony had solemnized her first vow of reclusion for five years, nor even her final vow : her director's approbation had been the sole sanction she had sought. These considerations led Mr. Dollier de Gasson, Superior of the Seminary of Yille Marie, and Vicar General of the Bishop, who was then in France, to think that her entire separation from the world, should beaccompanied with due solemnity: and thus, be quite conformable to ancient discipline, and at the same time, prove advantageous to Beli- gion. He therefore examined Miss Le Ber's voca- tion, in order to ascertain her dispositions towards BOOK in.^HAPTER n. 89 embracing perpetual reolusion ; but this examina- tion was a more formality, for that love of retire- ment which she had manifested during fifteen years, and her fidelity to all her promises, had impressed all so strongly, that no one entertained the least doubt concerning her calling to this manner of living, and her perseverance in it until her last breath. Mr. Dollier, being administrator of the diocese, authentically approved Miss Le Ber's voca- tion by sanctioning, and by choosing the 5th of August for the solemn ceremony of her reclusion ; he also approved the agreement made between our heroine and the Sisters of the Gongr^ation, pre- vious to her retiring into their institution. The original document may still be seen in the Prothonotary's office in Montreal, as drawn up by a notary called Basset. We cannot refrain from inserting the most striking passages, for it is a pre- cious memorial of Miss Le Ber. " Miss Jane Le Ber, being desirous of dwelling " in retirement, so long as God will be pleased to give '^ her the grace requisite to do so ; had recourse " to the secular Nuns of the Congregation de Notre " Dame established at Yille Marie, they, having <' acceded to her proposal ; she consents to defray << the greater part of the expense incurred by build- <' ing the chapel, situated in their grounds and a '' small apartment built behind the chapel. She « has chosen this spot for her abode, and is now '' about to take possession of it. " Wishing to agree with the Nuns, as to what fXl^ 90 UFB OT MISS LB BER. It- ' they would allow for her mAintenance, Mr. " Dollier de Gnason, Superior of the Seminary of " this Town and Vicar General of the diocese, has *' Banotioned the following agreefflent : The Nuns ** will supply her with food and fiiel both in sick* '^ ness and in health ; and this is to be continued " as long as she thinks proper. *' The Nuns also bind themselves to board Anna ** Barroy, Miss Le Ber's cousin, who will remain " in the Community as long ad she desires, and) " should she be absent. Miss Le Ber will be waited " upon by the Sisters themselves. " In consideration of the aforesaid seryices. Miss " Le Ber gives the Sisters of the Congr^atioa de " Notre Dame the funds they received from her " for the building of the chapel, to which she adds " the money she may expend in decorating and " supplying it with ornaments and sacred vessels. " She also grants them the annual pension of 500 " livres, French coin, reserving 75 livres worth of ^' wool, or silk, or other materials which she may " require for needle work. '' In return for the gift, thus bestowed upon the " Nuns, by Miss Le Ber's generous contribution to '* the consti uotion of the chapel ; they bind them^^ " selves to pray for tbo repose of her soul, and for " the souls of her relatives." This act was signed by Sister Barbier, Superi- oress of the Congregation de Notre Bame, by the principal members of the C(»nmuuity, and by Mr. Dollier de Casson. n I BOOK m.'-HJHAFTER II. 91 At length on the 6th of AtigQF feast of " Notre Dame des Neiges," which, in 1695, fell on a Friday, Vespers having been snng, the faiths who had assisted, formed a procession and fol> lowed the clergy who left the parish Church fbr Mr. Le Ber's dwelling, in order to conduct this innocent virgin to her new abode ; she was des* tined to be offered in expiation for the sins of many, and could certainly be looked upon as a vic^ tim immolated to God's glory. She was found absorbed in prayer, and wholly engrossed with the happiness of consummating her sacrifice, by embracing perpetual reclusion. On beholding her, all were struck with her unassuming modesty. She wore a woollen gown, with a veil and head dress resembling those worn by the Nuns of the Congregation, but differing in color. Her dre&3 was of a greyish white, confined to the waist by a black belt ; she had chosen this peculiar color, the better to imitate Mary, her glorious model, for she knew that the Blessed Virgin had once appeart- ed to sister Bourgfeoys in a similar garment, as is related in the life of the holy foundress. She wore a belt as a symbol of penance, and to remind her that she differed vastly from that spotless Virgin who was Immaculate in her Conception ; it also called to mind that although original guilt had been effaced by Baptism, her duty as a Christian, required that she should avenge Divine Justice by leading a mortified and penitential life. She quitted for ever the home of her childhood, :f' i ml ^ •it! I i •i ', ■ f i f; k f 92 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. and followed the clergy accompanied by her vir- tuous father and several relatives, who had been invited to witness the most touching ceremony that had ever taken place in Yille Marie. The procession moved towards the church of the Congregation, while appropriate hymns were sung. All the citi- zens had assembled to look on this unusual scene, and few could refrain from shedding tears, on be- holding this innocent virgin about to enter an abode, which might be considered as her tomb. Her social position tended to heighten the interest of the be- holders ; being the wealthiest heiress in Canada, among the great ones of earth, she could have chosen a brilliant position in the world ; yet, she generous ly spurned all worldly goods and pleasures, to obtain a more estimable treasure. Her plain and simple style of dress, the innocence and mildness that illumined her countenance, her firm yet unassuming bearing, and the sight of that virtuous father, who seemed to lead the victim to the place of sacrifice ; also contributed to awaken deep emotions in the hearts of all present. This was undoubtedly the most signal victory that Faith had obtained, over the worldly spirit which had already manifested itself in this country. Aston- ishment arose in every mind on thus beholding innocence and mortification, subdue that love of pleasure so inherent to our nature — all wondered on seeing that in our heroine, voluntary poverty and a love of solitude triumphed o\> r attachment to the transitory enjoyments of the riches of this BOOK m. — CHAPTER II. 93 worW, and over those passions -which so often rule us ; but the greatest of all victories, was that of Divine Love over filial aJBfeotion ; this could cer- tainly be termed the triumph of Faith over reason, and of Grace over nature. This victory was ren- dered still more complete, on beholding parental love, humbly bow before the light of Faith, and will- ingly submit to the decrees of the Almighty. Angels might have admired the generosity which Mr. Le Ber evinced in mastering the anguish he experienced. He would have bestowed a large dower on his daughter, had she remained in the world ; yet, in this trying circumstance, he volun- tarily sacrificed the consolation he would have received, had she dwelt with him, to minister to his wants, and be the consolation of his declining years. The struggle between duty and affection was so very strong, he was so fondly attached to his daughter, that none attributed his calmness to in- difference, for he left the church of the Congrega- tion, as soon as the procession reached it ; he dared not remain during the ceremony, lest excessive grief should cause exhaustion. After his departure, Mr. Dollier, who presided, blessed the recluse's new cell, and addressed her, as she humbly knelt before him, surrounded by the clergy, by the Nuns of the Congregation de Notre Dame, and by the faithful who had assembled to witness the ceremony. He exhorted her to perse- vere in her retired dwelling as zealously as Magda- len had persevered in her grotto ; then led her to h- m. n I. " u :i M i I ^ 94 LIFE OF MISS LX BER. her (Camber in whioh she enclosed hendf, Trhile the choir sung the litany of the Blessed Virgin. The foUoniag day, being the feast of the Trans- foration of Our Lord, Mr. Dollier offered up the first mass in this chapel ; Mr. Le Ber assisted at it I his presence seemed to indicate that he wished to atone for the weakness manifested on the pre* vious day, and to prove that he was willing to ratify the sacrifice he had ofiered to God. w sa: CHAPTER m. MB. L£ BEB'S magnanimity IN SAORIFIOING HIS 0NI«7 DAUQHTEll. IT I Mr. Dollier de Casson thus speaks of Mr. Le Ber's generosity, in t^e following extract from the act of the sister Le Ber's reclasion. " I blessed the chapel on the 6th of August, and ^* celebrated Mass which was accompanied by the '^ best singing that could be heard in Canada ; the " church was intensely crowded, and Mr. Le Ber " was present. On the previous day he had brought " ]m loved and only daughter to tho Convent of '' tiie Congr^ation ; but, paternal fondness had << prevented him from assisting at the ceremony of " her reclusion; to-day however he proved that *' notwithstanding the depth of his affection, he '^ was willing that his daughter, his sweetest conso- ^' lation, should be consecrated to God, to contri- ^' bute to His glory, and to the edification of the ^' colony ; ho ofifered himself to t^e Almighty for *' the same purpose. Two victims have thus been ^^ sacrificed to God in that hallowed sanctuary; r- :{-'t 't fccv 96 LITE OF MISS LE BEB. tj.r " there, dwells the daughter, and there also, are cen- " tered the affections of a father left alcne in the " world, in the 64th year of his age." We cannot refrain praising the astonishing magnanimity which Mr. Le Ber displayed: strong indeed, must have been the ties which bound this father to his daughter ; these ties had been strengthened during his widowhood, and she was his only child. The scene in which he acted such a prominent part, must have reminded the beholders of that witnessed by Abraham's followers, when the Patri- arch led Isaac towards the place of sacrifice. True it is, that he was weighed down by excessive an- guish, and that parental love could ill repress its outbursts ; the brave warrior, who had so often ex- posed his life in defence of his country, lacked sufficient courage to be a calm witness of the touch- ing ceremony, during which his cherished daughter had consecrated herself irrevocably to God. The Almighty, doubtless allowed that this should happen, to prove the extent of Mr. Le Ber's sacrifice ; had this incident not occuned, many might have underrated his merit. Abraham's sacrifice, was limited to his interior acquiescence to the orders of the Almighty, his son returned with him, full of life and health ; yet his submission had been so agreeable t? the Almighty, that he was select^ed as the father of God's chosen people ; and his reward was not confined to the present, he was told that from his posterity all^ |e BOOK m. — OnAPTER ni. 97 nations would be blessed, and even the Messiah would be born of his racb. Whence came such spe- cial blessings ? From the fact, that he had conquered siiture's claims when strongest, and had made them yield to the decrees of God : this fidelity seemed to be a harbinger of the annihilation of his race ; yet, it entitled him to the celebrity which has since been attached to his name. We are induced to think, that Mr. Le Ber's generosity was rewarded in a similar manner ; for the sacrifice which he made by ofFerini; his only daughter to the Almighty, and allowing her to em- brace perpetual reolusion, tended to immortalize his name, and not to bury it in oblivion, as many had ezpected. Hence, some years later, Mr. de Belmont was heard to say : " The Le Ber family " occupies a distinguished position in Canada, and " we may fearlessly add that Miss Le Ber imparted " a new lustre to her race." Truly has her name been handed down to posterity, encircled by a bright halo of virtuous actions which differs vastly from that notoriety which other names have obtained ; far &om sinking into oblivion, it will be repeated throughout future ages ; then, as now, it will awaken recollections ; of one, whose sweet and winning quali- ties rendered her a fit model for young persons, in all positions of life ; of one, who was a prodigy of virtue, and Canada's fairest ornament ; it may also remind Christian parents, that they should imitate Mr. Le Ber's spirit of self sacrifice. For as Miss Le Ber can be given as a model of H r • 'A •'.I I- ^ ■■' ' - V t ■ . » ■' i M 98 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. ! that fidelity with which all young persona should persevere in their respective callings, her worthy father's example should inculcate an important lesson on the minds of many parents ; that, of endeavouring to fulfil God's designs on their children, by affording them all available means of sanctifying themselves in the state of life to which they are caUed. Too many have unfortunately neglected this sacred duty, little did they think, their eternal happiness was closely connected with its faithful accomplishment ; being deluded by their natural inclinations; parental fondness obtained complete mastery over them ; when Faith should have guided, and taught them, to love the Divine Oiver, more firmly than His gifts. Some, parental love led to induce their children to disobey God, when nought but love of self, or personal interest had been the source of this selfish conduct. We shall mention a well-known trait wherein this is dearly proved ; it may impress our readers with a more profound feeling of admiration of that pure and high minded affection which Mr. Le Ber enter- itained for his only daughter. During the persecution that raged under the emperor Severus, Vivia Perpetua, a noble Cartha- ginian lady of 22 years of age, was seized and brought to prison. She thus related her father's conduct during her imprisonment. " While my companions were undergoing an " examination, my father made his appearance, br's an Hce, BOOK III. — CHAPTER in. 99 " holding my b.ibe in his arms, — he drew me aside, " and begged me to have mercy on my child " The judge perceived that he wished to draw me " still furtheraway, and ordered him to be expelled ; " some one struck him with a rod, and J. felt the " blow more keenly than if I had myself received « it, for, I w?s heart-bro?;-!n on seeing my " father so cruelly treated in his old age. Shortly " afterwards he came to the prison, and seemed to " labor under a heavy burden. My daughter, said " he, take pity on my grey hairs, take pity on thy " father ; spurn me not from thee, nor render " me a despicable being, for I have watched over " thee till now, and loved thee more than I loved '* thy brothers. Behold thy mother and thy aunt, " behold thy infant son, whose life depends on " thine. AflFection, doubtless prompted this lan- " guage, my father then wept bitterly, he knelt " before me and no longer called me daughter, but " lady. He paid frequent visits to the prison ; " he came to see me before the day appointed for " the execution, on this occasion, he pulled his " beard through anger, he writhed on the ground, " cursed himself, and uttered the most appalling '* threats." This proves what tyrannical sway self-love can oxert over some parents : this unfortunate father loved himself, and not his daughter. His partiality towards her, proceeded from his fondness for him- self, he it was whom he idolized in her ; a desire of selfish enjoyment induced him to do all in his .' I 1 ■ I I -i < *' 100 LIFE OF MISb BER» n powcrto prevent hermartyrdcm. It mattered not to- him whether his daughter wished to sacrifice her life, or whether all her relatives considered mar- tyrdom as the greatest blessing, ho was opposed to it because it inflicted a deep wound on his selfish fondness. Saint Perpetua adds. " I pitied him '' on account of the inflexible obduracy he mani- '^ fcsted at such an advanced time of life ; and he " was the only member of the family, who