No. 25 • April 2010

Founded in 1997 and published biannually by the International Commission for Salesian Studies (ICSS) of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

Foundation of the Visitation Order A Celebration of Visitandine Heritage The Musée de la Visitation in Moulins

The town of Moulins (about a two-and-a-half hour drive by car from Lyon) is the site of the third monastery of the Visitation Order to be founded (the first was, of course, Annecy in 1610, and the second, Lyon in 1615). The Moulins foundation was made on 25 August 1616 against incredible odds by Mother Jeanne- Charlotte de Bréchard (1580-1637), one of the first three Visitandines at Annecy. Together with Lyon, it “prepared the way for the expansion of the Order in central France and towards the north and west in the direction of the all-important capital, Paris.”1 It was at Moulins where St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641), on whose shoulders the entire responsibility for the nascent Order and its prodigious growth rested after the death of St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), died on 13 December 1641. Today Moulins boasts not only an historic Visitation monastery, but the splendid Musée de la Visitation (Museum of the Visitation), which is devoted to the preservation of the history and cultural patrimony of the Visitation Order, which this year celebrates the 400th anniversary of its foundation. In 1990, the Moulins Visitation seemed destined to close (this was subsequently averted), and a friend of the community, M. Gérard Picaud, promised its superior, Mother Françoise-Bernadette Lara, to preserve in Moulins the memory of the Order’s presence there. For this purpose, M. Picaud was able to secure space in the Musée Bourbonnais that would be dedicated to the Visitation Order in Moulins. With the assistance of a dozen monasteries, M. Picaud assembled 602 objects: possessions and relics of the Visitation’s founders, Francis de Sales and Mother de Chantal; rare books; painting and sculpture; devotional objects; and liturgical vestments. The permanent exhibition, “Regard sur la Visitation” (View of the Visitation), displayed in three galleries of the Musée Figure 1. Musée de la Visitation (Museum of the Visitation), Moulins (France). Bourbonnais, opened on 11 December 1992. Exterior of the 15th-century building that houses the permanent collection. Over time, the collection steadily continued to grow as a The museum is devoted to the preservation of the history and cultural patrimony result of eighty-seven Visitation monasteries, located in nineteen of the Visitation Order, which this year celebrates the 400th anniversary of its foundation. The town of Moulins is the site of the third monastery of the Visitation countries in Europe, the Americas, and Lebanon, agreeing to to be founded (the first was, of course, Annecy in 1610, and the second, Lyon in preserve their artistic heritage in Moulins. The number of objects 1615). The Moulins foundation was made on 25 August 1616 against incredible on deposit presently exceeds 6500 items, which witness to odds by Mother Jeanne-Charlotte de Bréchard (1580-1637), one of the first Visitandine spirituality, community life, and creativity. The rapid Visitandines at Annecy in 1610. It was at Moulins where St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1572-1641), on whose shoulders the entire responsibility for the and considerable expansion of the collection led M. Picaud to nascent order and its prodigious growth rested after the death of St. Francis rethink its conservation and exhibition. de Sales (1567-1622), died on 13 December 1641. 2 ICSS NEWSLETTER

Visitation) focused on civic, religious, and popular celebrations held on the occasion of the beatification and canonization of St. Francis de Sales (1661, 1665), St. Jane Frances de Chantal (1751, 1767), and St. Margaret Mary Alacoque (1864, 1920). In 2009, “De fleurs en aiguille: L’art de la broderie chez les visitandines” (Flowers in Needlework: The Art of Embroidery in the Visitation) displayed 300 magnificent works of embroidery executed by Visitandines, such as vestments, antependia, and devotional objects. Each exhibit has been accompanied by a handsomely designed and profusely illustrated full-color catalogue prepared by M. Picaud and his collaborators, Jean Foisselon and Danièle Véron-Denise, and published by the Parisian publishing house of Somogy éditions d’art. For the Order’s fourth centenary in 2010, the Musée de la Visitation will mount the exhibit, “Au coeur de la Visitation: Trésors de la vie monastique en Europe” (At the Heart of the Visitation: Treasures of Monastic Life in Europe), which will highlight the Order’s geographic expansion and cultural influence in light of the museum’s unique collection. Scheduled to open on Friday, 7 May 2010, this exhibit continues through 24 December 2010. In conjunction with the exhibit, there will be regularly scheduled gallery talks by the curators (M. Picaud and M. Foisselon), an international symposium on the art and history of the Visitation (22-23 October 2010), and a series of liturgical celebrations at the Moulins Visitation. =

Here space permits us to consider just a few objects from the Musée de la Visitation’s extraordinary collection, which is a veritable feast for the eyes and spirit. For the first time since commencing publication in 1997, the ICSS Newsletter offers in Figure 2. Musée de la Visitation (Museum of the Visitation), Moulins (France). this, its 25th issue, a sampling of works of art in full color on 18th-century staircase in the interior courtyard. pp. 9-12. The context of these objects is the macro-narrative of the 400-year history of the Visitation Order; each object opens a In 2000, the permanent exhibit was expanded to two new window on an episode in this story. galleries, and security was enhanced to make it possible to show a remarkable collection of precious liturgical objects (chalices, I. Embroidered and Painted Emblems for the monstrances, reliquaries, etc.). In January 2005, the Musée Solemnities at Nantes and Marseilles for the Bourbonnais became the Musée de la Visitation, with M. Picaud Beatification and Canonization of St. Francis de Sales as its founding director. Several months later, in May 2005, the association, “Regard sur la Visitation” received the approbation of Embroidered version of the engraved picture of Emblem IV, Una the Holy See through the Pontifical Commission for the Cultural trias praeponderat orbi, c. 1662, from Adrien Gambart, La vie Heritage of the Church. symbolique du bienheureux François de Sales . . . (Paris, 1664). Installed in buildings of the 15th and 17th centuries that have been modernized to provide for climate control, lighting, and Painted version on cardboard of Emblem XXX, Miscuit utile dulci, security, the Musée de la Visitation’s collection invites visitors to c. 1666, from Adrien Gambart, La vie symbolique du bienheureux enter into the fascinating world of Visitandine monastic life that François de Sales . . . (Paris, 1664). to date has been relatively unknown. Since 2005, the permanent collection has been displayed in a five-story building, at the place Immediately after Francis’s death in 1622, Mother de Chantal de l’Ancien Palais (Figures 1-3). Beginning in 2007, a major and the Visitation set themselves to promoting the saintly bishop’s thematic exhibit has been annually mounted in the Hôtel cause for canonization. After Jane’s death, this project was taken Demoret (Figure 4). In 2007, “Splendeurs dévoilées: Cinq siècles up by the saint’s great niece, secretary, and biographer, Mother d’art à la Visitation” (Splendors Unveiled: Five Centuries of Art at Françoise-Madeleine de Chaugy (1611-80). Mother de Chaugy the Visitation) featured the museum’s finest and most rare courageously, even heroically, overcame a host of complex issues treasures. In 2008, “Fastes et exubérance pour les saints de la to achieve Francis’s beatification and canonization. Her ardent Visitation” (Ceremonies and Exuberance for the Saints of the promotion of the saint’s cause brought her great suffering, as she ICSS NEWSLETTER 3 incurred the wrath of one of Francis’s successors, Jean d’Arenthon roughly contemporary with the publication of his Life of (bishop of Geneva-Annecy, 1661-95), who had her deposed as St. Francis de Sales in Symbols and that were made specifically for superior at Annecy and banished (she was later exonerated and the solemn celebrations of Francis’s beatification and canonization reinstated) for what he regarded as her overstepping as a woman at Visitation monasteries in Nantes and Marseilles. An emblem is and a religious by her involvement in the matter.2 comprised of three elements: (1) an engraved picture (pictura), Among the many initiatives undertaken by the Visitation (2) a title or motto, and (3) a subscriptio in the form of a short leading up to Francis’s canonization was the publication by the epigram, biblical verse, simple rhymed couplet, or longer passage Second Monastery of Paris (founded in 1626), in the faubourg in prose. Embroidered versions of the engraved pictures of saint-Jacques, of a deluxe folio reference edition of his writings Gambart’s Emblems IV, XXXII, XXXV in the Musée de la enriched, as its title page declares, with “emblems and symbolic Visitation reveal that these engravings (executed by the Flemish figures” (Emblémes & Figures Symboliques). This volume pioneered engraver, Albert Flamen [1620-74; active in Paris from the 1640s]) the emblematic appreciation of the writings of Francis, who has circulated several years in advance of the book’s publication. been described as having an “emblematic habit of mind”3 —an Principally the handiwork of Mother Marie-Agnès d’Andigné de approach that the Visitation thus publicly and officially promoted. Kermagaro (1620-82) of the monastery of Nantes (founded in As the book’s foreword avers, its emblems and symbols are “taken 1630), these embroideries of c. 1662, faithfully reproduce Flamen’s for the most part from the author’s own concepts or comparisons. engravings. The monastery’s annals and other documents indicate . . . And, as in all his writings, there is nothing that awakens piety that the embroidered emblems were used to adorn paraments and and love of God as much as these figures and symbols. . .” chasubles made for the celebration of, first, Francis’s beatification (unnumbered pages). and, later, his canonization.7 It is no coincidence that the most well-known and enduring Here the embroidery of Emblem IV is illustrated (Figure 5). In contribution to this particular approach to Francis’s oeuvre was this picture, a heavenly hand holds a pair of scales in which a heart made by this same monastery’s confessor, the Vincentian priest within a triangle outweighs the globe of the world. The motto Adrien Gambart (1600-68), who served in this capacity for more reads: Una trias praeponderat orbi, “The one in three outweighs the than three decades (1635-68). Gambart may have been involved world.” The triangle is a symbol of the Blessed Trinity, and by a in the preparation of the 1652 edition of Francis’s writings,4 but his mystery the human heart is shaped like a triangle, as if to indicate emblem book, La vie symbolique du bienheureux François de Sales that God has marked us as made in His image and likeness and (The Life of St. Francis de Sales in Symbols) of 1664, published in that we cannot be happy except in Him. As Francis’s favorite and anticipation of the saint’s canonization in 1665, clearly surpasses it most frequently cited Father of the Church, St. Augustine, in scope, thoroughness, and mastery of both Francis’s life and expresses it: “Lord, because You have made us for Yourself, . . . our spirituality, as well as the art of emblematic composition. heart is restless until it rests in You” (Confessions, Bk. 1, chap. 1). Dedicated to the Visitandines of the Second Paris Monastery and Nantes was not the only monastery to employ Gambart’s intended for their use for meditative prayer, Gambart’s Life of emblems for the solemn ceremonies celebrating Francis’s St. Francis de Sales in Symbols contains fifty-two emblems that inscription in the Church’s catalogue of saints. Painted versions on portray in a comprehensive way the new saint’s life and distinctive cardboard of nine emblems representing Francis’s virtues were virtues by means of a contemporary medium much in vogue. There executed c. 1665 by the Visitandines of the Second Monastery of was one emblem for each week of the year, and each emblem is Marseille (founded in 1652). These were hung on pillars in the explained by a meditation, which is then followed by seven points monastery chapel for the solemnities celebrating the canonization for prayer and action, one for each day of the week. so as to familiarize the citizens of Marseilles in attendance with the Emblem books exalting saints were very popular in early modern spirituality of the new saint. The fact that these painted emblems Catholicism. Some employed a narrative or biographical form to were on cardboard indicates that they were intended to be depict the subject’s life and virtues by illustrating episodes from the ephemeral. Miraculously, they survived the centuries and the saint’s life. By contrast, Gambart employs the symbolic form, using vicissitudes of history, being discovered in a cellar in 1999. Since many of Francis’s own images, as well as reinterpreting commonplace 2000, they have been in the collection of the Musée de la emblematic images, to represent events in the saint’s life and his Visitation (ibid., 72). virtues.5 In the dedicatory letter to his emblem book, Gambart Emblem XXX’s picture shows a beehive with an open book emphasizes that his method is faithful to the saint himself, who propped up on it, and bees flying around (Figure 6). The source of constantly uses images as “veils” and “symbols” for the truths and the painted version’s heading is Emblem XIII, Son aimable et virtues he teaches, and likewise pays homage to Francis’s symbolic gratieuse affabilité, “His lovable and gracious affability,” instead of way of thinking that permeates his sermons and writings. Further, Emblem XXX, whose heading is La douceur et l’utilité de ses écrits, according to Gambart, Francis’s manner of teaching through images “The sweetness and usefulness of his writings.” The motto reads casts into relief his imitation of Christ, who, in His public life and Miscuit utile dulci, “He combined sweetness with usefulness,” and ministry, modeled and licensed the use of images and similitudes for the verse beneath the picture: Elle r’enferme, elle distille / Le doux, “under the names of the most familiar and common things, [He] l’agreable, et l’utile, “It contains, it distils, / The sweet, the pleasant, revealed Himself, and His most sublime virtues, to humankind.”6 and the useful.” Taking into account its various components, this The Musée de la Visitation possesses extremely rare versions emblem may be understood thusly: of several of Gambart’s emblems that either preceded or are 4 ICSS NEWSLETTER

