On March 23, 1877, the Minister General, Father Bernardine, wrote to Mother Maddalena. It is encouraging to know that a Poor Clare foundation in St. Louis had been proposed from the beginning: Do not be disturbed, or be afraid of having given displeasure because the foundation is made at New Orleans instead of Saint Louis. Evidently it is the Lord that has arranged the matter, and all should bow to the Divine Will; so, then, enough; I have added my consent and my blessing and I pray with all my heart that the Lord will deign to accomplish the work that He Himself has begun... Be careful of the spirit of charity and of keeping alive the spirit of St. Francis and of St. Clare, and make it known and instill it into the first daughters that the Lord has given you, or will give you. Do this both by example and words.