did not '' rejoice at the prospect of my martyrdom." This deluded father also feared that his daughter's fidelity to Christ might bring shame on himself ; ho therefore availed himself of all practicable means to induce her to abjure the tenets of the Christian faith. The thought that he grieved and injured his daughter by treating her in this most inhiman manner, never restrained him ; yet, had he succeeded in rendering her an apostate, he would have deprived her of that peace of heart which is mt.n's greetest treasure; she would have scanda- lized the fai 'hful ; her conduct would have awakened fceli.ngs of horror and disgust within the heart of those, who had boldly confessed their belief; hell would have triumphed, while the Church would have mourned, and the Almighty would have spurned her from Him, as an apostate and rebellious servant, as a perjurer and a declared enemy. He proved how selfishness ruled him and mastered parental love, when he went so far as to strike his daughter ; his threats and entreaties having proved alike abor- tive, he was so indignant when she persisted in BOOK m. — CHAPTER HI. 101 «aying she was a Christian, that according to hor own account: " My perseverance irritated my father, ^' and provoked him to such a d(^ree, that he in- " tended to put out my eyes ; but ho retired satis- *' fied with having ill- treated me, — and in despair at " the thought of having been conquered." The shameful conduct of this deluded father naturally awakens feelings of horror within all Christian souls, yet similar examples have sometimes been witnessed among those, who style themselves Chris- tian parents ; parents pretend to try their children's vocation, and this so called ordeal, is nought but a most strenuous and oft repeated endeavour to win their youthful hearts from God, and to centre their affections on the allurements of the world. The persecution which Saint Perpetua's father waged against his child, imspired her with renewed perse- verance ; her courage remained undaunted, even when parental love turned to frensy ; such how- ever, is unfortunately not the usual result of those perfidious means used to inspire children with a taste for pleasure ; fatal consequences too often ensue, and this inordinate and selfish love which St. Perpetua's father evinced, is the cause of all these misfortunes. Many parents love their offspring from selfish motives and endeavour to enliven old age, by inducing their children to partake of those enjoyments which can be theirs no longer ; hence, fiome parents create difficulties when their children •wish to avoid sin, and e. press a praiseworthy desire «of living according to the maxims of the Gospel ,j * r •1 i ■ 'J fir I ■^:-l- ( - 1 f^Jgg,^' 102 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. others exert all their influence to prevent any one of their children from embracing a religious life ; should they finally consent, thoy neglect no means of retarding the event ; but if the same child sought to occupy a distinguished position in the world, no means of ensuring success would be neglected, inexperience would not be thought of, and thiat extreme youth so loudly condemned when young persons choose the better part, would be a very secondary condition, if a high social position could be secured. When parents act thus, it is quite evident that the world rules them, and that God has but a small share in their affections ; hence, it is that no satisfaction, and no eagerness are evinced when a religious life is chosen ; some parents are so selfish, as to force their children to remain in the world, and thus run the risk of exposing their eternal welfare. Mr. Le Ber's conduct differed vastly from this unchristian behaviour : he proved the sincerity of the affection he bore his daughter, by sacrificing his happiness, to ensure hers. Being highly esteemed by the colonists, his pure and disinterested way of acting, exerted a most beneficial influence over many fathers ; from this date a great increase of members was witnessed in the religious communis ties of Ville Marie j the colony was then enabled to supply its own wants. Nought, but the happy results effected by Miss Le Ber's example, could equal those produced by that of her father ; the graces attendant upon her sacrifice were so striking, BOOK III. — CHAPTER HI. 103 that when Mr. de Belmont delivered her panegyric, he mentioned this well-known fact and thus spoke to the Sisters of the Congregation de Notro-Damo : " Sister Le Ber's example has drawn down special " blessings on many souls ; it has re-echoed within " the hearts of many virgins who are present at " this ceremony, and who are indebted to her for " their vocation." t' f r >r't' i y 'f'lJSt mm n ^UBi 1 M CHAPTER IV. OUR heroine's example induced her brother TO lead a perfect life. Mr. Peter Le Ber's edifying life, was one of the most signal graces, which our heroine's reclusion drew down upon the colony ; his estimable sister's example so touched his heart, that he resolved to embrace a perfect life, and joined Mr. Francis Charon de la Barre, in the hopes of founding the institution of the Hospital Friars in Ville Marie ; he and his brother Mr. Le Ber du Chesne, were its most distinguished benefactors. Whe" he heard that his sister intended to defray a great part of the expense, incurred in the build- ing of the church of the Congregation de Notre- Dame ; he wished to be a sharer in this good work, by supplying all the stone required. Mr. Peter Le Ber had always manifested true filial affection towards the Blessed Virgin and towards Saint Ann, for whom he entertained a peculiar devotion ; he also sought to propagate this devo- tion. Seeing, that Sister Bourgeoys had erected a chapel in honor of Our Lady of Bonseccurs, some BOOK m. — CHAPTER IV. 105 distance out of town, that the faithful might repair thither on pilgrimages, and processions stop there, he wished to huild one in honor of Saint Ann in the other extremity of the town. Mr. Dollier de Casson sanctioned this pious design, and granted an acre of ground situated at point Saint Charles ; the chapel was at once erected, and Mass celebrated for the first time on the 17th of November, 1698. Hence, comes the name of Saint Ann's given to this part of the city. The pilgri- mages made by several of the faithful, and the offices which were sometimes celebrated in this ehapel, certainly tended to increase and even to popularize devotion towards the mother of our Blessed Lady. Mr. Le Ber also manifested his piety, by painting several pictures for this chapel, and by bestowing a certain amount of money on the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice, in order to defray the expenses necessary to keep the chapel in order ; but being isolated from the town, after the conquest of Canada by the British, it was very much exposed, and even, on several occasions, the doors and win dows were shattered. The priests of the Seminary- therefore thought it prudent to have it demolished, so that similar profanations might not again occur ; intending, however to rebuild it when circumstances would allow their doing so. Hence, shortly after- wards when Mr. Montgolfier wrote Miss Le Ber's life, he said ; " More favorable circumstances may '' doubtless enable the faithful to renew this devo" " tion." This design was executed some years '. j ' ■ •] 1 (■■■ ■■ J J ! M: i f 106 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. since : the priests of the Seminary raised an edi- fice in the same part of the town, and the Bishop of Montreal solemnly re-established the well-known pilgrimage. The better to awaken the piety of the faithful, this revered Prelate himself repaired to the Church daily, during the octave of Saint Ann's feast; his example was followed by the various religious congregations of the city ; the members of these orders united in pilgrimages; and other pious citizens joined so eagerly, that it awakened recollections of the fervour which had animated the first colonists. Mr. Peter Le Ber took as much interest in the rising institution of the Congregation de Notre- Dame, as his sister; he therefore willed that the sisters of the Congregation, should receive the revenue of a sum of 10,000 livres. His devotion to the Blessed Virgin and tocher mother was such, that he laid down as a condition, that one of the Nuns, should bear the name of Saint Mary and another that of Saint Ann. This'fervent Christian died at Point Saint Charles, on the 1st of October, 1707 ; his remains were interred in the church of the Hospital-Friars, now known as that of the Hotel- Dieu, and are still there at the present day. In accordance with his dying request, his heart was placed in the church of the Congregation, where his sister dwelt in reclusion. We are inclined to think, that even after death, he wished to be united in spirit to that pious sister, in order to participate in the merit and fervour of her prayers. CHAPTER V. MISS LE BER S DEVOTION TOWARDS THE BLESSED SACRAMENT. TWO ENGLISH GENTLEMEN VISIT HER. ■ (■•,■. S'f Sister Le Ber's life, from her reclusion in the Convent of the Congregation de Notre-Dame, until her death, can be truly called a ceaseless homage rendered unto Jesus present in this Sacrament of love. This innocent virgin, may be compared to a lamp ever burning before Him, or rather to a hea- venly perfume, daily consuming itself in the Divine Presence. Immediately after High Mass which had been celebrated the day following that of her solemn reclusion, the Blessed Sacrament was ex- posed for the first time, during forty hours in the chapel of the Congregation. Sister Bourgeois, as well as the entire sisterhood, had long solicited this favour, and these fervent souls looked forward with heartfelt delight, to the moment when they would possess the Blessed Sacrament, beneath their roof; yielding to the impulse of their grateful love towards Jesus, in His adorable Sacrament ; they #1 i W I ! I. 108 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. m could not conceal their feelings, yet none among them experienced that pure and holy joy which filled sister Le Ber's soul ; for her withdrawal to the Convent seemed to have attracted thither the Spouse of Virgins. Her profound retreat in rear of the Tabernciele, also seemed to indicate that she was the chosen object of the rarest favours and choicest blessings. She enjoyed the great happi- ness of living in the immediate vicinity of the DivAiie Eucharist ; nought, but a slight partition separated her from it, and when she indulged in a few short hours of sleep, her head rested within a few inches of the Tabernacle ; hence, her stay in this cherished cell, was an uninterrupted communi- cation with her heart's beloved. Although she ho- nored Him by numerous exercises of piety, and daily consecrated three and sometimes five hours to men- tal prayer ; all her occupations afibrded her means of communing with that Jesus who dwelt so near her. True it is, that her actions differed one from the other, but her feelings of interior union with Jesus remained unchangeable ; they resembled streams in different countries, yet, bearing the same waters throughout. Her life was one protracted mental prayer, a ceaseless, heavenward ascension towards Jesus; an unbroken union with His ado- rable person. Her bodily position also proved how strongly she was attached to Jesus truly present in the Blessed Sacrament; for not only did she turn towards the Tabernacle during her exercises of piety, and while assisting at the Holy Sacrifice, BOOK m. — CHAPTER V. 109 but also, during her most ordinary actions, such as her meals, which she always took on her knees ; the charms which drew her towards her heart's be- loved, were far stronger than the attraction which draws the loadstone towards the poles. These cir- cumstances enable us to form a slight conception of the celestial love, which must have burned with in her, when about to receive Him, whom Faith had taught her to adore unceasingly. She enjoyed this happiness four times each week. The days of Holy Communion must have been days of heavenly delight, and transports of seraphic joy to her, whose heart was so ardently inflamed with love for Jesus ; this sacred flame so burned within her, that the day seemed not long enough to satisfy her heart's yearnings } she willingly sacrificed hours of sleep, and arose regularly at midnight, to commune with her Heavenly Spouse. She feared not to enter the chapel when silence reigned around ; knowing that all the members of the Community were then wrapped in slumber, she was wont to repair to the chapel, prostrate herself on the steps of the altar, and remain there an entire hour in silent adoration ; the most intense cold never diminished her fervour j on the vigils of feasts, her meditation lasted two hours. Then it was that she united her homage to that rendered unto Jesus by the Holy Angels who unceasingly surround our Tabernacles : this was one of her favorite occupations. She also oined the Heavenly Spirits, in their praises of the Blessed Trinity, saying with them : Holy, holy, M- m i •I 110 LIFE OF MISS LB B£R. p'^ ■■'if - t ^ ^ ■■•»> holy is the God of hosts, the heaven and the earth are filled with His glory. She often repeated the doxology, Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost : as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. She also oflFered herself unceasingly to the Almighty, as an expiatory victim, for the crimes of sinners, by uniting her oblation to that of Jesus, the Sacred Lamb, who was slain for the sins of the world, and who is the only propitiatory offering we can pre- sent to the Father. The better to succeed in iden- tifying herself with this Sacred Victim ; she sought to become united to Mary, who shared so largely in His sacrifice on Calvary, and who now glorified in Heaven, still intercedes for all sinners. As Jesus, truly present in the adorable Sacra ment, was the sole object of our heroine's affection so was He the sole aim of the ordinary actions which she perforcied between her exercises of piety. She worked continually for Jesus, excepting when the poor required her assistance. As her cell was a representation of the holy house of Nazareth, she remembered that Mary had prepared the linen and garments that the Child Jesus wore ; and willingly endeavoured to participate in the dispositions which had animated this Immaculate Mother, knowing that the linen and other articles, which she made would come in contact with Our Lord's sacred body, and that the vestments and altar fronts, which she adorned so tastefully, would also contribute to His glory and to the magnificence of His temples. On ■V ■ '■ I i BOOK VI. — CHAPTER V. Ill entering the Convent of the Congregation, she had expressed a desire of contributing to the decoration Of the new church, and of furnishing some of the vestments which might be required. This promise was eagerly and generously kept; for she made almost all the vestments that were used during her lifetime, and kindly purchased what she could not make. She gave a very handsome Tabernacle, a Ciborium, a Chalice, an Ostensorium, and a Lamp, made of silver and very delicately worked; these objects may still be seen at the Congregation. Villa- Maria has the honor and highly esteemed privilege of possessing the Ostensorium bestowed by Miss Le Ber, as also an altar vestment which she em- broidered. Although she offered these exterior gifts to Jesus they did not satisfy her ardent love ; neither was she contented with the interior homage she ren- dered unto Him ; she therefore requested Sister Bourgeoys and her companions to join her in mak- ing arrangements to establish the Perpetual Adoration. This proposal was willingly and joy- fully accepted and sister Le Ber's desire gratified, so that excepting certain days, when the Blessed Sacrament was exposed at the Parish church, one of the sisters was in constant adoration before the Tabernacle ; offering up the prayers of the entiro Community. The better to ensure fidelity to this holy practice, so that Our Lord should always receive this tribute presented by fervent souls Miss Le Ber desired that the Sisters of the Con- *^*- Bll 4^1;. I :! t L u 1;!' 