The bee produces the sweetness of honey and the A remarkable painting, Visitandines at Work under Heavenly usefulness of wax, and both are gifts from Heaven beyond Protection, of 1641, in the parish church of Freneuse (Seine- the ingenuity of man to fabricate. So it was with Maritime), aims to highlight the spiritual dimension of the Order’s St. Francis, who was given the grace to be a writer, and to art of embroidery (Figure 7). The painting is divided into two combine this with a clear, luminous intelligence and a realms: the earthly and the heavenly. On earth, the enthroned and pleasing style. He united his solid learning with an crowned Virgin Mary presides over a Visitandine community attractive way of putting things, using it all for the good engaged in needlework and embroidery. In his sermons to the of his neighbour. The bee can draw sweetness from the Visitandines, Francis often refers to Mary as their divine Mistress most bitter herbs, and St. Francis, similarly, could write and Mother, as well as their model for the practice of the Order’s about things people found hard in such a way that they distinctive “little” virtues.11 Moreover, according to a long and were heartened to do them for the love of God, making venerable devotional tradition, the Virgin worked “with distaff the yoke seem light, the burden easy (Mt 11:30).8 and needle” in the house of Nazareth to clothe and to help support the Holy Family.12 The Virgin holds a scroll that reads: Mes filles vos gentils ouvrages portent l’image des vertus o innocens prentissage qui II. A Chasuble for the Solemnities at Paray-le-Monial charment les yeux de Iesus, “My daughters, your good works bear the for the Canonization of St. Jane Frances de Chantal mark of the virtues or a wholesome beginning [in their acquisition] which delights the eyes of Jesus.” Each member of the community Embroidered chasuble made in 1768 at the Visitation Monastery of at work is identified with one of the little virtues, e.g., silence, Paray-le-Monial for the celebration of Mother de Chantal’s simplicity, humility, gentleness, modesty, mortification, poverty of canonization. spirit, etc. In the celestial world above, the community at work is under The Musée de la Visitation’s 2009 splendid exhibition, the watchful eye of, and protected by, St. Joseph who holds the “De fleurs en aiguille: L’art de la broderie chez les visitandines” Christ Child and his attribute of the flowering staff, symbolic of (Flowers in Needlework: The Art of Embroidery in the Visitation) his divine election as the husband of Mary and of his virginity. The featured 300 works (Figure 4). Spanning the period from the 17th Divine Child holds an orb in His left hand, while His right hand to the mid-20th century, these exquisite examples of needlework is raised in benediction. Joseph and Jesus are flanked by St. Francis and the art of embroidery demonstrate that the Visitation excelled de Sales (to the right) who holds a book, possibly the Visitation’s in this medium in the service of the sacred liturgy. While the Constitutions, and St. Augustine with his attribute of the flaming conditions in which the Visitation was founded in Annecy in heart and whose Rule was the basis of the Visitation’s own. 1610 were very modest,9 the gradual geographic expansion of the Reference has already been made to the use of embroidered Order into the urban centers of Europe enhanced its ability to emblems on the vestments worn at the Nantes Visitation for the respond to the post-Tridentine Church’s prescriptions that the celebrations marking Francis’s beatification and canonization. Of liturgy be celebrated in as dignified and solemn a manner as no less interest is the chasuble made at Paray-le-Monial for the possible. The importance thus accorded to the beauty of the monastery’s celebration of Mother de Chantal’s canonization ceremonies and of the liturgical vestments and vessels used in (Figure 8). This chasuble, with an ivory moiré background, was divine worship was regarded as a rebuttal of Protestant iconoclasm, embroidered in 1768 by Sr. Marie-Thérèse de Circaud (c. 1720- which theologians such as the Jesuit saint and doctor of the 88). (The embroidery was removed and then reassembled on a Church, Peter Canisius (1521-97), associated with Judas’s new background by Sr. Jeanne-Marie Gaudrey [1861-1945] in reproach of Mary Magdalene for using costly ointment of pure 1918.) Elegantly ornamented with rose and purple flowers and nard to anoint Jesus’s feet (John 12:3-8).10 gold, the chasuble’s focal point is the center of the cross, where an Within the Visitation, special embroidered vestments and altar from which flames burst forth is pictured. The inspiration for paraments were made for the celebration of historic events such as this imagery is one of the addresses given during Jane’s the beatifications and canonizations of the Order’s founders and beatification ceremonies in Rome (1751), in which it was averred members: Francis de Sales in 1661 and 1665; Jane de Chantal in “that the heart of our blessed Mother was an altar where the fire 1751 and 1767; Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1864 and 1920; and of Divine Love never ceased to burn, and that this love had had in the seven Visitandines of Madrid martyred in 1936, during the her heart the qualities that fire has at its center, namely, it was Spanish Civil War, and beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1998. pure, efficacious, and peaceful.”13 The feast of the Visitation, the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the anniversary of a monastery’s foundation, and the jubilees of its members were other occasions for which embroidered III. Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis, the Sacred Heart vestments and paraments may be made (ibid., 91). The exhibition, of Jesus, and the Re-founding of the Visitation “De fleurs en aiguille,” displayed numerous examples of chasubles and antependia produced for such events and occasions. The Sacred Heart of Jesus with Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis, Significantly, it also included an embroidered table cover with the Mother Françoise-Madeleine de Chaugy, and St. Jane Frances Visitation’s coat of arms in the center that is attributed to Mother de Chantal (detail), 1900-1903, illumination on parchment by de Chantal herself (ibid., 103). Sr. Joseph de Sales Gasse (1861-1914). ICSS NEWSLETTER 5

The Visitation Order is synonymous with devotion to the redemptive love in the world. Jesus then bestowed a new Sacred Heart of Jesus. The story of how this came about is name upon her, “Beloved Disciple of My Sacred Heart.” complex, but is succinctly summarized by Wendy M. Wright in her This first, initiatory, revelation would be followed by authoritative survey of the Salesian spiritual tradition: three more that expanded upon the mission with which she was entrusted. She was to promote the celebration of The language of the heart is ubiquitous in the a [Mass] in honor of the Sacred Heart on the First Friday Salesian tradition. Founders Francis de Sales and Jane de of every month. She was to encourage the observance of Chantal bequeathed to their followers a spiritual vision an hour of Eucharistic adoration on the night between of a world of hearts. When in 1611, on the first Thursday and Friday in memory of Jesus’s agony in anniversary of the founding of the Visitation, Francis the garden. Most significantly, she was to urge the wrote to his friend Jane he could claim: “Truly our little institution of a yearly Feast of the Sacred Heart to be congregation is the work of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. [celebrated] on the Friday following the [octave of the] The dying Savior has given birth to us through the liturgical Feast of Corpus Christi (the Body and Blood of opening of His Sacred Heart.” . . . Christ) (ibid, 99-100).

