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diff --git a/old/63294-0.txt b/old/63294-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 50531af..0000000 --- a/old/63294-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,5171 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Thoughts of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, by -Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Thoughts of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus - -Author: Saint Thérèse of Lisieux - Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus - -Release Date: September 25, 2020 [EBook #63294] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THOUGHTS OF SAINT THERESE *** - - - - -Produced by Michael Gray, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon - - - - -THOUGHTS -OF SAINT THÉRÈSE -OF THE CHILD JESUS - - -Nihil Obstat -REMIGIUS LAFORT, S. T. D. -_Censor_ - -Imprimatur -JOHN CARDINAL FARLEY -_Archbishop of New York_ - - -NEW YORK, _October_ 22, 1915 - - - -[Picture of Saint Thérèse] -SAINT THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS -_The Little Flower of Jesus_ - - - -THOUGHTS -OF SAINT THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS - - -THE LITTLE FLOWER OF JESUS -CARMELITE OF THE MONASTERY -OF LISIEUX, 1873-1897 - - -TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH -"PENSÉES" BY AN IRISH CARMELITE - - - - -NEW YORK • PUBLISHED BY -P. J. KENEDY & SONS • 1915 - - - -COPYRIGHT, 1915 -BY P. J. KENEDY & SONS - - - -THE•PLIMPTON•PRESS -NORWOOD•MASS•U•S•A - - - -TO -PETITE THÉRÈSE -AND -MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -A LITTLE TRIBUTE OF -REVERENT AND LOVING GRATITUDE -FROM CARMEL OF KILMACUD - -_June_ 9, 1914 - - - -CONTENTS - -LOVE OF GOD -LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOUR -FAITH -HOPE -HUMILITY -DETACHMENT -MORTIFICATION -OBEDIENCE -POVERTY -CONFIDENCE -SELF-ABANDONMENT -GRATITUDE -ZEAL -SIMPLICITY -PRAYER -HOLY COMMUNION -SUFFERING -THE DIRECTION OF SOULS -THE BLESSED VIRGIN -VARIOUS SUBJECTS -PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD - - - -THOUGHTS -OF SAINT THÉRÈSE -OF THE CHILD JESUS - - - -LOVE OF GOD - - -JESUS! . . . I would so love Him! Love Him as never yet He has -been loved. . . - -IV LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS -(_Her sister Pauline_.) - - -THE science of love! Sweet is the echo of that word to the ear -of my soul. I desire no other science. _Having given all my -substance for it_, like the spouse in the Canticles, _I think -that I have given nothing._ [1] - -HISTOIRE D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - -[1] Cant., viii, 7. - - -WITHOUT love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -ONE evening, at a loss for words to tell Jesus how I loved Him -and how much I wished that He might be everywhere served and -glorified, I reflected with pain that not one act of love would -ever mount upwards from out of the depths of hell. Then I cried -out that willingly would I consent to see myself plunged into -that place of torment and blasphemy, in order that He might be -loved there eternally. That could not really glorify Him since -He desires only our happiness, but love makes one want to say a -thousand foolish things. If I spoke thus, it was not that I did -not long for heaven; but then, my heaven was none other than -_Love_, and in my fervour I felt that nothing could separate me -from the Divine object of my love. . . - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V - - -SEEING the eternal recompense so disproportionate to the -trifling sacrifices of this life, I longed to love Jesus, to -love Him ardently, to give Him a thousand proofs of tenderness -while yet I could do so. . . - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V - - -THE love of God reveals itself in the very simplest soul who -resists His grace in nothing, as well as in the most sublime. -Indeed, the characteristic of love being to humble itself, if -all souls resembled those of the holy Doctors who have -enlightened the Church, the good God would not seem to descend -low enough in coming to them. But He has created the infant who -knows nothing and can only wail; He has created the poor savage -who has but the natural law for guidance, and it is even unto -their hearts that He deigns to stoop. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. I - - -IN order that Love may be fully satisfied it must needs stoop to -very nothingness and transform that nothing into fire. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -IN times of aridity when I am incapable of praying, of -practising virtue, I seek little opportunities, mere trifles, to -give pleasure to Jesus; for instance a smile, a pleasant word -when inclined to be silent and to show weariness. If I find no -opportunities, I at least tell Him again and again that I love -Him; that is not difficult and it keeps alive the fire in my -heart. Even though this fire of love might seem to me extinct I -would still throw little straws upon the embers and I am certain -it would rekindle. - -XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -ON _the day of my conversion_ Charity entered into my heart and -with it a yearning to forget self always; thenceforward I was -happy. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V - - -I DO not will that creatures should possess a single atom of my -love; I wish to give all to Jesus, since He makes me understand -that He alone is perfect happiness. All shall be for Him, all! -And even when I have nothing to offer Him I will give Him that -nothing. - -II LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -OUR Lord is more tender than a mother, and well do I know more -than one maternal heart! I know a mother is ever ready to -forgive the little involuntary failings of her child. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -I KNOW of one means only by which to attain to perfection: LOVE. -Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else. Sometimes -I seek another word to express Love, but in this land of exile -_the word which begins and ends_ [2] is quite incapable of -rendering the vibrations of the soul; we must then adhere to -this simple and only word: TO LOVE. - -But on whom shall our poor heart lavish its love? Who shall be -found that is great enough to be the recipient of its treasures? -Will a human being know how to comprehend them, and above all -will he be able to repay? There exists but one Being capable of -comprehending love; it is Jesus; He alone can give us back -infinitely more than we shall ever give to Him. - -LETTER TO HER COUSIN MARIE GUÉRIN - -[2] St. Augustine. - - -THERE is one ONLY THING to do here below: to love Jesus, to win -souls for Him so that He may be loved. Let us seize with jealous -care every least opportunity of self-sacrifice. Let us refuse -Him nothing--He does so want our love! - -VI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -WHEN we really love, we rejoice in the happiness of the loved -one and make every sacrifice to procure it for him. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -TRUE love is nourished by sacrifice, and the more the soul -denies itself natural satisfactions, the stronger and the more -disinterested becomes its tenderness. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THE good God does not need years to accomplish His work of love -in a soul; one ray from His Heart can, in an instant, make His -flower bloom for eternity. . . - -VI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -LOVE can supply for length of years. Jesus, because He is -Eternal, regards not the time but only the love. - -V LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -I DESIRE no sensible consolation in loving; provided Jesus feel -my love that is enough for me. Oh! to love Him and to make Him -loved . . . how sweet it is. . . - -V LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -O JESUS, I ask of Thee only Peace! . . . Peace, and above all -LOVE--love without bound or limit. Jesus, let me for Thy sake -die a martyr; give me martyrdom of soul or body. Ah! rather give -me both the one and the other! - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -I HAVE no longer any desire unless it be to love Jesus even to -folly! Yes, LOVE it is that draws me. I can say these words of -the canticle of our Father, St. John of the Cross: - -In the inmost cellar -Of my Beloved have I drunk; and when I went forth -Over all the plain -I knew nothing, -And lost the flock I followed before. -My soul is occupied -And all my substance in His service; -Now I guard no flock, -Nor have I any other employment: -My sole occupation is love. - -(_Spiritual Canticle, Trans. D. Lewis._) - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -OH! if souls weak and imperfect as mine, felt what I feel, not -one would despair of reaching the summit of the mountain of -Love, since Jesus does not demand from us great deeds, but only -self-surrender and gratitude. - -_I have no need,_ saith He, _of the goats of thy flocks . . . If -I were hungry I would not tell thee . . . Offer unto God the -sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving._ [3] - -See then, all that Jesus asks of us! He has not need of our -works but only of our _love_. This very God who declares that He -needs not to tell us if He were hungry, did not hesitate to -_beg_ of the Samaritan woman a little water . . . He thirsted!!! -But in saying: "_Give me to drink_," [4] it was the love of His -poor creature that the Creator of the universe besought. He -thirsted for Love! - -And now, more than ever is Jesus athirst. He meets with none but -the ungrateful and the indifferent among the disciples of the -world; and amongst _His own_ disciples He finds, alas! very few -hearts that surrender themselves without any reserve to the -tenderness of His infinite Love. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - -[3] _Cf._ Ps. xlix, 9, 12, 14. -[4] John, iv, 7. - - -Since ever I have known Love's mighty power -Thus hath it wrought its work within my soul-- -Whate'er it findeth there, or good or ill, -It turneth all to gain; its living flame -Transforms my soul into its very self. [5] - -[5] St. John of the Cross. - - -HOW sweet is the way of Love! True, one may fall, one may not be -always faithful, but Love, knowing how to draw profit from all, -very quickly consumes whatsoever may displease Jesus, leaving -naught but humble and profound peace in the innermost soul. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -THINKING one day of those who offer themselves as victims to the -Justice of God in order to turn aside the punishment reserved -for sinners by taking it upon themselves, I felt this offering -to be noble and generous, but I was far from feeling moved to -make it. - -"O my Divine Master," I cried in the depths of my heart, "shall -Thy Justice alone receive victims of holocaust? Has not Thy -Merciful Love also need of them? On all sides it is ignored, -rejected . . . the hearts on which Thou wouldst lavish it turn -to creatures, seeking happiness in miserable and fleeting -affections instead of casting themselves into Thine arms, into -the ineffable furnace of Thine Infinite Love. - -"O my God, must Thy Love--disdained--remain within Thy Heart? -Methinks that if Thou shouldst find souls offering themselves as -victims of holocaust to Thy Love, Thou wouldst consume them -rapidly; that Thou wouldst be glad not to restrict the flames of -infinite tenderness pent up within Thee. - -"If Thy Justice--the Justice which Thou dost exercise on earth-- -be pleased to find voluntary victims on which to discharge its -weight, how much the more must Thy Merciful Love also desire its -victims, since _Thy Mercy reacheth even to heaven_. [6] - -"O Jesus, that happily I may be that holocaust consume Thy -little victim in the fire of Divine Love." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - -[6] _Cf_. Ps. xxxv, 6. - - -AH! since that day love penetrates me and surrounds me; this -_Merciful Love_ each moment renews and purifies me, leaving in -my heart no trace of sin. No, I cannot fear Purgatory; I know -that I do not merit even to enter with the Holy Souls into that -place of expiation, but I know too that the fire of Love is more -sanctifying than the fire of Purgatory, I know that Jesus cannot -will needless suffering for us, and that He would not inspire me -with the desires I feel if He were unwilling to fulfil them. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -TO offer oneself as a Victim to Divine Love is not to offer -oneself to sweetness--to consolation; but to every anguish, -every bitterness, for Love lives only by sacrifice; and the more -a soul wills to be surrendered to Love, the more must she be -surrendered to suffering. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -IN order to love Jesus, to be His victim of love, the more weak -and miserable we are, the more fitting are we for the operations -of this consuming and transforming Love . . . The sole desire to -be victim suffices; but we must consent to remain always poor -and without strength, and there lies the difficulty, for _where -shall be found the truly poor in spirit? He must be sought afar -off_, [7] saith the author of the _Imitation_ . . . He did not -say that we must seek him amongst great souls, but afar off, -that is to say in lowliness, in nothingness . . . Oh! let us -keep _afar off_ from all that glitters, let us love our -littleness, and be satisfied to feel nothing, then shall we be -truly poor in spirit, and Jesus will come to seek us how far -soever we may be; He will transform us into flames of Love! . . . - -VI LETTER TO SŒUR MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR -_(Her sister Marie.)_ - -[7] _Cf._ Imit., II, xi, 4. - - -TO be truly a Victim of Love requires absolute self-surrender. -_The soul is consumed by Love only in so far as she surrenders -herself to Love._ - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -IT appears to me that for Victims of Love there will be no -judgment, but rather, that the good God will hasten to -recompense with eternal delights His own Love, which He will see -burning in their hearts. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -AT any cost I will cull the palm of Saint Agnes; if not by -shedding my blood then it must be by Love. . . - -IV LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -O MY God, Thou knowest I have never desired but to love Thee -alone. I seek no other glory. Thy Love has gone before me from -my childhood, it has grown with my growth, and now it is an -abyss the depths of which I cannot fathom. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -LOVE attracts love, mine rushes forth unto Thee, it would fain -fill up the abyss which attracts it; but alas! it is not even as -one drop of dew lost in the Ocean. To love Thee as Thou lovest -me I must borrow Thy very love--then only, can I find rest. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -JUST as a torrent sweeps along with it unto the depths of the -sea whatsoever it encounters on its course, even so, my Jesus, -does the soul which plunges into the boundless ocean of Thy Love -draw after her all her treasures. Lord, Thou knowest that for me -these treasures are the souls it has pleased Thee to unite to -mine. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -CHARITY gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that the -Church being a body composed of different members, the most -essential, the most noble of all the organs would not be wanting -to her; I understood that the Church has _a heart_ and that this -heart is burning with love; that it is love alone which makes -the members work, that if love were to die away apostles would -no longer preach the Gospel, martyrs would refuse to shed their -blood. I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love -is everything, that it embraces all times and all places because -it is eternal! - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -O MY Well-Beloved! I understand to what combats Thou hast -destined me; it is not on the battle field that I shall -fight . . . I am prisoner of Thy Love; freely have I riveted -the chain which unites me to Thee and separates me for ever -from the world. My sword is LOVE; with it _I shall chase the -stranger from the kingdom, I shall make Thee to be proclaimed -King_ in the souls of men. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, APPENDIX - - -_LOVE!_ . . . that is what I ask . . . I know but one thing -now--_to love Thee_, O Jesus! Glorious deeds are not for me, I -cannot preach the Gospel, shed my blood . . . what does it -matter? My brothers toil instead of me, and I, _the little -child_, I keep quite close to the royal throne, _I love_ for -those who fight. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -HOW shall I show my love since love is proved by deeds? Well,-- -_the little child will strew flowers_ . . . she will embalm the -Divine Throne with their fragrance, will sing with silvery voice -the canticle of love. - -Yes, my Beloved, it is thus that my life's brief day shall be -spent before Thee. No other means have I of proving my love than -to strew flowers; that is, to let no little sacrifice escape me, -not a look, not a word, to avail of the very least actions and -do them for Love. I wish to suffer for Love's sake and for -Love's sake even to rejoice; thus shall I strew flowers. Not one -shall I find without shedding its petals for Thee . . . and then -I will sing, I will always sing, even if I must gather my roses -in the very midst of thorns--and the longer and sharper the -thorns the sweeter shall be my song. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -SŒUR Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus often spoke of a well-known toy -with which in childhood's days she had amused herself: a -kaleidoscope; in form somewhat like a small telescope; on -looking through, one sees an endless succession of pretty and -many-coloured designs, varying at each turn of the kaleidoscope. - -"This toy," she said, "aroused my admiration and I used to -wonder what could produce so pleasing a phenomenon; when one -day, after serious examination, I saw there were simply a few -tiny scraps of paper and of wool cut no matter how, and thrown -here and there. I pursued my investigation and discovered three -mirrors inside the tube: I had there the key to the problem. - -"This was for me the image of a great mystery. As long as our -actions, even the least of them, remain within the focus of -Love, the Blessed Trinity, which is figured by the three -mirrors, reflects them, and endows them with a wondrous beauty. -Jesus, looking at us through the little lens, that is to say, as -it were through Himself, finds all our actions pleasing to Him. -But if we leave the ineffable centre of Love, what will He see? -Mere straws . . . actions sullied and nothing worth." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THIS little prayer which includes all my desires I ask you to -say for me each day: - -"Merciful Father, in the name of Thy sweet Jesus, of the Blessed -Virgin and of the Saints, I pray Thee that my sister be fired -with Thy spirit of love, and that Thou wilt grant her the grace -to make Thee greatly loved." - -If God should take me soon to Himself, I ask you to continue -each day this same prayer, for in Heaven my desire will be the -same as upon earth; to love Jesus and to make Him loved. - -III LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -SHE was looking at the sky one day when some one remarked to -her: - -"Very soon you will dwell beyond the blue sky; with what love -you contemplate it!" - -She merely smiled, but afterwards said to the Mother Prioress: - -"Mother, our Sisters little know what I suffer! Looking at the -blue sky I was thinking only of the beauty of the material -heavens; _the other is more and more closed to me_ . . . I was -at first distressed by that remark, then an interior voice -answered: 'Yes, through love thou didst look at the heavens. -Since thy soul is wholly consecrated to Love, all thy actions, -even the most indifferent, bear the impress of this divine -seal.' I was instantly consoled." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -UNTIL two days before her death she wished to be alone at night, -however, notwithstanding her entreaties, the Infirmarian used to -rise several times to visit her. On one occasion she found our -little invalid with hands clasped and eyes raised to Heaven. - -"But what are you doing?" she asked; "you should try to sleep." - -"I cannot, dear Sister, I suffer too much! then I pray. . ." - -"And what do you say to Jesus?" - -"I say nothing, _I love Him!_" - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -A SISTER was speaking to her of the happiness of Heaven: Thérèse -interrupted, saying: - -"It is not that which attracts me. . ." - -"What is it then?" - -"Oh! it is LOVE! To love, to be beloved, and _to come back to -earth to make_ LOVE _loved_." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -LOVE alone have I ever given to the good God, with love He will -repay me. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -ALL that I have written regarding my desire of suffering is most -true; oh! I do not repent of having surrendered myself to Love. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -JESUS! Jesus! if it be so sweet to desire Thy Love, what will it -be to possess and to enjoy it for ever! - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -O JESUS! could I but tell all _little souls_ of Thine ineffable -condescension! . . . I feel that if it were possible to find one -more weak than mine Thou wouldst take delight in showering upon -her greater favours still, provided that she abandoned herself -with entire confidence to Thine Infinite Mercy. - -But why these desires, O my Beloved, to impart the secrets of -Thy Love? Is it not Thyself alone Who hast made them known to me -and canst Thou not reveal them to others? Yes, I know it and I -implore Thee to _do_ so: _I beseech Thee to let Thy divine gaze -rest upon an immense number of little souls, I beseech Thee to -choose in this world a Legion of little victims worthy of Thy -Love!_ - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -HER last words--looking at her crucifix: - -"OH! . . . I LOVE HIM! . . . MY GOD, I . . . LOVE . . . THEE!!!" - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -O MY God, Most Blessed Trinity, I desire to love Thee and to -make Thee loved, to labour for the glory of Holy Church by -saving souls still on earth and by delivering those who suffer -in purgatory. I desire to accomplish Thy Will perfectly, and to -attain to the degree of glory which Thou hast prepared for me in -Thy Kingdom, in one word, I desire to be a saint, but I know -that I am powerless, and I implore Thee, O my God, to be Thyself -my sanctity. - -Since Thou hast so loved me as to give me Thine only Son to be -my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits -are mine, to Thee I offer them with joy, beseeching Thee to see -me only as in the Face of Jesus and in His Heart burning with -Love. - -Again, I offer Thee all the merits of the Saints--in Heaven and -on earth--their acts of love and those of the holy Angels; and -finally I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and the merits -of the Holy Virgin, my most dear Mother; it is to her I entrust -my oblation, begging her to present it to Thee. - -Her Divine Son, my well-beloved Spouse, during His life on -earth, told us: "_If you ask the Father anything in My Name He -will give it to you._" [8] I am then certain that Thou wilt -hearken to my desires . . . My God, I know it, the more Thou -willest to give the more dost Thou make us desire. Immense are -the desires that I feel within my heart, and it is with -confidence that I call upon Thee to come and take possession of -my soul. I cannot receive Thee in Holy Communion as often as I -would; but, Lord, art Thou not Almighty? . . . Remain in me as -in the Tabernacle--never leave Thy little Victim. - -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. - - -[8] John, xvi, 23. -[9] _Cf_. Ps. lxxxix, 4. -[10] Cant., iv, 6. - - - -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._ [1] 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 - -[1] _Cf_. Matt., v, 15. - - -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._" [2] - -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_." [3] - -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 - -[2] Matt., v, 40. -[3] Matt., v, 41. - - -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:_ [4] when we accept it we feel its sweetness -immediately. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - -[4] _Cf_. Matt., xi, 30. - - -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._" [5] - -XV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[5] Matt., xxv, 34-36. - - -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._" [6] 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._" [7] - -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 - -[6] Matt., xxv, 36. -[7] Prov., xvi, 32. - - -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_.'" [8] - -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 - -[8] Matt., xxv, 40. - - -REMEMBERING that _Charity covereth a multitude of sins,_ [9] 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_." [10] 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 - -[9] Prov., x, 12. -[10] Ps., cxviii, 32. - - - -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_," [1] and these other words no less mysterious: "_His -father and mother were wondering at those things which were -spoken concerning Him_"? [2] Does not this imply that they heard -of something new to them, for this wondering suggests a certain -astonishment? - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[1] Luke, ii, 50. -[2] Luke, ii, 33. - - -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 - - - -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."_ [1] And this will -all come soon--yes, very soon, if we ardently love Jesus. - -VI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[1] I Cor., ii, 9. _Cf_. Is., lxiv, 4. - - -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,_ [2] 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,_ [3] 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?_ [4] - -V LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[2] I Cor., vii, 31. -[3] _Cf_. Ps. cxxxvi, 2. -[4] _Cf_. Ps., cxxxvi, 1, 4. - - -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 - - - -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_ [1] showed me that the only enviable royalty -consists in loving _to be unknown and esteemed as nothing_, [2] -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_. -[3] _That none upon earth might esteem me_. I thirsted to suffer -and to be forgotten. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VII - -[1] John, xviii, 36. -[2] _Imit_., I, ii, 3. -[3] Is., liii, 3. - - -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_. [4] - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - -[4] Matt., vi, 3. - - -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_. [5] 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 - -[5] II Cor., xi, 5. - - -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_ [6] 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 - -[6] John, xiii, 8. - - -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 - - -SINCE Jesus has gone back to Heaven I can follow Him only by the -path He has traced. Oh how luminous are His footprints-- -diffusing a divine sweetness . . . I have but to glance at the -holy Gospels and immediately I inhale the fragrance of the life -of Jesus, and I know which side to take. Not to the first place -do I run but to the last. I let the Pharisee go up, and full of -confidence I repeat the humble prayer of the publican. Above all -I copy the example of Magdalene; her amazing, or rather, her -loving audacity, which so touched the Heart of Jesus, charms my -own. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -WITH a simplicity that delights me my little Sisters, the -novices, tell me of the interior combats I arouse in them, in -what way they find me trying; they are no more embarrassed than -if it were question of some one else, knowing that by acting -thus, they greatly please me. - -Ah! truly it is more than a pleasure, it is a delicious feast -which replenishes my soul with joy. How can a thing so -disagreeable to nature give such happiness? Had I not -experienced it I could not have believed it. - -One day when I had an ardent desire for humiliation, it happened -that a young postulant so fully satisfied it, that the thought -of Semei cursing David came to my mind and I repeated interiorly -with the holy King: _Yes, it is indeed the Lord who has -commanded him to say all these things to me._ [7] - -Thus the good God takes care of me. He cannot always offer me -the strength-giving bread of exterior humiliation, but from time -to time He permits me to feast upon _the crumbs that fall from -the table of the children_. [8] How great is His Mercy! - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - -[7] Kings, xvi, 10. -[8] Mark, vii, 28. - - -ALL creatures might incline towards the little flower, admiring -it and overwhelming it with their praise, but never would that -add a shadow of vain satisfaction to the true joy of knowing -itself to be a mere nothing in the sight of God. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - - -BECAUSE I was little and weak, Jesus stooped down to me and -tenderly instructed me in the secrets of His Love. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V - - -I AM too little to have any vanity, I am also too little to know -how to turn beautiful phrases so as to make it appear that I -have a great deal of humility. I prefer to acknowledge simply -that _He that is mighty hath done great things to me_; [9] and -the greatest is His having shown me my littleness, my powerlessness -for all good. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - -[9] Luke, i, 49. - - -THE only thing not subject to be envied is the lowest place, it -is therefore this lowest place alone which is without vanity and -affliction of spirit. Still, _the way of a man is not always in -his power_ [10] and sometimes we are surprised by a desire for -that which glitters. Then, let us take our place humbly amongst -the imperfect, deeming ourselves little souls whom the good God -must sustain at each moment. As soon as He sees us truly -convinced of our nothingness and we say to Him: _My foot hath -slipped: Thy mercy, O Lord, hath held me up,_ [11] He stretches -out His Hand to us; but if we _will_ attempt to do something -grand, even under pretext of zeal, He leaves us alone. It is -enough therefore that we humble ourselves, and bear our -imperfections with sweetness: there, for us, lies true sanctity. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[10] _Cf_. Jer., x, 23. -[11] _Cf_. Ps., xciii, 18. - - -THE most eloquent discourses would be incapable of inspiring one -act of love without the grace that moves the heart. - -See a beautiful, rose-tinted peach, of so sweet a savour that no -craft of confectioner could produce nectar like it. Is it for -the peach itself that God has created this lovely colour and -delicate velvety surface? Is it for the sake of the peach that -He has given it so delicious a flavour? No, it is for us; what -alone belongs to it and forms the essence of its existence is -its stone; it possesses nothing more. - -Thus is Jesus pleased to lavish His gifts on some of His -creatures, that through them He may draw to Himself other souls; -but in His mercy He humiliates them interiorly, and gently -constrains them to recognize their nothingness and His -Omnipotence. These sentiments form in them, as it were, a kernel -of grace, which Jesus hastens to develop for that blessed day -when clothed with a beauty, immortal, imperishable, they shall -without danger have place at the Celestial banquet. - -XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -THE Apostles, without Jesus, laboured long--a whole night-- -without taking any fish; their toil was pleasing to Him but He -wished to show that He alone can give anything. He asked only an -act of humility: _"Children, have you any meat?"_ [12] and St. -Peter confesses his helplessness: _"Lord we have laboured all -night and have taken nothing."_ [13] It is enough! The Heart of -Jesus is touched . . . . Perhaps if the Apostle had taken a few -little fishes the Divine Master would not have worked a miracle; -but he had _nothing_, and so through God's power and goodness -his nets were soon filled with great fishes. - -That is just our Lord's way. He gives as God, but He _will_ have -humility of heart. - -XVII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[12] John, xxi, 5. -[13] Luke, v, 5. - - -TO think ourselves imperfect, and others perfect--that is -happiness. That creatures should recognize we are without virtue -takes nothing from us, makes us no poorer; it is they who by -this lose interior joy; for there is nothing sweeter than to -think well of our neighbour. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -IT is a great joy to me, not only when others find me imperfect, -but above all when I feel that so I am: compliments, on the -contrary, cause me nothing but displeasure. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -A NOVICE confided to her that she made no progress and felt -quite discouraged. - -"Till the age of fourteen," said Therese, "I practised virtue -without feeling its sweetness. I wished for suffering but had no -thought of finding my joy therein; that is a grace which has -been granted me later. My soul was like a beautiful tree whose -blossoms no sooner opened than they fell. - -"Offer to the good God the sacrifice of never gathering the -fruits of your labours. If He so will that during your whole -life you feel a repugnance to suffer and to be humiliated, if He -permit that all the flowers of your desires and of your -good-will fall to earth without fruit, be not troubled. At the -moment of your death He will know well how to bring to -perfection, in the twinkling of an eye, beautiful fruits on -the tree of your soul. - -"We read in the Book of Ecclesiasticus: _'There is an inactive -man that wanteth help, is very weak in ability, and full of -poverty: yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and -hath lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his -head: and many have wondered at him and have glorified God._ - -_'Trust in God, and stay in thy place. For it is easy in the -eyes of God, on a sudden to make the poor man rich. The blessing -of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a swift hour His -blessing beareth fruit!'"