112 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. gregatica should bind themselves to follow it, and offered them a gift of 3,000 livres for this purpose. They accepted the offer with feelings of gratitude and Mr. DoUier de Casson gave his approbation to the pious and useful offering. As she wished Our dear Lord to be duly honoured in this church, she made arrangements that the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass might be there offered daily by a priest of the Seminary, at whatever hour the Nuns might appoint, assigning 8,000 livres to defray the ex- penses attendant on this observance. As ardent love for the Blessed Sacrament induced Sister Le Ber to embrace this secluded life, it also led her to practice those austere mortifications and voluntary privations, which she daily inflicted upon herself. Mgr. de Saint Valier, bishop of Quebec, visited the Convent of the Congregation on his return from France in 1698, and was highly gratified on beholding the edifying recluse, of whom report said so much. He visited her in her cell and was astonished at her manner of living ; he also admired the strength of mind, the generosity and the heroic constancy of this favoured ^ ol. Two English gentlemen of rank who happened to be in Ville Marie at the time, and were acquaint- ed with the Le Ber family, made known to the Bishop the desire they entertained of seeing this famous recluse, in order to judge of the correct- ness of the wonderful statements made concerning her. The prelate, firmly convinced that the sight Ik til BOOK in. — CHAPTER V. 113 of this angelic being would produce a most salutary impression on the strangers, accompanied them himself to her cell. They could not express their amazement on beholding Canada's wealthiest daughter in such an abject abode, and deprived of most of the necessaries of life ; for althougu dister Le Ber retained the right of disposing of her for- tune, she practised poverty as rigorously as a fervent religious could do in the most austere orders ; hence, they were greatly astonished on seeing her clothed in a coarse woollen garment, with an apron of similar material, and wearing coarse straw shoes, made, by herself, of the husks of Indian corn. Her couch also attracted their attention, it was composed of a simple straw bed ; a bundle of the same mate- rial sufficed for her pillow ; she never slept on a mattrass nor used any other covering but a coarse blanket. Her food was as simple as her dress and couch, for although she was too delicate to abstain from meat her repasts were as frugal as they could possibly be ; she took boiled meat for dinner, and soup for supper ; but on Saturdays and the vigils of several feasts, her only nourishment was bread and water. These strangers could not conceal their astonish- ment. One of them, a protestant minister, asked why she led such an abject life, when she might have partaken of the greatest enjoyments that the world could oflFer. She replied : " A magnet has " drawn me hither, and keeps me thus separated " from all the luxuries of life." The other gen- ^ '\ 114 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. tleman wished to know what this magnet could be. They were on the ground floor, Misa Le Ber opened the window through which she always re- ceived Holy Communion, humbly kneeling, she cast a glance towards the altar, and said : " Behold the " magnet;" Our Lord truly present in the Divine " Eucharist; Ho it is who induced me to renounce " all else to enjoy the happiness of dwelling near " Him. No power on earth, could sever the bands " which unite me to my God." She then spoke of this august mystery with such a lively faith, such an ardent zeal, and in tones of such passionate love for God, that the minister was quite confounded. Sister Le Ber was endowed with great fluency of speech ; religious convic- tions were so strongly impressed on her mind and heart, that when she conversed • on any pious subject, she truly seemed inspired from above. Her faith in the dogma of the Real Presence, and the incomprehensible love God evinces therein towards man, tended to inflame her ardour ; and on this occasion, she produced strong impressions on her visitors. Upon his return home, the Pro- testant minister often related the circumstances of, this visit : he spoke of sister Le Ber as a prodigy and as the greatest wonder that Canada possessed. We are indebted to Mr. de Belmont for the fore- going facts. About fifty years after sister Le Ber's death, Mr. Montgolfier, superior of the Seminary of Ville-Marie, said he had been informed that this minister subsequently abjured heretical doc- i • J • BOOK m. — CHAPTER V. 115 trines to embrace the true Faith. The life sister Le Ber led in her reclusion was certainly u Hort of miracle that no sectary could ever imitate. Thai alone might sufl&oe to enlighten well-formed mind*, by teaching them the infallibility of the Catholic Church, since no other, could boast of a member endowed with that magnanimous strength and heroic constancy, which our heroine always displayed. r ■■ • :'4^ 3 I CHAPTER VI. AUSTERITIES WHICH MISS LE BER PRACTISED. HER RULE OF LIFE. Sister Le Ber's constitution being weak, her austerities should have caused her to endure acute suflFerings, for she practised the most abject poverty in her clothing and apartment and although her food was very coarse and common, she did not partake of any delicacies, even, on the greatest feasts. As love towards Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament had led her to choose this austere life, it also induced her to adopt other mortifications ; thus, deeming her usual food too choice, she often set it aside, to fast on bread and water, or else, she took so very little soup or boilcl meat, that many were astonished how she could live. Mother Juchereau adds, that sister Le Ber often took food, which she had kept until it had become quite mouldy. Her linen was very coarse, she frequently wore but woollen garments, which she mended repeatedly before laying them aside ; and we pre- viously mentioned that she always wore a hair BOOK m. — CHAPTER VI. Ill shirt, or a bolt of tho same material. She suf- fered from cold during the greater part of the year ; for, although her room contained that indispensable piece of Canadian furniture, a stove, she seldom heated it sufficiently to protect her from the incle- mency of the weather ; summer in no wise, mitigated her suflferings, for the high temperature of her apartment was sometimes suffocating: yet, she never drew near the window to enjoy the cool breeze which arose at certain hours. Such were some of the effects produced by her ardent love for the Heavenly Guest, who dwelt in the Tabernacle. She found additional means of mortifying her- self in the practice of her rule of life, which she followed most assiduously. During her residence of twenty years in the Convent of the Congrega- tion de Notre-Dame, from Easter to All Saint's day, she arose at 4 o'clock ; 4 J was her hour of rising during the remainder of the year. She then de- voted one hour to her first meditation, recited part of the office of the Blessed Virgin, assisted at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, during a certain part of which she remained with outstretched arms. She read some spiritual work, from nine till half past nine and meditated from ten to eleven ; she then read a chapter of the New Testament and made her particular examination. She dined at 11^', recited the Vespers and Complin of the Little Office at [one, and at four devoted another hour to mental prayer. She supped at six, recited the rosary and other vocal prayers at seven ; and •i ) It •;1: •tj.i;- \'U 1 1 118 LIFE OF MISS LE BEB. retired at half past eight. But on Sundays and holidays she devoted two other hours to meditation, one during High Mass, and the other during Vespers. Wo have already alluded to her habit of rising e^cry night to meditate ; then, she recited Matin and Lauds ; on the eve of feasts this mental prayer lasted two hours, though on the following day, five hours were devoted to the same exercis»5. Such was the division of her time, between work, spiritual reading and exercises of piety ; we shall here enter into some details concerning her various occupations. As sister Le Ber had always carefully avoided idleness, she never took any recreation ; needle work occupied her during the hours which inter- vened between her religious exercises. Jesus Christ was the sole end of all her actions, so that when she worked, she sought to relieve His suflfering members, or to honor Himself in the Blessed Sa- crament by decorating His sanctuary, or by making vestments for His ministers. She sometimes spun and knitted, both for the poor and for herself, but always gave them the best, appropriating the most inferior articles for her own use ; her stock- ingft, for instance, were made of the coarsest wool or a species of twine which the poorest classes would not have used. Her tender love for Christ's suflfering members, prompted her to bestow large alms on them and to deprive herself of many neces- saries. Rr.'poct for the Blessed Sacrament, her BOOK ni. — CHAPTER VI. 119 constant Guest, and a desire of assisting the poor to her utmost capacity, led her to sew pieces of old leather on the soles of her husk shoes, to make them last longer, and to prevent any noise being heard in the sanctuary, when she moved about her apartment. Making altar linen and church ornaments was her principal occupation ; she excelled in embroi- dery, all admired her work ; she blended gold, silk, silver and wool, with wonderful taste and ingenuity ; and imparted such beauty and natural to all her embroidery, that it was considered as a model. She had never learned drawing ; yet displayed considerable taste and regularity in tracing the patterns which she composed. It would be no easy task to enumerate all the diflFerent specimens of work produced by her industry, for she was both active and ingenious. Mr. de Belmont's statement confirms this opinion of her indus- try. In 1721 he wrote, saying: Her benevo- " lence was not limited to the Nuns of the " Congregation de Notre-Dame, on whom she " bestowed many gifts for the church ; the Northern " and Southern parishes of the district of Mon- " treal possess many specimens of her work, such " as altar fronts, flowers and vestments." A set of vestments which she made, may be seen at the Parish Church of Ville-Marie ; they arc embroi- dered on a silver ground, and are such striking proofs of her devotion, that they should be care fully kept with the treasures of the Church. ' 1 . . ' -i ! 1,1 •'-i ?■•* ill I ;■ i ^ 'HI ; -1 i" ■ -i n t *• «! '■I 120 LIFE OF MISS LE BEB. She sanctified the hours allotted to work by reflecting on what she had read. The Psalter and the New-Testament were her favourite books ; for as the Psalter contains the interior dispositions of Jesus Christ, faithful souls find therein means of imitat- ing their Heavenly Spouse. The New-Testament teaches them the path to perfection and points out the goal of all their desires, by relating the soul- strenghtening words and benevolent actions of their Divii?e Master. Sister Le Ber had read both these books so frequently, that she could recite the greater part of them from memory. Spiritual reading was however only one of her many exercises of piety, for she had adopted seve- ral practises of devotion and recited a large number of vocal prayers. Besides those for morning and evening, she daily recited the Office of the Cross, the Litany of the Saints, the Little Office and the Bosary ; she said the office of the Dead three times a week, that the colony might be protected by the souls of so many fervent Christians whom the Iroquois had murdered. Ville-Marie having often been reduced to the last extremity and the most atrocious cruelties having been perpetrated against the colonists, they lived in continual dread of the Dutch, English, and Iroquois whom they regarded as their common enemies. In 1691 this induced the citizens, particularly Mr. James Le Ber, to adopt means of obtaining the protection of the souls who had been liberated from Purg'-.tory, and particularly those of their fellow ^1 BOOK m.— CHAPTER VH. 121 citizens who had died in defending their country. For this purpose they bound themselves by vow to have a funeral service celebrated for these souls, every week during a year ; and to erect a chapel near the Parish Church where masses for the dead might always be offered. As sister Le Ber was a victim immolated to God to draw down His bless- ings on her country, she took part in this public devotion and adhered to it after the year had expired. Hence, notwithstanding all her other prayers, she recited the office for the Dead three times a week. These numerous prayers and the exercises of piety, practised by one who, during so many years, led such a severe and penitential life, are striking proofs of sister Le Ber's heroic virtue, and of the ardent love she bore Jesus Christ, whom she wor- shipped in the Sacrament of His love. Still she experienced no consolation while she led this aus- tere life ; no human aid came forward to strengthen her fortitude when nature was weary of continued efforts ; neither did she receive from above those consolations generally experienced by the faithful spouses of the Lord. This fact certainly imparted additional merit to her virtue ; and displayed the strength, magnanimity and constancy with, which she was endowed. i 1 il h Ml \ * CHAPTER VII. MISS LE BER PERSEVERES IN ALL HER RELI- GIOUS EXERCISES. NOTWITHSTANDING HER SEVERAL TRIALS, SHE OBEYS HER DIRECTOR AND SEEKS CONSOLATION FROM GOD ALONE. The fact that sister Le Ber daily devoted four hours to meditation, and on some days five and seven, may have led our readers to believe that this exercise was most agreeable to her, and that she found therein all sorts of spiritual delights and hea- venly comforts ; such however was not the case, although God had been pleased to draw her to Himself, by bestowing great consolations when she first embraced a retired life ; He with- drew them before she entered the Congre- gation, and from this moment until her death, she was tried in so severe a manner, that those only who have passed through the same ordeal, can conceive and understand it. This is the path allotted to peculiarly holy souls, and those are the means generally used by the Almighty to enable them to attain the pinnacle BOOK in. — CHAPTER VH. 123 of spiritual perfection. These celestial delights which God first bestows on souls to draw them lovingly to Himself, do not inculcate virtue, but merely impart a love of it, for virtue is the prize awarded to labour and suffering. God uses these consolations, as mothers do delicacies, to in- duce children to fulfil their duty : so long as these rewards are required, it is evident that love of duty is not deeply rooted in those children's hearts. Thus, when a soul experiences consolations which no wise tend to elevate it, it is evidently feeble and but little advanced in virtue. God was pleased to treat sister Lo Ber, as He does heroic souls ; and to teach her solid virtue which is founded on interior abnegation. He de- prived her of the celestial light which had illumined her soul for many years, and witlv^rew those inef- fable consolations which had previoucsly drawn her towards Him, and had often seemed to give her wings to reach the throne of God. This must not lead us to think that Our Kind Father forsakes those whom He tries in this manner. He acts thus, to enable them to attain perfection, for in with- drawing those particular sensible graces which do not influence the soul's superior faculties. He en- dows the latter with more lasting and more esti- mable gifts. When the Almighty withdrew these favours from sister Le Ber, her hours of medita- tion became hours of severe trial : her mind seemed darkened, and her heart cold and callous. Faith in the wisdom of God's decrees was her sole guido; ( 1 ' Kil I> .'