M. Fleury, the good priest, had been for many years Cure of Soyhieres; but, owing to the terrors of the Revolution, he was compelled to remain in close concealment during the daytime, and it was only under cover of the night that he ventured to issue forth from his hiding-place, in order to breathe for a few moments the fresh air, and say Mass in an adjoining room, at which the family of M. Chappuis and a few faithful and trustworthy servants assisted. Such scenes were well calculated to make a deep and lasting impression on the mind of a child like Teresa.
From her earliest years she inherited from her parents that reverence and respect for the priests of God, which was so remarkable in her during the whole course of her life; together with a love for truth and justice, of which she had so noble an example in her father. From her mother, who was model of all domestic virtues, she imbibed a devoted love for the poor and needy, and especially for the exiled French priests, for whom her tender heartfelt the deepest compassion. It was her greatest happiness to assist her good mother in the many generous services which she continually offered to those confessors of the Faith, many of whom were concealed under her hospitable roof or, when that became too dangerous, in the neighboring farms; and at the tender age of six years, Teresa was employed by Madame Chappuis as a sufficiently discreet and trustworthy messenger.
Casts Her Doll Away
She had a passionate love of nature, and of all that is true and beautiful. The grace of Baptism had strengthened and developed all the natural qualities of her mind and heart; and, though but a child, she already foreshadowed what she would one day be, and was named, by the villagers and the servants of the house, “M. Chappuis’ little saint.” Her natural earnestness of character caused her to take no pleasure in the toys and pastimes of children of her age; she always received them with sweetness and affectionate thanks, but after looking at them for a few minutes, and expressing her admiration, she would take them to her mother to be put away in the cupboard.
Her uncle once gave her a beautiful doll; as soon as Teresa found herself alone, she took it in her arms, and, looking at it attentively, said: “Who created you, and placed you in this world? And receiving no answer, exclaimed: It has no soul: it can neither know, love, nor serve God: I will have nothing to do with it” So saying, she cast the doll contemptuously away, nor would she ever look at it again. She once heard a lady, who had lived a pious and edifying life, say at the hour of death: “O my God, how hard it is to see the light, when there is no more time to profit by it.” These words made such an impression on Teresa, that she used often to say, “O my God, I beseech Thee to give me light, while there is yet time; it is so sad not to see what we have to do for Thee!”
Still Sweet and Engaging
At the age of eight years, Teresa received her First Communion. Her innocence and purity of soul had won for her the special love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; and this was the moment chosen by Him to bestow upon her the first fruits of the many signal graces which He had destined for her. She too gave herself unreservedly to God, promising to live henceforth only for Him.
It must not be supposed, however, that these extraordinary favors of the divine goodness made this young child less sociable; far from it, she was all the more sweet and engaging with her brothers and sisters; for God became, so to say, the bond which united her soul most intimately with her home, her family, and her country.
Teresa was sent to the School of the Visitation at Fribourg in Switzerland. The separation from her family, especially from her beloved brother Francois, caused her such intense suffering as to endanger her health, and even her life. She nevertheless persevered, and remained there three years, during which time she was frequently obliged to return to Soyhieres, on account of ill-health. Her unpretending virtue and amiability of manner, won for her the love and esteem of all with whom she came in contact; for understanding the important truth, that the perfection of a pupil consists in not distinguishing herself by any peculiarities from her companions, with whom she should form but one heart and one soul, this young girl made herself so completely all to all, that she seemed, as it were, to pass unobserved among them.
Drawing Her Closer to Him
New home duties now opened before Teresa, in the midst of which she would often retire to the house of her uncle, in the quiet and solitude of which she found her greatest happiness. The little room in which she had assisted at her first Mass, had been convened into an oratory, and here Teresa would pass hours in intimate union and converse with her divine Saviour, who, although imperceptibly, was drawing her ever closer to Himself. This constant union with God did not, however, in any way prevent her from shedding a charm of brightness and joy over the house and the declining years of the venerable Cure. Thus passed the next few years of the life of Teresa Chappuis, in the midst of family joys and filial duties. But those around her already foresaw the sacrifice which awaited them, for it was evident to all that God had special designs over the pure soul of this young girl.
(Excerpted from The Venerable Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis, published by the Sisters of the Visitation of Brooklyn, 1924 Chapter 1, pages 10-14)