Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Oct/77

Contributor - June Van Farowe

Title - Who Was Idelette Calvin?

Topic - Idelette Calvin

John Calvin was married to Idelette after the death of her husband Jean Stordeur. They lived together eight years until she died. He did not marry again. These simple facts are a part of history. Edna Gerstner successfully adds emotion, expression and life to them in her historical novel called IDELETTE.

When she sat down to write, she had questions like these on her mind. What really was Idelette like. Was she talkative or shy ? How well did John know the widow of his good friend Stordeur? Had she joined in on their Biblical discussions which led Stordeur to doubt and disclaim Anabaptist teachings ? Was Idelette eager to marry after her husband Jean's death or was it hard for her to imagine giving her love to another when her love for Jean was still painfully alive? Did Calvin enjoy sharing with her his spiritual discoveries ?

Since Calvin believed in short engagements (6 weeks) it is likely that he did not know Idelette very well before they married. So, which of the two expressed love first as it gradually grew ? Idelette was beautiful. She had be-en a religious refugee. He would be lovingly protective and try to make up for the hardness of her past. But for Idelette, love had to grow and blossom slowly. Edna charmingly reveals her delight at the realization Idelette has that she does cherish and love John. Spontaneously she hurries to John's study. She interrupts his work. He playfully grants her just "five minutes." "I shall need only one." She was beside his desk now, resting one hand upon it, and looking down at him. Her almond eyes were softer than he had ever seen them. "I love you, my husband. It has been a revelation to me, and I wanted to waste no time in sharing my news with you. See, I have taken less than my minute." True to her word, she turned to leave. He reached the door before her, blocked her passage and swept her into his arms.

Idelette's daughter Judith adjusted well to her new father, but not the boy, Charles Stordeur. Apparently he chose in his teen years to live with his uncle rather than with his mother and step-father. We wonder why this happened. His mother must have missed him. Was Charles unable to accept the death of his real dad? Was the marriage too soon for him? Had Idelette been too soft with him so that he could not learn from Calvin's firmness? Was Calvin impatient with the boy? (Calvin was known to be a perfectionist.) Perhaps his mood lifted when he left Geneva for his uncle's home where he was in the company of his cousins. Later his aunt and three cousins died in a plague. Charles missed out on his chance to follow the steps of a very spiritual and famous father.

A bright spot in their lives was tie pregnancy and birth of their, son Jacques. He lived a few -days and then died. How did they take this? Lamentations would express their numbness before this tragedy. "You have wrapped thyself with anger and pursued us, slaying without pity.' Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and evil come? The questions die as assurance comes through. "Though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steady love.

Idelette did not regain her strength as before. The day came when she could not get up to make meals for their many guests and clean house after them as she had. She stayed in bed and gradually weakened. Judith was allowed to go travelling with her Aunt and Uncle. Perhaps she missed her mothers funeral. This seems strange to us. Edna Gerstner thinks Idelette wanted her to go so she would be spared the burden of being so helpless at her mother's discomfort and distress. This surmise may be correct since true love is able to sacrifice it's own desire to spare another sorrow.

John poured out his sorrow in a letter to his friend. "My sorrow is no common one. I have lost the excellent companion of my life

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