Marie Lerebourg 1809-1892
First postulant of the Carmel of Lisieux
Childhood and youth (1809 1835)
“This century was nine years old” (the 16th of course) when Eugénie-Marie Lerebourg was born on February 1809, XNUMX, in Saint-Méen-le-Grand (IIle-et-Vilaine).
Her father, 37, is imperial men-at-arms. He then signed Charles Larbourg - and Eugénie was registered under this name. The mother, Julienne Giclais, 32, from Bédée (IIle-et-Vilaine), a village in Radois, comes from a large family of laborers.
At least three boys preceded Eugénie: of the eldest (around 1804-1805), no trace has yet been found; then comes Charles who dies at 4 months (1806) and François (1807-1809) who dies a few hours after Eugenie's birth. On February 17, 1809, Father Dublot proceeded to the burial of one and the baptism of the other.
Charles Larbourg was assigned to the Saint-Méen brigade around the summer of 1806. It was there that he lost his wife, in 1813. Eugénie was only 4 and a half years old. Impossible for the policeman to take care of his two children! He entrusts the little one to the local teacher, "who, not knowing how to guide this tender heart, only knew how to make her unhappy and gave her more blows than caresses", says the Carmel circular. The fate of the older brother is unknown.
In 1813, the father called himself “Charles d'Airbourg”: no doubt he received an honorary title from the Emperor, for his good services. But his zeal during the Hundred Days is fatal to him. Shortly after his return, Louis XVIII had him dismissed on September 30, 1816, along with about fifteen colleagues, as “bad subjects” (of the King!), for the district of Montfort alone. He was then only Charles Lerebourg, and he died a few years later.
Eugenie is now a young girl. His older brother, married in Brittany, calls him near him, but we don't know where or when.
Around 1829, she met a priest (Father Olivier?) who exercised a ministry in the diocese of Bayeux. He takes an interest in the orphan, has her received at the Bon Sauveur in Caen as a lady boarder. In this atmosphere of piety, Eugenie feels at ease; Jesus was speaking to his heart. The devotion of the Sisters who run this establishment made her ask for the favor of being admitted to the Novitiate, which she was granted. Her happiness did not last long, vomiting of blood having occurred, it was believed that she had breasts and she saw herself obliged to leave after a year. While waiting for a providential indication, Eugénie found a post as assistant teacher in a school, first in Caen, then in Lisieux.
The call to Carmel (1835 1838)
At the same time, two young women from Le Havre, Athalie and Désirée Gosselin, decided to devote themselves, body and property, to the foundation of a new Carmel. That of Pont-Audemer (Eure) directs them towards Calvados and puts them in contact with Mr. Pierre-Nicolas Sauvage (1794 1853), Sulpicien, vicar of his uncle in Saint-Jacques de Lisieux. Mgr Dancel, bishop of Bayeux, chose Lisieux for the establishment, appointed Father Sauvage as superior of the future monastery, and died a few months later (1836). Bishop Robin, his successor, is most favorable.
It was then that Eugenie made the acquaintance of Abbé Sauvage. The latter, recognizing in this young person the religious vocation, spoke to her of his projects which filled her with hope and joy. So here is a first postulant all found, soon followed by two others. But how to form these aspirants who know nothing about Carmel? After long fruitless steps (read the story of the foundation), the Carmel of Poitiers finally agrees to lend two nuns and to welcome the first aspirants for a regular novitiate. The ladies Gosselin and Caroline Guéret, a 19-year-old Lexovian, adopt this party. Eugénie, for her part, preferred to finish her school year 1836-1837. Accompanied by M. Sauvage, the three postulants took the habit in Poitiers on April 26, 1837. In July, Miss Lerebourg made a retreat at the Carmel of Pont-Audemer. Her vocation was so strengthened there that she wanted to join her companions immediately. The Superior dissuades her: she should rather wait for the foundation in Lisieux itself. She returns to Brittany for a few weeks to say goodbye to her brother and his many relatives. In February 1838, pilgrimage to Délivrande, and another retreat to the “Community of Charity”, with another aspirant. It is now necessary to prepare the provisional house of the foundresses.
