LIFE OF MOTHER MARY DE SALES CHAPPUIS, OF THE VISITATION OF HOLY MARY
CHAPTER I
HER BIRTH AND CHILDHOOD
Mary Theresa Chappuis was was born at Soyhieres, a little village on the confines of the Swiss Jura, on the sixteenth of June,1793. Like Saint Francis of Sales, whose favored daughter she was one day to be, Teresa was a child of prayer. And if, as there can be no doubt, the prayers of a mother have a wonderful efficacy over the soul of her child, this was indeed the case with regard to the little Teresa. The ever increasing horrors of the Revolution caused Madame Chappuis such constant fear and anxiety for the safety of her family, that, previous to the birth of her child, her life was several times in danger.
Many and fervent, therefore, were the prayers she uttered and the promises she made for the little one that was about to be born in such sad and troubled times. And we may truly say that even before her birth, the eye of God prospectively rested with complacency upon her, and that He awaited only the regenerating waters of baptism, to efface from her soul the stain of original sin, in order to bestow upon her the abundance of divine favors.
Devoted to the Royal Family
Her parents belonged to the most ancient families of the neighborhood, and were revered and respected by all for their virtue and liberality. M. Pierre Joseph Chappuis had formerly served in the Life Guards of Louis XVI, but on the occasion of his marriage with Mademoiselle Catherine Fleury, he resigned his commission much to the regret of the King, who had honored him with many proofs of his esteem and confidence. On his side, M. Chappuis always maintained feelings of tender devotedness towards the Royal Family, sentiments which he transmitted to his children, together with traditions of honor and loyalty, and that exquisite politeness of manner, which was so characteristic of the ancient French “noblesse.”
Teresa was the seventh of the eleven children which heaven had blessed their marriage, and was so frail, that it was thought impossible she could live more than a few hours. But her pious mother, assured by an interior light that the sacrament of baptism would revive her, and give her all that was wanting to enable her to live, besought those around to procure at once this grace for her child. But what was to be done in those days of terror? No priest was to be had, for Soyhieres was then under the dominion of France, and it was death to any priest who was discovered exercising his sacred ministry.
Snuck Out to be Baptized
A brother of M. Chappuis, who happened to be present, immediately resolved upon a plan which proved well the vivacity of his faith “I will take my little niece,” said he,”to be baptized at Petit-Lucelle.” Petit-Lucelle is a village about two miles distant from Soyhieres, from which it is separated by a steep mountain, that serves as frontier between the two communes and not being under the revolutionary dominion, this village had preserved its church and priest. The little infant was therefore placed in a market basket, and covered with a clean cloth;and, shouldering his precious burden, the good uncle started on his journey, which was not without considerable risk and danger. God, however, rewarded his faith; after a somewhat narrow escape, he arrived safely at the village, and little Teresa was baptized on the very day of her birth.
Madame Chappuis henceforth looked upon this dear child, who still continued exceedingly delicate, as a treasure entrusted to her by God, and she left nothing undone to preserve a life that had been so marvellously restored. She not only provided carefully for her temporal necessities, but far more for the welfare of her soul. She taught her early to know and love God, and inspired her with an intense honor of anything that might displease Him. Teresa was scarcely able to speak, when she already began to show by signs, her love for all objects of devotion. When at prayer, she would join her little hands, and the angelic expression of her countenance, together with the profound recollection of her whole being, was so striking, that those present were wont to exclaim — “This child will one day be a saint.”
During her whole life she retained this attitude when at prayer, together with an expression of candor and the charm of a child, speaking to God with all the effusion of its soul.
Mystery at Midnight
It was her delight to join her brothers and sisters in all their devotions. When only four years of age, she perceived that they rose every night towards midnight and went silently to take part in a mysterious act of piety that was unknown to her. Teresa was greatly distressed at this, and immediately besought her mother, to tell her what it was that her brothers and sisters did in the night.
On her promising faithfully to keep the secret, Madame Chappuis told her that she should be called with the others that night. What was her surprise on being taken into a room in her aunt’s house, to see an altar on which were lighted tapers, and near it a priest, whom she recognized as her uncle, vested for Mass, while several persons were kneeling around in silent adoration. At first everything seemed to her strangely mysterious, but at the moment of the Elevation, “I understood all.” She afterwards said; “God revealed Himself to me; I saw that it was the Sacrifice of my Saviour; and the impression and illumination I then received have ever since been present to my mind.”
(From: The Life of theVenerable Mother Mary de Sales Chappuis of the Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary; by the Sisters of the Visitation, Brooklyn, 1924, Brooklyn NY, Chapter 1, pages 5-9)