September 8, 1870: Paris is in turmoil. The Empire has fallen, the Republic has just been proclaimed, and the Prussian army is marching relentlessly toward the capital, fueling mass panic and prophecies of doom. In this climate of collective hysteria, the Founder’s letter to his sisters stands as an anchor of stability. With the pragmatism of a man who witnessed Europe in flames in 1815, he dismantles the "fake news" of his day and puts political upheaval into perspective: while governments fall for the eighth time in his life, faith remains the only unshakable rock. It is a masterclass in courage and clarity, transforming the chronicle of a siege into a timeless manifesto of hope.
8th September 1870
My very dear children in Jesus and Mary,
Once again I want to give you a few words of encouragement and reassurance in the midst of all these things that the good Lord wills or permits to happen for the good of His faithful ones and the conversion of souls who have forgotten and deserted Him by giving way to their passions and earthly pleasures.
Let us take the opportunity these serious events offer us of consecrating ourselves more fervently than ever to the service of our good Lord and Master, who in His mercy has chosen us in spite of our unworthiness to be among the number of His disciples and His spouses. Let us show Him a constant and lively gratitude by more, earnest prayer and greater fidelity to all points of Rule especially as regards silence, charity and humility, about which I have so often spoken to you, but I come back again to them now, to that silence and calm which befits a good religious. By silence, I mean, not only refraining from useless talk but still more, not seeking to know what is being said or done, or listening to gossips and news-carriers, which only frightens you and draws you away from God to whom alone we should turn and put all our trust in Him only.
Do not believe all these alarming rumors, my dear children; often there is no truth in them and nearly always exaggerated accounts which can only disturb and trouble your minds in distracting your attention from your duties.
Listen to me if you have confidence in me and in an old man's personal experience: I have lived in the midst of the Prussians during the war of 1815 and I have never seen anything of what is being spread around: they would sometimes demand food and drinks, as of course they had a right to do; one gave it and that was all. If anything else has taken place recently in parts where fighting is in progress, they have suffered the same thing in their own land. In short, it is largely the result of war; than half the German soldiers are Catholics like ourselves.
Let us thank the good God that these recent events have not taken place in our country where he has allowed other kinds of trials such as cholera and other epidemics.
So try to remain calm and steady and listen to none but your Superiors; shut your ears to all alarming reports and believe none of them. That is what our Divine Master teaches us in many places in the Gospel. Your safest place of refuge is your convent. You have there, God present among you and the chapel with the Blessed Sacrament. What more could you desire? If there had been any change to be made we would have informed you of it; we should not have advised you to go elsewhere for safety, we should perhaps have allowed you to wear, for the time being, a black bonnet, to discard your veil and decoration and in the case of larger communities to place the youngest sisters with some devoted family of the locality, that and no more. But there is no necessity to do that as in Paris where the situation is very grave, however, leave that to the Lord and pray; we are in His Hands!
We have a new government and that is no surprise; it is the eighth I have seen since I was a boy. Governments come and go; there is one that does not change but endures - the authority of the Church, with its infallible head the Pope, Vicar of Jesus Christ, so sorely of confidence because he knows that full gates of hell shall never prevail against Christ's Church.
We shall obey in all that is not contrary to the laws of God and the Church; the first Christians and all the saints have done so. Let us imitate them and accept without question or murmur, everything that God has willed and allowed to happen: He knows what He is about. Blessed be His will!
To conclude then, my dearest children, stay calmly and Put into practice all that God has taught you and inspired you to do quietly in your convents, during the retreat. Any letters you need to write to us will reflect these holy and courageous sentiments.
With that hope in my heart, I bless you all in Jesus and Mary Immaculate,
Douai, Feast of Our Lady's Nativity
Debrabant, Director General of La Sainte Union