The Complete Symphonies of Adolf Hitler (15 page)

That was three years ago and Sister Angélique is now a full member of our order. Until recently I can report nothing but good things of her. She has increased in grace and favour with our Lord Jesus in every way. She has been dutiful, but never over anxious. Only in one respect had she troubled us and this was not her fault. I hesitate to mention such matters before you, Monseigneur, but I believe it to have some bearing upon what follows. From the age of fourteen when these things began, somewhat later than is customary, she had very grievous periods [
Elle avait des règles tres douloureuses
]. The effluxes of blood were great, and she herself—until reassured by myself and Sister Jeanne, the Mistress of Novices—was convinced that they were the consequence of some mortal sin. These events coincided almost invariably with the appearance of the full moon, a fact which added to her distress. Indeed, while she was still a postulant it was the occasion of some teasing among the other Novices, but Sister Jeanne and I put a stop to that.

Of late the fluxes of blood have become even more grievous, so much so that I called in M. Filerin the apothecary who prescribed an infusion of Bay and Camomile, but this has had no effect.

These afflictions which cause Sister Angélique much pain and distress may occasion much sympathy in your Grace’s munificent heart, but this is not the reason why I have called them to your attention. They appear of late to have affected her mind.

As you know, we allow a short hour of recreation for the sisters between Vespers and Compline. During this time the sisters generally congregate in the garden in summer or, when it is cold, in the parlour where a fire is always kept burning for visitors. On a number of occasions I have noticed that Sister Angélique was not present. Though I am not, as your grace is aware, well disposed to idle gossip in the parlour, it worried me that Sister Angélique was keeping herself from the society of others. Such a habit, as you have often so wisely pointed out, leads to the errors of singularity and spiritual pride. Last Friday, which was, as it happens, a time of the full moon, Sister Angélique being absent from the parlour as usual, I sent Sister Jeanne to fetch her from her cell. Jeanne returned without Sister Angélique and apparently much troubled, so I accompanied her to Sister Angélique’s cell where I found the girl in a distracted state, her robe dabbled with blood and the floor awash with it.

But there was something which troubled me more than this. Upon the white wall of her cell some words had been written it would appear in blood. That they had been traced in her own menstrual blood and with her own finger was evident. The words were as follows.

Ictibus flos Galliae quattuor verberabitur belli

Incipiet quarto, sanguinis aevum, anno.

It is, as you, Monseigneur, will know better than I, a Latin elegiac couplet, but its meaning is to me quite obscure. Though it is no doubt of little merit as verse, and full of false quantities, it is strange to me that this young girl to whom only the rudiments of the Latin language have been taught, should have written such a thing. When asked why she had done it Sister Angélique replied, in great distress, that she could not remember how it came to pass. I am disposed to believe her, for she is not in herself wicked or malicious.

[Mme de Lonchat is correct: the verse is an Elegiac Couplet of sorts. Translated it means:

The flower of Gaul shall be struck by four strokes of war

The Time of Blood shall begin in the fourth year
.]

I am informed by Sister Jeanne that at her time of trouble Sister Angélique is prone to strange utterances, and that she is regarded by some of the more credulous among our community to be gifted with prophesy. Whether her words are of God or the Devil is beyond my competence to say. Though I would be very disinclined to dismiss any manifestations which may be true fruits of the Spirit, I am concerned that she may be having an undue influence over her fellows. This would have an unfortunate effect on them, but chiefly on her, giving the girl an exaggerated sense of her own importance. Sister Angélique’s family is perfectly respectable, but she is a bourgeoise and cannot hope to obtain any great position of eminence within our order except by corrupt and illegitimate means.

I would be most obliged if your grace would offer us the benefit of your sacred guidance on this matter.

**

From M. de Meaux to Mme de Lonchat, Abbess of Montjouarre 19th February 1702.

