Part 2
I long to console Thee for the ingratitude of the wicked and I pray Thee take from me the liberty to displease Thee! If through frailty I fall sometimes, may Thy Divine glance purify my soul immediately, consuming every imperfection--like to fire which transforms all things into itself.
I thank Thee, O my God, for all the graces Thou hast bestowed on me, and particularly for making me pass through the crucible of suffering. It is with joy I shall behold Thee on the Last Day bearing Thy sceptre--the Cross; since Thou hast deigned to give me for my portion this most precious Cross, I have hope of resembling Thee in Heaven and seeing the sacred stigmata of Thy Passion shine in my glorified body.
After exile on earth I hope to enjoy the possession of Thee in our eternal Fatherland, but I have no wish to amass merits for Heaven, I will work for Thy Love alone, my sole aim being to give Thee pleasure, to console Thy Sacred Heart, and to save souls who will love Thee for ever.
At the close of life’s evening I shall appear before Thee with empty hands, for I ask not, Lord, that Thou wouldst count my works.... All our justice is tarnished in Thy sight. It is therefore my desire to be clothed with Thine own Justice and to receive from Thy Love the eternal possession of Thyself. I crave no other Throne nor other Crown but Thee, O my Beloved!...
In Thy sight time is nothing, _one day is as a thousand years_.[9] Thou canst in an instant prepare me to appear before Thee.
That I may live in one Act of perfect Love, I OFFER MYSELF AS A VICTIM OF HOLOCAUST TO THY MERCIFUL LOVE, imploring Thee to consume me without ceasing, and to let the tide of infinite tenderness pent up in Thee, overflow into my soul, that so I may become a very martyr of Thy Love, O my God!
May this martyrdom, having first prepared me to appear before Thee, break life’s thread at last, and may my soul take its flight, _unretarded_, into the eternal embrace of Thy Merciful Love.
I desire, O Well-Beloved, at every heart-beat to renew this Oblation an infinite number of times, _till the shadows retire_[10] and I can tell Thee my love eternally face to face!
[_Signed_] MARIE-FRANÇOISE-THÉRÈSE DE L’ENFANT JÉSUS ET DE LA SAINTE FACE
_Rel. Carm. ind._
Feast of The Most Holy Trinity. The 9th of June in the year of grace, 1895.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Cant., viii, 7.
[2] St. Augustine.
[3] _Cf._ Ps. xlix, 9, 12, 14.
[4] John, iv, 7.
[5] St. John of the Cross.
[6] _Cf._ Ps. xxxv, 6.
[7] _Cf. Imit._, II, xi, 4.
[8] John, xvi, 23.
[9] _Cf._ Ps. lxxxix, 4.
[10] Cant., iv, 6.
[Illustration]
LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOUR
There are moments when we are so wretched within, that we must needs hurry away from ourselves. The good God does not oblige us to remain at such times in our own company; indeed He often permits that it should be displeasing to us just that we may leave it. And I see no other means of going out of ourselves than by going to visit Jesus and Mary, that is, hastening to deeds of charity.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
I applied myself above all to practise quite hidden little acts of virtue; thus I liked to fold the mantles forgotten by the Sisters, and sought a thousand opportunities of rendering them service.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VII
Had I been rich I never could have borne to see a poor person hungry without giving him to eat. It is the same in my spiritual life: knowing there are souls on the point of falling into Hell, I give them my treasures according as I earn anything, and I have never yet found a moment to say: “Now I am going to work for myself.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
I feel that when I am charitable it is Jesus alone who acts in me; the more I am united to Him the more do I love all my Sisters. If, when I desire to increase this love in my heart, the demon tries to set before my eyes the faults of one or other of the Sisters, I hasten to call to mind her virtues, her good desires; I say to myself that if I have seen her fall once, she may well have gained many victories which she conceals through humility; and that even what appears to me a fault may in truth be an act of virtue by reason of the intention.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
True Charity consists in bearing with all the defects of our neighbour, in not being surprised at his failings, and in being edified by his least virtues; Charity must not remain shut up in the depths of the heart, for _no man lighteth a candle and putteth it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house_.[11] It seems to me that this candle represents the Charity which ought to enlighten and make joyful, not only those who are dearest to me, but _all who are in the house_.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
There is no artist who does not like his work praised, and the Divine Artist of souls is pleased when we do not stop at the exterior, but penetrating even to the inmost sanctuary which He has chosen for His dwelling, we admire its beauty.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
I ought to seek the company of those Sisters who according to nature please me least. I ought to fulfil in their regard the office of the Good Samaritan. A word, a kindly smile, will often suffice to gladden a wounded and sorrowful heart.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X
