Mother Anne Marguerite Clement VHM
An early Visitandine and Foundress of the Visitation of Melun
Born in Franche -Comte, May 7, 1593 to John Clement and Marguerite Bellin Anne -Marguerite Clement showed as a child ardent piety and founded a small organization to spread devotion to the Child Jesus . After an attempted entry into Carmel , Anne -Marguerite was drawn by the fame of the nascent Visitation. Admitted to Annecy, she was greeted by St. Francis de Sales and was professed in his hands , August 13, 1618 . Affected one day by a sermon of the holy founder ( 31 October 1619 ) , she resolved to belong to God alone , to the exclusion of every creature and it was the beginning of a life of deep union with God.. In 1628 , she was chosen to found a new monastery in Montargis , where she stayed until 1635. Then, for a similar purpose , she was sent to Melun, and remained there until her death ( January 3, 1661 ) .
Mystical Experiences
In 1636, the venerable Mother Clement, being in prayer, was vouchsafed a privilege like to that with which God honored St. Catharine of Siena. ” It seemed to me,” she wrote, ” that God took my heart out of my breast, and put His own in its place; so that, as it appeared to me, I had no other heart than that of Jesus.”
Ravished thus into ecstasy, she saw her blessed Father St. Francis de Sales making his sojourn in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and there receiving the inspiration to erect an Order which would have only one end, that of honoring the Divine Heart of Jesus. In another ecstasy she saw the Blessed Virgin Mary drawing from the pierced side of Jesus Christ and pouring over her dear Visitation all the graces of which it had need to fulfil its mission.
Mother Clement’s primary spiritual gifts were the mystical marriage, the impression of Jesus’ Name on her heart, and the union of hearts. The biography of her life was published in 1686 by her Barnabite Director, Father Gallicio.
Eucharistic spirituality
Mother Anne Marguerite had a great passion for the Holy Eucharist. The night before receiving Him , Our Lord gave her less rest , and elated her heart so that she could no longer contain herself. Here are some expressions that we see in her letters: “My soul has a great ” hunger of God , and she is very impaired, especially ” since He told her heart: “I am the living bread <come down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread ” < he will live forever . Come unto me all you who are ” overburdened, and I will refresh you. Another time : “ I feel so ” pressed to receive my God, I can not provide any cooling in my heart. “ She felt her mouth full of fire, which caused her pain; she saw it as a tangible sign that God heard her prayer to purify her speech , so she would not offer a single word that was not to His glory.
Mother Anne Marguerite entered eternity in 1661.
Source: Bishop Emile Bougaud and http://books.google.com/books?id=uhz8YYKYq5wC&pg=PA63&dq=mere+anne-marguerite+clement&hl=en#v=onepage&q=mere%20anne-marguerite%20clement&f=false