Quote of the day, 10 January: Mother Agnès of Jesus, O.C.D.

From the deposition of Pauline Martin, Witness 1 at the diocesan inquiry into the life and virtues of Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus

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[Answer to the seventeenth question]:

When she joined the monastery, the Sisters, most of whom were expecting to see nothing but a very ordinary child, were awed into respect in her presence. There was something about her that was so dignified, so determined, and so modest that even I was surprised. One of the Sisters later admitted to me that, seeing how ardently I was working to obtain her admission, she had said to herself, “How foolish to let such a young child into the Carmel! How deluded Sister Agnès of Jesus is! She will only be disappointed!” She admitted that she had been very mistaken.

[Which Sister was it? Is she still alive?]:

It was Sister Saint John of the Cross. She died a few years ago.

[Continuation of the answer]:

As she had become a postulant in April, aged 15 and three months, she could have legitimately taken the Habit^* six months later before the end of October, but she in fact didn’t take the Habit until 10th January 1889.

[Why was the Habit reception thus delayed?]:

At about this time, our father was very sick and we hoped that, if we postponed it, he would be able to attend the Habit reception at a later date.

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^* Translator’s Note: The term “take the Habit” is a literal translation of the French term prendre l’habit, which is used in its various conjugations to designate the rite of clothing, vestition, or investiture in a religious habit.

Featured image: Copyright Natalie Ewert (All rights reserved), used by permission.