At Argenteuil1
La Chapelle, May 16, 1639
Madame,
You are perhaps surprised, since I do not have the honor of knowing you or of being known by you, that I am taking the liberty of writing to you. I would not do so were I not convinced that you would not be offended because it is for the love of God, whom we desire to love and serve, that I am sending you a girl from here who is of good character and filled with good desires to fill the place of a lay sister which 1 have heard is vacant in your house.
I was informed of this by one of the daughters, servants of the sick poor of the parish Confraternities of Charity, whom God has called and maintained in this state for eight years. I did not want to believe, Madame, that it was you who ordered her to be turned away from her vocation. I could not imagine that those who know the importance of a vocation would want to set up obstacles to the designs of God and place a soul in danger for her salvation by withdrawing help from the abandoned poor who are in great need and who can only find relief in the service of these good girls, who are detached from all self-interest and who give themselves to God for the spiritual and corporal service of these poor creatures that His goodness wills to look upon as His members. Would to God, Madame, that the girl you already have in your house is serving you well and is happy. I want to believe that she was not called to the work in which she was employed, otherwise she would be most blamable. But Madame, I beg of you no longer to permit them to be accepted as candidates with your consent. This could be a temptation for many others, although it does not prevent me from being, as I am in the love of Jesus Crucified, your very humble and most obedient servant.