■ i I' 124 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. and His holy will, her only consolation. True it is, that the Almighty sometimes rewarded His ser- vant's fidelity, by enlightening her mind with a ray of celestial light from above, and comforting her soul by pouring on it one drop of those ineflFable consola- tions which He alone can bestow ; but then the darkness grew darker still, and the heart's usual ari- dity would return. Thus it was she spent the last twenty years of her life ; and these trials tended to strengthen her virtue. Her fidelity throughout this long ordeal ought to teach souls how steadfast they should remain, when God is pleased to test their virtue. Many get discouraged when they experience this apparent aridity, and forsake their exercises because they have lost the inclination which at- tracted them. Our holy Recluse acted not thus ; she persevered as faithfully in fulfilling her exercises of piety during her twenty years of trial, as she had done when enjoying all corts of spiritual com- forts : she never omitted nor abridged any of her long meditations, and eagerly rose at night to devote a considerable time to mental prayer, although she acquitted herself of this duty without experiencing any sensible devotion. She was scrupulously faith- ful in performing her various duties at the time appointed for each. This struck Anna Barroy her cousin and attendant; she was not aware of sister Le Ber's interior trials, but could not help remarking her inalterable fidelity to her rule of life. She subsequently became a Nun of the Congrega- tion de Notre-Dame, and was obliged to write an I BOOK nJ. — CHAPTER VH. 125 account of sister Le Ber. Our heroine's punctu- ality to her rule chiefly elicited her admiration : " Sister Le Ber complied so exactly with all " her rule required, that she can be looked upon " as a model of punctuality, and as an encourage^ " ment to the most fervent to renew their zeal in " following all their rules, even the most trifling " points ; her example also condemns slightest " omissions." Fidelity to these regulations, through a pure motive of love for God, was consequently, one of the results of sisterLe Ber's trials. When God sanctifies souls by trial, if they persevere in their exercises of piety, other temptations assail them : the enemy of all good endeavours to lead them astray by convincing them that this state of spiritual dryness injures the soul ; and that they must make some efibrt to free themselves from it. The better to ensure success in his evil designs, he tries to persuade them that their director does not understand the trials under which they labour, or, that he has not suj£cient grace to guide them: he tempts them to seek another spiritual director, and deludes ther l oy the hope of thus advancing in virtue. Many yield to the temptation, and leave their confessor without asking advice, and without any reasons to autho- rize their doing so; they do not reflect that a sincere desire of ensuring their salvation is not their motive ; but that they are actuated by a hope thai this change will prove beneficial by obtaining consolation. i n 126 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. But Sister Le Ber was not blinded by self-love, she warded off all its attacks, henco she never would consent to change her director, nor would she even agree to consult any one else. Seeing that she ex- perienced no consolation in obeying him, he repeatedly advised her to choose some more enlightened person, who might encourage her in the hours of trial : she refused to do so ; although ehe might have had recourse to distinguished mem- bers of the society of Jesus, or to some of the Eecollet Friars then residing in Ville-Marie, or even to another priest of the Seminary of Saint- Sulpice : she adhered to her director, thinking as he bad been the instrument of enlightening her childhood and of guiding her first steps in the path to perfection, she would walk in safety so long as ehe followed his advice. Nought but a most lively Faith could have inspired such perseverance and have taught her to view her confessor, as the guide whom God had chosen to direct her through life ; for although Mr. Sdguenot was parish priest at Pointe-aux-Trembles during twenty years, she never made choice of another director during his life. While he had charge of this parish, he sel- dom came to Ville-Marie more than once a week, and then he heard Miss Le Ber's confession. His absence, the impossibility of consulting him in unexpected circumstances and the diffi- culties of seeing, him when the roads were bad, might have sanctioned a change of director, yet she never would have any other. Her submissioo BOOK III. — CHAPTER VH. 127 toTiim was such that some time before her death, Mr. Soguenot being too unwell to administer the Sacrament during the night, she would not receive Holy Communion without her director's permission although another priest oflfercd to replace him. Another temptation assails those who are afflict- ed by interior trials : not experiencing anv conso- lation in fulfilling their religious duties, they seek it in creatures and indulge in conversations on pious subjects, hoping thereby to alleviate their suf- ferings or at least to forget them for a time ; sister Le Ber however never yielded to these insinua- tions of the evil spirit ; in the midst of her severe trials, she never deviated from the resolution she had taken on retiring from the world, that of seek, ing consolation from God alone. Being at liberty to modify her rule of life, she might have requested her superiors to grant her some objects of amuse- ment, or to converse with fervent souls on topics which might have tended to strengthen her virtue, and induce her to persevere ; yet, far from solicit- ing any such favour, she refused it when oflfered. She always endeavoured to imitate Saint John the Baptist, who, during his long retreat de- prived himself of all intercourse with creatures, and of all the comforts of life. The better to en. sure her perseverance, she frequently called to mind what is said of Saint John : " As he lived in the *' hope of beholding the Saviour of the world, he " never looked on created objects with any satis- « faction." Hence sister Le Ber declined all offers P' f ' ! 1,- It. ■'t> ■ l!' 128 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. she received, and would not >3onsont to have a small garden near her cell, where she could breathe the fresh air and take some little relaxation. On one occasion, she happened to \y^ ill, and her con* fessor proposed that she should leave her apart- ment for change of air : she refused saying : " O " Father, my cell is my terrestrial paradise ; it is " my centre of attraction. Can a fish live out of " water ? I could find no more pleasant or saluta- " ry dwelling, no palace could render me as happy '' as my cell does ; it is dearer to me than the " entire universe." We shall hereafter relate how earnestly she en- treated the Nuns of the Congregation to erect a new building fov their schools. As this wing was erected at her request, and as she defrayed part of the expense, the Nun who directed its construction obtained permission to speak to sister Le Bsr, and asked if she would come to visit the building, when it would be finished. Our holy Recluse had never seen the plan, nor did she know on what precise spot the building was erected, although she daily heard the men working at it, and might have seen it without going any considerable distance from her cell ; she answered with her usual mildness : ** I do not think that my presence would be neces- " Bary, but I shall see about it." The Nun understood her desire and said no more on this subject. Her love of mortification prompted her to conquer nature to such a degree that she never looked out into the Convent garden which BOOK m. — CHAPTER VH. 129 surrounded her retirement, nor did ahe ever cast a glance on her father's garden situated but a few paces from her cell. She also deprived herself of all consolation that was not absolutely necessary, or ordered by her director. On entering her cell in the Convent of the Congregation de Notre-Dame, Mr. Seguenot had stipulated that should his Lordship the Bishop of Quebec express a desire of seeing her, she must acquiesce to it, and that "Mr. Le Ber her father could visit her twice a year ; she observed this point most scrupulously, never asking to see her father more frequently. Mr. Le Ber lavished the deepest affection on his only daughter whose inno- cence and eminent virtues had won his confi(^.ence and veneration. His fond parental love led him to request the favour of being buried in the church of the Congregation, so that death might bring him nearer to his daughter, and that their remains one day might rest in the same spot. Sister Le Ber was kuly attached to her father, for gratitude and reli- gion had strengthened natural fondness ; yet she never asked to quit her cell in order to console him when he lay on his death-bed : she testified her love by praying for him. His death inflicted a deep wound on her affectionate heart. Her father's funeral service was celebrated in the church ad- joining her cell. Though she did not behold the scene of mourning, she must nee. (s have heard the sorrowful chants that accompany such ceremonies. Her conduct throughout deserves the highest ap- ,«, ,.^ ,, f. 1 ' i i : is fi'> 1 130 UFE OF MISS LE DER. plause, for notwithstanding the anguish she expe- rienced on that day, she fulfilled all her usual duties. She was really fond of her other relatives and acted very generously towards some who were not in affluent oireumstancjs, devoting considerable sums to the education of some of her little cousins, who would otherwise have been brought up in igno- rance. But this affection for her relatives did not lead her to transgress her rule of silence. After her reclusion she refused to receive visits from any of them : she would not even consent to see her nephews de Saint Paul and de Senneville who were not acquainted with her. The only means to catch a glimpse of her was to kneel near the sanctuary when she received Holy Communion. A praise- worthy curiosity induced several persons to assist at Mass on those days ; they were amply rewarded ; for her profound religion and unassuming modesty produced salutary impressions. Besides the Bishop and Mr. Le Ber, the Supe- rioress of the Congregation was the only person who visited the holy Recluse, her visits were limit- ed to one or two during the year ; for the rule which sister Le Ber had adopted with her direc- tor's sanction, forbade all unnecessary communica- tion ; hence necessity alone sometimes led her to speak to her attendant. If she required a Nun to attend her when sick, she merely asked what she required; when well she left a note upon the window containing a list of what she wanted, she BOOK m. — CHAPTER VII. 131 never opened any notea found there, before sending tLom to her director. Nevertheless a 6[»ccial favour was occasionally granted to some of the Nuns of thu Congregation ; they were allowed to consult her in difficulties and interior trials ; for during all the time she under- went that ordeal of which we previously spoke, she lost none of her natural gentleness and always ex- pressed her thoughts wifh great facility. These trials purified her, as fire does gold, and endowed her with a personal knowledge of the difficulties encountered in a spiritual life. She was thus enshlcd to direct souls in the midst of interior darkness. Her religious love of silence and hpr fidelity to this point of her rule had drawn down on her words the power of touching souls and of im- buing them with her own fervour. She spoke so feelingly, and God's Holy Spirit so blessed her language, that all who conversed with her, with- drew filled with holy dispositions, and determined to bear every trial through love for God and to promote His glory. She lost all control over herself when allowed to speak on religious subjects ; this happened when- ever she conversed with her director ; but Mother Juchereau informs us that she seldom indulged in lengthened intercourse even with him. Mr. de Belmont says : " Her fervour overpowered her completely ; she spoke with such feeling and rapi- dity that her confessor was frequently obliged to moderate her zeal. She would then cast herself .t 132 LIPE OF MICS LE BER. on her knees saying; Father, forgive me ; yon are right in warning me of my indiscretion. She would remain in this humble posture i^ithout uttering a word until her confessor gave her permission to speak. Then her u«"'ial eloquence would return, and she would po^'r forth those Evangelical truths which were so indelibly imprinted on her heart. The intensity of feeling, facility of expressing her thoughts and the irresistible ardour, which sister Le Ber manifested, when speaking of God, were evident proofs that her trials contributed to teach hfcr the ways of Divine Love, and the path to that solid perfecvion which is founded on self-abn^a* tion. None can help admiring her fidelity to silence in the midst of such severe trials, and this fidility may be truly termed^ heroic, when we reflect that it was practised unremittingly during thirty-four years. "' - •■-■'■• ■I Ml II iiiii>it< iiliin*! r.i<-.t lilt >f BOOK FOTJETH. SISTER IE BER'S DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN.— HER AFFECTION FOR THE CON- GREGATION DE NOTRE DAME.— HER HOLY DEATH. CHAPTER I. SISTER LE BER's FILIAL DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN. Jestis Christ truly present in the Adorable Sa- orametit of the altar, was the object of Sister Le Ber's special devotion, and to prove her love for, and faith in the Divine Presence, she deprived her- self of all earthly comforts, dwelt in poverty and solitude, devoted many hours to mental prayer, wotked assiduously, gave up all intercourse with the creature, and accomplished those other heroic acts, which previously elicited our admiration. Jesus in the Holy Eucharist was then the centre of I r 134 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. all her devotions, the sole object of her love ; and, to approach nearer, to the beloved of her heart, she united her intentions to the interior dispositions of that spotless Virgin, who is Jesus Christ's most perfect worshipper. Enlightened by Divine Faith, she felt that she enjoyed the hapj iness of being the temple of the Holy Ghost. Knowing that this Holy Spirit is the source of the spiritual life which is bestowed on all Saints, she endeavoured to conform her inclinations to those which He had created within Mary's soul. To ensure fidelity to this practice, she frequently meditated on an engraving represent- ing Mary's interior life, — The Blessed Virgin is seen surrounded by clouds ; the Holy Ghost in the form of a bright dove, rests on her bosom, indi- cating that the abundance of His gifts, was bestowed upon her ; her eyes are fixed on the monogram. " Jesus Saviour of Mankind." This engraving signified, that as the Holy Ghost was the principle of all Mary's actions ; the love of Jesus, and the salvation of souls constituted her sole aim ; beneath was written an invitation to unite in these interior dispositions ; with Mari/, through Mary, and in Mary. This holy union was Sister Le Ber's chief study during her years of solitude: — ^her meditations, the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, her Communions, and other acts of devotion, her manual labor, even her meals and minor occupations, were, by Faith and Love, united to Mary's interior dispositions. BOOK IV. — CHAPTER I. 135 She was wont to beg of this Holy Virgin, to be ever with her, to be the model of her actions, the soul of her soul ; to imbue her, so completely, with her own Holy dispositions, that she might consider herself an instrument her Heavenly Mother could use, as she pleased, to contribute to Jesus' glory. To be more thoroughly penetrated with feelings of this entire trust in Mary, Sister Le Ber had another picture, which represented the Blessed Virgin receiving the soul of a Christian, who seemed to pine, at the protracted length , of her exile ; and, to place all her happiness, in resting entirely on Mary ; written below this engraving, was a touching invocation, which Sister Le Ber daily said with love and confidence. Devotion to Mary's interior life, and a desire of imitating it, were the means our heroine sought to become agreeable to Jesus ; wishing to copy Mary in all things, she adopted a woollen garment, of a whitish grey color ; but her peculiar study, was the Interior life, for she well knew, that it alone had induced the Holy Trinity, to shower the choicest blessings on this humble Virgin. Hence, every year she followed the cus- tom of the Ecclesiastics of the Seminary of Ville Marie, who celebrated, on the 19th of October, a feast, in honor of the Interior of Mary. In pre- paration for this festival, she fasted the previous day, on bread and water. Mary's interior life being the chief object of her devotion towards the Blessed Virgin, and neglecting however, none of Her other mysteries, she left a memorial still exist- 1 I f II. 1 ! 