courage, and then say, “I shall succeed. Not I, but

the Grace of God which is with me."

The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

[341.]

LVII.

TO THE MÈRE DE CHASTEL.

SS. Simon and Jude, 1615.

INDEED, my dear daughter, you gratify me by calling me your father; for my heart has a most paternal feeling towards your heart, which I do not cease to love, although I see plainly that it is rather weak under these common little contradictions which it encounters. At times it seems about to lose courage on account of passing words and rebukes, but the poor little heart has not really failed, for God upholds it with His Strong Hand, and in His Mercy He never yet forsook His feeble children. Be sure, my dear daughter, that He never will forsake you; you may be tormented and wearied with vexations, temptations to be downcast and pettish, but your will is fixed in Him.

Indeed, my dear daughter Marie, you say truly that there are two beings in you. The one is a Marie, who, like S. Peter, is tender, sensitive, ready to be irritated by a touch. This Marie is a daughter of

Eve, and so her temper is frail. The other Marie wills to be wholly God's; and in order so to be, she wills in all simplicity to be humble and gentle towards every one, and she would fain imitate S. Peter after he was converted. This Marie is the child of the

Blessed Virgin.

the

These two diverse Maries come into collision, and the bad one is so bad that often the other scarce knows how to defend herself, and then, perforce, she fancies herself beaten, and believes the bad Marie to be stronger. But not so, my poor dear child; bad one is not stronger than you. She is more perverse, more enterprising, more obstinate, and when you lose heart and sit down to cry she is pleased, because it is so much time lost for you; and if she cannot make you lose eternity, at all events she will try to make you lose time!

My dear daughter, rouse your courage; arm yourself with patience, such as we all need with ourselves; often wake up your heart, that it may be on its guard against surprises; be watchful of your enemy; tread cautiously for fear of the foe; if you are not on your guard against her, she will be too much for you. Even if she should take you by surprise, and make you totter, or give you a slight wound, do not be put out -call upon our Dear Lord and our Lady. They will hold out a helping hand, or if they leave you awhile

Letters.

M

in trouble, it will but be that you may be led to cry

Now do not be ashamed more than S. Paul was

out more earnestly for help. of all this, my daughter, any when he confessed that there were two beings in him, one rebellious against God, the other obedient to Him. Be perfectly simple, do not be angry, humble yourself without being disheartened, be bold without presumption. Remember that our Lord and His Mother, having placed you amid the worry of a household, see and know that it does worry you, but they will not cease to love you so long as you are humble and truthful. But, dear daughter, do not be ashamed because you are somewhat dusty and soiled; so long as you humble yourself, everything will turn to good. Pray for me, and may God always be your Love and your Protector.

Amen.

[347 and 348.]

LVIII.

TO A RELIGIOUS OF THE VISITATION.

Dec., 1615.

It is thus, my daughter, that we must steadily thrust the hand into all the folds of our heart, and tear thence the foul excrescences which come forth from self-will, thanks to our evil tempers, our inclinations and aversions.

It is a real satisfaction to my paternal heart to hear a beloved child denounce herself as vexatious and malicious. That is a happy fault which is followed by such a hearty confession! The hand which traced that letter is as brave as ever was that of Alexander! Now, my dear child, carry out all that your heart dictates. Do not be astonished at what has happened... One great step towards perfection is to bear with one another in our mutual imperfections; there is no better way of exercising love of our neighbour.

[351.]

LIX.

TO ONE OF THE BISHOP'S SPIRITUAL

CHILDREN.

1616.

WHEN will our mere natural ties, common courtesies, and civilities, all our sympathies and graces, be purified and reduced into perfect subjection to the pure love of God's Good Pleasure? When will self cease to crave for visible, external tokens of earthly love, and when shall we be fully satisfied to rest in the unchanging promise of God's Presence? What can a visible presence add to the love which God has created and sustained?

When shall we all overflow with gentleness and

kindness to our neighbour? When shall we see our neighbour wholly in the Sacred Heart of the Saviour? Alas, those who do not behold Him in this light run the risk of failing to love Him purely, faithfully, or evenly. But if we see Christ in our fellow man, who would not love and bear with him? Who would not tolerate his failings with patience?

Who would be

peevish or weary of his neighbour? But it is so, and we ought never to forget that Christ so loved that neighbour as to die for him of very love.

[353.]

LX.

TO A MARRIED NIECE.

March 5, 1616. Do not think, my dear niece, that it has been forgetfulness or want of affection that has made me delay writing so long. Indeed the earnest desire to serve God faithfully, which I saw in your soul, kindled an equally earnest desire in mine to help you as far as lies in my power, to say nothing of the affection I have always borne you, and the good opinion I have had of you from your childhood.

Well, my dear niece, you must carefully cultivate this precious heart of yours, and spare nothing which will advance its real happiness. This can be always done,