The Martyr of Filial Respect

"The days were gone when Mme Bisiaux [Yvonne/Sr Angélique's mother] used to train her child tenderly to piety. Her daughter's vocation seemed to have 'eradicated from her heart its last religious fibers.'

Yvonne was forbidden access to the parish church during the week and her mother tirelessly took up to watch in the town grocery store in order to have an eye on the church door. Yvonne received Holy Communion only at the price of heroic effort. When it was possible for her to do without her breakfast in spite of her mother's surveillance, she informed the good and devout parish priest who in spite of his great age rejoined her at the chapel of the Sisters of Nevers, sometimes around eleven o'clock or noon. Canon Parinet, later recalling his memories of Yvonne Bisiaux, said he was deeply edified by her greatness of soul, her perfect limpidity, and her ardent love for Our Lord. But these occasions were rare and Yvonne, famished for her God, needed to be comforted by an exceptional grace of prayer to face the daily difficulties of her life.

From Mme Filhoulaud, to whom we owe the greater part of the Souvenirs of Yvonne's sojourn at Bourganeuf, we learn of violent scenes supported 'with angelic sweetness and submission' by her who rightfully has been called 'the Martyr of Filial Respect.' No title could better characterize Yvonne's attitude and merit at home, for a Bourganeuf as at Paris, those who were with her attest that she never complained no matter what were the incoherences, the constraints and the harshness of which she was the victim. For example, when asked one day to play the piano, she began a religious melody, and 'her mother interrupted her rudely with abusive words.' Yvonne stopped without saying a word and played something else.

Her sweetness seemed even excessive to certain people who did not fathom its supernatural origin. Others were always disconcerted by the delicate and warm tenderness with which, to the very end, she enveloped this mother who appeared so unsympathetic. 'Treated with the greatest brutality,' attests Mme M, 'Yvonne ever docile, amiable and smiling, used to call her mother 'Little mama with a heart of gold!' However, she couldn't help but see and feel.'

With a respectful silence, she concealed the maternal wrongs and her own suffering: proof of her filial considerateness and strength of soul. But it is time now to raise the veil from this family trial. 'In a period when the sense of the hierarchical family no longer exists, God raised up Yvonne as a model and placed her in the most difficult circumstances to remind Christians who are tempted to forget it, that parents, no matter what their natural worth, are to their very last days God's representatives to their children.' (Extract from the account drawn up by Father Jacques de Jésus, ocd on Sr Marie-Angélique.)

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And in a letter to Mother Thérèse of Jesus, July 11, 1912: 'As for mama, I put my whole heart into accomplishing the IVth commandment.' In fact, Mme F confirms that Yvonne gave 'an example of such admirable filial love that only divine grace and the love of God could raise it to this height.' One friend, indignant at the mother's behavior on certain occasions, exclaimed one day: 'That's the limit, do something!' A protest at once gentle and firm stopped her: 'But she's my mama!'

After all, it's not a question of putting this poor Mme Bisiaux on trial, for she had her good hours even though these were tributary to her temperament. It must be emphasized that in her daughter's life she played her role as an unconscious instrument of a truly beautiful work: the sanctification of a  privileged soul. In this light, the unreasonable demands and event he maternal caprices assume values as means. 

Yvonne's rare merit consisted in always profiting supernaturally from this rude treatment, regarding her mother by the light of faith illumined by love."

-- Flame of Joy: Mother Marie-Angélique of Jesus, ocd

My soul never vibrated except for its Creator

"With true psychological insight, Marie-Angélique in her Autobiography (unedited passage) noted the dangers of the musical art: the amount of work which this art imposes is not reconcilable with a life of pleasure, nor even with too easy a life. But Yvonne [Sr Marie-Angélique's baptismal name], so vibrant, did not ignore 'the extraordinary development which it gives to human passions.' - 'If the artist does not vibrate for God, joy, sorrow, hate, love increase -in nature- all the more as the art makes it vibrate further.'

And of the danger of vanity: 'to be tempted to vainglory, one has to be truly an artist.'