“Bethlehem”, chaussée de Beuvillers (March 15-September 5, 1838)
Originally, Mr. Sauvage wanted to establish his Carmelites on the heights of Lisieux, in the so-called “New World” district. After multiple setbacks, he had to fall back on a modest house, rue de Livarot, in the unsanitary basin of the Orbiquet. While awaiting its development into a regular monastery, the founding swarm will be hosted by a widow, Mrs. Le Boucher, on Chaussée de Beuvillers. In this poor Norman house, today a pretty half-timbered house, at the entrance to rue du P. Zacharie on the railway side), the foundresses found "the poverty of Bethlehem as they had dreamed of it in their prayers ".
The Superior went to fetch his people from Poitiers: Mother Elisabeth of Saint-Louis, 62 years old, prioress, who died in 1842; sister Geneviève de Sainte-Thérèse, 33 years old, mistress of novices, and the three novices, Thérèse de Saint-Joseph (Athalie Gosselin, 30 years old), Marie de la Croix (Désirée Gosselin, 26 years old), Saint-Jean de la Croix (Caroline Guéret, 21 years old). After a journey as picturesque as it was tiring, worthy of the Foundations of Thérèse of Avila, we arrived in Lisieux on March 15, 1838, at 4 am, in driving rain.
Eugénie waits for the travelers at the relay. As a carriage, she had a covered cart prepared (for the greatest humiliation of Mr. Sauvage...). The luggage cannot find a place there, Eugenie remains to keep it at the hotel, more dead than alive, alone in the night! On arrival at "poor Bethlehem", not a word of welcome, complete silence on the part of Mrs. Leboucher... on Eugénie's recommendation, because she knows that the Carmelites observe a great silence from 20 p.m. to 7 a.m. hours ! You have to wait 3 hours before opening the room intended for the oratory: the key remained in Eugenie's pocket! And when she finally arrives, the key can't turn in the lock...
We settle down as best we can in the miserable house. And it was there that, on March 19, 1838, Miss Lerebourg became the first postulant of Lisieux, under the name of Sister Saint-Joseph of Jesus. She is 29 years old. The two Mothers of Poitiers are busy organizing the house in the rue de Livarot, a five-minute walk from Madame Leboucher. The alley they take is so lonely that they sometimes only come across a “silent” magpie, specifies Mr. Sauvage, who has a lot of humor to spare. Bishop Robin celebrates a first mass on August 24, 1838 (day of the foundation of Saint-Joseph d'Avila: August 24, 1562). The community is transferred on September 5, 1838.
"True type of the first Carmelites" (1838 1888)
The three novices formed in Poitiers made their profession on September 16. And Sister Saint-Joseph took the habit on October 16, 1838. She made her vows the following year, on November 20, 1839. Abbé Olivier — at first terrified to see a "poisoner" aspiring to Carmel — preached her taking of sailing on November 22.
And the curtain falls on this obscure existence if ever there was one. The sister will ask, at the end of her life, not to have a circular. Mother Marie de Gonzague, then prioress, will respect "the desire of this soul filled with simplicity and innocence, a true ancient type of the first daughters of Our Mother Saint Thérèse, and whose death, like the humble and hidden life, leaves us with a great peace and sweet assurance of his happiness. The chronicle adds these few words: What she was in our dear monastery, only those who knew her could tell us. A very scrupulous soul, but also very obedient, her superiors had only to tell her: "Go in peace... I'll take care of it...", we saw Sister Saint-Joseph blooming and going to Jesus on this simple word. She was good, charitable, particularly fond of little novices and even, which does not harm the union of hearts, knowing how to do little tricks. She will have, over the years, forty-four little novices to love and tease! Many will die prematurely. Others will leave as foundresses in Saigon (1861), Coutances (1866), Caen (1868). The forty-third of them will be called Thérèse Martin...