136 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. II m § Si % ing of it, in the chasuble she embroidered for the Parish Church. Knowing that this vestment would be used on fe8tivalsoftheBlessedVirgin,8he embroid- ered a medallion in the centre, representing Mary's interior life, similar to the engraving she had in her cell ; for she desired that the faithful should know this devotion, which experience had t&ught her to cherish, because of the many blessings and con- solations attending it. Sister Le Ber during her conversation with her attendant, frequently told her, that her fondest desire was to honor and imitate Mary, and to induce others to act in like manner. We feel confident that her devoted love for the Mother of Jesus must have drawn d «v n this Immaculate Virgin's protection on the colony. The little care that had been taken at our heroine's death to collect memoirs of her life, has doubtlessly' deprived us of several edifying traits ; one however^ has been handed to us, and proves the happy results of her confidence in Mary's powerful intercession. The English hadlongsought to conquer Canada, and in 1711 formed plans to carry out their designs. 3000 men, left New York with small field pieces to surprise Ville Marie by land ; whilst a fleet was sent out to attack Quebec. Each of these armies was more numerous, than the united forces of Ca- nada J Ville Marie's sole fortification being a pike fence, it could not resist the attack, and the citi- zens were in despair. While consternation thus reigned, Ann Barroy was told to inform Sister Le Ber of the coming calamity, that her prayers might BOOK rV. — CHAPTER I. 13T protect her fellow countrymen; when the Holy Beoluse heard the above mentioned details, she remained silent for some time, then consoled her attendant, assuring her that the Blessed Virgin' would guard the country. As news was received that the land army had left New York, the citizens' expected to see the city besieged by the enemy.' Sister Le Ber gave her cousin a picture of the Blessed Virgin, on which she had written a prayer, beseeching this Holy J^iother, to watch over the^ Congregation. She told her cousin to fasten this- picture on the barn door ; the prayer was as follows ; " Queen of ^-iugels, our sovereign and bountiful " Mother, your daughters of the Congregation con-' " fide in you, their sole confidence is in your power-- " ful intercession ; relying on your benevolence, " they hope that you will not allov your enemie"' " to take possession of that which belongs to those* " who are under your special protection." As soon as the picture was fastened to the door^ several individuals hastened to the Congregation' requesting Sister Le Ber to write prayers on pic- tures; which they brought for the purpose ; for all considered her a saint ; as her humility prevented' her from acquiescing in their request, some of them being dissatisfied took possession of the original^ picture, and she was obliged to write the same^ prayer on another. This confidence in Sister Le^ Ber's prayers was not limited to the lower classes ;- tlie following instance proves that the most distin- guished persons held her in the highest esteem* I 1$ a. i 138 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. The Baron of Longueuil, our heroine's cousin, justly surnamed the Machaheus of Montreal, hap- pened to be Governor of Ville Marie, when the English threatened Canada ; he thought that the enemy should not be allowed to reach the city without being attacked ; and the safest plan would be to lie in ambush at some distance from the city; consequently, he determined to set out with a handful of men to surprise the English near Chambly, where they had to pass; but, as his whole reliance was in the protection of that Holy Mother who had been chosen Sovereign of the country, he wished to march with a banner, having the Blessed Virgin on one side, and on the other a prayer, written, and composed by Sister Le Ber. Our heroine could not refuse this request ; made the banner, and placed on it a picture of the Im- maculate Virgin, which her brother Lad painted some time previous, and wrote this prayer on the canvass ; " Our enemies rely on the power of their " arms, and we on the powerfulintercessionof Her " whom we revere and invoke as Queen of Angela. " She is terrible as an army set in array, with Her " assistance we will vanquish our enemies." Mr. de Belmont, the Superior of the Seminary, blessed the banner, and solemnly gave it to the Baron, in pre- sence of a large number of the faithful, who had assembled in the Parish Church, to witness this edifying scene. The brave and valiant captain hastened to depart, carrying with him a banner which he considered as a token of protection from above. BOOK rV. — CHAPTER I. 139 When Sister Le Ber's cousin informed her of the coming calamity, she added ; " If the English " have a favourable wind, their fleet will be before " Quebec on such a day, and the fate of the colony " will be scaled." — Our holy Recluse after remain- ing silent for some time reassured her cousin, say- ing : — " Sister, your fears will not be realized ^ the Blessed Virgin will watch over this country ; She is our Guardian should we apprehend any danger ? She thus formally declared that Mary's powerful intercession would prevent the English from having the favourable wind they desired ; for their number led them to suppose that, by an unexpected attack , they could easily master the French colonists. This prophetic answer induces us to believe that Sister Le Ber had subsequently offered up many prayers to the Blessed Virgin, to obtain that the enemy's progress might be arrested ; this was un- doubtedly the object of her long meditations, both night and day ; for she was aware that her fellow- citizens were in a state of fearful apprehension. Worldly wisdom would doubtlessly condemn the calm assurance with which Sister Le Ber quieted her cousin's fears ; but time proved that her reply had been inspired from above ; and what Genevieve had been to old France, so Jeanne Le Ber was to be to New France, our heroine's prayers were to be the means of warding off the impending ruin of the colony ; for after the English fleet, destined to attack Quebec, had entered the St. Lawrence and Ml) ■:•■ 1 €. :■' f f:,:o 11! «« 1 t m> 140 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. It lay to the North of Isle aux (Eufs, a violent south wind arose and seven of the largest ships were dashed to pieces on the rocks. Thunder and lights ning tended to render the scene still more terrific ; one ship was struck so violently that its keel was thrown far up on land. About three thousand corpses were found on the banks; two entire companies of the Queen's guards were identified by their uniform. This disaster so intimidated the English admi- ral, that apprehending the loss of the remainder of his fleet, he returned directly to London with a few ships. Not wishing to appear before the Queen after this defeat, he set fire to his ships on enter- ing the Thames ; two sailors were the only persons who escaped ; the land forces which had been sent to attack Yille Marie returned on hearing that the fleet had been destroyed. The general consterna- tion occasioned by the misfortunes of the English) was increased in Boston the day of their return ;. eighty houses having been destroyed by fire. The Canadians considered this event as a strik- ing proof of the special protection granted to theit country. Mr. de Vaudreuil, Governor General of Canada, wrote to the Minister of the French Navy, saying: " We will return tiianks to God for the mira- " culous protection He has been pleased to bestow " on this colony. All agree in saying, that the " Almighty has conferred a great blessing on the ** colonists, by destroying the English fleet, with- " out any loss on our side." fill' ■k i!:i CHAPTER II. SISTER LE BER'S DEVOTION TO THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY, INSPIRES HER WITH A RE- LIGIOUS VENERATION FOR SISTER BOUR- QEOTS AND A SPECIAL AFFECTION FOR THE CONGREGATION. Respect, confidence and filial love for the Blessed Virgin were thelinksthatunited Sister LeBer to the venerable Sister Bourgeoys, whom she considered, as a living representative of this heavenly Mother. During her conversations with her cousin, Ann Barroy, when the latter was about to enter Sister Bourgeoy's Institution, she frequently said to her, that the odour of this holy Foundress' virtue had drawn her thither, that she had come after a great many other holy souls, whose fervor she held in high veneration, to enclose herself in their blessed so- litude. She never wearied extolling Sister Bour- geoys' merits ; and when she gave any advice to the Sisters of the Congregation, respecting their rule of life, she always held forth their Foundress as a perfect model of all that the Church required of a true Sister of the Congregation. These praises may certainly be considered as the greatest eulo- !■"? i ■ k I •: 'I 1 1 |!;''ii;;-f- m I 142 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. fri'i i gium that Sister Bourgeoys could receive, for our holy Recluse had attained that high d ^cee of wis- dom and penetration into divine matters, that Qod alone can give. This veneration was reciprocal. Sister Bourgeoys viewed Miss Le Ber with feelings of the most pro- found respect, on account of the sublime virtues she had so often admired in her. Although these favoured souls dwelt beneath the same roof, they seldom had any intercourse, yet both seemed to delight in praising each other's merits ; this mu- tual religious veneration was inspired by a super- natural light, which enabled the one to discern the many virtues that adorned the other's soul. Hence, if Sister Le Ber experienced feelings of delight on entering her cell in the Convent of the Congrega- tion, Sister Bourgeoys hailed her arrival there with no less joy and gratitude. Several years later she spoke of it, in the following terms : " I was " delighted when Miss Le Ber entered this institu- " tion to imitate Magdalen's retirement in a grot- *• to, by dwelling in a cell. She never quits " this abode nor speaks to any one ; her food is " conveyed to her by a door outside of the chapel " and she receives it through a small aperture. A *' small grating enables her to look at the taberna- " cle and to receive Holy Communion." Personal esteem for our holy Recluse and for her eminent qualities was not the sole motive of Sister Bourgeoys' satisfaction ; our heroine's mode of life during her stay in the Congregation also BOOK IV. — CHAPTER II. 143 elicited the venerable Foundress' heartfelt grati- tude towards the Sovereign Author of all good. A pious thought had onoe been expressed to Sister Bourgeoys by her director, previous to her coming to Canada. Our Lord, said he, after His ascen- sion into Heaven, left three classes of women to follow and work for His Church. Some, called to the exercise of a contemplative life, are represented by St. Mary Magdalen ; others, whose vocation lead them to the cloister, there to devote their lives, to their neighbour's welfare, have St. Martha for a model ; but, how many of a third kind, have been called to imitate the active life of the Blessed Virgin who contributed, so largely, to the sanctification of souls, and that, outside the limits of a cloister : such was to be the end of the order Sister Bourgeoys was one day to form, and has been fully realized in the Institution of the Congregation de Notre Dame at Ville Marie. It is to be remembered that when Miss Le Ber withdrew to the Congregation in 1695, the Hospi- tal Nuns happened to be there; their Convent having been lately destroyed by fire. Seeing these persons united, Sister Bourgeoys called to mind the reflection which her Director had made to her, when she was very young; this circumstance, tended to heighten her delight, on receiving our heroine : the following are her impressions on this coincidense. " Since Miss Le Ber has entered " this Institution to dwell in retirement I have " beheld the three classes of women, whom our f? Siii »ii:;l. 144 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. M f <* Lord left to minister to the wants of His Church ; " the first, leading a solitary life, lik*> St. Magda- " Ion; the second by imitating Martha's activity; " and the third, endeavouring to reproduce the " Blessed Virgin's zeal for the salvation of souls. " These three orders are now united beneath one " roof: Miss Le Ber having been called to re- " present Magdalen, who dwelt in the grotto, as " St. John the Baptist had dwelt in the wildei noes. " The Hospital Nuns have been here for some " time, and remind us of Martha's busy, though " cloistered life. The Nuns of the Congregation " de Notre Dame, represent the Blessed Virgin, " their Mother, Superioress, and Foundress. She " alone embraces all the diflFerent callings of the " Church, and protects all religious orders. This " Holy Mother is pleased, then, to unite these " three classes of women within Her house, to teach " us, that abend of universal charity, should unite " usto those, who are devoted to God's service, under " Her Holy protection." Sister Le Ber's special attachment to the Con- gregation, arose from the belief, that this commu- nity was Mary's cherished family; and this led her to bestow benefits upon it ; hence, after defray- ing a great part of the expense incurred by build- ing the new Church, and richly decorating it ; she also founded the Perpetual Adoration, and bestowed a large sum to enable the Nuns to have the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, daily offered up in their cha- pel. Wishing to uphold a Community so dear to LOOK IV. — CHAPTER II. 145 her, and so favoured by the Queen of Anp;cl3, she left them a gift of 10,000 livrc8; saying, in the coutr ct, that *' affection for the Kuns of the Con- '^ g7 1/at'ion de Notre Dame induced her to present " this offer ing.^^ She stipulated, thct the revenue of this sum should always be iioed for the mainten- ance of the Community at Ville Mario, and for no other purpose. Mr. Le Ber had also during his life time, evin- ced great respect for this institution, and before death gave a striking proof of his affection. Although the Sister^i of the Congregation exacted no dower when candidates had none, he bequeathed 2,000 livres to the Nuns, for the purpose of admit- ting Anu 1^3 TO) , should she be called to a religious life ; or any other person whom Sister Le Ber and the Nuns might select. He also left a legacy of 3,000 livres as a dower for one of his nieces, Mary Elizabeth Lemoync de Longueuil, if she wished to enter the Congregation.