The ways of Divine Providence, my dear and reverend Mother, are very great, and we should not hasten to pass judgement on strange events and happenings. A study of the scriptures reveals a wealth of utterances which astound those who boast of worldly wisdom. However you are right to be concerned that a young untried soul such as Sister Angélique should be the vessel of such mysterious sufferings. But I would ask you respectfully Madame to reflect carefully on the words you wrote about Sister Angélique’s station and ancestry. The honours of your own rank and family are a blessing if well used, but God’s dispensation extends to all. I would remind you that the situation into which God called me to be born was not exalted. God in his wisdom calls monarchs and nobles to a special privilege and office, but he does not neglect his little ones. Though in the eyes of the world we are called to our appointed places, in the eyes of a Merciful God we are as one. As Christ called his disciples from the humble fisher folk of Galilee, so he called me from a line of Burgundian drapers to drape myself in the mantle of priesthood and perhaps Sister Angélique from the family of a seed merchant to cast the seed of the word of God among men. It is not for us to question His ways.

It is, however, our duty before God, at all times to show wisdom and moderation, and here I must commend you highly, firstly in showing restraint towards Sister Angélique, and secondly in seeking my counsel which is ever, my dear Madame, at your disposal.

I have read and pondered over your letter with much prayer but I have not yet a complete answer for you. The direction of souls is a mystery: I strive to be faithful in passing on what is given to me; when I seem to have received nothing I yield the whole to God and beseech Him to compensate for my deficiencies.

In the meantime, my counsel is this: when Sister Angélique’s time of trouble—which you say is at the full moon—comes upon her, let her be separated from her companions and watched by a Sister upon whom you can rely for the utmost discretion. Let all her words and utterances at this time be noted down and sent to me, but let them be shown to no-one else. In all other respects you are to treat Sister Angélique as quite ordinary. She is neither to be despised for her curious conduct, nor exalted for it. Let her be encouraged to associate freely with her fellow sisters and not hold herself in any way apart. Let her be seen at all times whenever possible as one like all the others.

I commend this counsel to you, Madame, as the best that my human and fallible intellect can devise. I pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit when I am better informed, and beseech you therefore to hold this humbly-born servant of God in your prayers, ever willing, however falteringly, to walk in His ways and dwell in the Light of his Mercy.

**

From Mme de Lonchat, Abbess of Montjouarre to M. de Meaux 18th March 1702.

Taking your grace’s excellent counsel to heart, I did as you requested, and, at the last full moon, when Sister Angélique’s affliction came upon her, I set her apart in an unused quarter of the Abbey in the charge of Sister Jeanne, our Mistress of Novices. I enclose the report that she compiled of her observations. You may rely on her account both for its veracity and its discernment. She is a Montmorency and a niece of the Duchesse de Chevreuil.

**

Account of Sister Jeanne’s observations regarding Sister Angélique over a period of three days. For the eyes of Madame, the Abbess and M. de Meaux alone.

On the day commanded by the Lady Abbess, I brought Sister Angélique to a room in the East Wing of the Abbey which is no longer inhabited. Sister Angélique at first complained at being brought into such unfamiliar surroundings, which were, moreover, both incommodious and cold; for this wing has fallen somewhat into disrepair: there are birds nesting among the broken roof tiles and the wind moans along the corridors at night. But I told her that she was not to object for it was the will of God that she should be kept apart. And, moreover, that it was the will of Her Lady Abbess and His Grace of Meaux. I further told Sister Angélique that if I could suffer discomfort to fulfil my vow of obedience to the Lady Abbess and M. de Meaux then surely she could, as she was the cause of it all. At this Sister Angélique consented with a reasonable grace, and showed some humility.

I had contrived to make our accommodation as pleasant as possible without in any way submitting to the temptation of illicit comforts or self indulgence. Towards the evening of the first day Sister Angélique began to bleed. I ministered to her as best I could. The efflux of blood was very great, but she did not seem much weakened by it, though she had become very pale.

She called for pen and paper which, following my instructions, I supplied to her, and yet she did not use them. I urged her to write her thoughts, but she remained abstracted, her eyes rolling in her head, never fixing themselves on any object. Then I saw that she was in pain and once more afflicted with a great outpouring of blood. I became more troubled when it began to appear to me that she was attempting to harm herself with the pen which I had given to her. But then I saw that she had merely intended to dip the pen in her own blood which she contrived to do, and then wrote the following:

For the Ludovici one more and then a time of blood shall come for the Kings of the earth.

When I encouraged her to use the ink which I had supplied for her she hurled both ink pot and pen into the corner of the room and sat at her table sulking, rapping the table with her fingers, making a sound like a drum. When I tried to remonstrate with her she shouted ‘Silence!’ at me in a most terrible voice.