But for the founders the heart was primarily a Initially, Margaret Mary met opposition from her superiors metaphor, a word picture that gave expression to a and sisters when she tried to carry out the Lord’s instructions, as theological and spiritual vision. The actual visual novel devotions and extraordinary spiritual experiences were imagery of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was to gain suspect, both in the Visitation and in the general religious climate such prominence in Catholic circles in later centuries, of the time. But when the Jesuit priest, Claude La Colombière was only a small part of the Salesian world of hearts. Yet (1641-82), became the Visitandines’ confessor, Margaret Mary it was a significant part. The silver cross that each confided to him the Lord’s revelations. He assured her that these Visitandine sister wore from the time she took vows, bore were, indeed, of divine origin and promised his assistance in a central engraving of a pierced heart surmounted by the fulfilling them. Margaret Mary was eventually appointed mistress papal cross from which three drops of blood issued. Two of novices, and in this role she was able to spread the devotion letters—M and A for Mary—were flanked by small among the younger sisters. In 1686, the feast of the Sacred Heart flames. Beneath the cross were the three mountains of was celebrated in the monastery chapel for the first time, and two Calvary topped by a martyr’s palm. . . . years later a chapel dedicated to the Sacred Heart was built in the monastery garden. Paray-le-Monial became the epicenter of the These various visual representations of the heart were diffusion of the Sacred Heart devotion, which spread to other woven into the fabric of Visitation life and gave material Visitation monasteries, then throughout France, and eventually to expression to the Salesian world of hearts. It would be left the world (ibid., 100-102). to a late seventeenth-century Visitandine from the The history of the Visitation is presented in a kind of visual monastery at Paray-le-Monial—Margaret Mary Alacoque shorthand in an illumination of 1900-1903 by Sr. Joseph de Sales (1647-90)—to give voice to a full-fledged devotion to the Gasse of the Le Mans Visitation, where, prior to entering monastic heart of Jesus, a devotion that would be taken up and life, she had been a boarding student at the convent school with spread throughout the universal Catholic Church.14 the sisters of St. Thérèse of Lisieux (see below). The Sacred Heart of Jesus with Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis, Mother Françoise- Over a period of eighteen months, from December 1673 to Madeleine de Chaugy, and St. Jane Francis de Chantal is painted on June 1675, Margaret Mary received a number of private parchment and appears in a Roman Missal bound in leather and revelations by the Lord. The first revelation took place on the silk moiré by the Parisian bookbinder, atelier Gruel (Figure 9). In feast of St. John the Beloved Disciple (27 December 1673), who the middle ground, the enthroned Sacred Heart of Jesus holds a rested his head on the Lord’s breast at the Last Supper (John cross-staff in His left hand and an orb in His right hand. Rays of 13:23-26). While praying before the Blessed Sacrament, Margaret love emanate from His Heart encircled by thorns and surmounted Mary experienced being surrounded by the divine presence and by a cross onto the orb, symbolic of the world. In the foreground, was then made to rest on Jesus’s divine breast. The Lord told her from right to left, kneel Mother de Chantal, with her usual that His divine Heart was so impassioned with love for humanity attribute of the flaming heart, and Mother de Chaugy holding a that the flames of its burning charity cannot be contained and quill pen alluding to her role as Jane’s secretary and biographer and must be spread by her to humanity. Then the Visitation’s annalist. Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis, the “Good Mother,” (1793-1875) stands slightly behind Mother the young Visitandine experienced a mystical “exchange de Chaugy and holds a book, possibly the Spiritual Directory. of hearts.” Jesus asked for her heart, placed it in His own Each of these Visitandines played a critical role in the Order’s and returned it to her as a burning heart-shaped flame. history at different moments in time. As already noted above, This token of His love was also to be a participation in Mother de Chantal was the co-founder of the Visitation, who His suffering; the pain of it would always remain with her nurtured and guided (single-handedly after Francis’s death) the and she would become an active agent of suffering nascent Order and its prodigious growth during the first three 6 ICSS NEWSLETTER decades of its existence. Mother de Chaugy has been characterized French Revolution who likewise insisted on the sanctifying power as “the hinge between the first generations of the Visitation and of the Rule for religious life. The purpose of the Directory, which is those to come.”15 Gifted with real literary talent, she served as the union of God’s Heart with the human heart at each moment Jane’s secretary, and her writings were the conduit through which and in every action of the day, accords with the spiritual vision of the lives and spirit of Mother de Chantal and the first Visitandines the founders of the Salesian tradition of an interconnected world were preserved and transmitted to future generations: the story of of hearts: the human heart beating in harmony with the Heart of the foundations of new monasteries (prepared under Jane’s God in imitation of Jesus’s humble and gentle Heart (cf. Matthew supervision); several volumes of biographies of the first sisters 11:29).18 As has been observed, (undertaken to comply with Jane’s express wish); and her “mémoires” of Jane that are the basis for all future biographies of The Good Mother, like the founders [of the Salesian the saint (ibid.). Mother de Chantal and Mother de Chaugy were tradition] she emulated, rested on the breast of Jesus with contemporaries, while the Good Mother belonged to another era. a childlike confidence. Her Pensées record her particular The former two preceded, while the latter followed by more than expression of this truth. a century, the apparitions at Paray-le-Monial and the attendant Sacred Heart devotion. In Visitation history, Mother Mary de Let us leave ourselves absolutely in God’s hands. Let Sales Chappuis stands out for the pivotal role she exercised in the us say with all our heart: “I am sure of God.” “second founding” of the Visitation that took place in the aftermath of the French Revolution (1789-99). As regards myself, I am indeed sure of Him. This I Educated at the boarding school of the Visitation at Fribourg can truly declare. I desire that this assurance should in her native Switzerland, the Good Mother entered the monastery reach His Sacred Heart and say plainly and simply: in 1811, but only stayed a few months because of homesickness. “I rely on you, without knowing how, only I know Three years later, she entered again and remained. As a novice, she that I rely on You” (ibid., 142-43). experienced a mystical reverie reminiscent of comparable experiences by both Mother de Chantal and Margaret Mary. She The Good Mother’s inner serenity expressed here was the discerned that the Lord was calling her to be an apostle of the fertile ground out of which her flourishing activity as the apostle Salesian spirit in the world of her day. She became renowned for of the Salesian spirit grew. This apostolate included her reform of her deep grasp of Salesian principles and was commonly regarded the boarding school of the Troyes Visitation with a view to by her contemporaries as an authentic interpreter of the Salesian inculcating in the boarders the solid Salesian little virtues spirit. She also possessed uncommon leadership ability. Early on in necessary for Christian women to live faithfully in the world; her her religious life, she was sent to re-establish the Visitation promotion of the lay movement, the Association of St. Francis monastery at Metz, then made novice mistress at Fribourg, and de Sales; her key role in the formation of the Oblate Sisters of from there went to restore the Salesian spirit at the Troyes St. Francis de Sales and in the foundation of the Oblates of Visitation, which had been founded in 1631 by the second St. Francis de Sales; and spiritual guidance of priests and bishops daughter of the Visitation, Marie-Jacqueline Favre (1592-1637). in the Salesian spirit (ibid., 143-44). The Good Mother thus During the French Revolution, the Troyes Visitandines had contributed in no small part to the remarkable revival of interest been expelled from their monastery; the chapel was plundered, in Salesian spirituality in the 19th century that has been and the buildings half destroyed and then sold. In 1807, the characterized as the “Salesian Pentecost.”19 buildings were restored to the sisters, who returned to reorganize. But the monastery soon came under ecclesiastical interdict on account of Jansenist tendencies, and community life there was in IV. A Painting by the Little Flower and disarray. To stabilize the community and put it on firm footing, the the Visitation Order sisters requested as superior Mary de Sales Chappuis. For the remainder of her long life, with the exception of an interval when Le Rêve de l’Enfant Jésus (The Dream of the Infant Jesus), 1894, oil she provided leadership for the Visitation in Paris on the rue de on canvas by St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face Vaugirard (1838-44), she served the Troyes community, where she (1874-97). became known as “the Good Mother.”16 The two principal means that the Good Mother employed to Thérèse gave this painting (Figure 10), which she did in early restore the Salesian spirit and re-found the Visitation were 1894, to her sister Mother Agnès de Jésus (Pauline Martin), OCD, devotion to the Sacred Heart, which served as an antidote to prioress of the Carmel of Lisieux, on 21 January (and whom Jansenism, and the practice of Francis’s Spiritual Directory, which, Thérèse regarded as her “second mother”), for her first feast day as she declared, “came from the Heart of God; it has been sanctified prioress. Mother Agnès later sent the painting to Sr. Marie- by thousands, and thousands have been sanctified by it.”17 The Aloysia Vallee, VHM, her former teacher at the Visitation in Le Good Mother treated the Directory as others did the Rule, and in Mans. When the Le Mans Visitation closed, the painting went to this emphasis she was not unique among her contemporaries in the Visitation in Chartres, and then to Moulins, where it is one of the 19th century engaged in re-founding Catholicism after the the monastery’s most cherished treasures. The painting’s black and ICSS NEWSLETTER 7 gilded frame is ornamented with a medallion of Thérèse at the top to thank her. Above, in the heavenly gardens, the angels, and the coat of arms of the Discalced Carmel at the bottom. the servants of the Divine Child, are already weaving the This painting is a visual reminder of the close bond between crowns that His heart has reserved for His beloved. the Little Flower and the Visitation, and by extension the Salesian spiritual tradition. As has been observed, “the intimate union However, night has come. The moon sends its silvery [Thérèse] felt existed between the Visitation and Carmel testifies rays and the gentle Child falls asleep. His little hand does to her appreciation and love for the spirit of Francis de Sales,”20 not let go of the flowers that delighted Him during the which permeated French spirituality of her day. This esteem and day, and His heart continues to dream of His beloved’s affection was shaped by Thérèse’s family relationships, spiritual happiness. formation, and appropriation of the Salesian spirit. Soon He glimpses in the distance strange objects Thérèse’s maternal aunt and one sister, Léonie, were that bear no resemblance to the springtime flowers. Visitandine nuns at, respectively, Le Mans and Caen. Her A cross! A lance! A crown of thorns! Yet the Divine remaining sisters Pauline and Marie, both of whom lived Child does not tremble. These are what He chooses to with her in the Lisieux Carmelite cloister, had boarded at show His beloved how much He loves her! But this is still the Visitation School where their aunt lived. Pauline, who not enough. He sees His childish, beautiful face disfigured, became Thérèse’s second mother after their own mother’s bleeding, unrecognizable! Jesus knows well that His death, guided her little sister through letters saturated beloved will always recognize Him, that she will be at His with unmistakably Salesian imagery—spiritual bouquets, side even when everyone else abandons Him. And the the little virtues, and the heart of Jesus. Thérèse’s own Divine Child smiles at this bloody picture. He even smiles correspondence reveals her formation in the wisdom of at the chalice filled with the wine that brings forth virgins. Francis de Sales and her unique teaching on “spiritual He waits for the shadows to decline, for the night of life to childhood” echoes with Salesian resonance. Her later be replaced by the radiant day of eternity! . . . spiritual guides within Carmel, especially Mother Marie de Gonzaga, were also a product of Visitation schooling at Then He will turn His radiant, glorious, divine face Caen. And as a spiritual guide herself, especially in her to her and His beloved will taste eternally the ineffable 24 letters to her troubled sister Léonie, Thérèse reveals her sweetness of His divine kiss! deep affinity with the tradition of the heart as it emerged = after Margaret Mary Alacoque.21 The preceding pages attempt to offer but a glimpse of the Today we are accustomed to meditating successively on the richness of the Visitation’s heritage preserved and celebrated in the joyful, luminous, sorrowful, and glorious mysteries of the Rosary. Musée de la Visitation. The Visitation, and indeed the wider Thus, we spontaneously think of the birth of Jesus as a joyous event, Salesian family, owe an immense debt of gratitude to M. Picaud while the Savior’s Holy Face disfigured by the crown of thorns and his team who are totally devoted to the preservation of the images His entire sorrowful Passion. This dichotomy did not exist for legacy of the Visitation Order. Without their commitment, Thérèse and her contemporaries: “When they looked at the Child diligence, and creativity, this singular cultural institution would Jesus in the crib, they contemplated in Him the future Victim of not exist. Likewise, M. Picaud and his colleagues are to be warmly Calvary. When . . . they raised their eyes to the crucified One, they congratulated for opening up and bringing to life the Visitation’s already acclaimed in Him the risen One.”22 But this perception of cultural patrimony for the museum’s thousands of visitors each the inseparable link between the Incarnation and Passion was not year: 12,5000 in 2007; 8600 in 2008; and 16,500 in 2009. new: for example, it is found in the Fathers of the Church, and it was If you go: The Musée de la Visitation is located at 4, place de popularized by the Spiritual Exercises (n. 116) of St. Ignatius Loyola l’Ancien Palais, in the historic center of Moulins, between the (1491-1556) and later by the French School of Spirituality, whose cathedral Notre-Dame de l’Annonciation and the Jacquemart theological vision Thérèse easily made her own.23 (city bell tower). It is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from For her part, Thérèse associated in her name the joyful 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon, and from 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Annual mystery of the childhood of Jesus and the sorrowful mystery of His special exhibitions at the Hôtel Demoret are open daily, except Holy Face. Nineteenth-century holy cards and pictures often Mondays, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon, and from 2:00 p.m. to represented the Infant Jesus dreaming about His future Passion 6:00 p.m. Guided tours may be arranged in advance. The museum while in His crib. There were many examples of this theme in may be contacted by phone (33) 4-70-44-39-03, e-mail Thérèse’s collection of holy cards (ibid.). When Thérèse gave the ([email protected]), or mail (Musée de la Visitation, 4, painting of The Dream of the Infant Jesus to her sister Pauline, the place de l’Ancien Palais, 03000 Moulins, France). Its most artist-saint herself provided the commentary on it. attractive and user-friendly website is also well worth visiting: www.musee-visitation.eu. While playing with the flowers His beloved brought Him in the crib, Jesus is thinking about what He will do Joseph F. Chorpenning, OSFS 8 ICSS NEWSLETTER

