From the Pyrenees to the capital of France the journey was pleasant. At Bordeaux, Saintes, Poitiers and Orléans, the Spanish Carmelites were received with the greatest honor and profound respect. Monsieur de Bérulle had gone in advance from Bayonne to announce to the king the approach of the colony.
The court was at Fontainebleau. Henry IV received Monsieur de Bérulle kindly, and charged him to recommend himself and his kingdom to the prayers of the Spanish Carmelites.
Learning the day of their intended arrival in Paris, Monsieur de Bérulle and Monsieur de Marillac preceded them to Longjumeau. When they joined the pious colony, they walked at its head towards the capital, which they entered about the 15th of October, 1604; later, this day was consecrated to God as the Feast of St. Teresa.
As they entered Paris by the gate of the Faubourg Saint Jacques, they soon reached the priority of Notre Dame des Champs, which was to be the first monastery. However, they did not think well to stop here on their arrival.
As it was the octave of the Feast of Saint Denis, they thought it would be only right to visit the spot which possessed the relics of this illustrious Apostle of the capital and was sanctified by his martyrdom. They therefore set out on their way to Saint Denis.
When they were on the bridge of Notre Dame, two carriages joined those of the Spanish religious; the Duchess de Longueville, foundress of the first monastery, and her sister, the Princess d’Estouteville were in the first; the Marquise de Breauté, Madame Acarie and her three daughters were in the second. As soon as they left the capital, they alighted to greet one another, and this greeting was made to the great satisfaction of both parties.
They then re-entered their carriages and started for Saint Denis, where they visited the church and the relics of the Abbey. The Carmelites, as well as the cortege which accompanied them from Paris, returned to the capital. Madame Acarie did not sleep that night; she was preoccupied with the thought of the blessings God had showered on the newborn Order.
The following day, the 16th of October, the ladies who had conducted the Spanish Carmelites to Saint Denis went with Mademoiselle de Fontaines-Marans to meet the religious and take them to Montmartre, a village quite near Paris. Monsieur de Brétigny said Mass in the Chapel of the Martyrs and gave Holy Communion to all present.
Then they visited the Benedictine Monastery. The Abbess gave Mother Anne of Jesus and her companions a most gracious welcome, and wished them to sleep in her house.
Madame Jourdain availed herself of this occasion to see her daughter, who was eighteen years of age and had made her vows in this Abbey; she saw her then for the last time, as fifteen days later she took the religious habit in the first Carmelite Convent.
The following morning the Duchess of Longueville joined the Spanish Carmelites at Montmartre and conducted them to the Priority of Notre Dame des Champs.
As soon as they entered, Mother Anne of Jesus, after the custom of St. Teresa in her foundations, intoned the psalm Laudate Dominum, which was continued by her companions, and Sister Anne of St. Bartholomew went immediately to the kitchen to perform the duties of a lay sister and prepare dinner for the community.
Blessed Anne of St. Bartholomew
Commentary by Marcel Bouix
Based on the notes of Blessed Anne and the history of the Carmel
Anne of St. Bartholomew, M; Bouix, M 1917, Autobiography of the Blessed Mother Anne of Saint Bartholomew, inseparable companion of Saint Teresa, and foundress of the Carmels of Pontoise, Tours and Antwerp, translated from the French by Michael, M A, H. S. Collins Printing Co., Saint Louis.
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