Part 1
Foundation of the Monastery of Metz, 56th of the Order, first established on April 24, 1633 – transcription of the original located in the Departmental Archives of Moselle
Design of the foundation.
Mother Claude Dauvaine, who had a lot of spirit, and who was careful not to stiffen up, gave in to what she was told and made the resolution to return to her Monastery. The letter from the Marquise renewed her desire, she hastened to respond, conjuring her to use the favor that these virtues had acquired for her with the Queen, to obtain from Her Majesty the necessary permissions to establish an establishment in Metz. , and also wrote to several friends of the Institute on the same subject. The virtuous Queen testified to Madame la Marquise that she would promote this good work with all her heart, and took the trouble to speak about it herself twice to the gentlemen of the city, particularly to Mr. de Souy, then Mayor. and Alderman of this city; she expressed so much desire for this establishment, and spoke so favorably of our Institute that permissions were immediately granted.
As soon as the dear Mother of Pont-à-Mousson was informed of this, she asked their confessor to go to Metz, to very humbly beg Monseigneur de Madore (3), Bishop of Metz, and the Duke of Valette, governor to give their permission: they were easily obtained; all that remained was to begin the establishment.
Mother Claude Marie Dauvaine wrote to our Blessed Mother,(St Jane de Chantal) that as the Nuns of Lorraine, of which this Community was first claimed to be composed, had given rise to some umbrage that the natural subjects of the King would be more to the liking of the inhabitants, and begged her to choose some herself from the different houses of the order.
(3 NDT: Monseigneur de Meunier, bishop of Madore, coadjutor of the bishop of Metz, Mgr Henri Bourbon-Verneuil, from 1612 to 1652.)
The founders are named.
Our Holy Foundress appreciated these reasons and mandated our Venerable Mother Jeanne Charlotte de Bréchard, then Deposed in Riom, to take charge of this foundation: this Venerable Mother would have liked to come and do it in person, but her bodily infirmities did not allow her , chose as Superior our Most Honored Sister Marie Catherine Chariel, professed from Moulins, who was finishing her triennial in Riom, as assistant our Sister Marie Françoise de Montagnat; and our Sisters Anne Françoise Chardon, professed from Annecy, Marie Gabrielle des serpens , Jeanne Baptiste des Varênes, Marie Agnès Valette and Marie Aimable Vareyne de Riom.
to be continued