* Ann Barroy • This generosity from Mr. Le Ber is a striking proof of his refined and delicate feelings ; his daughter having already bestowed many gifts on the Congregation, he might have requested the Nuns to admit Ann Barroy •without any dower ; or to act towards her, as they did towards some others ; to receive her gratuitously, mere- ly stipulating that she might inherit something later. But Mr. Le Ber wished to act in a fatherly manner, and left her the dower which wealthy parents generally gave their daughters. Many parents have frequently adopt- ed a dififerent line of conduct ; some, though in affluent circumstauoes, have alleged ditfereut reasons for de* L %', ml 146 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. hb. JA in the Congregation de Notre Dame ever since Sister Le Ber had entered her cell ; she hat) been most favourably increased with the fervour which reigned among the Sisters j and God was pleased to call her to enter this institution. She had probably informed her cousin of this fact, previous to Mr. Le Ber's deaths for it appears that his daughter requested him to assign the above sum to the x^uns. This opinion is confirmed by Ann Barroy who thus mentioned Sister Le Ber's pleasure when she spoke of entering the Congrega- tion. She said, " I never experienced more heart- " idt satisfaction than I did, when you expressed " your desire of becoming a member of this Com- priving their daughters of their rights, and have thus injured the Gomnaunity that was bound to support their children. In 1718, Mary Chapt de Lacorne, entered the Con- Tent of the Congregation; she was called Sister of the Blessed Sacrament, and spent forty years in this insti- tution, y/ithout receiving any dower : on her entry, her father said his numerous family prevented him from settling any fixed sum on her; but that, at his death she would inherit her share of his fortune. Some years after this Nun's death, her eldest toother was shipwreck, ed r>n board the " Auguste," and the Community clainjed the portion which had rightly belonged to her. Another brother Mr. St. Luc de Lacorne, refused to grant the slightest compensation to the Nuns of the Congregation sayiug that they possessed no will, or written contract in ILeir favour. As this occurred after the conquest of Canada by the British, the matter was referred to the court of the Captains of Militia, and the Lacorne family, BOOK IV. — (JifAPtfill n. ur " munity, and I will most willingly defray j^l the " expenses, this step may incur." Sister Le Ber's delight on receiving this intel- ligence m*ose, not only from a natural feeling of pleasure at the thought, that a member of her femily was about to consecrate herself to God; but also, from the fact that her cousin had selected an institution so specially consecrated to the Blessed Virgin ; an institution wherein she was honoured as Foundress, Superioress, Queen, and Mother. The mere appellation " Congregation de Notre Dame^^ made a deep impression on Sister Le Ber ; it had attached her to the institution from child- hood, and had induced her to select it as her abode. Her marked predilection for the Nuns, sprung from a belief, that God had chosen them, to represent was condemned. The principal members appealed to Sir Thomas Gage, Governor of Montreal ; he took the matter into consideration and finally confirmed the con- demnation of the Lacorne family, by sentencing them to give two thousand livres to the Sisters of the Congre- gation as the deceased Nun's dower, and to pay the in- terest of that sum from 1*718; he settled the entire amount at 2,750 livres ; and allowed the family to give the sum to the Sisters ; or to give them the inherit- ance of the eldest Lacorne, which would have rightly belonged to his Sister, if she had lived. — The Governor being a Protestant, could not be accused of partiality towards religious Institutions ; but a sense of justice led him to acknowledge the rights of the Sisters of the Congregation; and although the Lacorne family were Catholics, he showed them the importance of this obli- gation, and reproved them for neglectin^p to fulfil it,— 148 LIFE OF MISS LE BEB. the Blessed Virgin, and to edify the faithful, by endeavouring to imitate Her Apostolic zeal, and other eminent virtues. Hence, after Ann Barroy's reception,now Sister St. Charles, our Holy Recluse often said to her : " What happiness you enjoy to " be thus numbered among Mary's daughters ! Do " you fully appreciate this favour ? Are you the " roughly instructed in all that your state requires " of you ? Do you practise entire separation from " the world, and from all natural inclinations ? She, " who wears the Blessed Virgin's livery, should be " detached from all worldly things ; she should " avoid affectation of manners, extreme neatness, " and all that tends to singularity." Sister St. Charles once entered her cousin's cell with a coarse dress, that had not yet lost its lustre ; Sister Le Ber remarked it, and advised her to wear it in the rain ; the religious adds : " On another occasion, I had a dress so very old and worn, that I feared her displeasure ; being fully aware, how much she disliked extremes, knowing they gene- rally proceed from a desire of singularity rather than from solid virtue; but she was delighted, on seeing my dress, and took advantage of it, to extol the virtue of poverty ; a virtue, she added, so cherished by our Holy Mother the Blessed Virgin ; her words were so convincing and per- suasive, that on withdrawing from her cell, I resolved to practise it more faithfully than I had hitherto done." Sister Le Ber's esteem for the Sisters of the BOOK rV. — CHAPTER II. 149 u ' I.J Congregation, and her appreciation of the manifold benefits they conferred on the colony, by educating youth, induced her to bestow another gift, which enabled them to enlarge their Schools. "a ill ■I r CHAPTER III. ml tAi i: RESPECT rOR SISTER BOURGEOYS, INDUCES MISS LE BER TO ENABLE THE NUNS OP THE CONGREGATION DE NOTRE DAME TO BUILD A BOARDING SCHOOL ; SHE SETTLES A DONA- TION rOR THE GRATUITOUS EDUCATION OF A NUMBER OF BOARDERS. When Sister Bourgeoys laid the foundations of the building of the Crngregation, she little thought that the community would increase so rapidly ; but she soon perceived that her buildings were not sufficiently extensive to accommodate the Nuns, and pupils ; so before her death, she advised the Nuns to erect new buildings for the different schools of the city. The Holy Foundress died in 1700, and the Nuns were unable to carry out this design; their funds being very low, owing to the expenses incurred by establishing several missions, and the scarcity caused by protracted wars. Miss Le Ber intended after her father's death, to divest herself of all her inheritance in favour of the Nuns of che Congregation de Notre BOOK lY, — CHAPTER HI. 151 Dame, to enable them to extend the sphere of their duties, with lees difficulty than they had previously encountered: she had also a strong desire of realiz- ing her revered friend's dying request, and wished not only to supply funds for building large schools ; but also, to settle a donation for the education of -children, whose parents had not the means of so doing. Fear, lest her funds would not meet the eipense, caused her to defer ; but a presentiment that depth was near induced her to hasten the ac- complishment of her generous resolution. After soliciting Mary's protection and that of the Holy Angels, she settled a sum for the gratuitous educa- tion of a certain number of young girls, but not being able to defray the expense of the building, she earnestly requested the Sisters to rely on Provi- dence, and to begin the undertaking without any further delay^ As Sister Margaret . Grottier was the manager of the Community, she obtained permission to con- verse with Sister Le Ber, and thus speaks of the Holy Recluse: " She always evinced an ardent wish " that the buildings should be begun, assuring us ^* that such was (Sod's will; and, that the Angels " would assist us. She sometimes added that, " should we not begin this year, we would not do " so later, although the necessity might be more ^* urgent. She spoke in such a persuasive and ^' inspired tone, that we immediately commenced ^' the work, though we possessed neither funds nor *' materials." "it I •■i Ml. % 152 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. iW The foundations were soon laid, and Mr. dc Belmont blessed the corner stone on the 28th of May, 1713. The building was dedicated to Mary, Queen of Angels. The following inscription placed in the foundation, is a most edifying memorial of the piety and confidence that animated our heroine and the Sisters of the Congregation : " Holy " Virgin, Queen op Angels, and Hefuqe " of mankind, vouchsafe to grant us the " protection, we must humbly solicit foe " the beginning and completion op this " building, which we have undertaken in " COMPLIANCE WITH OUR VENERABLE MoTHER'S " REQUEST. Our MOST EARNEST DESIRE IS, " THAT WE MAY THUS CONTRIBUTE TO THE " GLORY OP Thy Son, and to thy greater (( honour. Watch over it, Immaculate " Virgin, so that mortal sin may never " ENTER BENEATH ITS ROOF. SeND GuARDIAN " Spirits to protect us, and to promote " DEVOTION TOWARDS ThEE ; SO THAT ALL ITS " INMATES MAY REVERE ThEE^ AS THEIR GUIDE, " THEIR Mother, and Queen." Amen. Sister Trottier adds: " Though very desirous to see the building erected, still I hesitated to under- take it, on account of our very limited resources; but no sooner did I mention my apprehensions to Sister Le Ber, than she quieted them all. She was wont to say, success would certainly crown our efforts ; that she would request the Holy Angels to take charge of the undertaking, and to supply us BOOK IV. — CHAPTER IH. 153 with all the means requisite to accomplish it. I subsequently had reason to believe that I experien- ced the cflFects of her prayers ; for I found many unlooked for resources ; moreover, I may add, that although at liberty to have recourse to her, I sel- dom did so, except in cases of absolute necessity. We had many striking proofs of the Angels' pro- tection. The few workmen we had, were them- selves often surprised at the rapid progress of their work ; from this, the report spread that they worked during the day, and Angels during the night. Many citizens said the same thing, and seemed greatly surprised. The report mentioned by Sister Trottier was not confined to the Convent of the Congregation or to Ville Marie: Mother Juchereau wrote from Que- bec, and thus confirmed the belief, that Sister Le Ber was assisted by Celestial Spirits. She says : " The Holy Recluse in the execution of her em- " broidery is assisted by Angels, with whom she is ** wont to converse, and who undoubtedly take great " pleasure in dwelling with this Angelic being." Sister Le Ber's confidence in the Holy Angels and her practice of having recourse to, and of con- versing with them, must have arisen from the as- sistance they gave her. Sister Trottier mentions a remarkable instance of her simplicity and con- fidence : " She once requested me to send " her a workman, to repair her spinning wheel : I " forgot to do so, and shortly afterwards went to " apologize for my negligence ; adding, that I would 'I i ,:4 I 154 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. ^1 ^* atone ibr my fault, by immediately complying " with her request ; she smiled and said : Oh " all is right. I had recourse to the Holy Angels, " and they repaired my wheel ; they assist me in " all my difficulties ; trust in them, and you will " surmount all obstacles." As soon as the building was finished, Sister Le Ber carried out her pious design. She divested herself of all v 'dly goods, to end her days in poverty. Haviii,' »vv.li -. ied the remainder of her inheritance, she u- j^osed " it on the 9th of Sep- tember, 1714, to provide places in the boarding school, for young girls in reduced circumstances. Her intentions are thus expressed, in the Act of donation : " Believing, that my remaining prd- " perty could not be more suitably employed, nor " in a manner more conformable to God's glory, " I had determined, that the revenue it yields, " should be henceforth devoted to the education of *' a number of young girls, whose parents cannot " afford to give them sufficient instruction. The " Nuns of the Congregation de Notre Dame lead " such an edifying life, and such happy results have " attended their efforts, that I have chosen them " to carry out this design, trusting that my fondest *^ hopes may thus be realized." The remnant of her fortune amounted to 18,000 Canadian livres ; 120 livres being the price for boarders ; the revenue of this rum would enable the Nuns to receive seven pupils. The regulations she drew up concerning these children's admittance BOOK IV. — CHAPTER HI. 156 and their education, are striking proofs of her wis- dom and benevolence ; her desire was that none should be admitted, save those whose parents oould not afford to educate them ; and, that the Nuns should choose children in parishes where there w«re no missions of the Congregation ; because such children were naturally exposed to remain ignorant all their li^es; she also stipulated that orphans should be preferred ; and that poor orphans of the Le Ber family should be first received. Knowing that the Sisters of the Congr^tion, were called and qualified by their vocation, to edu- cate young girls from all classes of society ; that the poor and the rich receive from them, an edu- cation suitable to their position ; still, she was aware that all the pupils who attend their boarding schools should not be educated in the same manner she therefore wished that her protegees might be se- parated from the others, and be taught that which, their social position might hereafter require ; that which a mother of a poor family should know, to earn a livelihood, and to promote her happiness. Sister Le Ber expressed her views in the following manner : " The donor wishes these young girls to " dwell as boarders in the school, and to learn what " is required to become true Christians. Besides " Christian doctrine, they will be taught to read, " spin, knit and all sorts of useful work ; to make, " wash and repair their clothes. They will assist " in the kitchen each week, and learn housework ; " by so doing, be trained to the prictice of true " humility." \i'\\ 156 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. These regulations prove that Sister Lc Ber sought these children's welfare, and desired that they should he spared the unhappiness attendant on a diflferent plan of education ; for experience shows, that many evils resulted from the system fol- lowed in the famous Institution of Saint Cyr, founded by royal bounty to educate young girls of high lineage, but in reduced circumstances. The brilliant education which they received, rendered them unfit for the humble position they were called to occupy in life ; and exposed them to melancholy and unhappiness. To remove this evil, a priest of the Seminary of Saint Sulpice, Mr. Languet de Gergy, established a house in his parish and called it " V Enfant Jesus^ There he received noble, but poor girls, to educate them on a plan similar to that which Sister Le Ber chose. They were taught all the details of housekeeping, sewing, cook- ing, washing, ironing, and the care of a dairy ; time has proved that this education contributed to their happiness ; for the young ladies who left this in- stitution, entertaining very diflferent views from those of the pupils of Saint Cyr, were soon enabled to fill respectable positions in the world, thus en- suring their temporal happiness, as well as their eternal welfare. We mention these facts to show what a suitable system Sister Le Ber had adopted, since a similar one was approved throughout France. She laid down another rule : " Writing not being necessary for poor girls, they would incur loss of BOOK IV. — CHAPTER III. 157 time by devoting their attention to it. Neverthe- less, should any among them evince a desire of embracing a religious life, they may learn to write." Let not our readers be surprised at this regulation of Sister Le Ber, concerning young orphan girls, who would be obliged to earn their own livelihood : for it proves that she not only endeavoured to pro- mote their welfare, but also to contribute to the good of Society. Society at large has such multi- plied duties to fulfil, that it needs individuals suited to occupy different positions. Who would accuse Cardinal Richelieu of not having promoted public weal, throughout France, yet, this great States- man resolved to abolish petty Colleges, because he thought, that far from contributing to the good of the Country", they led most of the rising generation to embrace high professions, when God called them to follow mechanical pursuits ; and that social dis- turbances were the ordinary results of such an education. When Sister Le Ber mentioned her rules to the Nuns of the Congregation, Mr. do Belmont sanc- tioned them, and the Nuns promised not to deviate from them, without consulting her cousin, the Ba- ron de Longueuil, whom she had authorized to act for her. Mr. de Longueuil, Mr. de Belmont and the principal Members of the Community repaired to the apartment next to the Recluse's cell, a Notary having read the act of donation, all present signed it on the 9th of November, 1714. i(? .;t: it i'liii' l! m m m. CHAPTER IV. SISTER LE BER S LAST ILLNESS. HER EDIFTINQ DEATH, GREAT CONCOURSE AT HER FUNERAL. Sister Le Bcr's last generous gift was the crown- ing act of her benevolence ; and seemed to draw her nearer to eternal bliss. It is really astonishing that both mental and bodily pain did not previously bring on death; for notwithstanding her weak constitution, she never deviated from her austere rule of life. Fasting on bread and water, macerating her flesh with various instruments of penance, lengthened prayers, constant work, interior trials, and her ardent love of God, tended to increase her mental sufferings ; the thought that her heart was not filled with true charity, kept her in a state of constant anguish. The last twenty years of her life were spent amid these mortifications ; still she fol- lowed all her exercices most punctually, until one Diight, when the cold overpowered her, while she was before the Blessed Sacrament ; she was then suf- fering from a severe oppression which turned to pleurisy and fever. Notwithstanding her energy and fervour, she had to lay aside her usual avoca- """^"t^l BOOK IV.