She then began to speak very rapidly in an unnatural and rasping voice. So I, recovering the pen and the pot of ink (which, fortunately, was not all spilt), took down her words as best I could. In obedience to my instructions I place before M. de Meaux a record of what she said:

‘It is the ninety-third year. My years are thirty-eight. I climb a wooden stair towards the sky. Slowly. My feat are heavy, but now I stand upon the stage. Below me heads, nothing but heads, as far as the eye can see, an ocean of them agape and chattering. They come to tie me and throw me down. Do not resist: the Saviour, in whom we trust, submitted to be bound. The sky holds a heavy knife above me. Frenchmen, I die innocent . . . I desire that France—’

At this she resumed the drumming of her fingers on the table which I could not in any way prevent. Then, suddenly, she stopped and resumed her speech :

‘Six men of blood seize me: do not bind me to the plank. Son of Saint Louis, ascend to Heaven. I lie down and wait. An eternity awaiting the fall. A sharp pain. I am a tumbling helpless head, sickened, held on to life by a string. A hand lifts me and shows me to the heads. My lips gasp. A raw rush of air drowns me in agony. I am your . . .

‘See the Head. Hear the shout. Caps upon spears, hats waving in the air. The licking of the blood. Let the King beware.’

All the time that she was speaking these words the blood leaked from her, and when she had done speaking she collapsed in a swoon and I ministered to her as best I could.

Sister Jeanne of the Holy Child.

Note by Mme de Lonchat, Abbess of Montjouarre.

Soon after this, the effluxes of blood ceased in Sister Angélique. I have since questioned her and she says that she can recall nothing of what she said before Sister Jeanne. It is clear to me that in these states she is the unwilling instrument of some power, but whether this power is celestial or infernal I have no way of knowing. Your own discernment, Monseigneur, would shine a precious beacon of light into this troublesome business, and I would beg you therefore to speak to Sister Angélique herself and then give us guidance with regard to her condition.

From M. de Meaux to Mme de Lonchat, Abbess of Montjouarre 5th April 1702.

Madame, I have little to add to what I said to you when I came to interview Sister Angélique at the Abbey. She seems in many ways a docile and obedient creature. I am convinced that her utterances are involuntary, but as they appear not to be conducive to the safety of the Sacred Person of His Majesty, I require that you should continue to confine her during her periods of affliction with one other Sister for companion. I furthermore request that you should make no further record of her utterances and that any writing of hers should be destroyed.

From Mme de Lonchat, Abbess of Montjouarre to M. de Meaux 23rd May 1702.

I must beg your indulgence, Monseigneur, but since we last corresponded a calamity has occurred, the magnitude of which it is hard to calculate and for which we must bear some responsibility. With regard to Sister Angélique, I naturally followed your instructions most diligently and saw that, whenever she appeared to be afflicted, she was strictly confined. I put Sister Jeanne, my Mistress of Novices, in charge of her as before, and all appeared to go well. I did notice, however, that Sister Jeanne was in Sister Angélique’s company perhaps more than was necessary and that she had a great influence over her. I spoke to Sister Jeanne, advising her to moderate this familiarity, and she appeared to listen to my admonitions. However a few days after Sister Angélique and Sister Jeanne had been confined together at the time of the Full Moon, Sister Jeanne disappeared. Sister Angélique was bereft and had no idea where she had gone. In a few days, however, news came that Sister Jeanne was in Paris with her brother Jacques. This Jacques de Montmorency is considerably older than Sister Jeanne and a man of most evil reputation. It was said he was an associate of Catherine Montvoisin who was at the heart of the Affair of the Poisons. I was at court at the time and remember the dreadful scandal that it caused, as it reached up to the very person of His Majesty himself. Of course, I had no knowledge of this, but it would appear that Sister Jeanne had been communicating the utterances of Sister Angélique to this Jacques who saw in them much profit in publishing them as prophesies. (Your Grace knows well how much such things delight the vulgar populace, especially when they concern the fate of those set over them by God.) I have since ensured that Sister Angélique is confined where she can do no further damage and is in the hands of trustworthy custodians. I beg, your Grace, to consult further with me in this matter and give us the benefit of your Holy guidance.