Their journey.
They left this city on November 16, 1632, and arrived the next day at our Monastery of Moulins, where they stayed seven days and made their renewals. Gifts are made to them in the various monasteries. They received there, for their new establishment, a silver chalice, with which our blessed Father had often celebrated Holy Mass; a brand new chasuble of white satin with flowers and gold trimmings, an alb, a surplice and a few other small things for the altar. Our Sisters of Nevers also made them presents for the sacristy, kept them one day, and helped to pay for their journey. Then they went down to Orleans, where they were obliged to spend seven days because of a strong indisposition of the new Superior. The good Mother of Orleans also gave them several charities, especially in linen, and paid the expenses of those who led them; a lady whose daughter this little community was taking with her, lent them her carriage to go as far as Paris, and gave them a velvet skirt with a silver bottom, with two dozen napkins for the altar. These dear Sisters were again obliged, because of the illness of their good Mother, to stay three weeks in our Monastery of the Faubourg Saint-Jacques, and our Mother Marie Jacqueline Favre, then Superior, gave them the value of 50 crowns for the sacristy.
When the Mother was healed, they went to the Monastery in the rue Saint-Antoine, where the extreme frosts detained them for 12 days; they also received several alms, a chest full of linen, and white satin with flowers, for a complete ornament. The very dear Marie Hélène Angélique l’Huillier (5) also provided them with several aids from her friends: the Commander of Sillery gave them 100 crowns; Madame de Villeneuve, Foundress of the first Monastery of Paris, gave them the tabernacle and the candlesticks that were attached to it, and several other people also made gifts for the altar. Not satisfied with her benefits, the dear Mother of this monastery gave them a suitor, whose dowry was 3000 pounds, and another for a tourière. Our good Sisters, filled with gifts and filled with gratitude for the Monasteries of Paris, left on February 2nd and went to Pont-à-Mousson; there they were given wooden furniture for eight cells; thus, through the cordial charity of our Communities, they amassed on the way enough to begin their little housekeeping.
Arrival in Metz.
On their arrival in Metz they were received by Monseigneur who showed them much kindness, and made them stay for three months with the Abbess of Saint-Pierre, who received them with much kindness, and gave them provisions of wheat and of wine. The Abbot of Saint Arnould also gave them charities, in a word, they were generally well received. Leaving the Abbey of Saint Pierre, they spent two months in a rented house, where they completed all the exercises and kept an exact enclosure; finally they bought a house which cost them 21,000 pounds, and Our Lord sent them help, especially through the subjects.
They received subjects
The candidate they had brought took the habit and brought a life pension of 300 livres; they received eight others who all together brought the sum of 23,000 pounds. Mr. President Favrol, and his wife, whose admirable piety made them examples of all virtues in their vocation, were true friends of this emerging house, and had resolved to become the founders. To this end they promised to give 31,000 pounds of Lorraine after their death, and during their life 2000 pounds of income, same currency; but the wars which arose made it judge that the Parliament would not remain in Metz, which made Madame Favrol want to make a foundation in Saint-Denis, and she wanted to take the superior and part of the Sisters of Metz there. The dissensions in the Kingdom having become very heated, this design had no follow-up, and our good Sisters had to suffer great abandonment, which made them feel the effects of poverty: they bore them cheerfully, in the love of The one who embraced our miseries to give us his eternal riches.