NOTES

All photos illustrating this article were provided courtesy of the Musée de 12. See, e.g., John of Caulibus, Meditations on the Life of Christ, trans. and ed. la Visitation. F. X. Taney, Sr., A. Miller, OSF, and C. M. Stallings-Taney (Asheville, 1. E. Stopp, Madame de Chantal: Portrait of a Saint (Westminster, Md.: N.C.: Pegasus Press, 2000), 60. Newman Press, 1963), 165. 13. Véron-Denise et al., De fleurs en aiguille, 140. 2. See, e.g., M.-P. Burns, VHM, Françoise-Madeleine de Chaugy: Dans l’ombre 14. W. M. Wright, Heart Speaks to Heart: The Salesian Tradition, Traditions of et la lumière de la canonisation de François de Sales, Mémoires et documents Christian Spirituality Series (Maryknoll: Orbis Books, 2004), 94-96. publiés par l’Académie Salésienne, no. 106 (Annecy: Académie Salésienne, 15. M.-P. Burns, VHM, “Jane de Chantal and Tradition,” in her Friendship, 2002). Also see W. M. Wright, “‘True and Public Knowledge’: The Political, Forgiveness, and the Founders of the Salesian Tradition: Essays on Francis de Religious, and Social Context of Jane de Chantal’s Testimony for the Sales and Jane de Chantal (Stella Niagara, N.Y.: De Sales Resource Center, Canonization of Francis de Sales,” in Human Encounter in the Salesian 2009), 59-72, at 68; originally published as “Jeanne de Chantal et la Tradition: Collected Essays Commemorating the 4th Centenary of the Initial tradition,” in Visitation et Visitandines aux XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, Actes du Encounter of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Rome: Colloque d’Annecy, 3-5 juin 1999 (Saint-Étienne: Publications de ICSS, 2007), 191-208. l’Université de Saint-Étienne, 2001), 37-51. 3. E. Stopp, “St. Francis de Sales at Clermont College: A Jesuit Education in 16. Wright, Heart Speaks to Heart, 139-41. Also see A. Pocetto’s important Sixteenth-Century Paris,” in her A Man to Heal Differences: Essays and Talks article, “Mary de Sales Chappuis (1793-1975): Apostle of the Salesian on St. Francis de Sales (Philadelphia: Saint Joseph’s Univ. Press, 1997), 23- Spirit,” Salesianum 71 (2009): 321-40. 50, at 34; originally published in Salesian Studies, 6, no. 1 (Winter 1969): Abrégé de la vie et des vertus de notre très honoré et 42-63. Also see J. Chorpenning, OSFS, “St. Francis de Sales’s ‘Emblematic 17. Marie de Bellaing, VHM, véneré Mère Marie de Sales Chappuis Heart Speaks to Heart Habit of Mind,’” ICSS Newsletter, No. 19 (Jan-Feb. 2007): 1-7. For concrete , cited in Wright, , examples of Francis’s emblematic method, see J. Chorpenning, OSFS, 142. On the Spiritual Directory, also see M. P. Burns, “The Origins and Spiritual Directory Friendship, Forgiveness, and “Francis de Sales and the Emblematic Tradition: The Palm Tree as an Development of the ,” in her the Founders of the Salesian Tradition Allegory of St. Joseph’s Virtues,” in Emblemata Sacra: Rhétorique et , 93-102. herméneutique du discours sacré dans la littérature en images. The Rhetoric and 18. Wright, Heart to Heart, 141. Hermeneutics of Illustrated Sacred Discourse, ed. Ralph Dekoninck and Agnès 19. The term was coined by H. L’Honoré, OSFS, “Ramifications de la famille Guiderdoni-Bruslé, Imago Figurata Studies, vol. 7 (Turnhout: Brepols, salésienne,” in L’unidivers salésien: Saint François de Sales hier et aujourd’hui, 2007), 333-47, and “Francis de Sales’s Emblematic Interpretation of the Actes du colloque international de Metz, 17-19 septembre 1992, ed. H. Bordes Death of St. Joseph (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 7, chapter 13),” in et Jacques Hennequin (Paris: Université de Metz, 1994), 459-71, at 464. Emblematic Images and Religious Texts: Studies in Honor of G. Richard Dimler, Also see Wright, Heart Speaks to Heart, 110-72, and “A Salesian Pentecost: S.J., ed. P. F. Campa and P. M. Daly, Early Modern Catholicism and the Thérèse of Lisieux, Léonie Aviat and Salesian Tradition,” Studies in Visual Arts Series, vol. 2 (Philadelphia: Saint Joseph’s Univ. Press, 2010), Spirituality 12 (2002): 156-77. 123-43. 20. D. J. Chowning, OCD, “The Spirituality of Francis de Sales and Thérèse of 4. On the 1652 edition of Francis’s oeuvres, see A. Guiderdoni-Bruslé, “Figure Lisieux,” Spiritual Life 34/2 (Summer 1988): 91-108, at 93. de la sainteté salésienne par elle-même: Rencontrer saint François de Sales 21. Wright, Heart Speaks to Heart, 199, note 44. For further details and en textes et en images,” in Human Encounter in the Salesian Tradition, 283- documentation of the relationship between Thérèse and Salesian 310, esp. 287-88. spirituality, see Wright, “A Salesian Pentecost,” 162-67. 5. See A. Guiderdoni-Bruslé, “The Contexts of Adrien Gambart’s Emblem 22. P. Descouvemont, Thérèse and Lisieux, photographs by H. N. Loose, trans. Book: Literary, Cultural, Biographical, and Christological,” in Adrien S. Sciurba, OCD, and L. Pambrun (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996), 156, Gambart’s Emblem Book: The Life of St. Francis de Sales in Symbols, a and G. Picaud and J. Foisselon, Splendeurs dévoilées: Cinq siècles d’art à la facsimile edition with a study by E. Stopp, ed. T. O’Reilly (Philadelphia: Visitation, exh. cat. (Paris: Somogy éditions d’art / Moulins: Musée de la Saint Joseph’s Univ. Press, 2006), 11-40, esp. 15-16, 21-31, and her Visitation, 2007), 74-75. “Emblems of the Saints,” in Emblemata Sacra: Emblem Books from the Maurits Sabbe Library, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, exh. cat. (Philadelphia: 23. Descouvemont, 157. Saint Joseph’s Univ. Press, 2006), 63-66; Chorpenning, “Francis de Sales’s 24. Quoted in Descouvement, 158. Emblematic Interpretation of the Death of St. Joseph,” 131. 6. For Gambart’s dedicatory letter, see Adrien Gambart’s Emblem Book, 45-48 (English trans. by T. O’Reilly) and the facsimile (unnumbered pages). On Gambart’s use of Francis’s images for his emblems, see Guiderdoni-Bruslé, “Figure de la sainteté salésienne par elle-même,” 292-305. 7. G. Picaud and J. Foisselon, Fastes et exubérance pour les saints de la Visitation, exh. cat. (Paris: Somogy éditions d’art / Moulins: Musée de la Visitation, 2008), 69-71. 8. Stopp, in Adrien Gambart’s Emblem Book, 109; also see 75, for Emblem XIII. 9. See, e.g., Stopp’s account of the circumstances of the profession day of the first Visitandines (Madame de Chantal, 138-39). = 10. D. Véron-Denise, G. Picaud, and J. Foisselon, De fleurs en aiguille: L’art de la broderie chez les visitandines, exh. cat. (Paris: Somogy éditions d’art / Moulins: Musée de la Visitation, 2009), 21-22. 11. See, e.g., Oeuvres, Annecy ed., 9:168-69; 10:76-77.

Figure 3. Musée de la Visitation (Museum of the Visitation), Moulins (France).

The museum’s permanent collection has grown steadily since the 1990s as a result of eighty-seven Visitation monasteries, located in nineteen countries in Europe, the Americas, and Lebanon, agreeing to preserve their artistic heritage in Moulins. The number of objects on deposit presently exceeds 6500 items, which witness to Visitandine spirituality, community life, and creativity.

3.

Figure 4. The Hôtel Demoret, a 17th-century building, is the venue for the thematic exhibitions that the Musée de la Visitation has mounted annually since 2007. Here is seen the installation of the 2009 exhibition, “De fleurs en aiguille: L’art de la broderie chez les visitandines” (Flowers in Needlework: The Art of Embroidery in the Visitation), which displayed 300 magnificent works of embroidery executed by Visitandines, such as vestments, antependia, and devotional objects. Each exhibit has been accompanied by a handsomely designed and profusely illustrated full-color catalogue prepared by Gérard Picaud and his collaborators, Jean Foisselon and Danièle Véron- Denise, and published by Somogy éditions d’art in Paris.

4.

