soming to see you." She refused to let the sister remain, who wished to watch by her that night, as she was afflicted with a cancer; and when, anxious about her state, this sister returned at four in the morning, she found Anne de Melun already up, and gone to confession in the chapel. After her confession, the dying woman-for so in truth she was-asked permission to fast during the following day, which was the eve of the Assumption; but her director refused it. He egged her to communicate at the Mass which was then celebrating; but she wished to spend a little more time in preparation; and going into the choir, knelt down before the cherished image of the Blessed Virgin. A slight cough and oppression of the heart compelled her, however, to leave the chapel; and one of the sisters following her, she said, "My sister, I can do no more; my strength fails me." They laid her down on a mattrass, in a room near the choir, and all the sisters crowded round her. The last Sacraments were administered whilst she still retained her consciousness, but the power of speech was gone. From time to time she raised her eyes to heaven, as if to make an offering of her departing soul; and after an agony of two hours' duration, that purified soul so peacefully took its flight, that her last breath was not perceived.

After her death, which took place at eight o'clock in the morning of August the 13th, 1679, in the sixtysecond year of her age, her countenance resumed more than its youthful beauty. It was difficult to turn away when one had begun to gaze upon it; nor did her limbs stiffen for more than twenty-six hours. Every article of clothing she possessed was divided amongst the people, who eagerly demanded some relic of her whom they had venerated as a saint. There was nothing else left to distribute; for her sole worldly property at the time of her death consisted of a little bed and mattrass, a rush chair, a bare table, a crucifix, and two pictures pinned to the wall. It had long been her great anxiety to get rid of every thing she possessed,

IV.

LOUISE DE MARILLAC,

FTERWARDS

MADEMOISELLE LE GRAS.

OUISE DE MARILLAC, afterwards Madame, or (as it was the custom in her days to call married women whose husbands were not noble) Mademoiselle Le Gras, was of an ancient and honourable family. Her father, Louis de Marillac, was councillor of the parlia ment of Paris. Her mother, Marguerite le Camus, died almost immediately after the birth of Louise, which took place August 12th, 1591, at Paris.

Monsieur de Marillac devoted himself with particular care to his little daughter; and after she left the convent, where the first principles of piety were deeply implanted in her heart, he took pleasure in teaching her many things which are not generally thought essential branches of female education. She studied Latin and philosophy with great delight, and showed a considerable talent for painting; but she would only gratify this taste on sacred subjects. Some of her paintings are still preserved in her family. Her father was proud and very fond of her, and declared in his last will and testament that she had been his greatest consolation in this world; and that he believed she had been given him by God as a balm to his spirit, amidst all the troubles of life.

Malle. de Marillac, from an early age, showed a decided inclination for the conventual life, and would gladly have become a Capuchiness; but her confessor, although himself a religious, discouraged the idea. He seems to have had some intuitive knowledge of the different life that awaited his penitent. Mdlle. de Marillac submitted to his decision; and soon after the death of her father, which happened when she was twenty-two years of age, she married Mons. Antoine Le Gras, Secretary to the Queen, Mary of Medicis, by whom she had one son. During the twelve years of her married life, Mdlle. Le Gras prepared herself unconsciously for her future vocation, by giving the most unremitting attention to the poor of the parish. She nursed them in their sicknesses, doctored them with admirable success, taught and comforted them, prepared them for the Sacraments, and smoothed their dying pillows with unwearied tenderness. She became also a constant visitor at every hospital within reach; and always carried from her own table any delicacy that she thought might tempt the appetite of some poor patient. It was not long before these visits of charity revealed to her so fully the necessities of the poor, that she conceived some vague idea of a sisterhood consecrated to their service; although it was many years before this idea took any definite form.

The pleasures and frivolities of the world had no temptation for Mdlle. Le Gras: she was grave and modest in her dress; never to be met with in any public assembly; and during the time of the carnival, would seclude herself from any even involuntary share in its distractions, by going to the Capuchin convent to make a retreat. Her great aim was to keep herself in uninterrupted communion with God; and her excessive anxiety to preserve her conscience free from stain proved at times so great a hindrance to her advancement in spiritual welfare, that she had recourse to the intercession of St. Francis of Sales. This holy bishop highly esteemed her, and once visited her during a

Bevere illness. She had the greatest confidence in him, and believed herself indebted to his prayers for the peace of mina which she afterwards enjoyed.

It must not be supposed that Mdile. Le Gras was so completely absorbed in spiritual, or charitable exercises, as tc neglect the duties which her married state imposed upon her. Her husband, sickly and irritable, was the object of her devoted care and unfailing forbearance; and to her only child she was an affectionate and tender mother. So lovely was the spirit of piety which, from her example, pervaded her whole household, that none could dwell within its influence without yielding up their entire hearts. It is even said, that two 01 her husband's clerks were so wrought upon by the few pious counsels and occasional glimpses of her singular virtue which reached them, that they retired from the world, and gave themselves to lives of seclusion and charity. Her poor valetudinary husband also grew patient and gentle in her soothing presence; and as his state of health became more infirm, his submission to the will of God was perfected, until in December 1625, after receiving the last Sacraments with great devotion, he died.

His widow felt his loss keenly, for they had lived together twelve years in the closest affection; and he had scarcely expired, before she hurried to the tribunal of penance, there to wash away whatever of unchastened human feeling might linger in the pangs of separation, and to prepare for the reception of that Heavenly Spouse to whom she now exclusively vowed herself. She gave herself more than ever to devotional exercises and good works; and became so conspicuous for sanctity, that the Bishop of Belley, her confessor, and a friend of St. Francis of Sales, believing her destined to some high vocation, requested Saint Vincent of Paul to receive her as his penitent. Although scrupulously averse in general to undertake the spiritual guidance of women-noble ladies especially, St. Vincent did not decline the direction of Mdlle. Le Gras; and in a short