In February 1936, the arrival of the "Popular Front"
in the Spanish government triggered the civil war and a
violent persecution against the Church. A few months later,
it was France's turn to be governed by a "Popular Front".
The Congregation then feared that religious establishments
would be closed and the sisters dispersed. Mother Christine
lived through the expulsion from the house of Royan in 1903.
She wrote to Mother Amédée, the 31 August
1936 :
I continue to reflect on our last conversation
and to pray about it. I have started getting some old clothes
together, suitable for the photographs (of identification),
and if necessary for later on. But before we get to that,
may I take a moment to ask you if it might not be worth
advancing by a few years our departure for the Holy Land,
which is decided in principle? If not to Ecce Homo, at least
to St John. You would name those who were to go, the young
and beautiful, and I could remain at the Solitude if you
like with Sr Dionysius and Sr Désirée certainly,
which would mean there would be 9 going.
Besides the advantage of our being able
to go as religious, and quietly taking what we need with
us, at least what is the most precious, there is also the
benefit of our being just as well off in Asia as in Europe,
for our kind of life; and much better off in the Holy Land
than elsewhere; and I have always been told that there is
room at St John: it would be making a foundation, rather
than deciding on a foundation. […]
If I offer to stay, it is for no other
reason than to keep the Solitude as you had thought; it
would remain the house for recrutement; but if it is better
to do otherwise, for financial or other reasons, I would
be happy anywhere… and in the Holy Land, what a dream!
On the one hand martyrdom, and on the other, the Holy Land,
it is too wonderful (no doubt I will have neither of them).
It is the photographs which have made me speak to you about
all that; for if you decide that we should travel in the
religious habit, that is how we should be photographed and
not in our rags. .
All I ask of God is that he should keep
my dear little sisters from evil. If it's only a question
of being killed, it doesn't matter, but having to endure
other things, that is what we must avoid. If it happens
that Mr Renner decides to go to the Switzerland, then we
could go too… but it would be double the cost, whereas
Jerusalem is something that would be lasting.
May God help us with his grace, I ask
him to enlighten you.
Mother
Christine's dream came true in 1969, first at Nazareth, then,
in 1971, at Ein Karem.