Preceding page: Figure 7. Visitandines at Work under Heavenly Protection, 1641, oil on canvas painting. Parish church of Freneuse (Seine-Maritime) (France). This painting portrays the spiritual dimension of the Visitation Order’s art of embroidery. The painting is divided into two realms: the earthly and the heavenly. On earth, a Visitandine community engaged in needlework and embroidery is presided over by the Virgin Mary, who holds a scroll that reads: Mes filles vos gentils ouvrages portent l’image des vertus o innocens prentissage qui charment les yeux de Iesus, “My daughters, your good works bear the mark of the virtues or a wholesome beginning [in their acquisition] which delights the eyes of Jesus.” Each Visitandine at work is identified with one of the little virtues, e.g., silence, simplicity, humility, gentleness, modesty, mortification, poverty of spirit, etc. In the celestial world above, the community is under protection of St. Joseph who holds the Christ Child, whose His right hand is raised in benediction. Joseph and Jesus are flanked by St. Francis de Sales (to the right) who holds a book, possibly the Visitation’s Constitutions, and St. Augustine with his attribute of the flaming heart and whose Rule was the basis of the Visitation’s own. 5a. 5b.

Figure 5 a, b. Embroidered version (5a) of the engraved picture (5b) of Emblem IV, Una trias praeponderat orbi, c. 1662, from Adrien Gambart, La vie symbolique du bienheureux François de Sales . . . (Paris, 1664). This embroidery of the engraved picture of Gambart’s Emblem IV from the Visitation monastery of Nantes was used, together with those of other emblems from Gambart, to adorn paraments and chasubles made for the celebration of, first, St. Francis de Sales’s beatification (1661) and, later, his canonization (1665). Here a heavenly hand holds a pair of scales in which a heart within a triangle outweighs the globe of the world. The motto reads: Una trias praeponderat orbi, “The one in three outweighs the world.” The triangle is a symbol of the Blessed Trinity, and by a mystery the human heart is shaped like a triangle, as if to indicate that God has marked us as made in His image and likeness and that we cannot be happy except in Him.

6a. 6b.

Figure 6 a, b. Painted version on cardboard (6a) of Emblem XXX, Miscuit utile dulci, c. 1666, from Adrien Gambart, La vie symbolique du bienheureux François de Sales . . . (Paris, 1664) (6b). Nantes was not the only monastery to employ Gambart’s emblems for the solemn ceremonies celebrating St. Francis de Sales canonization. Painted versions on cardboard of nine emblems representing Francis’s virtues were executed c. 1665 by the Visitandines of the Second Monastery of Marseille. These were hung on pillars in the monastery chapel for the solemnities celebrating the canonization so as to familiarize the citizens of Marseilles in attendance with the spirituality of the new saint. Emblem XXX’s picture depicts a beehive with an open book propped up on it, and bees flying around. The motto reads Miscuit utile dulci, “He combined sweetness with usefulness.” This alludes to Francis’s ability as a writer to join his solid learning with an attractive way of putting things so that his readers were heartened to follow his advice even when it was challenging and difficult.

8. 9.

Figure 8. Embroidered chasuble made in 1768 at the Visitation Monastery of Paray- le-Monial for the celebration of St. Jane Frances de Chantal’s canonization. Ivory moiré background, with embroidery by Sr. Marie-Thérèse de Circaud (c. 1720-88); the embroidery was removed and then reassembled on a new background by Sr. Jeanne-Marie Gaudrey (1861-1945) in 1918. Elegantly ornamented with rose and purple flowers and gold, the chasuble’s focal point is the center of the cross, where an altar from which flames burst forth is pictured. The inspiration for this imagery is one of the addresses given during Jane’s beatification ceremonies in Rome (1751), in which it was averred “that the heart of our blessed Mother was an altar where the fire of Divine Love never ceased to burn, and that this love had had in her heart the qualities that fire has at its center, namely, it was pure, efficacious, and peaceful.”

Figure 9. The Sacred Heart of Jesus with Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis, Mother Françoise-Madeleine de Chaugy, and St. Jane Frances de Chantal (detail), 1900- 1903, illumination by Sr. Joseph de Sales Gasse (1861-1914). In this illumination painted on parchment and appearing in a Roman Missal, the enthroned Sacred Heart of Jesus holds a cross-staff in His left hand and an orb in His right hand. Rays of love emanate from His Heart encircled by thorns and surmounted by a cross onto the orb, symbolic of the world. In the foreground, from right to left, kneel Mother de Chantal, with her usual attribute of the flaming heart, and Mother Françoise-Madeleine de Chaugy (1611-80) holding a quill pen alluding to her role as Jane’s secretary and biographer and the Visitation’s annalist. Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis, the “Good Mother,” (1793-1875) stands slightly behind Mother de Chaugy and holds a book, possibly the Spiritual Directory.

Figure 10. Le Rêve de l’Enfant Jésus (The Dream of the Infant Jesus), 1894, oil on canvas by St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face (1874-97). Thérèse gave this painting, which she did in early 1894, to her sister Mother Agnès de Jésus (Pauline Martin), OCD, prioress of the Carmel of Lisieux, on 21 January for her first feast day as prioress. Mother Agnès later sent the painting to Sr. Marie-Aloysia Vallee, VHM, her former teacher at the Visitation in Le Mans. When the Le Mans Visitation closed, the painting went to the Visitation in Chartres, and then to Moulins, where it is one of the monastery’s most cherished treasures. The painting’s black and gilded frame is ornamented with a medallion of Thérèse at the top and the coat of arms of the Discalced Carmel at the bottom. This painting is a visual reminder of the close bond between the Little Flower and the Visitation, and by extension the Salesian spiritual tradition. 10. SALESIAN STUDIES WORLDWIDE

Pope Benedict XVI Affirms Fr. Brisson’s process (and the hopefully, possible beatification). The acts Heroic Virtues characteristic of public cult are reserved to the beatified (and even in such cases, in a restricted way: limited to a On 19 December 2009, Pope Benedict XVI authorized the religious family or diocese). After canonization, evidently, promulgation of the decree affirming “the heroic virtues of the these restrictions are suspended. Servant of God Louis Brisson, priest and founder of the men and women Oblates of St. Francis de Sales; born 23 June 1817 in It is necessary to act with good sense: venerability is not Plancy, France, and died there 2 February 1908” (“Congregation a declaration of sanctity! [In the past], the title of for the Causes of Saints: Promulgation of Decrees,” L’Osservatore “venerable” was given when a process was opened, as in Romano, Eng. ed., 29/30 Dec. 2009, 4). The same day Fr. Aldino the case of the Venerable Mother Chappuis. But, Kiesel, OSFS, Superior General, reflected on this joyous event in presently, according to the new legislation, the candidate a letter (Father General’s Letter IX) to the De Sales Oblates. is considered to be “Servant of God” from the opening of the process. “Venerable” is applied from the moment of December 19, 2009 is the 169th anniversary of the the recognition of the heroism of his or her virtues. In ordination to the priesthood of Fr. Louis Brisson, during itself, the latter step is only part of a human process and is this “Year for Priests.” . . . [T]oday, Pope Benedict XVI not a qualification that leads automatically to a cult. signed the decree acknowledging the heroic nature of God’s signature through a miracle is necessary. Only then Fr. Brisson’s life and his practice of the Christian virtues. does a person enter the sphere of the Beatified or Saints It has taken a long time, but now this important step has and, consequently, merit a cult. been taken and we can all be grateful to God. It is, indeed a beautiful Christmas gift for our Oblate family. . . . United with our Salesian Saints and to our Venerable Founder, Fr. Louis Brisson, let us continue remaining in Yes, we can, and ought to, celebrate this step. Even more, joyful thanksgiving and united in prayer. we can encourage our people to pray in order to obtain, through the intercession of Fr. Brisson, graces we need. We are in the process of composing a special prayer for The next step in Fr. Brisson’s process is to document, both this new stage of his process. I encourage everyone, from scientifically and theologically, his miraculous intercession, after here on, to become more acquainted with the person and which he would be “beatified” (and designated as “Blessed”). life of our founder, and to motivate our people to pray for Following that, a second documented miracle would be needed for their needs through his intercession. him to be “canonized” (and designated a “Saint”).

There is no liturgical honor [i.e., there is no “cult” or public All Oblates owe a great debt of gratitude to the following people, worship] provided for a person who has been recognized, by whose dedication and assiduous research have brought Fr. Brisson’s a decree, as having practiced heroic virtue. For this to cause to this important stage: the late Fr. Emilio Testa, OSFS, happen, it will be necessary to await the conclusion of the Postulator; Sr. Madeleine-Thérèse, OSFS, who succeeded Fr. Testa 14 ICSS NEWSLETTER in this position; and Fr. Roger Balducelli, OSFS, who assembled, Province, and Dr. de Raat, led a group of nine participants on a edited, and meticulously organized the enormous documentation weeklong retreat in and around Annecy. Each day had a Salesian necessary for Fr. Brisson’s cause to proceed. theme that involved reading of texts, discussion of how to put the day’s theme into practice, as well as prayer and liturgical Asia celebrations closely related to the various Salesian sites visited. This rewarding and intensive experience will be repeated next INDIA MISSION year. In September 2010, a group of thirty pilgrims will come from Upon his return to India, following three years of graduate study the Netherlands to Annecy for a less intensive Salesian pilgrimage and teaching experience in the United States, Fr. Baiju led by Fr. Dirk Koster, OSFS, and Dr. de Raat as guides. Puthuserry, OSFS, has been appointed Delegate Superior for the India Mission. Fr. Aldino Kiesel, OSFS, Superior General of On 24 January 2010, the solemnity of St. Francis de Sales, Charles the De Sales Oblates, announced this appointment at a meeting van Leeuwen, a staff member of the Dutch province of the of the Oblates of the India Mission in October 2009. Brothers of Charity, introduced this year’s theme, “The 400th Anniversary of the Visitation,” to the gathered Salesian family. Fr. Kiesel, together with Fr. Konrad Esser, OSFS, Assistant By comparing similar initiatives from St. Frances of Rome to Superior General, attended the blessing of the Mission’s third St. Vincent de Paul, he argued that the Visitation has a unique house, “Brisson Nilayam” by the bishop of Eluru. This joyful place in both past history and the present. On this occasion, funds occasion was celebrated with the members of the neighboring were raised to assist the Oblates in Haiti as an expression that the communities and the people of the area. This facility presently thoughts and prayers of the Salesian family in the Netherlands houses eight theologians and two Oblate priests. were with these confreres in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake. The Mission’s Advisory Board has decided to open a junior college at Samarpanarm. Fr. Baiju is looking into converting A brief and informative introduction to Salesian spirituality, with the land for this purpose and obtaining permission for this articles from various writers, will be published shortly. Work is also educational institution, which would be comparable to the last underway on the preparation and publication of a new Dutch two years of high school for those preparing to pursue studies at translation of the Introduction to the Devout Life. A new and the university level. modern translation is much needed and desired, as none has been The vocation picture continues to look very favorable. published since that by Hans Berghuis in 1960. Salespuram, the minor Seminary in Kerala, presently has eighteen Oblate aspirants. The total number of those in formation is FRENCH PROVINCE approximately eighty. There were two ordinations to the The De Sales Oblates have been asked to take a leading role in the priesthood in December 2009—Frs. Rayappa Yeruva Reddy, preparation and execution of the various events marking the OSFS, and Joseph Jeraldin Kumar, OSFS—and one to the 400th anniversary of the foundation of the Visitation Order. diaconate in January 2010—Jayaraj Arepall, OSFS. The French Cultural Minster has included this anniversary in the list of 2010 national celebrations. The Visitation and the Diocese Europe of Annecy have prepared this jubilee year in collaboration with the political and cultural bodies of Savoy. The bishop of Annecy NETHERLANDS PROVINCE has appointed Fr. Jean-Luc Leroux, OSFS, as the diocesan The Oblate residence, Salesianum, also serves as a spiritual center coordinator of this jubilee year. for groups of lay people, known as Salesian circles. The members read Salesian texts and discuss them in small groups, while The jubilee year was formally inaugurated at the basilica of the focusing on the question of how Salesian spirituality can impact Annecy Visitation, on the solemnity of St. Francis de Sales, their daily lives. Last year, two new circles joined the Salesian 24 January 2010, with a Solemn Pontifical Mass. Cardinal Paul family. Last July, Dr. Judith de Raat, the Province’s liaison for Poupard, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture Salesian studies and news, gave a presentation on Salesian and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, was the experiences with associated membership to the General Chapter presider and homilist. From 31 May to 8 June, 2010, there will be of the Sisters of Charity of Vught. a special week of celebrations, in which Visitandines from the Americas, Africa, and Europe will participate. The week will The province’s website has been completely revamped: include Solemn Pontifical Mass at the basilica of the Annecy www.oblaten.osfs.nl. This site includes the collection of St. Francis Visitation on the feast of the Visitation, 31 May, at which de Sales’s letters, Eén van hart, edited by Dr. de Raat, as well as an Cardinal André Vingt-Trois, Archbishop of Paris and President of instructional manual that she has prepared to guide discussion and the French Episcopal Conference, will preside, as well as a three- personal study of this book. day scholarly symposium on the Visitation Order (1-3 June), and a televised Mass on 6 June, the actual day of the 400th anniversary In September 2009, there was a very successful “Salesian Week.” of the foundation of the Visitation at the Galerie, at which Bishop Fr. Kees Jongeneelen, OSFS, Provincial of the Netherlands Yves Boivineau of Annecy will preside. ICSS NEWSLETTER 15

