Raymond Darricau Bernard Peyrous Father Noailles and the Association of the Holy Family The Story of a Charism
Introduction
Chapter I The Ecclesial and Juridical Context
Chapter II Some Fundamental Aspects of the Spirituality of Fr. Noailles
© 2012 Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux
Chapter II
Some Fundamental Aspects of the Spirituality of Fr.Noailles
Some Fundamental Aspects of the Spirituality of Fr.
Until now, despite the interest it has aroused, Fr. Noailles ’ spirituality has not been the subject of an absolutely thorough scientific study.1 There is, however, no lack of documentation on it.2 In the present chapter, we shall deal only with one part of it which is pertinent to this study. We shall limit ourselves to its basic essentials. The whole practical aspect, which is very important for him, will be left aside.3 But, before this task is actually undertaken, the ground must be carefully marked out.
1 Fr. E. Baffie ’s old work, “The Good Father”. Virtues and spiritual direction of Fr. Noailles , Paris -Liège , 1905 , contains some good things, but he approaches the matter, as was generally done in his time, under the form of a catalogue of virtues so that the dynamic elements of Fr. Noailles ’ spiritual life hardly appear. For some time now, partial studies, a list of which is to be found in the general bibliography, have been done.
2 Here we shall use mainly the Retraite d’Issy de 1817 , published in Écrits de Pierre-Bienvenu Noailles , Source 4, index cards 183-188, pp. 89-91; Notes de Retraite Issy , 1817 , (Meditation Beatus qui...) in Source 4, index cards 189-200, pp. 92-96 and in Nouveau Dossier, pp. 27-29; Conférence sur la multiplication des pains, Issy 1818 , cards 176-182, pp. 86-89; Médiation après le diaconat, Issy , 1818 , in Source 4, cards 204-211, pp. 97-98 and in Nouveau Dossier, pp. 3031; Règlement de vie de 1819 , in Source 4, cards 127-175, pp. 64-86 and in Nouveau Dossier, pp. 36-38; Le Règlement des Filles de Lorette de 1820 , in Source 1, cards 1-9, pp. 1-3; and 1922, in Source 1, cards 10-122, pp. 3-33 and extracts from Nouveau Dossier, pp. 77-78; La Retraite des Pauvres Prêtres, Libourne , 1823 in Source 4, cards 227-309, pp. 106-143; Les Constitutions provisoires des Religieuses de Lorette de 1825 in Source 1, cards 123-187, pp. 36-59 and extracts from Nouveau Dossier, pp. 87-88; the Constitutions des Religieuses de Lorette approuvées par Mgr. d’Aviau , 1825 in Source 1, cards 188-241, pp. 59-75; Les Constitutions Générales de l’Association de la Sainte-Famille (between 1825 and 1835 ) in Source 1, cards 242-288, pp. 75-90; Les Statuts de 1831 in Source 1, cards 289-304, pp. 90-94; Les Règles générales des Sœurs de la Sainte-Famille ou de la Société de Marie , Bordeaux , 1844 ; Les Règles générales des Associées de la Sainte-Famille , Bordeaux , 1851 .
3 Particularly the Lettres, published in Bordeaux -Rome , 7 vols. and one appendix, 1932 -1979 .
© 2012 Sisters of the Holy Family of Bordeaux