tempest. If you can do this, dear sister, you will be amazed, some day, to see how all that now you dread will melt away from before your eyes. He expects this of you, for He has drawn you to Him in a very special way. As to the man whom you consider to be partly guilty in this matter, speak but little of him, and that very conscientiously. I mean, avoid complaining; and, if you must speak, do not say anything but what you know to be exactly true, without conjectures, and expressing yourself doubtfully as to what is doubtful. As far as may be, soothe the minds of your relations gently and wisely. In such cases, to make the best of things does more to heal the mischief in an hour than resentment can do in a year. After all it must be mainly God's doing.

[291.]

LI.

TO M. DE ROCHEFORT.

ON THE DEATH OF HIS SON.

DEAR SIR, Jan. 20, 1614. Judging of your grief by my own feelings, I know how deeply you are mourning. I remember the delight with which you spoke to me about your son, and I was deeply moved at the thought of your exceeding sorrow at his death. At first I was not sure if the

tidings were true, and now it seems late to speak words of consolation, when I believe that your heart will already have conquered the first bitter grief of this loss. I know that you will have felt that this dear son was more God's property than yours, to whom he was but lent by a Divine bounty; and if God saw that the time for recalling His loan had come, you could not doubt that it was for His child's gain; and a father's heart accepts such gain to his son patiently. This world is not so charming that we need greatly pity those who lay down its burthen; and for his own sake, meseems, your son is the gainer by quitting it almost. before he has really entered upon it. We shrink at the word death, as we use it-saying, "Your dear father or your son is dead"—but Christians should rather say, "Your father or your son is gone to his Home and yours, and, in order to reach it, he must needs pass through death, but he did not stop there." In our better judgment we cannot prize our home in this life very greatly, when we compare it with the Heavenly Home in which. we hope to dwell eternally. We are journeying thither, and we are more certain that we shall find there the dear ones gone before, than we can be of enjoying the presence of those yet among us, for they await us, and we are going to them; whereas the others we leave behind, and they may linger yet.

If you are still sorrowing over the departure of that

gentle soul, cast your heart down before our Crucified Lord, and ask His aid: He will assuredly give it, and will fill you with the desire and firm resolution to prepare for the time when you too must make the dreaded journey, and arrive joyfully there, where we believe our happy one to be already.

[313.]

LII.

TO MADAME DE CHANTAL. ON SIMPLICITY.

Dec., 1614.

TELL the dear Marie, whom I love so much, and who loves me so well, to speak freely of God wherever she thinks it will be useful, regardless of what those who listen may think or say of her. In a word, I have already told her that while we ought neither to do nor say anything in order to obtain praise, no more ought we to leave anything undone or unsaid, because we may be praised for it. Nor is it hypocritical to act less perfectly than we talk; of a truth, were it so, we should all be in a bad plight! In that case I must be silent for fear of being a hypocrite, since if I speak concerning perfection, it follows that I count myself perfect! No, indeed, my dear daughter, in speaking of perfection I no more reckon myself to be perfect than I suppose myself to be a native of Italy because I

speak Italian; but I use the language appertaining to perfection, having learnt and studied the subject.

Tell Marie to powder her hair if she will. Her intention is good, and the matter is unimportant. It is not well to entangle the mind amid all these cobwebs. This good girl's mind needs as much disentangling as her hair! That is why she worries herself! It is not good to be so punctilious, nor to distract oneself with so many little questions which do not concern the things of our Lord. Tell her to go on sincerely, holding fast to simplicity and humility, and to cast aside all these subtleties and perplexities.

[316.]

LIII.

TO MADAME DE CHANTAL.

Jan., 1615.

... Do not be disheartened: God will never lose sight of you or your flock, so long as you trust in Him. The door of consolation is strait, but the reward surely follows. Do not let yourself be disgusted, my dear daughter, or allow contradictions to weaken your mind. Whenever was God's service free from contradictions, especially in the beginning of good works? I must, however, tell you honestly that what I fear most in all this is a temptation to set up dislike and aversion

between you and N. It is a common temptation where two people are brought thus into collision; it is a temptation incidental to the most angelic minds on earth, as we see by its arising even among the greatest saints. Our folly, as children of Adam, will be the ruin of us all, unless we are saved from it through charity.

When I see two Apostles like SS. Paul and Barnabas separating because they cannot agree concerning a third companion, I look indulgently upon these little dislikes, so long as they do not hinder the work, even as the Apostles parting asunder did not hinder their mission. If some such thing happens between you two women, it is no great marvel, always supposing that it does not last. But, all the same, my dear daughter, brace your mind anew, and be sure that what you do is of great consequence. Bear patiently, do not be pettish, soften all asperities; remember that this lady is intending to serve God according to her light, as you are according to yours; and recollect that you ought both to bear with and help one another for the love of Christ. Two or three years will soon pass by, but eternity remains.

Your bodily ailments make the matter worse; but you will be strengthened if you call to mind the help promised to those who suffer. guard against discouragement.

Finally, be on your Believe me, we must