Exhibitions, concerts, guided tours of and pilgrimages to the CD-Rom in spring 2010. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft’s next principal Salesian sites are scheduled throughout the anniversary conference is scheduled for 14-15 January 2011. year. Of particular interest are the plays (spectacles) produced for the jubilee year by the De Sales Oblates. Fr. Thierry Mollard, For Advent 2009, Fr. Herbert Winklehner, OSFS, posted a OSFS, has written and directed “Life Is Open and Ardent,” Salesian online Advent calendar on the special website: a panorama which combines images, music, and song with a www.salesadvent.de. For 1-25 December 2009, there were daily framework of texts from Francis de Sales and the story of his life. Salesian reflections to help prepare for Christmas. This year a This will be performed by the group “Théotime.” Another play, Salesian saying on the “little virtues” is given for each day. written and directed by Fr. Michel Tournade, OSFS, Provincial of the French Province, is entitled, “Morning Sentinels.” It is The book, Drei Leben (Three Lives), by the Austrian writer, intended especially for youth and is performed by young people. Katharina Grabner-Hayden, has been published by Franz Sales More detailed information about the events of the jubilee year Verlag, Eichstätt. Her aim is to encourage the reader to live in a may be found on the website of the diocese of Annecy: Salesian way by focusing on St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane http//diocese-annecy.cef.fr/. Frances de Chantal. Book signings were held in Vienna (Austria) and Eichstätt (Bavaria), and attracted great interest from those in A media kit, “Fiches salesienne thématiques” (Thematic Salesian attendance. Moreover, the Austrian television channel ORF Files), has been prepared under Fr. Leroux’s direction. These files (www.orf.at) is planning to do a feature story on the book and its contain information on Francis de Sales, Jane de Chantal, the author. In his remarks at the book-signing events, Fr. Winklehner, Visitation, and the diocese of Annecy, as well as Salesian director of Franz-Sales-Verlag, said that Grabner-Hayden describes spirituality and the Salesian Christian life. For further resources for in a modern and original way, what is called Salesian optimism in the jubilee year, see “Publications” below. Christian spirituality. Further information about the book may be found at: www.franz-sales-verlag.de. GERMAN-SPEAKING PROVINCE (GERMANY-AUSTRIA-SWITZERLAND) Fr. Winklehner gave a presentation, “The Philothea of St. Francis Father General’s Letter IX (see above) highlighted the first de Sales: A Bestseller Celebrating Its 400th Birthday,” at the Oblate De Sales Oblate to reach his 100th birthday: parish of St. Jude the Apostle in Vienna on 20 January 2010.

Fr. Paul Lackner, was born on 22 November 1909. With For the solemnity of St. Francis de Sales, Fr. Thomas Vanek, the information at our disposal, this makes him the first OSFS, Provincial, preached on a “Salesian Personality Profile.” Oblate of St. Francis de Sales in the 134-year history of One of the profiles was: “A Man Who Lives According to the the Congregation to reach the milestone of living for one Spirituality of Francis de Sales Has No Fear of God.” The full century. We thank and praise God for his life. sermon may be found at: www.salesianum-rosental.de/ Congratulations, Father Lachner! salesfest10_predigt.html.

Fr. Lackner was born in Vienna, and entered the A student exchange will take place in the coming months among Congregation in 1928. His priestly ordination took place in three De Sales Oblate schools: Dachsberg (Austria), 1933. Among other ministries in the Province, he has been St.-Michel in Annecy (France), and Salesianum School in Novice Master, Provincial Superior, and teacher in Wilmington, Del. (USA). From 4 to 16 March 2010, twelve Fockenfeld. Presently, he is being cared for by the students and four teachers from the Salesianum School will visit Franciscan Sisters at their hospital, near Munich, Germany. the school in Dachsberg and other houses of the German-speaking Province, combined with workshops (on music, geography, and The annual study conference of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für spirituality) focusing on mutual understanding. From 10 to 24 May Salesianische Studien (Working Group for Salesian Studies) took 2010, sixteen students from Dachsberg, together with Fr. Markus place at Salesianum Rosental, Eichstätt, Bavaria, 23-24 October Kraxberger, OSFS, will visit Salesianum in Wilmington. 2009. Its primary focus was St. Francis de Sales’s ecclesiology. Fr. Thomas Günther, OSFS, presented an overview of his doctoral Andreas Kehr, Professor of Music at The Catholic University thesis on this topic. Other speakers and topics were: Melanie of Eichstätt, Bavaria, is working on a musical about the life of Spranger, “‘What did I love, When I did not love you?’ – St. Jane Frances de Chantal that is scheduled to be performed in Becoming Friends of God. Considerations on Grace in the Spring 2011. Its title is “The Baroness” and lyrics for the songs are Philothea of Francis de Sales”; Martina Fuchs, “‘Love Accomplishes mostly written by Fr. Winklehner. Everything’: Lay Spirituality and World Responsibility According to the Philothea of St. Francis de Sales”; Dominik Viet Hien Christian Deppisch from Neumarkt/Opf., Bavaria, has begun to Nguyen, OSFS, “Aspects of Salesian Love Demonstrated on the digitize the German translation of the works of Fr. Louis Brisson, Basis of St. Francis de Sales’s Treatise on the Love of God OSFS, so that they can be made accessible on the Internet. The (Theotimus).” These talks will be published in the next issue of the progress of his work can be viewed online at: www.louisbrisson.org. Jahrbuch für salesianische Studien (Yearbook of Salesian Studies), Thus far, Fr. Brisson’s retreats from 1881 to 1889 have been digitized. volume 40. For the first time, this edition will be published as a 16 ICSS NEWSLETTER

SISTERS OF THE VISITATION Philothée,’: François de Sales et ses Philothées” (“My Dear To commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the foundation of the Philothea”: Francis de Sales and His Philotheas). Visitation Order, the German-speaking Federation of the Sisters of the Visitation (Germany, Austria, Croatia, and the Czech On 18 December 2009, the Salesians of Don Bosco celebrated the Republic) have set up a new website: www.heimsuchungs 150th anniversary of their founding with a solemn renewal of their schwestern.de. This site contains information about the Order, its vows. On that day, they also commemorated the Constituent monasteries, and spirituality. It has links to all the websites of the Assembly of Don Bosco with his first seventeen companions, most Visitation monasteries worldwide. There is also an events page for of them his students, which took place in Don Bosco’s room on the jubilee year in the German-speaking Federation. Sunday evening, 18 December 1859. During that Assembly, A wonderful PowerPoint presentation about the Visitation sisters Don Bosco was elected the first Superior General. in the Vatican is also available. On the feast day of St. John Bosco, 31 January 2010, the Superior ASSOCIATION OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES General of the Salesians, Don Pascual Chávez, opened a new In the German edition of the Lien Salesien of the Association of jubilee year to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the death St. Francis de Sales (No. 1 / 2010), there is information and of Blessed Don Michele Ruas (1837-1910), the first successor of reports on activities from the various regions in Germany, Austria, Don Bosco. In his letter to the Salesians of Don Bosco announcing and Switzerland. More detailed information more be found at: this jubilee year, Fr. Chávez pointed out that Don Rua was www.franz-von-sales.org and www.franz-von-sales.ch. beatified because “he faithfully followed the footsteps of Don Bosco, lived and preserved the beginnings of the Salesian charism The French headquarters of the Association of St. Francis de Sales and accepted generously the leadership of the Congregation.” He in Paris has re-launched its website at: www.francoisdesales.com. urged his confreres to study Don Rua’s legacy in order to It provides an excellent explanation of the different branches of strengthen their own identity and to prepare for the future. During the Association: Daughters, Sons, Priests, and Sisters. the anniversary year, activities and publications focusing on Don Rua are planned in all provinces. Claudia Linker, a member of the Association of St. Francis de Sales, together with her husband Wolfgang, has undertaken a Fr. General Chávez chose as motto for the Don Rua Jubilee Year, special initiative to make Francis de Sales and Salesian spirituality “Lord, we want to see Jesus” (cf. John 12:21). Following Don Rua’s better known. Inspired by the “salon Acarie,” they launched the example, Fr. Chávez explained: “As credible and passionate “Flensburger Salon.” Flensburg is a city in northern Germany disciples of the apostles, we carry the Gospel to youth.” In his where the Linkers reside. Twice a year there will be a meeting at commentary on the jubilee motto, Fr. Chávez appealed for a which theological and other important issues will be discussed. renewed evangelization based on the Gospel account of the The inaugural “Flensburger Salon” was a great success. The next disciples on the way to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). Likewise, he one is scheduled for Spring 2010. referenced the new painting of Don Bosco by the German painter and priest, Sieger Köder, at the “Zentrum für Umwelt und Kultur” (Center for Enviroment and Culture) of the Don Bosco Salesians Italy in Benediktbeuern, Bavaria (www.zuk-bb.de). For Fr. Chávez’s letter, see: www.sdb.org. SALESIANS OF DON BOSCO The Salesians of Don Bosco sponsored an international symposium in September 2009 on the Introduction to the Devout South American Province Life at the Università Pontificia Salesiana in Rome. The presenters and their topics were: Joseph Boenzi, SDB, “I tempi e le HAITI circostanze che indussero Francesco di Sales a comporre e In a letter dated 13 February 2010, Fr. General Kiesel and pubblicare l’Introduzione all vita devota (The Time and the Fr. Michael J. Moore, OSFS, Provincial of the South American Circumstances That Led Francis de Sales to Compose and Publish Province, thanked their De Sales Oblate confreres and all our the Introduction to the Devout Life); Eugenio Albuquerque, SDB, Haitian benefactors for their compassionate and generous response “El influjo de los escritores espirtuales espanoles del siglo XVI en to the tragic earthquake in Haiti. la Introdución a la vida devota” (The Influence of Sixteenth- Century Spanish Spiritual Writers on the Introduction to the Devout To our appeal letter of 18 January, you all responded very Life); Eunan McDonnell, SDB, “Understanding the Spirituality of generously. Your assistance at this critical moment is the Introduction to the Devout Life as an Asceticism of Love”; very important for us and our Haitan mission. Therefore, Morand Wirth, SDB, “La cultura umanistica di S. Francesco di we wish to express our most heartfelt gratitude to all of Sales nell’Introduzione alla vita devota” (The Humanistic Culture of you: our Oblate confreres, friends, and benefactors who St. Francis de Sales in the Introduction to the Devout Life); Valentín have expressed your support for the Haitian people and Viguera, “Elementi caratterizzanti della direzione spirituale de our Oblate mission in Haiti, either by prayer or by your Francesco di Sales” (The Defining Characteristics of Francis generous donation. de Sales’s Spiritual Direction); Anne Marie Baud, “‘Ma chère ICSS NEWSLETTER 17