With Therese (1888-1892)
When Thérèse arrived on April 9, 1888, only two witnesses of the foundation remained: Mother Geneviève, 83, and Sister Saint-Joseph, 79. She has been totally deaf for several years. Relationships will mostly consist of exchanging smiles! Because of her infirmity, the old sister asked for her golden jubilee (November 20, 1889): “no high mass, no sermon, no visit to the parlor. Everything happens in the privacy of the enclosure. She was given a number of small gifts: she had been celebrating for months, wanting to reserve them all for her nephew, Father Louis Gillois, missionary Father White, then superior of the Minor Seminary of Carthage.
To the tune of "I am a Christian", Sister Agnès of Jesus composed a long humorous song, recalling the adventures of the foundation. Although deaf, the jubilee laughs with everyone, understanding with her good judgment and her good character that we exalt certain small mistakes...
To our dear jubilee Sr St Joseph
A. Oh! what a happy birthday
We celebrate on this beautiful day
To our happy jubilee
Let's sing, let's sing all our love
1er vs. Sacred wedding delights
Ah do you taste it again
The chain of fifty years
Isn't it a gold chain
R. To the world perishable joys
In the world the beaten track
To you the ineffable treasures
Heaven is yours, Jesus yours
2e vs. And now beloved sister
Let the present, the future
To put back to your thought
A few good memories
A. Oh! what a happy birthday...
3e vs. First it's holy anger
From Father Olivier
How, he said, you chest
In carmel can you think
R. Holy director your wisdom
is in default at the moment
I am extremely old
My chest is eighty years old
4e vs. turnips, potatoes
My poor life still lead
This is not an austere diet
Who can ever kill
A. Besides, if I get sick
The cure is quickly found
A salad diet dish
By the doctor is ordered
5e vs. S
5e vs. As I go into decay
When I no longer have the right foot
You will have me, I have the hope of it
For mounting a back of sheepskin
A. But let's not mess
The long thread of our discourse
My children, let's proceed in order
And yet always laugh
6e vs. See my carmel coming
It's three o'clock in the morning
I'm waiting for her more dead than alive
Alone out in the way
A. Oh! what a happy birthday...
7e vs. Finally here is the good lady Leboucher
8e vs. I stay for the luggage
Go to your palace
Real two-storey Bethlehem
Whose poverty pays the price
A. Oh! what a happy birthday...
9e vs. You will find the modest altar
Where in front of me the King of kings
Descended from the celestial palace
Yesterday for the first time
A. Oh! what a happy birthday...
10e vs. But that's another story
Three hours in my pocket alas
This key to the humble oratory
I kept not knowing
A. So neither Jesus nor chapel
Just Madame Leboucher
So stay with her
In silence watch her
11e vs. To complete my adventure
I bring the famous key
I turn it in the lock
But alas, no matter how much I turned
A. The community gathered
Was waiting for me there on the landing
Seeing if the ceremony
was going to end soon
A. Oh! what a happy birthday...
13e vs. We laugh at my concern
One day because I was crying
Seeing with concern
Get my mothers out of the palace
A. It was because I had the strange fear
That they don't come to fall
In the water, in the mud, in the mire
From the dangerous little ditch
14e vs. Another time my discipline
Between my untrained arms
Jumping over thin skin
On the altar was going to fight
A. Oh! what a happy birthday...
15e vs. By this singular exercise
The whole convent I amused so much
That the sacrifice was imposed on me
To go out or do otherwise
A. But I became more serious
From the refectory I was charged
One day...ah! unhappy
Bottles and me all spread out
16e vs. Wild Father, Mother Prioress
See me in the position
But instead of coming on time
They made recreation
A. Fortunately Providence
Sent me my Samaritan
Big bearded man, my gratitude
Will never end for you
17e vs. One more feature: a skullcap
Asked a good foreign priest
We do not sell carrots
Did I answer this priest
A. But my sister, it is a skullcap
What it is! Hurry up
Finally I have no carrots
To sell you... what do you want
18e vs. I finally understood my mistake
And I accepted my deafness
My confidence, I had put
In my Virgin of the stairs
R. I love my little Mother
At least she understands me
Hear my naive prayer
And the answer to my needs
19e vs. Ah! how to think about destroying
His temple, a magnificent altar
It will have to be rebuilt
Because it is the glory of Carmel
R. But for that, Mother Prioress
Promised to get fresh
A niche before I die
Little Mother you will have...
