Mother Francoise Marguerite Patin had a unique relationship with Saint John Eudes and the Congregation of penitents that he started for women. Mother Patin, although a Visitandine, became Fr Eudes’ new community’s FIRST Superior!
Here is her story.
Born at Beauvais in 1600, her childhood was remarkable in many ways. Her piety drew the eyes of many upon her, especially those of her own household. She consecrated her virginity to God by a vow of chastity when she was only twelve years old. According as she increased in years she developed the most beautiful dispositions; sweet and charming was the influence she exercised over her companions. She gave a thousand proofs of her charity towards every one, and especially towards the poor.
In the early morning she was ever ready to carry the little delicacies her mother gave her to her poor friends. Her modesty was so delicate that she made a vow to recite the Rosary every day if the Holy Virgin would obtain for her the favor that she would never be seen in bed by any of her young relatives that were living in the same house with her. The most advantageous offers of marriage were distinctly refused by her, and she asked her parents to permit her to retire to the Convent of the Ursulines of Amiens, there to continue her exercises without distraction.
After her return to her home her mother, anxious to keep her with herself, proposed to found an Ursuline Convent at Beauvias. By the advice of her confessor she chose to enter the first Monastery of the Visitation at Paris. Five or six years after her profession her superiors judged her capable of directing the foundation of Dol in Brittany. The death of the Bishop, shortly after her arrival in that town, made her give up that house, and Mother Patin, with her Sisters, joined those who, in 1631, had been established by the Visitation of Caen. She was the second superior, and having been deposed from that office she exercised that of Mistress of Novices, when she was sent to St John Eudes’ new community, the Order of Our Lady of Charity. The Rule of Saint Augustine and the Constitutions of the Visitation were adopted, in principle.
This obedience threw her into a world of trouble; all the difficulties of a new foundation, and especially the foundation of a new Institute, presented themselves to her mind. The thought of having to direct the Penitents caused her the bitterest repugnance. Her submission to the will of God, and her obedience to her superiors aided her in overcoming all her apprehensions, and she went where Divine Providence called her, taking with her two other Religious, Sisters Marie-Charlotte de la Rue and Elizabeth-Angelique le Comte. This monastery, knowing of the extreme poverty of the House of the Refuge, had the generosity to give them two hundred livres for their immediate wants. The Reverend Mother Patin applied herself at first to pacify every one, and her prudent behavior succeeded in restoring peace where there had been unrest and trouble. She endeavored to form to the religious life all the subjects she found there, as well as those that Providence would send her.
But historic veracity compels us to say that she labored especially for the Visitation. To the nuns of that Order, so dear to her, she sent the very best of the applicants. She acknowledged this herself in a letter she wrote after her return, in which she also relates what the Holy Virgin said to her on showing her her fault.
The Community moved to the street called the Jacobins, to the house that M. de Bernieres had located for them. It was built of wood, covered with a simple plastering, and was so freezingly cold in winter that their bread froze on them. These inconveniences, joined to their extreme poverty, made the good Sisters only more fervent and happy. However, one day Mother Patin was without provisions, and had not a sou in her slim purse. She became quite shaky in her confidence in God; forgetful for the moment, like any poor child of Adam, she, in the next moment, was shocked at her discouragement, and casting herself on her knees at the foot of her crucifix she cried out: “My God, if it is your will that I serve you in this place make it known to me, and give me the means for this Community to exist. And, oh, I beseech You to pardon my silly murmurings.” This prayer was scarcely finished than, yielding to a secret inspiration, she opened the drawer of her table and found there twenty livres, the existence of which was inexplicable. Another time a can of oil was almost exhausted, and they had no money to buy any. To their joyous astonishment next day they found it quite full enough to last at least for two months. At sight of these prodigies their hearts overflowed with gratitude, and filled them with renewed courage.
Mother Patin eventually returned to the Visitation Order, but then went back to St Eudes community until her death.