serving in different socially oriented projects according to their various capacities—some may work with Hands Together (food distribution, education), others with the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s sisters) in social work, and still others becoming involved in visiting families, religious education, and evangelization of the poor. The De Sales Oblates will continue our commitment to the Haitian people, especially in this very critical moment of rebuilding their country. Priority will be given to acquiring a suitable property and constructing a safe and secure structure to accommodate our Oblate confreres and candidates in formation, although, given present realities in Haiti, this goal may take some time to materialize.

Fr. Hagan has plans to build simple lodgings on the property where the former Hands Together house stood. Adjacent to it will be a small prayer garden where the graves of the two Oblate Associates who perished in the earthquake are located. The National Catholic Reporter online ran a very moving and heartwarming report from Fr. Hagan about his experience in the aftermath of the horrific earthquake that devastated Haiti and its long-suffering people. It is entitled “I Am Humbled by This People,” and is available at: http://ncronline.org/news/global/i-am-humbled-these-people. Here is an excerpt:

When I go through Cité Soleil now I see the eight schools that we built (schools that were totally free and the only free schools like that in the country with more than 9,000 kids). I walk past what was once our clinic that took care of 20,000—again the only totally free clinic in the area. I see what once were the houses that we built for 150 people and the elderly projects for over 800. I look at the large kitchen area where people prepared hot meals each day for over 10,000—and all of it is gone.

It is during a time like this that I find myself very proud of my Church. Everywhere you go, you will see the Church reaching out now and helping the people. The Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s nuns) are just amazing. The people here have a great faith. When I go Fr. Michael Moore, OSFS (right), and Fr. Carlos Borba, OSFS (left), on their visit to Cité Soleil now, as I do every day, I see few tears. The to Haiti in the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated the country. people have an amazing resiliency. Maybe it is because they have few material possessions and apparently their happiness does not depend upon possessions. The sight of Fr. Moore, accompanied by Fr. Carlos Borba, OSFS, recently a sunset means more to them than their possessions. visited our confreres in Haiti on a fact-finding visit and to What makes me most proud of my Church is that the demonstrate the Congregation’s support to our Oblates there. As a message we give the people is that they have enormous result of this visit, a plan of action with immediate and long-range worth in the eyes of God and that they are infinitely objectives was drawn up. This plan is composed of several loved and that this terrible disaster is in no way a elements. First, the seven Haitian Oblates in annual vows will go punishment from God. to Brazil (Porto Alegre) in the near future, so that they may continue their theological studies since the theology school was United States completely destroyed. Fr. Borba will accompany them in Brazil as scholastic master. Second, Fr. Moore, working together with TOLEDO-DETROIT PROVINCE Fr. Thomas Hagan, OSFS, will continue to accompany and orient The 2010 Joseph F. Power, OSFS, National Salesian those candidates who remain in formation in Haiti. This group, Teleconference will take place on Saturday, 7 August 2010. In its made up of fourteen Haitian postulants and nineteen Haitian 28th year, the Conference, sponsored by De Sales Resources & associates, will be invited to help rebuild their own country, Ministries, will be hosted at Salesianum School in Wilmington, 18 ICSS NEWSLETTER

De., with broadcasts in several other cities, including Washington, WILMINGTON-PHILADELPHIA PROVINCE D.C., Wilmington, N.C., Mendota Heights, Mn., St. Louis, Mo., The Salesian Center for Faith and Culture (SCFC) celebrated its plus other sites still to be confirmed. In this year of the 400th tenth anniversary with another successful Heritage Week. The anniversary of the foundation of the Visitation Order, the week began on Sunday, 24 January, the solemnity of St. Francis Conference’s theme will be “Visitation as Mystery, as Community, de Sales, with the recently appointed bishop of Allentown, the as Commitment.” The three keynote presentations will be made Most Rev. John Barres, as principal celebrant and homilist at by Fr. Joseph F. Chorpenning, OSFS, Dr. Wendy M. Wright, and the evening Mass in the Connolly Chapel. The events for the Fr. Joseph Boenzi, SDB, who are well known for their Salesian following four evenings included these presenters and topics: scholarship and presentations. In 2009, the 27th Conference Dr. Marie Hilliard (Director of Bioethics & Public Policy, gathered over 600 people for this very special day of presentations, National Catholic Bioethics Center), “Conscience and prayer, and community interaction. The 2010 Conference is Healthcare Providers”; The Honorable Joan Orie Melvin (newly expected to bring together even more friends, new and old, to elected Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court), “Upholding share in the charism of St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de the Law While Keeping the Faith”; publishers Tim Kennedy (The Chantal. Further information will soon be available at: Morning Call) and Martin Till (Easton-Times), “The Future of www.desalesresource.org, or call 1-800-782-2270. Newspapers”; and the Wayne Kraft Memorial Lecture delivered by Msgr. Paul Tighe (Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Social The next biennial Salesian Scholars Seminar is scheduled for Communications), “Communicating Faith in Today’s Culture.” 20-24 October 2010, at De Sales Resource Center, Stella Niagara, These events were attended by over 570 people. N.Y. As 2010 is the 400th anniversary of the Visitation Order, the theme for this year’s Seminar is: “The Visitation Order: Its History Fr. Michael Murray, OSFS, Director of the De Sales Spirituality and Spiritual Patrimony.” It will also include a mini-seminar by Center (DSC), continues to add new and interesting materials to Dr. Jill Fehleison on her research on the episcopates of St. Francis the Center’s website: www.oblates.org/spirituality. The new listings de Sales, his predecessor, and his successors, as well as confessional include the following: Praying with Salesian Images, Year of the pamphlets produced between 1589 and 1665 by Catholics and Priest, Salesian Sunday Reflections in Spanish, Salesianum Protestants living in Geneva and Savoy. Testimonials, and discussion outlines for many Salesian books. Fr. Murray continues his weekly “Spirituality Broadcasts,” which The Salesian Leadership Camp, held annually at Camp De Sales are brief and timely Salesian reflections, both via e-mail and in Brooklyn, Mi., is scheduled for 12-18 June 2010. In 2009, every podcasts. Among his many other activities, Fr. Murray also gives Oblate and Visitation School was represented, bringing together numerous presentations, parish missions, etc., on Salesian themes. over fifty campers and fifty staff members. This year, it is expected Likewise, he is involved in a number of partnering projects, that this program will again be attended by high school students especially with the De Sales Oblates apostolate in the inner city of from every Salesian entity. They will be joined and supported by Camden, N.J., and with regionalizing the S.A.C.R.E.D. (Salesian school personnel, Oblate Associates, and young men and women Adult Religious Education Day) program sponsored by the who have attended Salesian Leadership Camp in past years. Province, under the direction of Thomas Vresics and hosted by the Salesianum School. This year’s program is scheduled for Saturday, Approximately forty De Sales Oblates of the Province gathered in 27 February 2010, with Fr. James Greenfield, OSFS, Provincial, Deerfield, Mi., at Fr. Jack Loughran’s parish to celebrate the giving the keynote address. solemnity of St. Francis de Sales. A beautiful Solemn Evening Prayer was prepared by Fr. Michael Neumann, OSFS, who De Sales Service Works, under the leadership of Fr. Michael composed both the opening hymn and the responsorial, as well as McCue, OSFS, hosted a number of service retreats for both high judiciously chose joyful psalmody. Fr. David Whalen, OSFS, school and college students. One of the primary purposes of these Provincial, presided, and Fr. Alexander Pocetto, OSFS, was the retreats is to provide a practical experience of applying in a homilist, speaking on “Communion, the Priesthood, and Salesian manner the social teachings of the Church in an urban Fr. Brisson.” Vespers was followed by prepandials and a festive setting. Fr. McCue teamed up with the Peace and Justice Advisor, meal in the parish hall. The whole celebration brought to mind Patrick Kennedy, OSFS, to give a presentation on Salesian Psalm 133, “Ecce quam bonum et quam iucundum habitare fratres in spirituality and the social teaching of the Church at a Salesian unum” (Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to leadership breakfast held at the Oblate parish of St. Anthony of dwell together in unity). Padua in Wilmington, De.