20e vs. I so love the poor in distress
Ah! how much more i cherish you
It is very hard to my tenderness
To see you so homeless
A. There ends my story
In short of course
To complete the directory
It would take a year and more
21e vs. Ah! thanks for every story
All those little features are lovely
console yourself for being simple
For Jesus blesses the children
A. Oh! what a happy birthday...
22e vs. Also see how he treats you
Coming almost every morning
For you always the table is ready
Ah! satisfy your hunger
A. Oh! what a happy birthday...
23e vs. You hear nothing from the earth
But you have the songs of heaven
To the little ones God is not severe
But sweeter than a honeycomb
R. Get us the spirit of childhood
To own it forever
At the single word of obedience
Ah! may we go in peace.
The novitiate with its youngest, Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus, does not want to be outdone.
Sister Marie des Anges also composed her song, to the tune of Please, my God...
1* Let, let revered jubilee
The little children of this carmel
Assure you of their sincere love
Proud and joyful on this solemn day
Venerable Sister,
What we see
Always good and kind
how much we love you
2* It belongs to the little novices
To proclaim, to sing your virtues
You who like to do mischief to them
And better still tell them about Jesus
3* You who have first postulant
Seen forming our community
And who have in elegant car
In Bethlehem, our mothers brought
4* Glory is yours who from your birth
Liked the regularity
From the cradle, cherishing the silence
And of each wanting it to be kept
5* We contemplate your holy life
Charity and affability
Your virtue, my sister edifies us
Well in spite of your humility
6* We admire well worthy jubilee
Your fervor and your spirit of faith,
God has spoken: When our Mother tells you
“Go in peace, yes, I take it all on myself”
7* We envy your fifties,
Of your virtues the amassed treasures
Of gold bars, your humble life is full
They are in heaven by your angel carried away!
8* The divine Spouse, prudent and wise virgin
Always sees you with the lamp in hand
He smiles at you throughout the journey
At all times, says to you: do not be afraid
9* On your forehead the touching crown
Becomes my sister at your eighty years
And the happiness that shines on your features
Flourish your dear little children
10* Up there in heaven as in our monasteries
We are happy on this solemn day
Tender sisters and the angels our brothers
Salute this day, glorious in Carmel
Of the teacher, of her children,
Receive tenderness
The sweetest feelings.
A Peaceful Death (January 2, 1892)
On December 5, 1891, the foundress, Mother Geneviève de Sainte-Thérèse, died after a long illness. Just after Christmas, the flu begins to wreak havoc. Thérèse described in her Manuscript “the sad state of the community at that time” (79 r°/v°). She will remain on foot with only two other young people.
Sister Saint-Joseph was one of the first to be affected. “Excessively fearful [with a police father and a mistress who had beaten her!..], she had always feared the great fears of death and they were spared her”. Often, she said, all justice must be accomplished. But the good Lord at this supreme moment lavished his consolations on this soul so simple and so religious. We heard this dear Sister call Jesus with all her wishes, we had no need to arouse in him acts of love, of abandonment; her agony was a continual prayer, it was sweet to be near her, one felt a soul truly worthy of going to unite with her God.
Our devoted chaplain never stopped repeating to our dear Sister these consoling words: "Go to heaven..." Yes, it is indeed the unanimous cry of all our sisters: "Our good Sister Saint-Joseph went Straight to Heaven!...”
It was January 2, 1892. That very day, Thérèse was 19 years old. Two other victims will follow, on January 4 and 7. Beautiful Carmelite deaths:
“It was effortless for the dying to move on to a better life; immediately after their death an expression of joy and peace spread over their features, one would have said that they were in sweet sleep; it was really one since after the figure of this world will have passed, they will wake up to enjoy eternally the delights reserved for the chosen ones...” (Ms A, 79 v°)