_ [14] - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[14] Ecclus., xi, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24. - - -"YOU have always been faithful to divine grace, have you not?" - -"Yes, since the age of three I have refused nothing to the good -God. Yet not mine the glory. See how the setting sun this -evening gilds the topmost branches of the trees; even so does my -soul appear to you--all bright and gilded, because it is exposed -to Love's rays. If the Divine Sun withheld from me His rays, my -soul would immediately become obscured and enveloped in -darkness." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -"YOU really are a saint!" some one said to her. - -"No, I am not a saint; I have never done the works of the -Saints. I am a very, very little soul on whom the good God has -outpoured the abundance of His grace. You will see in Heaven -that I am telling you the truth." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -SHE said to the Prioress: "Mother, I feel that if I were -unfaithful, if I committed but the very slightest infidelity, -fearful troubles would follow, and I could no longer accept -death with resignation." - -And as the Mother Prioress showed surprise at hearing her speak -thus, she continued: - -"I mean an infidelity springing from pride. For instance, if I -said: 'I have acquired such or such a virtue, I am able to -practise it,' or, 'O my God, I love Thee too well--Thou knowest -it--to dwell on one single thought against faith,' I feel that I -should forthwith be assailed by the most dangerous temptations -and should certainly be overcome by them. - -"To avoid this calamity I have but to say humbly from the depths -of my heart: 'O my God, I implore of Thee, suffer me not to be -unfaithful!' - -"I very well understand how St. Peter fell. He depended too -confidently on the fervour of his feelings, instead of relying -solely upon Divine strength. Had he said to Jesus: 'Lord, give -me the strength to follow Thee even unto death,' that strength, -I am quite sure would not have been refused him." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -"OH! when I think of all I have to acquire!" exclaimed a novice. - -"Say, rather, to _lose_. Jesus, it is, who charges Himself with -the care of filling your soul according as you free it from its -imperfections. I plainly see that you are taking the wrong road, -you will never arrive at the end of your journey. You wish to -scale a mountain and the good God wants to make you descend: He -is waiting for you low down in the fertile valley of humility." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -"WHEN I receive a reproof," said another, "I would rather have -deserved it than be wrongfully accused." - -"As for me," replied Thérèse, "I prefer being blamed unjustly, -then I have no cause for self-reproach and I offer this -unmerited blame to the good God with joy, then I humble myself -at the thought that I should be quite capable of doing that of -which I was accused." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -WHEN we are not understood, and are unfavourably judged, what -good is there in defending ourselves? Let us leave it so and say -nothing, it is so sweet to let ourselves be judged no matter -how! It is not told in the Gospels that Saint Magdalen gave any -explanation when blamed by her sister for sitting inactive at -the feet of Jesus. She did not say: "Martha, if thou didst but -know my happiness, if thou didst but hear the words I hear, thou -too wouldst lay all else aside, to share my joy and my repose." -No, she chose rather to be silent . . . O blessed silence which -gives to the soul such peace! - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -IN a moment of temptation and combat a novice received this -note: - -_"The just man shall correct me in mercy and reprove me; but let -not the oil of the sinner anoint my head_. [15] I cannot be -corrected or tried except by the just, inasmuch as all my -Sisters are pleasing to God. It is less bitter to be reproved by -a sinner than by the just; but _through compassion for sinners_, -to obtain their conversion, I pray Thee, O my God, that I may be -bruised by the just souls who are round about me. Again, I beg -that the oil of praise, so sweet to nature, _anoint not my -head_, that is to say, enervate not my mind, by making me -believe that I possess virtues which I have only with difficulty -practised several times. - -"O my Jesus! _Thy Name is as oil poured out;_ [16] it is in this -divine perfume that I wish to be wholly bathed, far away from -the notice of creatures." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[15] Ps., cxl, 5. -[16] Cant., i, 2. - - -AT the close of her life she was able to say: "I used so to rise -above all things, that I drew strength from humiliations." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -"GOD has a special love for you," remarked a young Sister, -"since to you He entrusts other souls." - -"That does not add anything to me, and I am only really just -what I am in God's sight . . . It does not follow that He loves -me more, because He wills that I should be His interpreter to -you; rather, He makes me your little servant. It is for you and -not for me that He has given me the charms and virtues apparent -to you. - -"Often I compare myself to a little bowl which God fills with -good things of every kind. All the _kittens_ come to it to take -their share, and sometimes there is a contest as to which shall -have most. But the Child Jesus is there, keeping watch: 'I am -very willing that you drink from my little bowl' saith He, 'but -take care lest you overturn it and break it.' - -"Truth to tell, the danger is not great, because I am placed on -the ground. It is otherwise with Prioresses: they, being set on -tables run many more risks. Honours are always dangerous. - -"Oh! how poisonous the praises served up day by day to those who -hold high places. What baneful incense! And how necessary it is -that the soul be detached from self, that so she may escape -unharmed." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -TO help a novice to accept a humiliation she said to her in -confidence: "If I had not been received into Carmel I would have -entered a Refuge, to live there unknown and despised in the -midst of the poor penitents. To pass for such in the eyes of all -would have been my happiness. I should have been the apostle of -my companions telling them what I think of the Mercy of the good -God." - -"But how would you have been able to hide your innocence from -your Confessor?" - -"I would have told him that while in the world I had made a -general confession and had been forbidden to do so again." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -ONE day they brought her some ears of corn. She took one so -laden with grain that it leaned down upon its stalk, and having -looked at it for a long time she said to the Mother Prioress: - -"Mother, this ear of corn is an image of my soul: the good God -has laden me with graces for myself and for many others! . . . -Oh! I wish ever to bow down beneath the abundance of Heaven's -gifts, recognizing that all comes from above." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -WHAT do you think of all the graces which have been poured down -upon you? - -"I think that the Spirit of God breatheth where He will." [17] - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[17] John, iii, 8. - - -A SISTER said that in Heaven she would be a beautiful flower, -resplendent with light. - -"Oh no," she replied, "you know how in pretty bouquets they -conceal some moss to make the flowers stand out; well, I shall -be a little bit of moss to set off the beauty of the elect." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -DURING her last agony the Mother Prioress encouraged her with -these words: - -"My child, you are quite ready to appear before God because you -have always understood the virtue of humility." - -Then of herself she gave this beautiful testimony: - -"Yes, I feel it, my soul has never sought but the truth . . . -yes, I have understood humility of heart!" - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - - -DETACHMENT - - -IF the impossible were possible and that God Himself did not see -my good actions, I would not grieve about it. I love Him so much -that I should like to be able to give Him pleasure without His -knowing that it was I . . . Knowing and seeing it, He is, in a -way, bound to repay me . . . I would not give Him the trouble. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THE glory of Jesus . . . that is my whole ambition; my own I -abandon to Him; and if He seem to forget me, well, He is at -liberty to do so since I am mine no more, but His. He will more -quickly tire of making me wait, than I, of waiting! - -VII LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -THERE is no stay, no support to seek out of Jesus. He alone -changeth not. What happiness to think that He can never change! - -V LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -THE sole happiness upon earth consists in hiding oneself and -remaining in total ignorance of created things. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -FAR from dazzling me all the titles of nobility appear to me but -empty vanity. I have understood those words of the _Imitation_: -_"Be not solicitous for the shadow of a great name."_ [1] I have -understood that true greatness is found not in the name but in -the soul. - -The Prophet tells us that _the Lord God shall call His servants -by_ ANOTHER NAME; [2] and we read in St. John: _"To him that -overcometh, I will give . . . a white counter, and in the -counter a new name written, which no man knoweth but he that -receiveth."_ [3] It is in Heaven, therefore, that we shall know -our titles of nobility. Then _shall each one receive from God -the praise that he merits,_ [4] and he who upon earth will have -made choice of being the poorest and the most unknown for love -of our Lord, he will be the first, the noblest and the richest. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VI - -[1] _Imit._, III, xxiv, 2. -[2] Is., lxv, 15. -[3] Apoc., ii, 17. -[4] _Cf_. I Cor., iv, 5. - - -I THANK my Jesus for making me walk in darkness; in it I am -wrapped in profound peace. Willingly I consent to stay, during -the whole of my religious life, in this sombre tunnel into which -He has made me enter; I desire only that my darkness may win -light for sinners. - -IV LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -IN this world we must not become attached to anything--not even -things the most innocent, for they fail us at the moment when we -are least expecting it. The eternal alone can satisfy us. - -I LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR - - -THIS prayer she bore upon her heart on the day of her -Profession: - -"O Jesus, my Divine Spouse, grant that the robe of my baptism be -never sullied! Take me, rather than suffer me here below to -stain my soul by committing the slightest wilful fault. May I -never seek nor ever find but Thee alone! May all creatures be -nothing to me, and I nothing to them! May no earthly thing -disturb my peace! - - . . . . . . . - -"Grant that I fulfil my engagements in all their perfection; -that none concern themselves about me; that I may be trodden -underfoot, forgotten, as a little grain of sand. I offer myself -to Thee, O Well-Beloved, that Thou mayst ever perfectly -accomplish Thy holy will in me, without let or hindrance from -creatures." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -WITH jealous care all must be kept for Jesus; it is so good to -work for Him, and for Him alone! How joyous then the heart and -how buoyant the spirit! . . . - -VI LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -I HAVE never wished for human glory, contempt it was, that had -attraction for my heart; but having recognized that this again -was too glorious for me, I ardently desire to be forgotten. - -VII LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -IF you only knew to what a degree I wish to be indifferent to -the things of the earth! What matters to me all created beauty? -I should be truly unfortunate were I to possess it. Oh! how -great, how noble, seems my heart when I look at it in relation -to this world's goods, since all of them put together could -never satisfy it; but when I consider it with reference to -Jesus, how _small_ it then appears to me. - -II LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -YES, I now am able to say I have received the grace of being no -more attached to the goods of mind and heart than to those of -earth. If it happens that I repeat to my Sisters some thought of -mine which pleases them, I think it quite natural that they -should look on it as their own; this thought belongs to the Holy -Ghost not to me, seeing that St. Paul tells us _that without the -Spirit of Love we cannot give to God the name of Father_. [5] -The Holy Spirit assuredly is free to use me as the means of -conveying a good thought to a soul and I may not consider this -thought as my property. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - -[5] _Cf_. Rom., viii, 15. - - -"THERE is one only means of constraining the good God not to -judge us at all, it is to appear before Him with our hands -empty." - -"But how?" they asked her. - -"It is quite simple: keep nothing whatever in reserve, give away -your gains according as you earn. As for me, if I live to be -eighty I shall be always poor; I know not how to save up, all -that I have goes immediately to ransom souls." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THE further you advance the fewer combats will you have, or -rather, the easier will your conquests be, because you will look -at the good side of things. Your soul will then rise above -creatures. Anything that may be said to me now, leaves me -absolutely indifferent, for I have realized how little stability -there is in human judgments. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -TO write books of devotion, to compose the most sublime poetry, -is of less worth than the least act of self-renunciation. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -"ONE Sunday," Thérèse tells us, "I went right joyously on my way -towards the alley of chestnut trees; it was the spring-time, and -I meant to enjoy the beauties of nature. O cruel disappointment! -My dear chestnut trees had been pruned, and the branches, -already loaded with verdant buds, lay strewn upon the ground! It -was heartrending to view this destruction, and to think that -three years must pass ere I could see it repaired . . . My -distress however did not last. 'If I were in another monastery,' -thought I, 'what difference would it make to me if the chestnut -trees in the Carmel of Lisieux were cut down altogether? I will -fret no more about transitory things; my Well-Beloved shall take -the place of all else for me . . . I will wander ever in the -groves of His love, which none may touch!'" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -SHE said to her novices: "You are too much taken up about what -you are doing, you torment yourselves concerning the future as -if you had the care of it . . . Are you at this moment -preoccupied with what is passing in other Carmels, as to whether -the nuns are pressed or not? Do their labours hinder your prayer -or meditation? Very well, so, too, ought you to be detached from -your personal work, employing conscientiously therein the time -directed, but with disengagement of heart. - -"I have read that the Israelites, when building the walls of -Jerusalem, worked with one hand and with the other held a sword. -[6] That is truly a figure of what we ought to do: never give -ourselves completely up to the work." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[6] II Esdras, iv, 17. - - -A NOVICE asked some of the Sisters to help to shake blankets, -which being rather worn, she cautioned them somewhat sharply to -be careful not to tear. Sœur Thérèse remarked: - -"What would you do if it were not your office to mend these -blankets? . . . With what detachment you would then act! And if -you did point out that they are easily torn, how free from -self-interest it would be. Thus, never let the least shadow of -self-interest glide into your actions." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -IN the infirmary the novices used scarcely to wait till her -thanksgivings were ended before speaking to her and seeking her -counsels. This, at first, grieved her and she gently reproached -them. Then very soon she let them have their way, saying: - -"The thought has struck me that I am not to desire more of -repose than our Lord. When He retired into the desert after His -discourses, the people came immediately to break in upon His -solitude. Come to me as much as you will. I must die arms in -hand, _having on my lips the sword of the Spirit which is the -Word of God_." [7] - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[7] Ephes., vi, 17. - - -"HOW do you manage so to practise virtue," asked a novice, "as -to be always the same, invariably joyous and composed?" - -"It has not been always so," she replied, "but ever since I have -shunned all self-seeking I lead the happiest life that can be." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -NOW, that I am about to appear before the good God, more than -ever do I understand that there is but one thing necessary: to -work solely for Him, and to do nothing for self or for -creatures. - -X LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - - -MORTIFICATION - - -FAR from being like to those great souls who from their -childhood practise all sorts of macerations, I made my -mortification consist solely in the breaking of my will, -restraining a hasty word, rendering little services to those -around me without making anything of it, and a thousand other -things of this kind. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VI - - -I had no taste for games, I should have liked to spend my life -reading, but I was only to take a very limited time for this -chosen recreation, and this was the ground of many a sacrifice, -for I made it a point of duty to break off promptly at the end -of the time allotted, even in the middle of the most interesting -passage. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - - -I HAD accustomed myself never to complain when anything of mine -was taken away; and when unjustly blamed I chose rather to -remain silent than to defend myself. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. I - - -I WAS ten years old the day that my Father told Céline he was -going to let her have lessons in painting; I was by, and envied -her. Then Papa said to me: "And you, my little queen, would it -give you pleasure too to learn drawing?" I was just going to -respond with a very gladsome _yes_, when Marie made the remark -that I had not the same taste for it as Céline. At once she -gained the day; and I, thinking that here was a good opportunity -of offering a grand sacrifice to Jesus, said not a word. So -eager was my desire to learn drawing that now I still wonder how -I had the fortitude to remain silent. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -IN the world, on awakening in the morning I used to think over -what would probably occur either pleasing or vexatious during -the day; and if I foresaw only trying events I arose dispirited. -Now it is quite the other way: I think of the difficulties and -the sufferings that await me, and I rise the more joyous and -full of courage the more I foresee opportunities of proving my -love for Jesus, and _earning the living of my children_--seeing -that I am _the mother_ of souls. Then I kiss my crucifix and lay -it tenderly on the pillow while I dress, and I say to Him: "My -Jesus, Thou hast worked enough and wept enough during the -three-and-thirty years of Thy life on this poor earth. Take now -Thy rest . . . My turn it is to suffer and to fight." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THE attraction to penance was given me, but I was permitted -nothing to satisfy it. The only mortifications I was allowed -consisted in mortifying self-love, which did me more good than -corporal penance. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VII - - -AT prayer I was for a long time near a Sister who used to handle -incessantly either her Rosary-beads or some other thing; perhaps -none heard it but myself, for my hearing is extremely acute, but -I cannot say how it tormented me! I should have liked to turn my -head and look at the culprit so as to make her stop that noise: -however in my heart I knew it was better to bear it patiently, -for the love of God in the first place, and also to avoid giving -pain. - -I kept quiet therefore, but was sometimes worked up to -fever-heat and obliged to make simply a prayer of endurance. -Finally I sought out the means of suffering with peace and joy, -at least in my innermost soul; I tried to like the teasing -little noise. Instead of endeavouring not to hear it--a thing -impossible--I listened with fixed attention as if it had been -a delightful concert; and my prayer, _which was not the prayer -of quiet_, passed in offering this concert to Jesus. - -Another time I was in the laundry opposite a Sister who while -washing handkerchiefs splashed me every minute with dirty water. -My first impulse was to draw back and wipe my face, so as to -show her who besprinkled me in that fashion, that she would -oblige me by working more quietly; but I reflected immediately -that it was very foolish to refuse treasures so generously -offered me, and I took good care not to show my annoyance. On -the contrary, I made such successful efforts to _wish_ for a -plentiful splashing of dirty water, that at the end of half an -hour I had really acquired a taste for this new sort of -aspersion, and I determined to come again as often as possible -to a place where happily such riches could be had gratuitously. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -I REMEMBER that sometimes, when a postulant, I was so violently -tempted to indulge myself by seeking some little consolations, -that I was obliged to go quickly past our Mother's cell, and -cling to the banisters of the staircase so that I should not -turn back. There would come to mind a number of permissions to -ask, a hundred pretexts for deciding in favour of my natural -inclinations and gratifying them. How glad I am now of having -denied myself from the outset of my life in religion! Already I -enjoy the reward promised to those who fight courageously. No -longer do I feel the necessity of refusing myself consolations -of the heart; for my heart is firmly fixed in God . . . Because -it has loved Him above all, it has gradually enlarged, even so -as to love those who are dear to it with a love incomparably -deeper than if it were centred in a selfish and fruitless -affection. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -IN everything I must find self-denial and sacrifice; thus I feel -that a letter will not bear fruit unless I write it with a -certain reluctance, and solely through obedience. When -conversing with a novice I am careful to mortify myself and to -avoid asking her questions which would gratify my curiosity. If -she commence to speak of something interesting, then, leaving it -unfinished, pass to a subject wearisome to me, I take care not -to remind her of the interruption, for it seems to me that one -can do no good by self-seeking. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -GOD did not permit that our Mother should tell me to write down -my poems according as I composed them, and I would not have -liked to ask her, fearing lest that might be a fault against -poverty. So I used to wait until the hour of free time, and it -was not without extreme difficulty that I recalled to mind, at -eight o'clock in the evening, what I had composed in the -morning. - -These little nothings are a martyrdom it is true, but we must be -well on our guard not to lessen it by allowing ourselves, or -seeking to be allowed, a thousand things which would render the -religious life pleasant and comfortable. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -WHEN some one rings for us, or knocks at our door, we must -mortify ourselves so as not even to do one stitch more before -answering. I have practised that; and it is, I assure you, a -source of peace. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -DO you know my Sundays and festivals? They are the days when the -good God tries me the most. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -SŒUR Thérèse de l'Enfant Jesus says that she has not done any -great penances: that is because her fervour counted as nothing -those which were allowed her. It nevertheless happened that she -became ill from wearing for too long a time a small iron cross, -of which the sharp points were sunk into her flesh. - -"That would not have befallen me from so slight a penance," she -said afterwards, "if the good God had not wanted to make me -understand that the macerations of the Saints are not intended -for me, nor for the little souls who will tread the same path of -spiritual childhood." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -TO a novice whom she saw practise a little act of self-denial -she said: - -"You will be very glad to find that before you at the moment of -death. What you have just done is more glorious than if, by some -skilful measures, you had gained for the religious communities -the good-will of the Government, and that all France applauded -you as a Judith." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -TO another who was bewailing her want of courage: - -"You complain of what should cause you the greatest happiness. -Where would be your merit if you must fight only when you felt -the courage? What matters it if you have none, provided that you -act as if you had! If you feel too slothful to pick up a bit of -thread, and that nevertheless you do it for the love of Jesus, -you have more merit than if in a moment of fervour you were to -accomplish something of far greater importance. So instead of -being sorrowful, rejoice to see that in letting you feel your -weakness the good Master provides you with an opportunity of -gaining for Him a greater number of souls." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -BEING questioned as to her mode of sanctifying the repasts, -Thérèse made answer: - -"In the refectory we have but one only thing to do: to -accomplish this so lowly act with thoughts uplifted. I declare -to you that often it is in the refectory the sweetest -aspirations of love come to me. Sometimes I am impelled to dwell -on the thought that if our Divine Lord were in my place, with -the fare set before Him as served to me, He would certainly -partake of it . . . It is very probable that during His life on -earth He tasted of the like food: _He ate bread, fruits, -etc_. . . . - -"Here are my simple little rubrics: - -"I picture myself at Nazareth in the house of Holy Family. If I -am served with, for instance, salad, cold fish, wine or anything -of strong flavour, I offer it to St. Joseph. To the Blessed -Virgin I give the hot portions, well-ripened fruits, etc.; and -the feast-day fare, particularly corn-flour, rice, preserves, -these I offer to the Child Jesus. Lastly, when a bad dinner is -brought me I say gaily to myself: 'Today, my dear little child, -all that is for you.'" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -ONE fast-day when the Mother Prioress had ordered some special -little thing by way of alleviation for Sœur Thérèse, a Sister -relates that she surprised her in the act of seasoning this too -palatable fare with wormwood. - -Another time she saw her slowly drinking some particularly -disagreeable physic, and exclaimed: "But be quick, drink that -off at one draught!" "Oh no!" was the reply, "must I not take -advantage of the trifling opportunities I meet with, to mortify -myself a little, since it is forbidden me to look for greater?" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -AN extremely interesting letter had been read one day at the -recreation in the absence of Thérèse who later showed a desire -to read it. Some time afterwards when returning the letter, she -was begged to say what she thought regarding something which -should especially have delighted her. She appeared embarrassed -and then replied: - -"The good God has asked of me this sacrifice because of the -eagerness that I manifested the other day; I have not read -it. . ." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -SHE told the novices: "At recreation more than elsewhere will -you find occasions for the exercise of virtue. If you would reap -great benefit, never go to it with any thought of your own -recreation, but thinking of the recreation of others; practise -therein total detachment from yourself. If, for instance, you -are relating to one of the Sisters a story which seems to you -interesting, and that she interrupts it to tell you something -else, even though this may not at all interest you, listen to -her as if it did, and do not try to return to your first -subject. By so acting, you will go from the recreation room with -great interior peace, and endued with fresh vigour in the -practice of virtue, all because you have not sought to gratify -yourself but to give pleasure to others. If one only knew what -is gained by renouncing self in all things! . . ." - -"You know it well; you have always acted thus?" - -"Yes, I have forgotten self, I have tried not to seek myself in -anything." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - - -OBEDIENCE - - -AS I had self-love as well as the love of what is right it was -sufficient but once to tell me: "Such a thing should not be -done," and I would have no desire to do it again. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. I - - -FROM what anxieties do we not free ourselves by making the vow -of obedience! How happy are single-minded religious. Their sole -guide being the will of Superiors, they are ever secure of going -the right way without fear of error, should it even appear to -them certain that the Superiors are mistaken. But when one -ceases to consult the sure compass, the soul forthwith loses her -way in arid paths where the waters of grace soon fail her. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - - -DURING her illness the Infirmarian had recommended Sœur Thérèse -to take a little walk in the garden every day for a quarter of -an hour. For her, this advice was a command. One afternoon, a -Sister seeing her walk with much difficulty said to her: "You -would do far better to rest; in such circumstances walking can -do you no good, you exhaust yourself, that is all." - -"It is true," replied this child of Obedience, "but do you know -what gives me strength? . . . Well! _I walk for a Missionary_. I -think how some one of them far away, yonder, is perhaps -exhausted in his apostolic journeyings, and to lessen his -fatigue I offer mine to the good God." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - - -POVERTY - - -AFTER I was clothed with the holy Habit abundant lights on -religious perfection were granted me, chiefly regarding the vow -of poverty. During my postulate I was pleased to have for my -use, anything that was nice, and to find at my hand whatever was -necessary. Jesus bore with this patiently, for He does not like -to disclose all to the soul at once. He ordinarily gives His -light little by little. - -After Compline one evening I looked in vain for our lantern on -the shelves appointed for them; it was the time of great -silence, not possible therefore to ask for it back. I rightly -supposed that a Sister believing she took her own had carried -away ours; but must I spend a whole hour in the dark in -consequence of this mistake? And just that evening I had -intended doing much work. Without the interior light of grace I -should assuredly have bewailed my loss, but with that light, -instead of experiencing vexation I was happy in thinking that -poverty consists in being deprived not only of things desirable, -but of those also that are indispensable. And in the exterior -darkness I found my soul illumined with divine light. - -I was seized at this time with a genuine love for what was -ugliest and least convenient, thus I was delighted when I saw -the pretty little jug carried off from our cell, and received in -its stead a large one, all chipped. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VII - - -A NOVICE expressed regret for having lent a pin which was very -serviceable to her: - -"Oh! how rich you are," replied Thérèse, "you cannot be happy." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -_"MAKE haste and come down: for this day I must abide in thy -house."_ [1] Jesus tells us to come down; where, then, must we -go? . . . At an earlier time the Jews asked Him: _"Master, where -dwellest Thou."_ [2] And He said: _"The foxes have holes, and -the birds of the air nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to -lay His head."_ [3] Behold whereunto we must descend if we would -serve as dwellings for Jesus: we must be so poor that we have -not where to lay our head. - -XIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[1] Luke, xix, 5 -[2] John, i, 38. -[3] Luke, ix, 58. - - - -CONFIDENCE - - -WHAT offends Jesus, what wounds Him to the Heart, is want of -confidence. - -I LETTER TO HER COUSIN MARIE GUERIN - - -BELIEVING that I was born for glory, and seeking the means to -attain to it, it was revealed to me interiorly that my glory -would never be visible to mortal eyes but would consist in -becoming a saint. This desire might well seem presumptuously -bold, considering how imperfect I was, and how imperfect I am -still after so many years in religion; and yet I feel ever the -same audacious confidence of becoming a great saint. I count not -on my merits, having none; but I trust in Him who is Virtue and -Holiness itself. He alone it is who satisfied with my feeble -efforts will raise me up even unto Himself, will clothe me with -His merits and make me a saint. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - - -OURS is an age of inventions: nowadays, with the rich a lift -saves the trouble of climbing the stairs. And I, fain would I -too find a _lift_ to bear me up unto God, for I am too little to -climb the rugged steps of perfection. - -Then I turned to the Holy Scriptures, seeking from them an -indication of this _lift_, the object of my desires; and I read -these words which have issued from the very mouth of the Eternal -Wisdom: _"Whosoever is a_ VERY LITTLE ONE, _let him come to -me."