Oh! what peace inundates the soul when she rises above natural sentiment. No joy can compare with that known to one who is truly poor in spirit. If he ask with detachment for some necessary thing, and it is not only refused him, but an attempt made besides to deprive him of what he already has, he follows the counsel of our Lord: “_And if a man will contend with thee in judgment and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him._”[12]
To yield up our cloak means, I think, to renounce our last rights, to consider oneself as the servant, the slave of others. When we have abandoned our mantle it is easier to walk, to run; therefore Jesus adds: “_And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two._”[13]
It is not enough that I should give to whosoever may ask of me, I must forestall their desires, and show that I feel much gratified, much honoured in rendering service; and if they take a thing that I use, I must seem as though glad to be _relieved_ of it.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
If it is hard to give to whoever asks, it is still harder to let what belongs to us be taken, without asking it back, or rather, I ought to say it _seems_ hard; for _the yoke of the Lord is sweet and light_:[14] when we accept it we feel its sweetness immediately.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
When Charity is deeply rooted in the soul it shows itself exteriorly: there is so gracious a way of refusing what we cannot give, that the refusal pleases as much as the gift.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
To want to persuade our Sisters that they are in the wrong, even when it is perfectly true, is hardly fair, as we are not responsible for their guidance. We must not be _Justices of the peace_, but only _angels of peace_.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
Jesus wills that we give alms to Him as to one poor and needy. He puts Himself as it were at our mercy; He will take nothing but what we give Him from our heart, and the very least trifle is precious in His sight. He stretches forth His Hand, this sweet Saviour, to receive of us a little love, so that in the radiant day of Judgment He may be able to address to us those ineffable words: “_Come, ye blessed of My Father; for I was hungry, and you gave Me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me._”[15]
XV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
If I were still to live, the office of Infirmarian is the one which would please me most. I would not ask for it, but if it came direct by obedience I should think myself highly privileged. It seems to me that I would discharge its duties with a tender love, thinking always of our Saviour saying: “_I was sick and you visited me_.”[16] The Infirmary bell should be for you as Heavenly music. You ought purposely to pass along beneath the windows of the sick to give them facility in calling you and asking your services. Ought you not to consider yourself like a little slave whom everyone has a right to command? If you could but see the Angels who from the heights of Heaven watch you battling in the arena! They await the end of the combat to cover you with flowers and wreaths. The good God does not disdain these combats, unknown and therefore all the more meritorious. “_The patient man is better than the valiant, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities_.”[17]
By our little acts of charity practised in the shade we convert souls far away, we help missionaries, we win for them abundant alms; and by that means build actual dwellings spiritual and material for our Eucharistic Lord.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
A novice remarked to Sœur Thérèse: “I do not like to see others suffer, especially saintly souls.” She replied instantly:
“Oh! I am not like you: to see saints suffer never moves me to pity! I know they have the strength to endure, and they thus give great glory to God: but those who are not holy, who know not how to profit by their sufferings, oh! how I pity them; they do indeed arouse my compassion, and I would do all I could to comfort and help them.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
Seeing her extreme weakness the doctor ordered some strengthening remedies; Sœur Thérèse was distressed at first on account of their high price: then she said to us: “I am no longer grieved about taking these costly remedies, for I have been reading that St. Gertrude rejoiced at the thought that all would be to the advantage of those who do us good, since our Lord has said: ‘_As long as you did it unto one of these My least brethren you did it unto Me._’”[18]
She added: “I am convinced of the uselessness of medicine for the purpose of curing me, but I have made a compact with the good God, that He is to allow some poor Missionaries to profit by it, who have neither time nor means to take care of themselves.”
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII
Remembering that _Charity covereth a multitude of sins_,[19] I draw from this fruitful mine opened to us by our Lord in His sacred Gospels. I search the depths of His adorable words and cry out with David: “_I have run in the way of Thy commandments when Thou didst enlarge my heart._”[20] And charity alone can enlarge my heart....
O Jesus! since this sweet flame consumes it I run with delight in the way of Thy new Commandment, and therein will I run until the blessed day when with Thy Virgin train I shall follow Thee through Thy boundless Realm singing Thy _New Canticle_ which must surely be _the Canticle of LOVE_.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
FOOTNOTES:
[11] _Cf._ Matt., v, 15.