— CHAPTER IV. 159 iions^ and remain in bed ; the disease progressed 80 rapidly, that her confessor ordered her to use sheets and a mattross: she had not indulged in these coinfoits, since she had entered the Convent of the Congre^'ation de Notre Dame. Her intense suflfering caused her no anxiety, nor did it dimin'sh her love and solicitude for the Nuns of the Congregation ; calling to mind that she had not specific 1 who should inherit the furniture of her unpretending dwelling, she sent for a Notary, and bequeathed all that her cell contained to the Nuns of the Congregation ; adding, that no one should deprive them of these artic les ; or any thing in their Community that had bekner'»d to her ; this act shows that she wished that the Nuns should experience no* diflSiculty after her death ; moreover she requested Mr. de Longueuil to fulfil a promise she had made to a young girl, then residing in Mississippi, by giving her 500 livres. This hap- pened on the 22nd of September, and she signed the act, although confined to her bed. Having thus voluntarily deprived herself of all earthly possessions, she strenuously endeavoured to prepare her soul for the great voyage, from time to eternity: those around her, then witnessed the effects of the bodily mortifications which she had practised, for such a length of time j for although, a raging f vcr burned within her, she never asked for any beverage to alleviate her thirst; yet, throUf H obedif^nce she willingly accepted what was offered her ; and appeared on her bed of suffering, like r '■ I V I 160 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. ♦I ,5 ■ P ■' ' Ii, k " %. S t i: a victim on the altar. She had repeated attacks of violent coughing, but respect for the Blessed Sacrament, cau3ed her to make strenuous efforts to repress them ; for she feared irreverence towards the Sacred Guest, who dwelt so near her couch ; however, one morning during mass, her cough over- came her ; she felt sorely grieved that this should have happened, and humbly asked pardon of God, and of all those who had heard her. The Nuns of the Congregation became alarmed ; and several wishing to see her, before her death, were accordingly admitted into her cell ; she re- quested her attendant to answer whatever ques- tions might be put concerning her. Her counten- ance all the while beamed with a serene light ; her soul seemed so totally absorbed in God, that she paid but little attention to the conversation that was kept up around her. The first da;, that she remained in bed, she attend- ed to all her de> otional exercises, recited long vocal prayers, and d' voted the usual time to meditation ; but her strength soon failed. Sister St. Charles at stated hours recited the prayers which Sister Le Ber usually said ; the invalid was thus enabled to join in spirit, when extreme weakness pre- vented her answering them. She also sent her cousin to meditate before the Blessed Sacrament, as long as she was wont to do ; and when other Nuns, came to replace Sister St. Charles, our Holy Recluse sent them likewise, both at night, and during the day, to spend the usual hours in adoration. 1 ' :' BOOK IV. — CHAPTER IV. 161 Two days before her death, she "willed that her body should be interred in the Church of the Con- gregation ; and, thus gave the Nuns the last proof of her affection for them, and of her confidence in their prayers. On entering her cell she had re- solved that death would not part her from those pious souls, whom she had fondly and truly loved during life, and to whom she considered herself indebted for the grace of her vocation ; hence, fearing that after her decease, her relations might not comply with her request, she made a will ; not to bequeath any earthly goods, for she had disposed of all, but to bind her relatives to acquiesce to her desire. The following extract contains the greater part of this edifying act : " Miss Jane Le Ber, a " recluse in the Convent of the Consecration de " Notre Dame, reflecting on the shortness of this " life, and the little time left to end her earthly " pilgrimage ; having previously disposed of all the " temporal possessions which God had been pleased " to bestow upon her, has now resolved to make her " last will in the following manner :" " In the name of the Father, and of the Son, " and of the Holy Ghost. Amen. " Firstly, as a Christian, and a Catholic, she " recommends her soul to God, and begs Him to '* admitherinto His Heavenly kingdom, through the merits of the passion, and death of His Son, Our '' Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To obtain *' eternal happiness, she solicits the intercession of " the Blessed Virgin Mary, of Saint Michael the a :.r !|: !.IH M 162 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. ju »i»' It ' ' Archangel, of St. John the Baptist, of the holy ' Evangelist St. John, of her holy patrons, and of ' all the Saints in Heaven." " Secondly, she wills that after death, her body ' shall be interred next to that of her father, in the ' chapel belonging to the aforesaid Nuns of the ' Congregation de Notre Dame. This will be ' done according to the directions given by Mr. ' Charles Lemoyne, Baron of Longueuil ; for, she ' has appointed him executor of this Will, and ' desires that he will faithfully fulfil all her re- ' quests." Sister Le Ber dictated this Will during the afternoon on the 1st of October, and though disease had rendered her very feeble, she mustered sufl&- cient strength to sign the document. On the fol- lowing day, her fervour led her to think that she might recite soine of her usual prayers ; she there- fore asked for a book, to say the oflfice of the Cross ; her attendant raised her to a sitting posture, and placed the book in her hands ; but the invalid was scarcely seated, when a sudden dizziness came over her ; and such entire prostration followed, that all present thought her end was near, and that she should consequently receive the Holy Viaticum, The Blessed Sacrament was conveyed to her cham- ber, in the most solemn maan*-^ All the Nuns accompanied it, carrying lighted tapert, is far as her cell ; a few entered, and witnessed this tc ach- ing ceremony. This happ-^ned on the 2nd of Octo- ber, the day devoted to honor the Holy Angels, in 1$'. B'<- ■^' %\ BOOK IV. — CHAPTER IV. 163 whom she had always placed such implicit trust. We may naturally suppose that her unceasing en- deavours to imitate these happy spirits, induced them to reward her piety, by hovering around her death bed, while terrestrial angels ministered to her corporal wants. Words can ill express her feel- ings, at that solemn moment ; her whole life proved, that nought, but religious respect, and ardent love for Jesus Christ, truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, had induced her to choose a retired life, and to persevere unremittingly in it. As death drew nearer, a heavenly light illuminated her countenance, and seemed to indicate that she had united a]1 her acts of profound religion, of ardent love and of unbounded confidence to oft'er them to her Divine Spouse as the most pleasing homage. He could receive, and the last act of a life which had been wholly consecrated to Him. Her sufferings and the care she required were little thought of, when Our Lord had entered her heart : her hap- piness engrossed her entire attention ; she requested that her bed curtsins should be closed, so that no earthly thought might disturb her, and that she might give vent to nar ardent feelings. Thus she spent the remainder of the day, con- fiding her sold to her Heavenly Father's care, and willingly immolating her life, for God's greater glory ; nought but sudden transports of love dis- turbed her wonted calmness. Her heart yearned for the blissful moment, which was lo unite her to her Spouse ; but, all this time, life was waning, she 164: LtFE OF MISS LE BER. fU .y/ I felt it, and requested that Extreme Unction should be administered. She was therefore anointed at about 2 o'clock in the morning, then fell into a quiet agony, during which all present joined in the usual prayers for the agonizing. Death finally relieved her captive soul ; she expired at 9 o'clock A. M. on the 3rd of October, 1714, so tranquilly and yet so joyfully, that it seemed, as if she had enjoyed a fore- shadowing of eternal bliss. She was fifty-two years and nine months old. Her edifying death pro- duced deep and lasting impressions on the Sisters of the Congregation ; we may even add that it created an atmosphere of sanctity around them ; and also wrought happy results throughout the town, and the country parishes. As soon as Sister Le Ber departed this life, the Nuns hastened to testify their veneration for one, whom the entire Community had respected. Their first care was to clothe her in her usual garments, in order to satisfy their own devotion, and that of the faithful, by laying her out in the Church; but her dress was so old and worn, that they v uc obliged to make another, before placing he. lu her coffin. Death did not give her countenance that repulsive appearance it so often imparts ; her features beamed with that expression of candour, modesty, and in- nocence which had characterized her during life ; no one wearied gazing on her Angelic face, and all sighed for the happiness which they felt confident she must enjoy. Her corpse was exposed during two days, to ¥ f*y .>•■»■ m 111 , . *■ I BOOK IV. — CHAi^TEB IV. 165 satisfy the praiseworthy de\otion and curiosity, which induced so many to witness this novel scene ; the whole city was astir. All the citizens assembled to venerate the mortal remains of one, whom many amongst them had never seen, though she had lived and died in their midst. A high opinion of he nanctity, and confidence in her prayers, prompted many to lay rosaries, and other objects of devotion, on her body. This holy Recluse's death excited so much interest, that news of it spread throughout the country. Mother Juchereau from her cloister in the General Hospi- tal of Quebec, alludes to it in the following manner: " Sister Le Ber was exposed in the Church of the " Congregation de Notre Dame, her face uncovered, "■ and remained so, during two days for the conso- " lation, and edification of the faithful of Montreal, " and its environs : crowds came to behold the " remains of this Holy Virgin. Her tattered gar- " ments, and even her old straw shoes were distri- " buted among the people ; those who obtained " anything that had belonged to her, considered it " a relic, and returned delighted. It is affirmed " that persons suffering from various diseases were " cured on touching her cofiin, with respect and " faith. The people's devotion being satisfied, her " magnificent obsequies followed. The corpse was " brought to the Parish Church, a solemn funeral " service was sung, and Mr. de Belmont, Superior " of the Seminary of Saint Sulplce, and Yicar " General, pronounced a touching panegyric on the 111 r. i ■; ■St .' If ffi; " «J' f- 166 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. " departed Recluse. Her remains were subsequent- " ly conveyed to the Church of the Congregation " of Notre Dame, and interred next to those of her " father." Respect for her whose mortal remains they possessed, and gratitude for the many gifts she had bestowed upon their Institution, induced the Nuns to have the following inscription, written in golden letters, placed on her tomb : HERE LIES THE VENERABLE SISTER JANE LE BER, A BENEFACTRESS OP THIS INSTITUTION. HAVING LED A RETIRED LIFE, DURING FIF- TEEN YEARS IN HER OWN HOME, SHE WITH- DREW TO THIS CONVENT, AND IN THIS RETREAT PASSED THE LAST TWENTY YEARS OF HER LIFE. SHE DEPARTED THIS LIFE IN THE 53rD YEAR OF HER AGE ON THE 3rD OF OCTOBER 1714. In 1721, Mr. do Belmont wrote an abridgment of Sister Le Ber's life and dedicated it to Mr. Maurice Le Pelletier, director of the Seminary of St. Sulpice in Paris : he thus mentioned the ve- neration in wh'cji she was held: " Many Novenas " and secret prayers are offered upon Sister Le " Ber's tomb ; several persons acknowledge that " they have obtained cures through her interces- sion. All consider her as a Saint, and designate " hei y:."" such.' (( !i' ■ CHAPTER V. SISTER LE BER's FUNERAL ORATION, DELIVERED ON THE 5th of OCTOB^.R, 1714. The funeral oration -which Mr. de Belmont de- livered on Sister Le Ber, the day of her obsequies, is the most suitable conclusion to this edifying life ; this eulogium proves the high opinion all had of this holy Virgin's sanctity. Being addressed to the citizens of Ville Marie, and delivered over the remains of the deceased, it was a public and solemn acknowledgment, of Divine Providence in Sister Le Ber's vocation; and also tended to prove, what we asserted in the Introduction to this life, that God had chosen this Holy Recluse, to renew the fervour and virtues of the solitaries of the primitive ages ; and to awaken feelings of holy emulation within many a young heart. Mr. de Belmont called to mind the Divine Wisdom mani- fested in this favoured soul's vocation ; he alluded to the manifold blessings and favours, her prayers had obtained for her country ; and comparing her to Judith, he fearlessly applied to our Canadian 168 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. l< ^ heroine, those words which greeted the libcratrix of Beth alia. " Tu honorificentia populi nostri." " You are the honor of our people." u a u (( II a u II ti it li i( li ii a li li li ii ii li a " Sisters, our prayers have been offered up for the Illustrious Virgin, whose loss we so keenly feel; but gratitude requires that a public testimonial should honor her, who increased, the Church's glory, and her country's weal. Her examples of virtue have found an echo within many hearts ; they have drawn down the favours of the most High on numerous souls, and many a Christian Virgin here present, is indebted to Sister Le Bcr for her calling. That Ho^y Recluse's prayers shielded us from wars and p agues ; and it is our bounden duty to hail her >? Ivent to the world of bliss, with the note of praise, and the song of triumph. Gentlemen, this Holy Recluse's edify- ing and extraordinary life is an honor to our city • it will encircle our ago with the bright halo which illumined the history of the first oeuturies of the Church ; and the New ^Yorld will thus acquire pre-enviuence ov^v the homes of our fore- fathers ; tbr I can safely say, that the whole of Christendom can scarcely boast of another such Angx^lio being, as this young girl, who faithfully reproduced the virtues which the most austere anchorites practiced. This corrupt age is desti- tute of such heroism." " Entire reclusion is the most striking feature in 1 BOOK IV. — CHAPTEE V. 169 " her existence, and should first elicit our admir- " ation; let us then dwell on this alone, and com- " pare it to that which ancient solitaries embraced ; " let us, for a moment, forgot her spotless purity? '' and childlike innocence ; her humble devotion, " and sublime contemplation ; her forgetfulness of " self and benevolence towards others ; to meditate " solely, on that solitude, which rendered