Visit of the Queen.
Around the same time, Queen Anne of Austria, passing through Metz, honored this little Community with one of her visits, she appeared, as well as her entire court, very edified by the modesty and contentment that appeared on the faces of all the Sisters; which then caused his Majesty to say that she esteemed the poverty of the daughters of St. Mary more than all the greatness and riches of the world. She sent a considerable alms to our Mother for an ornament in our Chapel, whose own simplicity had touched and edified her.
With these helps, sent by the Providence of the heavenly Father, they found themselves in a position to build some cells, and to work on some ornaments for the House of the Lord, which until then had been very poor.
Election of Mother Françoise Catherine de Moncels 1659.
The two triennials of our Very Honored Mother Claude Marie d’Ailly having expired, we elected on May 29, 1659, our Very Honored Mother Françoise Catherine de Moncels, professed of this house. She had the joy and honor of having the ceremony of the beatification of our glorious founder celebrated. She made it very august by the care she took to interest in it several qualified persons of her friends, and devoted to this great Saint, who provided all that they had of the richest, either in silverware or in tapestry for the ornament of the room which was arranged on this subject; for our Chapel was too small to receive the general procession which was to be attended by all the clergy, the religious and the body of the town. Everything passed in very good order, without disturbance or confusion, and with great marks of the devotion of the people.
Election of Mother Claude Marie d’Ailly 1662.
On the Ascension of the year 1662, we returned under the guidance of our Most Honored Mother Claude Marie d’Ailly, who wrote the following letter of request to the Holy Father, to request the canonization of our Blessed Father Francis de Sales.
Petition to the Pope.
“Most Holy Father,
The zeal that your Holiness shows for the amplification of the accidental glory of God is a manifest proof of that high holiness which all the faithful revere in your person, and especially your very humble daughters of Holy Mary, who do not apprehend, Most Holy Father, to come and throw themselves at the feet of your Holiness, since they have to speak of a Father to a Father; both good, both favourable, the one who once lived with the bowels of a truly paternal love; the other who is still alive at the present time, and who occupies so simply the chair of St. Peter’s, which could not be disputed without injustice. Heaven, having consoled us in this, also promises us that it will be through your Holiness, whom we will see again with all peoples, under the title of Saint our glorious Founder. Our wishes and prayers, Most Holy Father, tend only to support your holy intentions in this point, and we daily offer our prayers to God for the prosperity and happy success of your Holiness in all your undertakings; this is what is desired in particular by the one who says to herself with all the respect and possible submission of Your Holiness, Most Holy Father,
the very humble and very obedient daughter Sister Claude Marie D’Ailly,
unworthy Superior of the Monastery of the Visitation of Saint Mary of Metz. »