The Provincial Council decided to invite the members of the To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Visitation Order, Province into a focused conversation on Vocation and Formation an exhibition of paintings, sculpture, stained glass, engravings, Ministry this year. This was done not because there is a crisis in rare books, devotional objects, and paraments embroidered and either of these ministries, but because it is a good time for the painted by the sister-artists of the Philadelphia Visitation has been regular review and update of this section of the Province’s Pastoral mounted in the newly renovated exhibit space at Ryan Memorial Plan and also because of the common formation document on Library, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary, 100 East Wynnewood which both U.S. provinces are presently collaborating. Road, Wynnewood, Pa. 19096. “The Visitation at 400 Years” is curated by Fr. Joseph F. Chorpenning, OSFS, ICSS Chairman. ICSS NEWSLETTER 19

It opened on 23 March 2010 and continues through 9 August 2010. Giovanni Buccelato, Alla Presenza di Dio: Ruollo dell’orazione The exhibit focuses on four major themes: the Biblical mystery of mentale nel carisma di fondazione di San Giovanni Bosco, (In the the Visitation, the emblematic exaltation of the founders of the Presence of God: The Role of Mental Prayer in the Charism of the Visitation, the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Our Lady of Guadalupe Foundations of St. John Bosco) (Roma: Editrice Pontificia (referencing the Mexican origins of the Philadelphia Visitation). Università Gregoriana, 2004). For further information and/or to arrange for a group tour and gallery talk, contact Fr. Chorpenning at: [email protected]. For Marie-Patricia Burns, VHM, Friendship, Forgiveness, and the hours of operation, please contact the Library at 610-785-6274. Founders of the Salesian Tradition. Essays on Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal (Stella Niagara, N.Y.: De Sales Resource Center, 2009). Fr. Chorpenning was the featured guest interviewed by Dr. Wendy Available from De Sales Resources & Ministries. M. Wright (Professor of Theology and John C. Kenefick Chair in the Humanities, Creighton University) for Creighton’s “Catholic Pascual Chávez Villanueva, Salesiani da centocinquat’anni (The Comments Podcast” for the week of 21-27 December 2009. The Salesians on Their 150th Anniversary) (Rome: Libreria Editrice topic was the historical development of the feast of the Holy Vaticana, 2009). Family, which grew in popularity with the rise of the nuclear family in Western culture. This program is archived and available Mary-Cabrini Durkin. St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Strasbourg: at: moses.creighton.edu/catholic comments. Éditions du Signe, 2008). From “Along the Paths of the Gospel” children’s series. Available from De Sales Resources & Ministries. OBLATE SISTERS For her “Special Topics” course in Education at De Sales —————, St. Jane Frances de Chantal (Strasbourg: Éditions du University, Sr. Audrey Frances Moran, OSFS, has written a paper Signe, 2009). A “tween” book with animated illustrations. entitled, “A Salesian Philosophy of Classroom Management.” Available from De Sales Resources & Ministries. Sister adroitly uses both Salesian writings and those of contemporary professional educators to effectively demonstrate Édouard Glotin, SJ, La Bible du Coeur de Jésus (Paris: Presses de la the applicability and relevance of Salesian principles in teaching Renaissance, 2007). Contains references to Francis de Sales, Jane situations on the elementary level. She is currently completing the de Chantal, and Margaret Mary Alacoque. requirements for the M.Ed. degree by student-teaching in a Catholic elementary school in the area. Alois Kothgasser and Clemens Sedmak, Quellen des Glücks. Von der Kunst des guten Lebens (Sources of Happiness. On the Art of VISITANDINES the Good Life) (Innsbruck: Tyrolia Verlag, 2009). Offers detailed The latest issue of the attractive newsletter, Living Spring, of the information about the Philothea of St. Francis de Sales in the Tyringham Visitation, Mont Deux Coeurs (The Mount of Two context of the “successful growth of happiness.” Alois Kothgasser Hearts), features a number of beautiful color photos. It also reports is a Salesian of Don Bosco and archbishop of Salzburg (Austria). on the Sisters’ memorable pilgrimage to Annecy and Salesian sites to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Visitation’s foundation, Arthur Lenti, SDB, Don Bosco: History and Spirit (Rome: Libreria as well as on a talk on Salesian spirituality by Ateneo Salesiano). Six volumes have been published thus far. The Dr. Wendy M. Wright, the retreat for the annual renewal of vows final volume will be entitled the “Golden Years” and contain a given by Fr. James MacNew, OSFS, and a series of talks on general index for the series. This work is characterized by a lively, St. Francis de Sales over a four-day period by Fr. Lewis S. Fiorelli, readable text and based on the latest historical research, enriched OSFS. The article, “CD Adventure” describes how the sisters by numerous source texts. decided to cut a CD of songs of praise to commemorate their 400th anniversary; it is available for purchase through the monastery gift Eunan McDonnell, SDB, The Concept of Freedom in the Writings of shop and from DR&M. Fr. Michael Newman, OSFS, composed St. Francis de Sales (Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang, 2009). two of the songs for this CD: “Tenui Nec Dimittam” and “Live A revised version of the author’s important doctoral thesis; Jesus!” In keeping with the Visitation’s centuries-old devotion to foreword by Fr. Alexander T. Pocetto, OSFS, who, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus, on the first Sunday of the month Dr. Wendy M. Wright, served as readers for the thesis. (except those of January, July, and September), the sisters offer spiritual talks on the Sacred Heart that are available on the Philip Pfatteicher, New Book of Festivals and Commemorations: monastery’s website at: http://vistyr.org/talks/index.php. A Proposed Common Calendar of Saints (Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 2008). Includes St. Francis de Sales, with a short biography, Publications excerpt from the Introduction to the Devout Life, collect, and other prayers for his commemoration. BOOKS Françoise Bouchard, Á la source de la Visitation: François de Sales et Tragen und Getragen werden. Leben in Gemeinschaft (Carry and Be Jeanne de Chantal (The Sources of the Visitation: Francis de Sales Carried: Living in Community), ed. Oblates of St. Francis de Sales and Jane de Chantal), preface by Yves Boivineau, bishop of (Düdingen, 2010). Published to commemorate the 400th Annecy (Paris: Éditions Salvator, 2010). anniversary of the founding of the Visitation Order, this volume 20 ICSS NEWSLETTER juxtaposes quotes on Visitandine community life, primarily from de Chantal, Sources of the Visitation), based on the stained-glass the Spiritual Conferences, with beautiful photographs of the windows of the basilica of the Annecy Visitation, directed by Marc Visitation monasteries in Solothurn and Fribourg (Switzerland). Dubois, association Agora, December 2009.

The Visitation: A Monastic Way of Life in the Church (Strasbourg: VIDEO-DVD: Diocese of Annecy, Dans les pas de saint François de Éditions du Signe, 2008). Eighty-page, hardbound illustrated Sales (In the Footsteps of St. Francis de Sales), directed by history of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary published to Nathalie Costa, Tellus communication, January 2010. mark its 400th anniversary of founding. The latter half of the book is focused on foundations in the U.S.A. Available from De Sales Resources & Ministries. Salesian Liturgical Calendar

DOCTORAL THESIS 400th Anniversary Year of the Foundation Josette Malbert-Curtil, Mémoire et patrimoine: Les representations de of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary saint François de Sales dans les églises et chapelles des Pays de Savoie (May – December 2010) (1594-1965) (Memory and Patrimony: Images of St. Francis de Sales in the Churches and Chapels of Savoy [1594-1965]). Monday, 31 May Feast of the Visitation of the Doctoral thesis in History directed by Professor Gilles Bertrand at Blessed Virgin Mary the Université Pierre Mendès France in Grenoble. Sunday, 6 June Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ ARTICLES (Corpus Christi) Joseph F. Chorpenning, OSFS, “The 400th Anniversary of a Spiritual Classic: Saint Francis de Sales’s Introduction to the Devout 400th Anniversary of the Life,” Spiritual Life 55/4 (Winter 2009): 228-44. Foundation of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary —————, “Francis de Sales’s Emblematic Interpretation of the Death of St. Joseph (Treatise on the Love of God, Book 7, Chapter Friday, 11 June Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus 13),” in Emblematic Images and Religious Texts: Studies in Honor of G. Richard Dimler, SJ (Philadelphia: Saint Joseph’s Univ. Press, Thursday, 12 August Feast of St. Jane Frances 2010), 123-44. de Chantal

Jason Sager, “François de Sales and Catholic Reform in Tuesday, 12 October De Sales Oblates Founders’ Day Seventeenth-Century France,” Nederlands archief voor kerkgeschiedenis 85/1 (2005): 269-82. Saturday, 16 October Feast of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque

Herbert Winklehner, “’Die Frömmigkeit aber passt zu jedem Stand’: Monday, 13 December Anniversary of the Death of St. Jane Frances de Chantal Franz von Sales’s Anleitung zum frommen Leben” (“Piety, however, is compatible with every state”: Francis de Sales’s Introduction to the Closing of 400th Anniversary Devout Life”), in the series “Meilensteine der Theologie” (Milestones Year of the Visitation Order of Theology), in Katholisches Sonntagsblatt für die Diözese Rottenburg- Stuttgart (Catholic Sunday Newspaper for the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart) 48 (29 Nov. 2009): 38-39. The ICSS NEWSLETTER was founded in 1997 and is published biannually Daniel P. Wisniewski, OSFS, “Love in the ‘Unidiverse’: A Salesian by the International Commission for Salesian Studies (ICSS) of the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales (Joseph F. Chorpenning, OSFS, Chairman; Valdir Perspective,” Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science, 44/3 Formentini, OSFS; Dirk Koster, OSFS; Herbert Winklehner, OSFS). (September 2009): 583-99. A revised and condensed version of Its primary purpose is to disseminate on a global scale information dealing the author’s thesis for the M.A. degree in Theology at the with Salesian Studies (St. Francis de Sales; St. Jane Frances de Chantal; Washington Theological Union. Fr. Louis Brisson, founder of the De Sales Oblates and the Oblate Sisters of St. Francis de Sales; the Visitation of Holy Mary; Lay Institutes and other Religious who are members of the Salesian Family). MULTI-MEDIA RESOURCES FOR THE 400TH ANNIVERSARY Editor: Joseph F. Chorpenning, OSFS (Saint Joseph’s University Press, 5600 OF THE VISITATION ORDER City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131-1395, USA; e-mail: [email protected]). CD: Dieu de la Joie (The God of Joy), by the choir of the Annecy News Editor: Alexander T. Pocetto, OSFS. News items for future issues should Visitation nuns under the direction of Fr. Jean-Baptiste. It includes be sent to Fr. Pocetto via e-mail ([email protected]), fax the Mass and Liturgy of the Hours for St. Francis de Sales and (610/282-2059), or by mail (De Sales University, 2755 Station Avenue, St. Jane Frances de Chantal. January 2010. Center Valley, PA 18034-9568, USA). Proofreader: Daniel P. Wisniewski, OSFS VIDEO-DVD: Diocese of Annecy, François de Sales et Jeanne Designed, typeset, and printed at the Printing Office of Saint Joseph’s de Chantal: Aux sources de la Visitation (Francis de Sales and Jane University Press, 5600 City Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19131-1395, USA.