her the " wonder of our age, and elevated her to such a " high degree of sanctity, that miraculous inter- " vention would be required to enable others to " imitate her. Man is by nature a social being ; " hence, a solitary life has always been considered as " the greatest triumph of grace over nature, and " the summit of Christian perfection. Read the " lives of the Fathers of the desert ; there you will " see, Anchorits compared to sublime Angels, who " unceasingly chant the praises of the Almighty ; " or, to Enoch and Elias dwelling in an ethereal " region, free from vicissitudes, and whose exist- " ence is one continued contemplation. Some au- " thors have even compared them to those bright " luminaries that adorn the firmament, but at such " a distance from earth, that our knowledge of them, " ia founded merely on the influence they exert " over us." " Such then was the sublime life, our illustrious " recluse was called to. To prove her heroism, we " shall draw a comparison between her, and world- " renowned solitaries ; rock and thicket need nei- " ther impede our course nor bafile our researches. ■ 1 170 LIFE OP MISS LE BER. iiisS " Ask him who has assumed the hermit's f?arb, " why he lives isolated from the world ; his answer " is, that the bright days of his youth were spent " in sin and forgett'ulness of God — he has sought " the forest's depths, to atone for many years of " crime. Our Holy Recluse entered her cell with a " heart as pure and spotless as the babe on whoso " brow, the regenerating waters of Baptism, still " glisten ; she followed the LaLib into the closed " garden, still retaining the spotless garb His blood " had purified ; purity shone upon her brow, and " fairest lilies bloomed around her, for earth had " never breathed upon them, nor had passion " polluted them. History seldom mentions young " girls who dwelt in solitude, and though it should " allude to some, like a Magdalen, a Mary of Egypt " dwelling in the darkest forests, it also informs " us that this was in atonement for past crimes — " here we behold a follower of the loving Magdalen " fondly pursuing Jesus' steps, and sipping the " inebriating nectar of His life-giving word?, but " not of worldly Magdalen, seeking earth's transient " joys and pleasures. Here, also can we admire " that of which antiquity can seldom boast ; the rare " union of mortification and of innocence, of spiri- ^' tual fortitude and of bodily weakness." " Let us follow up the comparison until the pre- " sent age, and remark the characteristic features " of our Recluse's mode of live. Trappists, Car- " thusians dwell in retirement, yet, they daily " meet in the sacred abode of the Most High, and BOOK IV. — CHAPTER 171 unite in hymns of praise and love — Exercise and manual labour, fatiguing though they may bo, arc some relaxation from a continued mental strain ; but our solitary dwelt in a narrow cham- ber, and refused herself the satisfaction of even contemplating the firmament. History informs us that a fervent liermit had willingly chained, himself in a small space ; and his Bishop gave orders for his liberation. Still had he remained in his voluntary p.ison, he could at least have looked upon the sky ; while nought but the walls of a cell, ever greeted Sister Le Ber's gaze. Per- severance may be truly termed heroic, when it leads human nature, to accomplish such acts ; but it would inflict insupportable torments if a long- ing for eternity, a steadfast belief in happiness beyond the grave, did not amply compensate a soul for all these sacrifices. Our solitary yearned for the happy day, which would unite her to her Heavenly Spouse. John the Baptist was her patron, and her model; like him, she closed her eyes on earth's greatest treasures, to gaze solely on her loving Lord and Master." " The most austere solitaries spoke of God's mercy and of his works, whilst you, thrice blessed soul I never gave vent to your feelings, and scorned to dread the use of language. When you expressed your thoughts, it was in a lowly spirit, as Jesus did in ^l azareth. From your ch; Ihood you sought to imitate Mary's interior communications with God, and the last twenty years of your existence ^ IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1.0 1.1 b2|18 12.5 itt Itt 12.2 S Hi ■" Sf Ufi 12.0 M 1 m liiL ii4 < ^ — 6" ^ ^ ^ V Hiotographic Sdences Corporation Vv'^o^ 33 WIST MAIN STIIIT WkBSTM,N.Y. MSN (71«)«72-4S03 172 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. (( 1 1 (( (( <( <( (( (t a (» (( u It IC CI i: it It It it II ct It tt It It It were a faithful representation of Christ's death and b urial. This perpetual silence is undoubted- ly the acknowledged feature of the stron;^ minded woman, but where find her ? Shall we go to distant lands ? Gentlemen, our own city has produced her. Yes, this holy Kecluse's life was one continued miracle, and the Almighty chose our infant Church, and virgin soil, solely, for its accomplishment ; unless, through a second miracle, he renews this prodigy in some other favoured soul called to walk in her footsteps. But, alas ! what hopes can we entertain, that this will be realized." " We must not however bestow fruitless admira- tion on this holy Virgin : her sublime virtues, though far above ordinary merit, can surely give rise to happier results ; for, though she endeavour- ed to lead a hidden life, and even sought to bury herself alive, some bright rays have shone through this voluntary obscurity. We can now enter the holy abode in which she dwelt for a number of years ; and interrog^ati, those walls, sole witness of her Angelic life ; therein, do we behold traces of virtues, that all can imitate; antidotes to vice, and means to overcome it." " Her devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, her profound religion, and the ardent xeal that led her to decorate Christ's earthly dwelling ; her faith- ful imitation of the life the Blessed Virgin led daring her stay in the Temjde, her devotion to the Holy Angels, and her endeavours to imitate BOOK IV. — CHAPTER V. 178 1 « i( (( (( <{ (( (( << <( <( <( « « t< u <( « a (( <( « « t< (( them by continual prayer. There also do we learn, iier love of poverty and of Christ's suflFer- ing members ; her humility and simplicity ; and if, we would fain acquire fuller information, let us ask it of Jesus in His Sacrament of love, of Mary her protectress, and of the Angelic spirits, who willingly hovered round her ; else, we must needs indulge in suppositions, for her humility has drawn an impenetrable veil over her mani- fold virtues." " We are aware that her cell was so constructed a& to place her couch, in close proximity to the Blessed Sacrament ; four inches only, intervened between her dwelling, and that of her heart's Beloved ; she thus nightly enjoyed the privilege once granted to the Beloved Disciple, when he rested on His Saviour's bosom. What heavenly communications must she not have received when her heart found life and light in Him, who illumines the universe, He must have said to her, as He had said to Jacob : This land, where you rest, will one day he your inheritance. " " Gentlemen, we may here give free scope to our imagination ; still, it will never fathom the depth of the love outpoured in these sweet com- munications." " Jesus ! concealed beneath the Sacramental veils, be thou our guide, and our instructor ; tell us what passed between thee and thy chosen spouse. Didst thou not charm her ear, with the most delightful strains? . . . Did not thy voice I ' I f 174 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. (( (( (( (( « (I C( (< (( (( « a II (( i( (( (( « (( t( a (( (( a (< (I (( (( penetrate the slight partition, and articulate those words of the Canticle of Canticles : Open to me, my Sister, my spouse, open to me ? How often on awaking from her sleep did she not say within herself: Behold He standeth behind our wall looking through the windows, looking through the lattices. I sleep, and my heart watches. Heavenly communications! Created love, how empty are other joys compared to thy celes- tial delights. But why defile this hallowed in- tercourse by using feeble terms to magnify that which we never can comprehend ! Angelic Spi- rits, have ye not witnessed these out-pourings with rapturous admiration ? Did thoughts of sacred emulation not arise within thy minds ? But these comparisons merely tend to diminish the glory of those actions, which will one day be revealed to the world, with undimmed splendour. We can now revert to well-known facts : she fol- lowed the custom adopted by the Franciscans and other austere religious orders. She arose every night and spent an hour on her knees, in silent adoration before the Blessed Sacrament. While darkness reigned, and all were wrapped in slum- bers, rendering no homage to the Most High ; this incomparable Virgin stood forth, as the Church's advocate, and her country's shield. During twen- ty years, Canada's frosts never caused her to give up this act of devotion ; still they were keenly felt by her whose emaciated body had been victim to so many penitential practices. 0, Jesus, lover I BOOK IV. — CHAPTER V. 175 1 1 '' of cructjied souls ! thou wert pleased to choose " this pious practice to be the instrument of thy '' spouse's martyrdom : death met her, in those " protracted night meditations. Thou didst im- " molate her on the altar-step as a victim of thanks- " giving, which Thou thyself hadst chosen. Dur- " ing twenty years, she burned before Thy Ta- " bernacle like a bright lamp: Thou hast now " extinguished the light which emanated from her '' mortal heart, to enkindle new flames in her " beatified spirit, and make it shine forth as a " brilliant luminary whose beneficient rays will " illumine this Church." " We should here mention the numerous morti- " fications her ardent love induced her to practice ; " but, who can unfold those secrets ; who can tell " us, how she macerated her innocent body ? . . . " the silent walls of Her cell were the sole witness " of all. Virgin, ever blessed mother of Jesus, model of all holy souls, since none can be sanc- tified save by copying thoe, thy Divine Son's most perfect worshipper ; tell us wherein Jane Le Ber most resembled thee ! . . . Thou didst seek solitude beneath the Temple's shade, and during twelve years, thou alone among the " daughters of Juda, didst enjoy the privilege of " entering the Holy of Holies." " Our Recluse spent the last twenty years of " her existence, in a dwelling laid out like thine " own apartment now called the Holy chamber ; " she thus dwelt in the immediate vicinity of Him, (( (( u u u u it '1 17ff irFE OF MISS Lt) BER. " who is the true Holy of Holies. It was in this " cell, that thy faithful daughter followed thy " example, that she too made garments fcr Jesus, " by preparing the linen destined for the altar, and " vestments for His Ministers. Thou wert the " Instructress, and she the docile novice; thou " didst guide her taste, and direct her needle, " while she embroidered the costly vestment we " now admire ; thou didst teach her to blend gold " and silver, to rival nature's works, and to inspire " others with a desire of adoring thy Son's dwell- " ing among us.' You, Heavenly Spirits, who fondly gazed on this " pure maiden in whom jou beheld not earth's " corruption, but a mind almost as pure as your " own ; therefore surrounding her with sweet fami- " liarity, make known to us, the treasures she " acquired while conversing with you." " Was not heavenly wisdom the reward she ob- " tained ? Was not her soul imbued with this " fundamental truth, God in ally he whoposses- " ses Him, has the fulness of all felicity ; and who " knows Him not, is in the most abject poverty, " Next to God, the only true riches are spiritual "favours, salvation, and eternity .^^ " She must also have learned that the intelligent' " immortal substance, that emanation from the *' Divinity, which we call soul, in our only treasure • " that to save it no pains can be too great, no dif- " Acuities insurmountable ; that an insatiable love " of riches, of honors and pleasures is the soul's BOOK IV. — CHAPTER V. 177 (t tc u (( (( (( (( « (< « (( (( (( (( (( (( « « li tl « <( CI (( t( greatest enemy, on account of its tendency to degrade and corrupt *^is spiritual part of our nature ; and to impart inclination?, that defile it during life, and give rise to despair when it is about to appear before the Sovereign Judge." " Such then were the happy results of her me- ditations, or rather of her uninterrupted commu- nications with Angelic Spirits." *• The Almighty had endowed her with the goods of this earth, but she renounced all, to die in poverty ; or, rather to ensure the possession of imperishable ireasures. Her work adorns every altar. Every Parish possesses some specimen of her artistic genius, we never can wear^ admiring her laborious assiduity, and the love of poverty displayed in her clothing ; wearing coarse straw shoes ; and such tattered garments that after her death others had to be made, to lay her out. All this was done to practice that profound humility, which rendered Canada's wealthiest heiress, the most destitute maiden in the country. Even had sufficient time elapsed since her death to enable us to expatiate more at length on her merit, thin humility would conceal all from our gaze, as it concealed her manifold virtues, from those who beheld her during life. Heroic silence. !.... thou didst extinguish this brilliant luminary, or, rather thou didst screen it from mortal eyes. St* Bernard tell us that this self same silence, would be an advantage to preachers themselves, whose N 178 LIFE OF MISS LE BER. t( t( <( (( (( (< (( (( (( (( (( sanctity is often dimmed by vain glory, human respect, and love of applause." " Daughters of Ville Marie, will despair of ever imitating this saintly Virgin, be the only result of the recital of her heroic life ? Why despair ? Did she not dwell in your midst, and inhale the air you daily breathe ? Will the contrast be- tween her fervour and your indiflFerence, merely give rise to the following thought : Sister Lc Ber was a Saint, but I belong to the world and have no pretentions to her sanctity; such is not my loty " Stay at least, for one moment, the worldly current of your thoughts, reflect on the numerous dangers from which solitude delivered her, and view the fearful loss, you incur by voluntarily condemning yourselves to your present manner of living. She mortified her body, and reduced ' 73 BOOK THIRD. Miss Le Ber enters the Convent of the Con- gregation de Notre Dame. Her love and devotion towards the Blessed Sacra- ment. Chapter I. — Miss Le Ber wishes to enter the Con- vent of the Congregation de Notre Dame, there to live in entire reclusion 83 Chapter II. — Examination of Miss Le Ber's voca- tion. The Ceremony of her solemn reclusion. 88 Chapter III.— Mr. Le Ber's magnanimity in sacri- ficing his only daughter 95 Chapter IV. — Our heroine's example induced her brother to lead a perfect life 104 Chapter V. — ^Miss Le Ber's devotion towards the Blessed Sacrament. Two English gentlemen visit her 107 Chapter YL— Austerities which Miss Le Ber prac- tised. Her rule of life. Chapter VII. — Miss Le Ber perseveres in all her religious exercises. Notwithstanding her sev- eral trials, she obeys her director and seeks consolation from God alone 122 BOOK FOURTH Sister Le Ber'g devotion to the Blessed Virgin. Her aflEection for the Congre- gation de Notre Dame. Her holy death. Chapter I. — Sister Le Ber's filial devotion to the Blessed Virgin 133 Ghaptbb II. — Sister Le Ber's devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, inspires her with a re- ligious veneration for Sister Bourgeoys and a special affection for the Congregation 141 Chapter III, — Respect for Sister Bourgeoys, in- duces Miss Le Ber to enable the nuns of the Congregation de Notre Dome to build a Board- ing School : she settles a donation for the gratuitous 'ducationof a number of boarders. 150 Chapter IV. — Sioter Le Ber's last illness. Her edifying death. Great concourse at her funeral 158 Chapter V — .Sister Le Ber'e funeral oration, de- livered on the 5th of October, lIU 167 Pilgrimage to the Church of the Congregation de Notre Dame, where Sister Le Ber dwelt as a recluse and wherein her remains were interred, 181