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THE RECORD BOOK OF VOWS
Until the creation of the Provinces and the opening of novitiates in the Provinces, the sisters were making their vows at Auteuil and they were writing the formula of their vows in a large black notebook. In the first record book, the book of "Our Mothers", a few pages were left blank after the formula of the 1st vows to allow the sisters to write their perpetual vows and the successive renewal on Christmas Eve. They were signing the formulae and wrote some biographical elements as well as a brief account of their journey, reaffirming the freedom of their commitment.
In more recent record books, the sisters wrote and signed the formula of the 1st vows. The place where they were sent and where they made their perpetual vows were indicated. The date of their death was then added.
6 Record Books can be found in the Archives:
1st book: from 1841 to 1870
2nd book: from 1870 to 1883
3rd book: from 1883 to 1891
4th book: from 1891 to 1899
5th book: from 1899 to 1930
6th book: from 1931 to 1952
Vows of Mother Marie Eugénie
Here is what is written in the margin of Marie Eugénie's vows:
"I, Anne Eugénie Milleret, adult daughter with my father's consent, wanting to consecrate myself to God, I entered with our first sisters into the practices of our Novitiate in the small apartment along Ferou Street on April 30th, 1839. I received the habit from the hands of Bishop Affre on August 14th, 1840 in our house at rue de Vaugirard, 108. I was examined for my profession on August 2nd, 1841. For this purpose I was alone to give a free account of my vocation to Father Gros, Vicar General of Paris, who would testify that it is with an honestly free will that I made profession.
I was examined again for my perpetual vows by Father Gaume, Vic. General, who did me the honor of receiving them on 25 December 1844 and signed them at the altar.
Anne Eugénie Milleret, in religion known as Sr Marie Eugénie de Jésus
Domine, tu scis quia amo te"
From 1845 to 1877, Marie Eugénie signed with her hand in the registry (or record) book the renewal of her vows on Christmas Eve.
Another hand then entered the following information:
"Our Mother General continued to renew her vows regularly at the Mother House, except in the year 1885, when her health forced her to spend the winter in the South of France, so she was in Nîmes for the Christmas holidays. Our Mother renewed her vows at Auteuil from 1886 to Christmas 1897, the last Christmas before her death. »
Following the list of the General Chapters that she convened until 1894 is written: "At this last Chapter, our Mother, feeling exhausted by the age and fatigue of a long government, asked the Chapter delegates according to the Constitutions and with the approval of the ecclesiastical authority, to give her as Vicar General Mother M. Celestine of the Good Shepherd, Superior of the House of Madrid (Sta Isabel). Thus supportive and always remaining the center and heart of the Congregation, our Mother spent the last years of her life in Auteuil in peace and prayer. »
Finally, the various transfers of her body are recounted: at her death, on 10 March 1898, "her body was buried next to the body of Mr. Térèse Emmanuel, in the place she herself designated, in the Chapelle des Bois". On March 25th, 1926, the bodies of our Mothers were transferred to the Congregation's vault at the Auteuil cemetery. On December 1st, 1942, due to the beatification process, Marie Eugénie's body was removed from Auteuil cemetery and was transfered to the chapel of Lübeck. When the beatification was announced, the remains of Mother Marie Eugénie were again transferred to the chapel of Auteuil on June 26, 1974, allowing the coffin of Thérèse Emmanuel to be transferred to Lübeck. The tombstones, hidden during the destruction of March 1926 - and found in 1972 - were sealed in the outer wall of the Auteuil chapel.
Vows of Mother Marie Augustine
"I, Louise Anastasie Bévier, an adult woman who wanted to consecrate myself to God, joined our Mother on April 30th, 1839. I received the habit from the hands of Bishop Affre on August 14th, 1840. I was examined for my profession on August 2nd, 1841. For this purpose I was left alone to give a free account of my vocation to Bishop Gros, Vicar General of Paris, who would testify that it is with frank and free will that I made profession. I was once again examined for my perpetual vows by Father Gaume, Vicar General of Paris, who did me the honor of receiving them on 25th December 1841 and signed them at the altar
Louise Anastasie Bévier, known in religion as Sr Marie Augustine de St Paul
Deus meus et omnia"
Vows of Mother Thérèse Emmanuel
"I, Catherine O'Neill, adult daughter and with my father's consent, wanted to consecrate myself to God, so I joined our first sisters on August 5th, 1839.
[The sequel is identical to what Mother Mary Augustine wrote]
Catherine O'Neill, known in religion as Sr Thérèse Emmanuel of the Mother of God
Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth ".
Vows of Mother Marie Thérèse
"I, Josephine de Commarque, adult daughter and with the consent of my father and mother, wishing to consecrate myself to God, I joined our first sisters on October 9th, 1839. I received the habit from the hands of Bishop Affre on August 14th, 1840. I was examined on May 12th, 1842 for my profession.
Suzanne Julie Joséphine de Commarque, known in religion as Sr Marie Thérèse de l'Incarnation
O Crux ave, spes unica "O Crux ave, spes unica
Sœur Véronique,
Archiviste of the Congregation
June 2019