After tracing the very beginning of the Holy Union, the “invincible urge” that led Fr Debrabant for the education of youth; and after outlining the essence of the Charism of Union - “That you may form together a union of heart, mind and feelings, like Jesus and Mary, working to imitate their union and their virtues, above all obedience, charity, silence and simplicity”, in the same circular letter issued at the moment of the first ecclesiastical approval in 1842, Fr Debrabant unveils the troubles through which the new born congregation had to suffer, recognizing in them the action of God who puts solid foundations on His work, despite human weakness.
“Freed from the burdens of parish work and occupied solely with the Government of La Sainte Union which became more firmly established and continued to grow, I suffered the temptation of wishing for a little peace and rest, but God for my salvation and the good of the Congregation decided otherwise, because it was at this time that, without any warning, I experienced the most terrible sufferings. Sorrows accumulated on all sides: persecutions, calumnies on the most delicate matters, inconsolable afflictions from within, tribulations, defections- and even schism – active and deliberate attempts to inflict on us the greatest possible evils and the destruction of the Institute.
What did I say then? God alone, my dear daughters, has seen and measured our suffering and the severe trials to which he himself ask us to submit. O, all of you who have sighed and wept with us, who have always wished to share our pains when you knew about them, bless providence, because it is through these trials that the work of La Sainte Union is developed; It is the finger of God alone which caused it all; it is God himself who caused it all, who had even wished that by various means and in a thousand ways the Congregation battered and shaken as a tree is thrashed by violent storms, until it is proved beyond questions that He alone is the founder of our Congregation, until it was everywhere accepted that La Sainte Union was the work of God alone, unworthy instruments, could not by ourselves spoil or obstruct His work.
May He be forever blessed for this work and for His goodness to us, because it is in the midst of such crosses and trials that we recognize not only the action of God but we learn also to rid ourselves of the old man and purify ourselves of our faults. It is through these grievous sufferings of the soul that we come to understand fully our own nothingness and our unworthiness; that we admire the generosity and mercy of God who makes use of even what is vile, for the sake of His own glory.
My very dear daughters, bless a thousand times this Providence which comes now to dry our tears and to put an end to the long-drawn out trials of the Congregation in procuring the approval, by my Lord, the worthy and saintly Archbishop of Cambrai, of your dear Institute, your Rules and Constitutions, the re-establishment of the Convent at Douai as the chief- house of the Congregation as well as the ceremony for clothing and the taking of your holy vows. For thirteen and a half years you have longed to be recognized officially as religious. You are religious now, your number 100, there are 25 houses and nearly 4,000 children who are receiving the benefit of a Christian education, the most powerful means of salvation, and almost the sole prop of virtue”.
From the Circular Letter in the form of a historical account of the origin, trials and progress of the Congregation of the Holy Union of the Sacred Hearts — Addressed by the Founder to all the Religious Sisters, on the occasion of the ecclesiastical approval, April 8, 1842