[12] Matt., v, 40.
[13] Matt., v, 41.
[14] _Cf._ Matt., xi, 30.
[15] Matt., xxv, 34-36.
[16] Matt., xxv, 36.
[17] Prov., xvi, 32.
[18] Matt., xxv, 40.
[19] Prov., x, 12.
[20] Ps., cxviii, 32.
[Illustration]
FAITH
What helps me most when I picture to myself the interior of the Holy Family is to think of a quite ordinary life.
The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph knew well that Jesus was God, but wondrous things were nevertheless hidden from them and like us they lived by faith. Have you not noticed what is said in the sacred text: “_And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them_,”[21] and these other words no less mysterious: “_His father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him?_”[22] Does not this imply that they heard of something new to them, for this wondering suggests a certain astonishment?
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
During her temptations against faith she wrote: “I strive to work by faith though bereft of its consolations. I have made more acts of Faith in this last year than during all the rest of my life.
“On each fresh occasion of combat, when the enemy desires to challenge me, I conduct myself valiantly: knowing that to fight a duel is an unworthy act, I turn my back upon the adversary without ever looking him in the face; then I run to my Jesus and tell Him I am ready to shed every drop of blood in testimony of my belief that there is a Heaven, I tell Him I am glad to be unable to contemplate, while on earth, with the eyes of the soul, the beautiful Heaven that awaits me so He will deign to open it for eternity to poor unbelievers.”
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
He whose Heart ever watcheth, taught me, that while for a soul whose faith equals but a tiny grain of mustard seed, he works miracles, in order that this faith which is so weak may be fortified; yet for His intimate friends, for His Mother, He did not work miracles until He had put their faith to the test. Did He not let Lazarus die though Martha and Mary had sent to tell Him that he was sick? At the marriage at Cana, the Blessed Virgin having asked Him to come to the assistance of the Master of the house, did He not reply that His hour was not yet come? But after the trial, what a recompense! Water changed to wine, Lazarus restored to life....
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VI
A sister said to her that beautiful Angels clothed in white robes, and of joyous and resplendent countenance, would bear away her soul to Heaven. She replied: “These imaginations do not help me: I can draw no sustenance except from the Truth. God and the Angels are pure Spirits, no one can see them as they really are, with corporal eyes. That is why I have never desired extraordinary favours. I would rather await the Eternal Vision.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
“I have asked God to send me a beautiful dream to console me when you are gone,” said a novice.
“Ah! that is a thing I should never do--ask for consolation!... Since you wish to be like me you well know that I say:
Oh! fear not, Lord, that I shall waken Thee: I await in peace th’ eternal shore....
“It is so sweet to serve the good God in the dark night of trial; we have this life only in which to live by faith.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
FOOTNOTES:
[21] Luke, ii, 50.
[22] Luke, ii, 33.
[Illustration]
HOPE
Time is but a shadow, a dream; already God sees us in glory and takes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul! I understand then why He lets us suffer....
VIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
A day ... an hour ... and we shall have reached the port! My God, what shall we see then? What is that life which will never have an end?... Jesus will be the soul of our soul. Unfathomable mystery! “_Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man what great things God hath prepared for them that love Him._”[23] And this will all come soon--yes, very soon, if we ardently love Jesus.
VI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
Life is passing, Eternity draws nigh; soon shall we live the very life of God. After having drunk deep at the fount of bitterness, our thirst will be quenched at the very source of all sweetness.
Yes, _the figure of this world passeth away_,[24] soon shall we see new heavens; a more radiant sun will brighten with its splendours ethereal seas and infinite horizons.... We shall no longer be prisoners in a land of exile, all will be at an end and with our Heavenly Spouse we shall sail o’er boundless waters: now our _harps are hung upon the willows that border the rivers of Babylon_,[25] but in the day of our deliverance what harmonies will then be heard! With what joy shall we not make every chord of our instruments to vibrate! Today, _we weep remembering Sion ... how shall we sing the songs of the Lord in a strange land?_[26]
V LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
How I thirst for Heaven--that blessed habitation where our love for Jesus will have no limit! But to get there we must suffer ... we must weep.... Well, I _wish_ to suffer all that shall please my Beloved, I wish to let Him do just as He wills with His “_little ball_.”
V LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR
Oh! What mysteries will be revealed to us later.... How often have I thought that I perhaps owe all the graces showered upon me to the earnest prayer of a little soul whom I shall know only in Heaven. It is God’s will that in this world by means of prayer Heavenly treasures should be imparted by souls one to another, so that when they reach the Fatherland they may love one another with a love born of gratitude, with an affection far, far exceeding the most ideal family affection upon earth.
There, we shall meet with no indifferent looks, because all the Saints will be indebted to each other.
No envious glances will be seen; the happiness of every one of the elect will be the happiness of all. With the Martyrs we shall be like to the Martyrs; with the Doctors we shall be as the Doctors; with the Virgins, as the Virgins; and just as the members of a family are proud of one another, so shall we be of our brethren, without the least jealousy.
Who knows even if the joy we shall experience in beholding the glory of the great Saints, and knowing that by a secret dispensation of Providence we have contributed thereunto, who knows if this joy will not be as intense and sweeter perhaps, than the happiness they will themselves possess.
And do you not think that on their side the great Saints, seeing what they owe to quite little souls, will love them with an incomparable love? Delightful and surprising will be the friendships found there--I am sure of it. The favoured companion of an Apostle or a great Doctor of the Church, will perhaps be a young shepherd lad; and a simple little child may be the intimate friend of a Patriarch. Oh! how I long to dwell in that Kingdom of Love....
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
A sister showed her a photograph representing Joan of Arc consoled in the prison by her Voices. Sœur Thérèse said: “I too am consoled by an interior voice. The Saints encourage me from above, they say to me: ‘So long as thou art in fetters thou canst not fulfil thy mission; but later, after thy death--_then_ will be the time of thy conquests.’”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
In Heaven the good God will do all I wish, because I have never done my own will upon earth.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
Even now I know it; yes, all my hopes will be fulfilled ... yes ... the Lord will work wonders for me which will surpass infinitely my immeasurable desires.
VIII LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS
FOOTNOTES:
[23] I Cor., ii, 9. _Cf._ Is., lxiv, 4.
[24] I Cor., vii, 31.
[25] _Cf._ Ps. cxxxvi, 2.
[26] _Cf._ Ps., cxxxvi, 1, 4.
[Illustration]
HUMILITY
It appears to me that humility is the truth. I know not whether I am humble, but I know that I see the truth in all things.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
I have understood what true glory is. He whose _Kingdom is not of this world_[27] showed me that the only enviable royalty consists in loving _to be unknown and esteemed as nothing_,[28] and finding our joy in contempt of self. I wished that like the Face of Jesus, mine might be _as it were hidden and despised_.[29] _That none upon earth might esteem me._ I thirsted to suffer and to be forgotten.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VII
Jesus made me understand that the true, the only glory is that which will last for ever; that to attain to it we need not perform wonderful deeds, but rather, those hidden from the eyes of others and from self, so that _the left hand knoweth not what the right hand doth_.[30]
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IV
Thérèse is weak, very weak; of this she has new and salutary experience every day. But Jesus takes pleasure in teaching her how to _glory in her infirmities_.[31] It is a great grace this, for herein is found peace and tranquillity. When we see ourselves so miserable, we wish no longer to look at self but only on the Well-Beloved.
II LETTER TO HER COUSIN MARIE GUÉRIN
I am a _very little_ soul who can offer only _very little_ things to the good God; yet, it often happens that these little sacrifices which give such peace to the heart, escape me; but that does not discourage me, I bear with having a little less peace and I try to be more watchful another time.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X
Veiled in the white Host, O my Well-Beloved, how meek and humble of heart dost Thou show Thyself to me! Thou couldst not stoop lower to teach me humility, and I, to respond to Thy Love, desire to put myself in the lowest place and share Thy humiliations, that I may _have part with Thee_[32] in the Kingdom of Heaven.
I beseech Thee, my Jesus, to send me some humiliation every time that I shall attempt to put myself above others.
HIST. D’UNE AME, APPENDIX
What pleases the good God in my little soul is to see me love my littleness and my poverty, it is seeing the blind trust that I have in His Mercy.
VI LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR
To draw near to Jesus we must be so little.... Oh! how few souls aspire to be little and unknown....
XIV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
I am no longer surprised at anything, nor do I grieve at seeing that I am frailty itself; on the contrary I glory in it, and expect to discover new imperfections in myself each day. These lights concerning my nothingness do me more good, I affirm, than lights regarding faith.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
When we commit a fault we must not think it due to a physical cause, such as illness or the weather, we must attribute this fall to our imperfection, but without ever growing discouraged.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES