Thanks to all who sent responses concerning how to address the head of a
French convent. To those who asked about the sudden interest in the
Claresses--I'm working on St. Colette of Corbie, her monastic reforms, and her
political connections, especially with the house of Burgundy. The house at
Poligny has some documents in their archives concerning the Colettine reforms.
Thanks again!
All the best,
Nancy
>===== Original Message From [log in to unmask] =====
>I'd have bet this would be a nightmare. A French prof at my un. said
>envelope is fine, but greeting should be "Très révérende mère" or
>"Révérende mère." No "ma" and no "chère." There is a French guide for
>the secretary including proper forms of address for everyone in the
>universe, but I don't have it.
>Good luck to all you Claresses-writers! (May we know what the Claresses
>have that so intrigues you?)
>Best,
>Kathryn
>p.s. If I pass near Poligny, I'll stop and ask the Mother Superior how
>one should address her in a letter.
>
>"Roussel, Christine" wrote:
>>
>> Dear Friends,
>>
>> I would amend this slightly. Envelope is fine; greeting would be better as
>> "Ma Reverende Mere:" (sorry, I can't do accents on my machine).
>>
>> Peace,
>>
>> Christine Roussel
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: kwildgen [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>> Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 11:09 AM
>> To: [log in to unmask]
>> Subject: Re: claresses in poligny
>>
>> This is my best (educated) guess:
>> Envelope: La Révérende Mère supérieure
>> Greeting: Chère mère
>>
>> If anyone else knows for sure, please respond. In the meantime I'm going
>> to contact some French friends for guidance, although they're not the
>> sort who write to French nuns very often! It will take a while as I'm
>> off to give a final exam. In any case using the above will offend no
>> one.
>> Best,
>> Kathryn
>>
>> Alison Maloney wrote:
>> >
>> > Please, if anyone knows, respond on list, I would like to know too as I'm
>> about to
>> > contact the Claresses in Alencon - small world !!
>> >
>> > Alison M.
>> >
>> > nwarren wrote:
>> >
>> > > I am currently working on a project on St. Colette of Corbie, and this
>> summer
>> > > I will be doing archival research in France. Some of the manuscripts I
>> hope
>> > > to consult are held by the Claresses in Poligny. This may be a bit of
a
>> long
>> > > shot, but does anyone happen to know to whom I should address
>> correspondence
>> > > at this house? I found the address (Soeurs Clarisses, 13, rue
>> Sainte-Colette,
>> > > 39800 Poligny) on the web site for the Franciscans in France, but the
>> name of
>> > > the superior is not given. Also, what is the proper way for a lay
>> person to
>> > > address the superior in written correspondence in French (I am fluent
in
>> > > French, but I have never before had occasion to write to the superior
of
>> a
>> > > French monastic community). Please feel free to respond to these rather
>> > > esoteric questions off list ([log in to unmask]). Thanks in
>> advance.
>> > >
>> > > Best regards,
>> > >
>> > > Nancy Warren
>> > > Assistant Professor
>> > > Department of English
>> > > Utah State University
>> > > Logan, UT 84322-3200
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