'Personally,' she adds, 'although I went through only the early stages of art, I can say that, by divine grace, my soul never vibrated except for its Creator. I don't believe that there has ever been a false note in my chant, yes, I have always had Jesus Christ in view but I have not escaped totally from the temptation of vainglory, and in spite of my vigilance, if my Savior had not withdrawn me from there, it is certainly by this way what I would have been lost. Thanks to the zeal of the divine Master for preserving me from all evil, indifferent to things from without, I passed that year entirely with Him.' One of Sr Marie-Angélique's novitiate companions later noted with what insistence she said to her one day: 'One must have tasted human glory in order to realize how intoxicating it is, what fascination it can exercise on the soul.'

This preservation extended to her entire life int he world, and one person who knew her well, could say: 'Yvonne passed by without seeing anything, her eyes fixed on her ideal. Nothing evil touched her, even lightly. She was really the rose that blossomed among thorns.'"

-- Flame of Joy: Souvenirs, Autobiography, Letters of  Marie-Angélique of Jesus, ocd

Coming soon: Flame of Joy

Many months ago, I made a post from the book Flame of Joy: Souvenirs, Autobiography, Letters of Marie-Angélique of Jesus of the Carmel of Pontoise. I had the book in my hand just one day and, thus, was not able to provide interested readers with more selections. But, praise God, today, feast of the great Marian St Louis Marie de Montfort, I've been able to secure 1 copy of this book. The price was obscene for anyone trying to imitate Christ's poverty, but it's spiritual value, "like-new" condition, and the rarity of this book took some of the guilt when placing the purchase. I expect to receive it in about 3 weeks and hope to make posts soon thereafter. If you read French, I found copies starting at $25 plus postage from Europe. 


Yvonne Bisiaux (1893-1919) was a famous pianist who entered the Carmel of Pontoise. Founded in 1605 by Bl Anne of St Bartholomew (holy mother's secretary, nurse and companion) and Bl Marie of the Incarnation (Madame Acarie), Pontoise was the second Carmel founded in France. Most of the buildings date from 1607-1610. Yvonne - Sr Marie-Angélique of Jesus - entered Carmel at the age of 21 and died 5 years later, leaving a testimony of radiant joy. Another famous pianist entered Carmel at 21 and died 5 years later: Bl Elizabeth of the Trinity (Elisabeth Catez 1900-1926) of the Carmel of Dijon.


A blessed day to all of you.


Please pray for me.

My joy is the love of God

"As regards the source from which I draw my happiness, it is inexhaustible, for it is the very felicity of God. This perpetual praise which the Holy Trinity renders to Itself is for my soul like a celestial harmony whose ravishing melodies she perceives. I cannot tire of praising God, of uniting myself to the triumphant Sanctus of the angels, of entering into this Canticle of Glory which renders to Himself, His own happiness. Then my joy is the love of God. I know that He loves, that He is Love. He is always Love: and that also delights me, and all the forms of His love are subjects of joy for me.

What also charms me is His love for my soul: He is the Bridegroom and I am the bride, yes, that is what I am. Why? How? Oh, that too is a mystery of joy! But I know that He loves me, infinitely, with His holy divine love. I know that I was made only for Him, that I am going only to Him, that 'union' is 'our desires' or rather 'our desire.' And if I wish it, all in me will be only for Jesus, by Jesus, in Jesus, In Christo. He will take possession of me, He will annihilate me, and I will be lost, annihilated in Him - for all His merits are mine, and my vocation is to offer them to His Father. They fall back again on these poor souls in marvelous and incalculable graces, and that is done infallibly, provided the poor little instrument has this in mind and truly lives only for the glory of God.

And the more Jesus penetrates this small and unworthy instrument, the more He inflames it with His zeal, the more marvels are accomplished, and there are no more limits to its power than the power of God. It is impossible to comprehend all that a holy Carmelite can do! Her power has no measure. A sight, a word on her part, suffices to bring down torrents of graces from heaven upon souls. And if it must be known where this marvelous power comes from, I find no other reply than the will of God. It is because He willed it that He has thus made us rich, powerful, and privileged. Oh, blessed are the chosen ones! And how could these be sad?"

-- Flame of Joy: Souvenirs, Authobiography, Letters of Marie-Angélique of Jesus of the Carmel of Pontoise