_ [1] Then I drew nigh unto God divining truly that I had -discovered what I sought: wishing however to know what He would -do with the very little one, I continued my research and here is -what I found: _"You shall be carried at the breast and upon the -knees; as one whom the mother caresseth so will I comfort you."_ -[2] - -Ah, never came words more sweet, more tender, to gladden my -soul. Thine arms then, O Jesus, are the _lift_ which must raise -me up even unto Heaven! For this I need not grow, on the -contrary I must remain little, I must ever tend to become yet -more little. O my God, Thou hast gone beyond my expectations, -and I--I will sing Thy mercies! _Thou hast taught me, O God from -my youth: and till now I have declared Thy wondrous works. And -unto old age and grey hairs_ [3] will I proclaim them. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - -[1] Prov., ix, 4. -[2] Is., lxvi, 12, 13. -[3] _Cf_. Ps., lxx. 17, 18. - - -SINCE it has been given to me too, to understand the love of the -Heart of Jesus, I own that it has chased all fear from mine! The -remembrance of my faults humiliates me, and urges me never to -depend upon my own strength which is nothing but weakness: still -more does this remembrance speak to me of mercy and of love. -When, with all filial confidence we cast our faults into the -devouring furnace of love, how should they not be totally -consumed? - -V LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -THOUGH we must needs be pure indeed to appear in the presence of -the God of all Holiness, yet I know too that He is infinitely -just; and this justice which affrights so many souls is the -ground of my joy and my confidence. Justice not merely exercises -severity towards the offender; it moreover recognizes a right -intention, and awards to virtue its recompense. I hope as much -from the Justice of the good God as from His Mercy; it is -because He is just, that _"He is compassionate and merciful, -long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. For He knoweth our frame. -He remembereth that we are but dust. As a father hath compassion -on His children, so hath the Lord compassion on us!"_ [4] . . . - -Listening to these beautiful and consoling words of the Royal -Prophet, how can we doubt but that the good God will open the -portals of His Kingdom to His children who have loved Him even -unto sacrificing all for Him, who have not only left their -kindred and their country, for the sake of making Him known and -loved, but, still further, desire to give their life for -Him? . . . Most truly has Jesus said that there is no greater -love than this! How then could He suffer Himself to be outdone -in generosity? How could He purify in the flames of Purgatory -souls consumed by the fire of Divine Love? . . . - -That is what I think of the justice of the good God; my way is -all confidence and love, I do not understand those souls who -fear so tender a Friend. - -VI LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - -[4] Ps., cii, 8, 13, 14. - - -THAT joy to think that God is just, that is to say, that He -takes our weakness into consideration, that He thoroughly knows -the frailty of our nature. Of what then, should I be afraid? -Must not the good and infinitely just God, who with such tender -mercy deigns to pardon the Prodigal Son, must He not be just -towards me too--_who am always with Him?_ [5] - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - -[5] Luke, xv, 31. - - -I WANT to make you understand by a very simple comparison how -much Jesus loves souls, even the imperfect, who trust in Him. -Suppose the father of two wayward and disobedient children, -coming to punish them, sees one tremble and draw away from him -in terror; while the other, on the contrary, throwing himself -into his arms, says he is sorry, promises to be good -henceforward and begs for a kiss as punishment. Do you think the -delighted father will withstand the filial confidence of this -child? He knows nevertheless that his son will fall again many a -time into the same faults, but he is disposed to pardon him -always, if always there be an appeal to his heart. - -I say nothing of the other child: you must understand that his -father cannot love him as much or treat him with the same -indulgence. - -VIII LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -TRULY the Heart of Jesus is more grieved by the thousand little -imperfections of His friends than by even grave faults of His -enemies. But it seems to me that it is only when His own chosen -ones make a habit of these infidelities, and do not ask His -pardon, that He can say: _"These wounds which you see in the -midst of My Hands: with these was I wounded in the house of them -that loved Me."_ [6] - -For those who love Him and who come after each little fault and -throw themselves into His arms, begging His forgiveness, the -Heart of Jesus thrills with joy. He says to His Angels what the -father of the prodigal son said to His servants: _"Put a ring on -his finger and let us rejoice."_ [7] Oh! the goodness and the -merciful love of the Heart of Jesus, how little is it known! -True it is, that to share in these treasures we must humble -ourselves, must acknowledge our nothingness, and that is what -many souls are unwilling to do. - -VII LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - -[6] _Cf_. Zach., xiii, 6. -[7] _Cf_. Luke, xv, 22. - - -OUR dreams, our desires of perfection are not vain imaginations, -since Jesus Himself has given us this commandment, He said: _"Be -you, therefore, perfect, as also your Heavenly Father is -perfect."_ [8] - -II LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[8] Matt., v, 48. - - -TRULY I am far from being a saint. I ought not to rejoice at the -aridity of my soul, but attribute it to the scantiness of my -fervour and fidelity. I ought to grieve because I fall asleep -very often during my prayer and my thanksgiving. Well, I do not -grieve! I reflect that little children when they sleep are as -pleasing to their parents as when they are awake; that in order -to perform operations, doctors put their patients to sleep; in -fine, that _the Lord knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we -are but dust._ [9] - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - -[9] Ps., cii, 14. - - -I HAVE no fear of the last combats, nor of the physical -suffering how great soever it may be. The good God has always -come to my assistance, He has helped me and led me by the hand -from my earliest years . . . I count on Him . . . my sufferings -may reach their furthest limits, but I am sure that He will -never abandon me. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -IT is confidence, and confidence alone, that must lead us to -Love . . . Does not fear lead us rather to think of the rigid -justice by which sinners are warned? But that is not the justice -that Jesus will show to those who love Him. - -VI LETTER TO SŒUR DU SACRÉ-CŒUR - - -O JESUS, suffer me to tell Thee that Thy Love reacheth even unto -folly . . . What wilt Thou, in face of this folly, but that my -heart dart upwards to Thee--how can my confidence have any -bounds? - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -IT is not because I have been shielded from mortal sin that I -lift up my heart to God in trust and love. I feel that even if -there lay upon my conscience all the crimes one could commit I -should lose nothing of my confidence. Brokenhearted with -compunction I would go and throw myself into the arms of my -Saviour. I know that He cherished the Prodigal Son, I have heard -His words to Mary Magdalene, to the adultress, to the Samaritan -woman. No one could frighten me, for I know what to believe -concerning His Mercy and His Love. I know that in one moment all -that multitude of sins would disappear--as a drop of water cast -into a red-hot furnace. - -It is related in the Lives of the Fathers of the Desert that one -of them converted a public sinner whose misdeeds scandalized the -whole country. Touched by grace this sinful woman was following -the saint into the desert, there to do rigorous penance, when, -on the first night of her journey, before she had even reached -the place of her retreat, the bonds of life were broken by the -impetuosity of her loving contrition. The holy hermit at the -same moment saw her soul borne by Angels into the Bosom of God. - -That is truly a striking instance of what I want to express, but -one cannot put these things into words. . . - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -HAPPY indeed am I to die and go to Heaven, but when I think on -those words of our Lord: _"Behold, I come quickly, and My reward -is with Me, to render to every man according to his works,"_ -[10] I reflect that He will be very much embarrassed as regards -me: I have no works . . . Well, He will render to me ACCORDING -TO HIS OWN WORKS! - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[10] Apoc., xxii, 12. - - -[Picture of Saint Thérèse.] -THE SERVANT OF GOD -THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS -_The Little Flower of Jesus!_ - - -ONE evening as they were telling her something which had been -said at recreation, touching the responsibility of those who -have the charge of souls, Sœur Thérèse de l'Enfant Jésus spoke -these beautiful words: _"'To him that is little, mercy is -granted.'_ [11] It is possible to remain _little_, even in the -most important offices; and is it not written that at the end -_the Lord will arise to save the meek and humble of the earth?_ -[12] It says not to _judge_ but to _save_." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - -[11] Wisdom, vi, 7. -[12] _Cf_. Ps., lxxv, 10. - - -A NOVICE questioning as to whether our Lord were not -dissatisfied with her on account of her many miseries, Sœur -Thérèse made answer: - -"Set your mind at rest: He whom you have chosen as your Spouse -possesses certainly every perfection that can be desired; but, -if I may dare to say it, He has at the same time one great -infirmity: _He is blind!_ And there is a science which He knows -not, that of _calculation_. These two points which would be most -lamentable deficiencies in an earthly spouse, render ours -infinitely lovable. Were He to consider our sins and reckon with -them, do you not think that in the face of all these sins He -would cast us back into nothingness? But no, His love for us -makes Him absolutely blind! - -"See for yourself: if the greatest sinner on earth, at the hour -of death repent of his transgressions and expire in an act of -love, immediately, without calculating on the one hand the -numerous graces abused by this unhappy man, nor on the other, -all his crimes, Jesus sees nothing, counts nothing, but the -penitent's last prayer, and delays not to receive him into the -arms of His Mercy. - -"But to render Him thus blind, to hinder Him from doing the -least little bit of reckoning, we must know how to lay siege to -His Heart; at that point He is defenceless. . ." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -TO another, who bitterly repented of a fault just committed, -Sœur Thérèse said: - -"Take your Crucifix and kiss it." - -The novice kissed the feet. - -"Is that how a child embraces her Father? Put your arms round -His Neck immediately and kiss His Face." - -She obeyed. - -"That is not all, He must return your caresses." - -And she had to hold the Crucifix to each cheek; then Thérèse -said: - -"That is well, now all is forgiven!" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -HAVING caused her pain, a novice went to ask pardon of Sœur -Thérèse, who replied with emotion: "If you only knew what I -feel! Never have I so well understood with what love Jesus -receives us, when, after a fault we beg Him to forgive us. If I, -His poor little creature, feel such tenderness for you the -moment you return to me, what must pass in the Heart of the good -God when we return to Him? . . . Yes, surely, more swiftly yet -than I have just done, will He forget all our iniquities, never -again to remember them . . . He will do even more--He will love -us still better than before our fault! . . . " - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - - -SELF-ABANDONMENT - - -I CANNOT think without rapture of the dear little Saint Cæcilia: -what a model! In the midst of a pagan world, in the heart of -danger, at the moment when about to be united to a mortal who -sought none but earthly love, it seems to me that she ought to -have trembled and wept. But no, _while her bridal was celebrated -with joyful melody Cæcilia was singing in her heart_. [1] What -abandonment to God! Without doubt she listened to other melodies -than those of earth; her Divine Spouse, He too, was singing, and -Angel choirs sang again the refrain of one most blessed night: -_"Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good -will."_ [2] - -The glory of God!--Oh! Cæcilia understood it; most earnestly did -she long for it. She divined that her Jesus was athirst for -souls . . . that is why her whole desire was that she might lead -speedily to Him the soul of the young Roman, who dreamed of -naught but human glory: this wise Virgin will make of him a -martyr, and multitudes will follow in his footprints. She fears -nothing: the Angels have promised and have sung of peace. She -knows that the Prince of Peace is bound to protect her, to -shield her virginity and to give to her its recompense. _"O how -beautiful is the chaste generation!"_ [3] - -XVII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[1] Office of St. Cæcilia. -[2] Luke, ii, 14. -[3] Wisdom, iv, I. - - -I HAD offered myself to the Child Jesus to be _His little -plaything_. I had told Him not to use me like a costly toy which -children are pleased to look at without daring to touch; but as -He would a little ball of no value, that He might throw to the -ground, toss about, pierce, leave in a corner, or else press to -His Heart if so it pleased Him. In a word _I wanted to amuse the -little Jesus, and to give myself up to all His childlike -fancies._ - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VI - - -MY heart is entirely filled with the will of Jesus; therefore -when anything over and above falls to its share, this does not -penetrate to its depths; it is a mere nothing which easily -glides by, as oil on the surface of limpid water. Ah! if my -heart were not filled up beforehand, had it to be filled by the -sentiments of joy or of sadness which so quickly succeed each -other, bitter indeed would be this flood-tide of pain; but these -rapid alternations do no more than ruffle the surface of my -soul, and I remain ever in a profound peace that nothing can -disturb. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -I AM not always faithful, but I am never discouraged; I leave -myself wholly in the arms of our Divine Lord; He teaches me to -_draw profit from all--both good and ill that He finds in me_. -[4] He teaches me to speculate in the Bank of Love, or rather it -is He who acts for me without telling me how He goes to work, -that is His affair and not mine; my part is complete surrender, -reserving nothing to myself, not even the gratification of -knowing how my credit stands with the Bank. - -XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[4] St. John of the Cross. - - -A SISTER told Sœur Thérèse of the strange phenomena produced by -magnetism on persons who really wish to yield up their will to -the mesmerizer. These details appeared to interest her keenly -and on the morrow she said to the Sister: - -"Your conversation yesterday did me so much good. Oh! how I wish -to be magnetized by our Lord. It was my first thought on -awakening. With what delight have I delivered my will up to Him. -Yes, I want Him to make Himself master of my faculties in such -sort that my actions shall no longer be human or personal, but -wholly divine, inspired and directed by the Spirit of Love." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -YOU are quite wrong to think of sorrows that the future may -bring; it is, as it were, intermeddling with Divine Providence. -We who run in the way of Love must never torment ourselves about -anything. If I did not suffer minute by minute, it would be -impossible for me to be patient; but I see only the present -moment, I forget the past and I take good care not to anticipate -the future. If we grow disheartened, if sometimes we despair, it -is because we have been dwelling on the past or the future. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -I NO longer thirst for either suffering or death, yet both I -dearly prize. Long did I call upon them as the harbingers of joy -. . . Suffering has in very truth been mine, and I have thought -I wellnigh touched the eternal shore! I have believed from my -earliest youth that _the little flower_ would be gathered in its -spring-time; now, it is the spirit of self-abandonment alone -that guides me, no other compass have I. I know not now, how to -ask anything eagerly, save the perfect accomplishment of God's -designs upon my soul. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -"PRAY for me," she would often say, "when I implore Heaven to -come to my aid, then it is that I feel most forsaken." - -"And in this desolation how do you avoid discouragement?" they -asked her. - -"I turn to the good God, to all the Saints, and I thank them -just the same. I think they wish to see to what point I shall -carry my trust . . . But not in vain have these words of Job -sunk into my heart: _'Though He should kill me yet will I trust -in Him.'_ [5] I acknowledge it was long before I reached this -degree of abandonment; our Lord has taken me and placed me -there!" - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - -[5] Job, xiii, 15. - - -IT seems to me that nothing now hinders me from taking flight, -for I no longer have any great desires, save to love, even unto -dying of love. I am free, I have no fear, not even of what I -most dreaded; I mean the fear of being a long time ill and -consequently a burthen to the Community. If it gives pleasure to -the good God I willingly consent to see my life of suffering, -both of soul and body, prolonged for years. Oh! no, I do not -fear a long life. I do not shun the combat. _"The Lord is the -rock upon which I am founded. Who teacheth my hands to fight and -my fingers to war; He is my protector in whom I have hoped."_ -[6] Never have I asked God to let me die young; it is true I -have ever believed that it would be so, but without seeking to -obtain it. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - -[6] _Cf_. Ps., cxliii, 1, 2, 3. - - -WHATEVER the good God has given me has always pleased me, even -the gifts which have appeared to me less good and less beautiful -than those received by others. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -I HAVE no greater desire to die than to live; if our Lord gave -me the choice I would choose nothing; I only will what He wills; -it is what He does that I love. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -"SOME think you are afraid of death," they said to her.--"That -may indeed yet happen; I never depend on my own thoughts, -knowing how weak I am; but at present I will rejoice in the -sentiments that the good God now gives me, there will be time -enough to suffer from the contrary." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -A SISTER said to her: - -"If anyone goes straight to Heaven, you surely will not spend -one moment in Purgatory!" - -"Oh! I feel little anxiety about that; I shall always be content -with the sentence of the good God. If I go to Purgatory, well--I -shall walk in the midst of the flames, like the three Hebrews in -the furnace, singing the Canticle of Love." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - - -GRATITUDE - - - -OH, how happy God makes me! How easy and how sweet it is to -serve Him upon earth. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -SEEING several of my companions form special attachments to some -one or other of our mistresses, I wished to follow their example -but could not succeed therein. O happy inability! from how great -evils has it saved me . . . How I thank God for having made me -find only bitterness in the friendships of earth. With a heart -such as mine I should have been captured and had my wings -clipped; then how should I have been able to _fly away and be at -rest_. [1] - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - -[1] Ps., liv, 7. - - -I UNDERSTAND well that our Lord knew I was too weak to be -exposed to temptation; without doubt I should have been wholly -destroyed had I been dazzled by the deceitful glamour of the -love of creatures; but never has it shone before my eyes. There, -where strong souls find joy, and through fidelity detach -themselves from it, I have found only affliction. Where then is -my merit in not being given up to these fragile attachments, -since it is only by a gracious effect of God's mercy that I was -preserved from it? Without Him, I recognize that I might have -fallen as low as St. Magdalene; and that word of deep meaning -spoken by the Divine Master to Simon the Pharisee, re-echoes -with great sweetness in my soul. Yes, I know it: _"To whom less -is forgiven, he loveth less."_ [2] But I also know that Jesus -has forgiven more to me than to St. Magdalene. Ah, how I wish I -could express what I feel. Here at least is an example which -will in some measure convey my thought. - -Suppose the son of a skilful doctor is tripped by a stone in his -path, which causes him to fall and fracture a limb. His father -comes in haste, lifts him up lovingly and attends to his -injuries, employing therein all the resources of his art; and -the boy, very soon completely cured, testifies his gratitude. -This child has certainly good reason to love so kind a father; -but here is another supposition. - -The father having learnt that there lies in his son's way a -dangerous stone, sets out beforehand and removes it unseen by -anyone. His son, the object of this tender forethought, unaware -of the misfortune from which he has been preserved by the -father's hand, will of course show no gratitude, and will love -him less than if he had cured him of a grievous wound. But -should he come to know all, will he not love him still more? -Well--I am this child, the object of the preventing love of a -Father _Who sent His Son not to redeem the just but sinners._ -[3] He wills that I should love Him because He has forgiven me, -not _much_, but _everything_. Without waiting for me to love Him -much, like St. Mary Magdalene, He has made me to know how He had -loved me with a preventing and ineffable love, in order that I -may now love Him even unto folly! - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - -[2] Luke, vii, 47. -[3] Luke, v, 32. - - -WALKING one day in the garden, leaning on one of her sisters, -Thérèse paused to enjoy the fascinating sight of a little white -hen sheltering its chickens beneath its wings. Very soon her -eyes filled with tears, and turning to her dear companion she -said: "I can stay no longer, let us go in again quickly. . ." -And in her cell, her tears continued falling and she could not -utter a word. At last, looking at her sister with an expression -that was quite heavenly, she said: - -"I was thinking of our Lord, and of the touching comparison He -chose in order to make us believe in His tenderness. That is -just what He has done for me all my life: _He has wholly hidden -me beneath His wings!_ I cannot express what passed within my -heart. Ah! the good God does well to veil Himself from my sight, -to show me the effects of His Mercy rarely, and as it were, -_'through the lattices;'_ [4] such consolations would, I feel, -be more than I could bear." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - -[4] Cant., ii, 9. - - -"OH! how _good_ is the good God!" . . . she would sometimes -exclaim. "Yes, He must indeed be good to give me the strength to -endure all that I suffer." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -ONE day she said to the Mother Prioress: - -"I would like to speak to you, Mother, of the state of my soul; -but I cannot, I am too deeply moved just now." - -And in the evening she sent these lines pencilled with a -trembling hand: - -"O my God, how good Thou art to the little victim of Thy -Merciful Love! Now even though Thou dost join physical suffering -to the trials of my soul, I cannot say: _'The sorrows of death -have encompassed me.'_ [5] But I cry out in my gratitude: _'I -have gone down into the valley of the shadow of death, yet I -fear no evil, because Thou, O Lord, art with me.'_" [6] - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - -[5] Ps., xvii, 5. -[6] _Cf_. Ps., xxii, 4. - - - -ZEAL - - - -THE cry of Jesus agonizing, "I thirst!" re-echoed continually in -my heart, firing it with an ardent zeal till then unknown to me. -I longed to give to my Beloved to drink: I too felt myself -consumed with the thirst for souls, and at all cost I would -wrest sinners from the eternal flames. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V - - -THE Precious Blood of Jesus I poured on souls, to Him I offered -these same souls renewed by the Dew of Calvary; thus I thought -to quench His Thirst; but the more I gave Him to drink, the more -ardently my poor little soul thirsted--and this I received as a -most precious recompense. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V - - -LIKE the Prophets and the Doctors I would fain enlighten souls. -Fain would I travel the earth, O my Well-Beloved, to preach Thy -Name and to set up Thy glorious Cross in Pagan lands. But one -mission only would not suffice for me; would that I could at one -and the same time proclaim the Gospel all the world over, even -to the remotest of its islands. I would desire to be a -Missionary not only for a few years, but to have been one from -the creation of the world, and so to continue to the end of -time. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -I LONG to accomplish the most heroic deeds. I feel within me the -courage of a Crusader. I would die on the battlefield in defence -of the Church. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -OPEN, my Jesus, thy Book of Life wherein are recorded the -actions of all the Saints; those actions--would that I too, had -accomplished such for Thee! - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -SOULS--dear Lord, we must have souls! Above all, souls of -apostles and of martyrs, that through them we may inflame the -multitude of poor sinners with love of Thee. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, APPENDIX - - -AFTER recreation one day when the Mother Prioress had spoken of -the persecution already raging against Religious Communities, -Sœur Thérèse said to a novice: "Ah! Sister, we live in an era of -martyrs! Blood will be shed.--What happiness if it should be -ours!" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -A NOVICE on her way to the laundry one day, went at a slow pace -through the garden, looking at the flowers as she passed. Sœur -Thérèse who followed walking quickly, soon overtook her and -said: "Is that how one hastens who has children (_souls_) to -support, for whose sustenance she is obliged to work? . . . " - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -DURING her illness she wrote: - -"The will of the good God is my sole desire; and I declare that -if in Heaven I could no longer work for His glory, I would -choose exile rather than the Fatherland." - -IV LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -WHAT draws me towards the Heavenly Country is the call of our -Lord, the hope of at last loving Him as I have so ardently -desired, and the thought that I shall be able to make Him loved -by _a multitude of souls_ who will bless Him eternally. - -VIII LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -CONFIDENTLY I count upon not remaining inactive in Heaven, my -desire is to work still for the Church and for souls: this I ask -of God, and I am certain that He will hear me. If I quit already -the battlefield, it is not with the selfish desire of taking my -rest. Suffering has long since become my heaven here below, and -it is difficult to imagine how it will be possible for me to -become acclimatized to a country where joy reigns, unmingled -with sorrow. Jesus must needs transform my soul completely, else -I could not support eternal bliss. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -JUST now a few notes of distant music fell upon my ear, and set -me thinking that very soon I shall hear melodies beyond compare; -yet this thought can give me but a moment's gladness; one only -expectation makes my heart throb: _it is the love that I shall -receive and the love that I shall be able to give!_ - -_I feel that my mission is now to begin, my mission to make -others love the good God as I love Him . . . to give to souls my -little way_. I WILL SPEND MY HEAVEN IN DOING GOOD UPON EARTH. -This is not impossible, since the Angels in the full enjoyment -of the Beatific Vision keep watch over us. No, I shall never -rest till the end of the world! But when the Angel shall have -said: "Time is no more!" [1] then I shall rest--shall be able to -rejoice, because the number of the elect will be complete. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - -[1] Apoc., x, 6. - - - -SIMPLICITY - - - -WHEN I read certain treatises where perfection is set forth as -encompassed by a thousand obstacles, my poor little head grows -weary very quickly. I close the learned book which puzzles my -brains and dries up my heart, and in its stead I open the Holy -Scriptures. Then all appears clear, luminous . . . one single -word discloses to my soul infinite horizons, perfection seems -easy. I see that it is sufficient to recognize our nothingness, -and to leave oneself like a child, in the arms of the good God. -Let great souls and sublime intellects enjoy the beautiful books -which I cannot understand, still less put in practice; I rejoice -in being little, since _"children only and those who resemble -them will be admitted to the Heavenly banquet."_ [1] - -It is well that the Kingdom of Heaven contains many mansions, -for if there were none other than those of which the description -and the way seem incomprehensible to me, I should never be able -to enter therein. - -VI LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - -[1] _Cf._ Matt., xix, 14. - - -MY patrons in Heaven and my chosen favourites are those who have -stolen it--like the Holy Innocents and the Good Thief. The great -Saints have earned it by their works; as for me, I will imitate -the thieves, I will have it by ruse, a ruse of Love which will -open its gates to me and to poor sinners. The Holy Ghost -encourages me, saying in the Book of Proverbs: _"O little one, -come, learn subtlety of me."_ [2] - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[2] _Cf._ Prov., i, 4. - - -OUR Lord replied to the mother of the sons of Zebedee: _"To sit -on My right and on My left hand is for them for whom it is -prepared by My Father."_ [3] I imagine that those places of -choice, refused to great Saints, to Martyrs, will be the portion -of little children. - -Did not David predict it when he said that _the little Benjamin -will preside amidst the assemblies_ (of the saints)? [4] - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[3] _Cf._ Matt., xx, 23. -[4] _Cf._ Ps., lxvii, 29. - - -"IF you could begin your religious life over again" asked a -novice, "what would you do?" - -"It seems to me that I would do as I have done." - -"You do not then feel like the hermit who used to say: 'Even -though I had lived long years in penance yet I should fear -damnation while there still remained to me one quarter of an -hour, one breath of life.' - -"No, I cannot share that fear, I am too little to be damned, -little children are not damned." - -"You always seek to be like the little ones--but tell us what we -must do to possess the spirit of childhood? What does it exactly -mean--to remain little? - -"To remain little--it is to recognize our nothingness, to expect -everything from the good God, not to be too much afflicted about -our faults, for little children fall often but are too small to -hurt themselves much: in fine, it is _not_ to make one's -fortune, nor to be disquieted about anything. Even in the homes -of the poor, as long as a child is quite little they give him -what is needful; but when grown up, the father is no longer -willing to support him and says: 'Now work! you can provide for -yourself.' Well, it was to escape hearing that, that I have -never wished to grow up, for I know myself incapable of earning -my livelihood--Eternal Life! - -"Again, to remain little is not to attribute to self the virtues -we practise; but to acknowledge that the good God places this -treasure in the hand of His little child to be made use of when -required." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -BE not afraid to tell Jesus that you love Him; even though it be -without feeling, this is the way to oblige Him to help you, and -carry you like a little child too feeble to walk. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -IT is a great trial to see only the black side of things, but -that does not depend completely upon you. Do your best to detach -your heart from the cares of this world, and above all from -creatures; then you may be sure that Jesus will do the rest. He -could not suffer you to fall into the abyss. Be comforted, -little one, in Heaven you will no longer see _all black but all -white;_ yes, all will be clothed with the divine whiteness of -our Spouse, the Lily of the Valley. Together we shall follow Him -whithersoever He goeth . . . Oh! let us profit by the brief -moments of this life to give pleasure to Jesus, let us win souls -for Him by our sacrifices. Above all let us be little, so little -that all the world may trample us under foot without even our -appearing to feel it or to suffer from it. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -YOU are wrong to find fault with one thing and another, and to -seek that all should yield to your way of viewing things. We -want to be like little children, and little children know not -what is best, to them all seems well; let us imitate them. -Besides there would be no merit [in obedience] were we only to -do what would appear reasonable to us. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -A NOVICE under a temptation which seemed to her insurmountable -said: "This time I cannot rise above it--it is impossible." -Thérèse replied: "Why do you try to rise above it? Pass beneath -it quite simply. It is very well for great souls to soar high -above the clouds when the storm is raging, but for us, we have -merely to bear the showers with patience. If we do get rather -wet--no matter! We shall dry ourselves afterwards in the -sunshine of Love. - -"That brings to mind this little trait of my childhood; a horse -one day standing at the garden gate barred our entrance; those -with me endeavoured by force of talking, etc., to get him to -move back, but while they talked I very quietly slipped in, -through the horse's legs . . . See how one may gain by remaining -little!" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -TO a young Sister discouraged at seeing her imperfections, Sœur -Thérèse said: "You make me think of a very little child who is -just able to stand upright but does not yet know how to walk. -Intent upon reaching the top of the stairs so as to get back to -his mother he lifts his foot to climb the first step. Fruitless -endeavour! At each attempt he falls without advancing in the -least. Well, be like that little child; by the practice of every -virtue keep on ever lifting your little foot to climb the steps -of sanctity, and do not imagine that you will be able to mount -even the first! No; but good will is all God requires of you. -From the top of those steps He is watching you with love; and -won by your unavailing efforts He will Himself soon come down, -and taking you in His arms will bear you away to His Kingdom, -never more to quit Him. But if you cease to lift your little -foot He will leave you a long time on earth." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THE only means of making rapid progress in the path of Love is -to remain always very _little_; that is what I have done; so now -I can sing with our Father St. John of the Cross: - - And stooping so low, so low, - I rose still higher and higher - And thus I attained my end. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -SOME one was speaking to her of the mortifications of the -Saints, she replied: - -"It is well our Lord has let us know that _there are many -mansions in His Father's House, that if not He would have told -us._ [5] Yes, if all souls called to perfection had been obliged -to practise these macerations in order to enter Heaven, He would -have said so, and gladly would we have undertaken them. But He -tells us that _in His House there are many mansions_. If there -are those for great souls, for the Fathers of the Desert and for -martyrs of penance, there must be one also for little children. -Our place is reserved there, if our love be great--for Him and -for our Heavenly Father and the Spirit of Love." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[5] _Cf._ John, xiv, 2. - - -"I feel that my mission is now to begin," she said a few days -before her death, "my mission to make others love the good God -_as I love Him_, to give my little way to souls. . ." - -"What is this 'little way' that you want to teach to souls?" - -"_It is the path of spiritual childhood, it is the way of trust -and of entire self-surrender_. I want to make known to them the -simple means that have so perfectly succeeded for me, to tell -them that there is but one only thing to do here below: _to cast -down before Jesus the flowers of little sacrifices, to win Him -by caresses!_ That is how I have won Him, and that is why I -shall be so well received." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -IF I am misguiding you by my _little way_ of Love, she said to a -novice, do not fear that I shall let you follow it very long. I -shall appear to you, and tell you to take another path; but if I -do not return, believe in the truth of my words: _never can we -have too much confidence in the good God, so mighty and so -merciful! As much as we hope for shall we obtain from -Him!_ . . . - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -A NOVICE said to her on the eve of the Feast of Our Lady of -Mount Carmel: "If you were to die to-morrow after Holy -Communion, it seems to me that so beautiful a death would -console me in the midst of my grief." - -And Thérèse replied with animation: - -"Die after Holy Communion! On a grand Feast day! No, it will not -be so: little souls could not copy that. In my little way there -are only quite ordinary things; all that I do, little souls must -be able to do also." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - - -PRAYER - - - -AS I grew older I loved the good God more and more, and very -frequently did I offer Him my heart, using the words my mother -had taught me. I strove in all my actions to please Jesus and -was most watchful never to offend Him. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. II - - -MY whole strength lies in prayer and sacrifice, these are my -invincible arms; they can move hearts far better than words, I -know it by experience. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -GREAT is the power of prayer--a queen, as one might say, having -free access always to the King, and able to obtain whatever she -asks. In order to be heard, it is not necessary to read from a -book a beautiful form of prayer adapted to the circumstances; if -it were so, how greatly to be pitied should I be! - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -I HAVE not the courage to force myself to seek beautiful prayers -in books; not knowing which to choose I act as children do who -cannot read; I say quite simply to the good God what I want to -tell Him, and He always understands me. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -PRAYER is, for me, an outburst from the heart; it is a simple -glance darted upwards to Heaven; it is a cry of gratitude and of -love in the midst of trial as in the midst of joy! In a word, it -is something exalted, supernatural, which dilates the soul and -unites it to God. Sometimes when I find myself, spiritually, in -dryness so great that I cannot produce a single good thought, I -recite very slowly a _Pater_ or an _Ave Maria_; these prayers -alone console me, they suffice, they nourish my soul. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -THE principal plenary indulgence and one which all may gain -without the ordinary conditions, is that of _charity which -covereth a multitude of sins_. [1] - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[1] Prov., x, 12. - - -FORMERLY if any of my family were in trouble, and that I had -been unable to succeed in comforting them during their visit, I -would go from the parlour heart-broken; but soon Jesus made me -understand that I was incapable of giving consolation to a soul. -From that day forth I grieved no more when anyone went away sad; -I confided to the good God the sorrows of those who were dear to -me, feeling certain that He heard me, and at their next visit I -used to find that it had indeed been so. Since I have -experienced this, I no longer torment myself when involuntarily -I give pain; I simply beg of Jesus to make up for what I have -done. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -ONE day after Holy Communion the good God made me understand -those words of the Canticles: _"Draw me: we will run offer Thee -to the odour of Thy ointments."_ [2] O Jesus, it is not then -necessary to say: In drawing me, draw the souls whom I love. -These, simple words: _"Draw me"_ suffice! Yes, when a soul has -allowed herself to be captivated by the inebriating fragrance of -Thy perfumes, she could not run alone, all the souls whom she -loves are drawn after her; this is a natural consequence of her -attraction towards Thee. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - -[2] Cant., i, 3. - - -_"DRAW me, we will run. . ."_ - -To ask to be drawn is to will intimate union with the object -which holds the heart captive. If fire and iron were gifted with -reason, and that the latter said to the fire: "Draw me," would -not this prove that it desired to become identified with the -fire even so far as to share its substance? Well, that is -exactly my prayer. I beg of Jesus to draw me into the flames of -His Love, to unite me so closely to Himself that He may live and -act in me. I feel that the more the fire of love inflames my -heart, the more I shall say: "Draw me," the more also will the -souls who draw near to mine run swiftly in the fragrant odours -of the Well-Beloved. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - - -SOULS thus on fire cannot rest inactive. They may sit at the -feet of Jesus, like Saint Mary Magdalene, listening to His sweet -and ardent words; but, while seeming to give nothing, they do -give far more than Martha who troubles herself with _many -things_. [3] It is not however of Martha's labours that Jesus -disapproves, but only her too great anxiety; to this very same -work His Blessed Mother humbly submitted herself, when she had -to prepare the repasts for the Holy Family. - -All the Saints have understood this, and more especially perhaps -those who have enlightened the world with the luminous teaching -of the Gospel. Was it not from prayer that Saint Paul, Saint -Augustine, Saint Thomas of Aquin, Saint John of the Cross, Saint -Teresa and so many other friends of God drew that wondrous -science which enraptures the greatest intellects? - -Archimedes said: "Give me a lever and a fulcrum, and I will -raise the world." What he was unable to obtain because his -request had but a material end and was not addressed to God, the -Saints have obtained in full measure. For fulcrum, the Almighty -has given them Himself, Himself alone! for lever, prayer, which -enkindles the fire of love; and thus it is that they have -uplifted the world, thus it is that saints still militant, -uplift it, and will uplift it till the end of time. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI - -[3] Luke, x, 41 - - -THE Creator of the universe awaits the prayer of one poor little -soul to save a multitude of others, redeemed like her at the -price of His Blood. - -Our vocation is not to go and reap in the Father's fields; Jesus -does not say to us: "Cast down your eyes and reap the harvest"; -our mission is still more sublime. Here are the words of the -Divine Master: _"Lift up your eyes and see. . ."_ see that in -Heaven there are empty places; yours it is to fill them . . . -you are as Moses praying on the mountain; ask of Me labourers -and I will send them, I await but a prayer, a sigh from out your -heart! - -Is not the apostolate of prayer higher as one might say, than -that of preaching? It is for us to form labourers who by -preaching the Gospel, will save thousands of souls of whom we -thus become the mothers; what then have we to envy the Priests -of the Lord? - -XII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -HOW beautiful is our vocation! It is for us, it is for Carmel to -preserve _"the salt of the earth."_ [4] We offer our prayers and -sacrifices for the apostles of the Lord; we ought ourselves to -be their apostles while by word and example they preach the -Gospel to our brethren. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VI - -[4] Matt., v, 13. - - -A NOVICE was grieving about her numerous distractions during -prayer: "I too, have many," replied Sœur Thérèse de l'Enfant -Jésus, "but I accept all for love of the good God, even the most -extravagant thoughts that come into my head." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -HER prayer was continual though she was habitually plunged in -aridity. One day a novice entering her cell, paused, struck by -the celestial expression of her countenance. She was sewing with -alacrity yet seemed lost in profound contemplation. - -"Of what are you thinking?" asked the young Sister. "I am -meditating on the _Pater_," she replied. "It is so sweet to call -the good God our Father." And tears shone in her eyes. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -I DO not well see what more I shall have in Heaven than now, she -once said. I shall see the good God, it is true; but as to being -with Him, I am wholly with Him already upon earth. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -A LIVING flame of Divine Love consumed her. - -"A few days after my oblation to _God's Merciful Love_," she -relates, "I had commenced in the Choir the Way of the Cross, -when I felt myself suddenly wounded by a dart of fire so ardent -that I thought I must die. I know not how to describe this -transport; there is no comparison which would make one -understand the intensity of that flame. An invisible power -seemed to plunge me wholly into fire . . . but oh! what fire! -what sweetness!" - -The Mother Prioress asked her whether this transport was the -first in her life, she answered simply: - -"Mother, I have several times had transports of love; once -especially during my novitiate when I remained one entire week -far indeed from this world; for me, there was as it were, a veil -thrown over all things of the earth. But I was not consumed by a -real flame, I was able to sustain those delights without -expecting that their intensity would cause my earthly fetters to -snap asunder, whilst on the day of which I speak, one minute, -one second more and my soul must have left its prison . . . -Alas!--and I found myself again on earth, and aridity -immediately returned to my heart!" - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - - -HOLY COMMUNION - - - -HOW sweet it was, the first kiss of Jesus to my soul! Yes, it -was a kiss of Love. I felt I was loved, and I too said: "I love -Thee, I give myself to Thee for ever!" Jesus asked nothing of -me, demanded no sacrifice. Already for a long time past, He and -the little Thérèse had watched and understood one another . . . -That day our meeting was no longer a simple look but a _fusion_. -No longer were we two: Thérèse had disappeared as the drop of -water which loses itself in the depths of the ocean, Jesus alone -remained; the Master, the King! Had not Thérèse begged Him to -take away from her, her liberty? That liberty made her afraid; -so weak, so fragile did she feel herself that she longed to be -united for ever to Divine Strength. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - - -I HAD taken as my rule of conduct, to receive most faithfully -Holy Communion as often as my confessor permitted, without ever -asking that it might be more frequent. I would act differently -now; for I am quite sure that a soul ought to make known to her -director the attraction that she feels to receive her God. It is -not to remain in a golden ciborium that He comes down each day -from Heaven, but to find another Heaven, the Heaven of our soul -in which He takes His delight. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V - - -WHAT shall I say of my thanksgivings after Holy Communion? There -are no moments in which I feel less consolation. And is not this -very natural, seeing that my desire is to receive our Lord's -visit, not for my own satisfaction, but solely for His pleasure. - -I imagine my soul to be as a plot of waste ground and beg the -Blessed Virgin to remove from it all the rubbish--meaning its -imperfections; then I beseech her to erect thereon, a vast -canopy worthy of Heaven and to decorate it with her own -treasures, and I invite all the Angels and Saints to come and -sing canticles of love. It seems to me then that Jesus is -pleased to see Himself so magnificently received; and I, I share -His joy. All this does not hinder distractions and sleep from -molesting me; therefore it not rarely happens that I resolve to -continue my thanksgiving all the day long, since I have made it -so badly in the Choir. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -AT the time of Holy Communion I sometimes picture my soul under -the figure of a little child of three or four years, who at play -has got its hair tossed and its clothes soiled.--These -misfortunes have befallen me in battling with souls.--But very -soon the Blessed Virgin hastens to my aid: quickly she takes off -my little dirty pinafore, smooths my hair and adorns it with a -pretty ribbon or simply with a little flower . . . and this -suffices to render me pleasing and enables me to sit at the -Banquet of Angels without blushing. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THE demon, traitor that he is, knows well, that he cannot make a -soul who wills to belong wholly to the good God, commit sin; -therefore he endeavours only to persuade her that she sins. That -is a great deal gained, but it is not yet enough to satisfy his -rage . . . he aims at something further, he wants to deprive -Jesus of a loved tabernacle. Not being able himself to enter -into this sanctuary he wishes that it may at least remain empty -and without its Lord. Alas! what will become of this poor heart? -. . . When the devil has succeeded in driving away a soul from -Holy Communion he has gained his ends, and Jesus weeps. . . - -I LETTER TO HER COUSIN MARIE GUÉRIN - - -A NOVICE relates that she wanted to deprive herself of Holy -Communion because of some lack of fidelity. She wrote her -determination to Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus who thus -replied: - -"Little flower cherished by Jesus, it is amply sufficient that -by the humiliation of your soul your roots _eat of the -earth_ . . . You must open a little, or rather raise on high -your corolla so that the Bread of Angels may come as a divine -dew to strengthen you, and to give you all that is wanting to -you. - -"Good-night, poor little floweret; ask of Jesus that all the -prayers offered for my recovery may serve to augment the fire -which must consume me." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - - -SUFFERING [1] - - - -[1] No reader should be discouraged by this chapter on -Suffering. What Sœur Thérèse says is very consoling for those -who are nailed to the Cross; and others must remember that God -had given to His humble Servant a _sensible_ attraction for -suffering, which is a rare grace and reserved to very few souls, -though many imagine they possess it, and mistake their road -choosing to follow this supposed attraction. Without the -sensible desire and even though experiencing an invincible -repugnance to suffer, souls can be sanctified. What pleases God -is that the suffering be borne with love. - -THE cross has accompanied me from the cradle; but then, Jesus -has made me love it passionately. - -IX LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -ONE day my sister Marie, speaking of suffering, said that -instead of making me walk by that way, the good God would no -doubt carry me always like a little child. These words recurred -to me after Holy Communion on the following day, and my heart -was fired with an ardent desire of suffering. I felt too an -inward assurance, that crosses in great number were in reserve -for me. Then my soul was inundated with consolations such as I -have never had again in all my life. Suffering became my -attraction, in it I found charms that entranced me. - -Another great desire that I felt, was to love but God alone and -to find no joy save only in Him. Often during my thanksgiving -after Holy Communion I used to repeat this passage from the -_Imitation: "O Jesus, who art ineffable sweetness, turn for me -into bitterness all the consolations of earth."_ [2] These words -came from my lips without effort; I uttered them like a child -who repeats without too well understanding, words prompted by a -friend. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - -[2] _Imit_., III, ch. xxvi, 3. - - -SUFFERING has held out its arms to me from my very entrance into -Carmel and lovingly have I embraced it. My intention in coming -here, I declared in the solemn examination which preceded my -profession: _I am come in order to save souls, and especially to -pray for Priests_. When we want to attain an end we must employ -the means, and Jesus having made me understand that He would -give me souls by means of the cross, the more crosses I met with -the more my attraction to suffering increased. During five years -this way was mine; but I alone knew it. Here was just the hidden -flower that I wanted to offer to Jesus, this flower which -exhaled its fragrance for Heaven alone. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VII - - -FOR one pain endured with joy, we shall love the good God more -for ever. - -I LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -IN my soul's intercourse with Jesus--nothing . . . dryness! -sleep! Since my Beloved wills to sleep I shall not hinder Him; I -am too happy in seeing that He does not treat me like a -stranger, that He is not constrained with me. He pierces His -little ball through and through with pin-pricks sore -indeed . . . When it is this tender Friend who Himself pierces -His ball, the pain is naught but sweetness--so gentle is His -Hand. How different when creatures pierce it! - -Yet I am happy, yes, truly happy to suffer. If Jesus does not -Himself directly pierce His little ball, it is certainly He who -guides the hand that wounds! - -II LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -YES, I desire them, those heart-thrusts, those pin-pricks that -give so much pain . . . Sacrifice I prefer to all ecstacies: -therein lies happiness for me, I find it nowhere else. _The -little reed_ has no fear of breaking, for it is planted on the -shore of the waters of Love; and so, when it bends, that -beneficent wave invigorates it, and makes it long for another -storm to come and bow down its head anew. My weakness it is, -that makes my whole strength. Whatever happens I cannot get -broken; I see only the gentle hand of Jesus. - -To win the palm no suffering is too great. - -III LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -THE drop of gall must be mingled in every cup, but I find that -trials greatly help to detach us from earth; they make us look -higher than this world. Nothing here below can satisfy us; we -can enjoy a little repose only by being ready to do God's Will. - -I LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS - - -MY soul has known many kinds of trials, greatly have I suffered -here on earth. In my childhood I suffered with sadness; now, it -is with peace and joy that I taste of all the bitter fruits. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - - -SUFFERING united to love is the only thing that appears to me -desirable in this vale of tears. - -IX LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -WHEN we are expecting only suffering the least joy surprises us: -suffering itself becomes the greatest of joys when we seek it as -a precious treasure. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - - -THERE are people who take everything in the way that gives them -the most pain; with me it is the reverse; I see always the good -side of things. If I have naught but pure suffering, without any -break, well! I make of it my joy. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -JOY is not in the things that surround us, it resides in the -interior of the soul. One may possess it in the depths of a -gloomy prison, as well as in a royal palace. Thus am I happier -in Carmel, even in the midst of interior and exterior trials, -than in the world, where nothing was wanting to me. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VI - - -IF now, amid trials, and in the thick of the fight, we can -already find such delight in the thought that God has drawn us -away from the world, what will it be, when in Heaven's eternal -glory and never-ending rest, we shall understand the -incomparable favour He has shown us in choosing us here, to -dwell in His own House--the very threshold of Heaven. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -LET us not expect to find Love without Suffering. Our nature is -there, and it is not there for nothing; but what treasures it -enables us to acquire! It is our means of gain; so precious is -it that Jesus came down upon earth expressly to possess it . . . -We want to suffer generously, grandly; we wish never to fall; -what illusion! And what does it matter to me if I fall every -minute? I find great profit in it, for thereby I see my -weakness. My God, You know what I am capable of unless You carry -me in Your arms; and if You leave me alone, well; it is that it -pleases you to see me _on the ground_, so why should I be -disquieted? - -V LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -LIFE is often irksome and bitter; it is hard to begin a -laborious day, above all when Jesus hides Himself from us. What -is this tender Friend doing? Does He not then see our anguish, -the load that oppresses us; where is He? Why does He not come to -console us? - -Ah, fear not . . . He is there, quite near! He is watching us; -He, it is, who begs for these our labours and our tears . . . He -has need of them for souls, for our soul; He wants to give us so -glorious a recompense. Ah! truly, it costs Him to make us drink -of this bitter cup, but He knows that it is the one way by which -to prepare us to know Him as He knows Himself and to become -ourselves God-like. What a destiny! How great is the soul. Let -us rise above all that passes away, let us hold aloof from the -earth, up on high the air is so pure; Jesus may hide Himself but -one is conscious of His presence. - -I LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -WHEN we speak of peace we do not mean joy--not at least sensible -joy; to suffer in peace it is enough that we truly will all that -God wills. - -V LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -NOTWITHSTANDING the trial which deprives me of every feeling of -enjoyment I can yet exclaim, _"Thou hast given me delight, O -Lord, in all Thou dost."_ [3] For is there a greater joy than to -suffer for Thy Love? The more intense the suffering and the less -apparent to human eyes, the more lovingly dost Thou smile upon -it, O my God. And even--supposing an impossibility--if Thou wert -unaware of it, I would still be happy to suffer, in the hope -that by my tears I might perhaps prevent, or make reparation for -one single sin against faith. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - -[3] Ps., xci, 5. - - -MINE is not an unfeeling heart, and it is just because of its -capacity to suffer deeply that I desire to offer to Jesus every -kind of suffering it can endure. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - - -LIFE is full of sacrifices, it is true; but why look for -happiness in it? Is it not simply "a night to be passed in a bad -Inn" as says our Holy Mother Saint Teresa? - -My heart has an ardent thirst for happiness, but well do I see -that no creature is capable of allaying this thirst. On the -contrary, the more I might drink of the waters of that enchanted -spring the more burning would be my thirst. - -I know a fountain where _they that drink shall yet thirst,_ [4] -but with a thirst most sweet, a thirst one can always satisfy; -this fountain is the suffering that is known to Jesus -alone! . . . - -II LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR - -[4] _Cf_. Eccles., xxiv, 29. - - -OUR Lord never asks of us any sacrifice above our strength. -Sometimes, in truth, the Divine Master makes us taste the full -bitterness of the chalice which He presents to our soul. When He -asks the sacrifice of everything most dear to us in this world, -it is impossible unless by a very special grace, not to cry out -as He did in the Garden of the Agony: _"My Father, let this -chalice pass from Me. . ."_ But let us also hasten to add: -_"Nevertheless not as I will but as Thou wilt."_ [5] It is very -consoling to think that Jesus--Divine Strength itself--has -experienced all our weakness, that He trembled at the sight of -the bitter chalice, the chalice He had longed for so ardently. - -I LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - -[5] Matt., xxvi, 39. - - -SINCE our Well-Beloved has _"trodden the wine-press alone."_ -[6]--the wine which He gives us to drink--in our turn let us not -refuse to wear garments dyed with blood, let us press out for -Jesus a new wine which may slake His thirst, and _looking around -Him_ He will no longer be able to say that _He is alone_; we -shall be there _to help_. [7] - -Neglect, forgetfulness . . . this it is, it seems to me, which -still pains Him the most. - -VIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[6] Isa., lxiii, 3. -[7] Isa., lxiii, 5. - - -HERE on earth, where all changes, one sole thing changes not, -the King of Heaven's mode of acting as regards His friends. Ever -since He uplifted the standard of the Cross, it is in its shadow -that all must fight and gain the victory. - -VI LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -IT is indeed more through suffering and persecution than through -eloquent preaching, that God wills to establish His Kingdom in -souls. - -VI LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -I WANT to forget this world; here below, all things weary me, I -find no joy save one, that of suffering . . . and this joy, -though unfelt, is above every other. - -V LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -WHEN I suffer much, when things that are painful and -disagreeable befall me, instead of assuming an air of sadness, I -respond by a smile. At first I was not always successful, but -now it is a habit which I am very happy to have acquired. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -[Picture of Saint Thérèse.] -THE SERVANT OF GOD -SR. THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS -AND OF THE HOLY FACE -_Carmelite of the Monastery of Liseux_ -1873-1897 - - -A NOVICE was complaining of being more tired than her Sisters, -for besides the common work, she had done another task, of which -they knew nothing; Thérèse answered: "I want to see you always -like a valiant soldier who does not complain of his pains; who -thinks very seriously of the wounds of his brothers and regards -his own as mere scratches. Why do you feel this fatigue to such -a degree? It is because no one knows about it. . . - -"Blessed Margaret Mary having had two whitlows used to say she -had only really suffered from the first one, because it had not -been possible for her to hide the second from her Sisters, and -thus it became the object of their compassion. - -"This feeling is natural to us; yet to wish that all should know -when we suffer is a very commonplace manner of acting." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -DURING the first months of her illness it was on her hard -palliasse that Sister Thérèse passed the time of rest, and her -nights were very bad: when asked whether she did not need some -assistance during those hours of pain, she replied: "Oh, no on -the contrary, I think myself very fortunate to be in a cell -distant enough for my Sisters not to hear me. I rejoice to -suffer alone; but from the moment I am pitied and surrounded -with delicate attentions I can no longer feel this joy." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -THE Sister infirmarian remarking, "It is said that you have -never suffered very much." Thérèse smiled and pointing to a -glass containing a draught of medicine, bright red in colour, -replied, "See this little glass, one would imagine it full of -some choice liqueur, but in reality I take nothing that is more -bitter. Well! it is an image of my life; to the eyes of others -it has ever appeared clothed in the most radiant hues; to them -it seemed as though I drank a delicious liqueur, while in truth -it was bitterness. I say bitterness, and yet my life has not -been bitter, for I have known how to make of all bitterness my -sweetness and my joy." - -"You are in great pain at this moment, are you not?" "Yes . . . -but I have so much desired to suffer." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -"HOW it grieves us to see you suffer, and to think you may -perhaps have still more to endure," the novices were saying to -her. - -"Oh! do not be troubled about me, I have arrived at the stage of -being no longer able to suffer, because all suffering is sweet -to me." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -A SISTER, who doubted her patience, noticed, when visiting her -one day, an expression of heavenly joy on her countenance and -wished to know the reason. "It is because of the very acute pain -I am feeling," replied Thérèse, "I have always striven to love -suffering and to give it a cordial welcome." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -"WHY are you so gay this morning?" she was asked; "It is because -I have had two little trials, nothing gives me _little joys_ -like _little trials_." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -ANOTHER time: "You have had a great many trials today." - -"Yes, but . . . seeing that I love them! . . . I love everything -the good God sends me." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -AGAIN, when some one said to her: "It is dreadful--all you are -suffering." - -"No, it is not dreadful; could a little Victim of Love find -anything dreadful that her Spouse sends her? He gives me at each -moment what I can bear; not more; and the minute He increases my -sufferings He also augments my fortitude. - -"Yet I could never ask for greater sufferings, for I am too -little; they would be my own--my own choosing, then I should -have to bear them by myself, and I have never been able to do -anything all alone." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -DURING her long and painful agony she exclaimed: "The chalice is -full to the brim. Never could I have believed it possible to -suffer so much . . . I can only find the explanation in my -extreme longing to save souls . . . Oh! I would not suffer -less." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - - -THE DIRECTION OF SOULS - - - -OUR Lord allowed me the consolation of closely studying the -souls of children. - -Considering these innocent souls I used to compare them to soft -wax, upon which any impression may be stamped the bad, alas! -like the good; and I understood those words of Jesus: "_But he -that shall scandalize one of these little ones . . . it were -better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and -that he were drowned in the depth of the sea_." [1] Oh! how many -souls might attain to a high degree of holiness if wisely guided -from the very first. - -I well know that to accomplish His work of sanctification, God -has need of no one, but just as He enables a skilful gardener to -rear plants that are delicate and rare, granting him for this -end all the knowledge necessary, while reserving to Himself the -care of giving the increase, so, too, does He will to be aided -in His divine culture of souls. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V - -[1] Matt., xviii, 6. - - -AS soon as I penetrated into the sanctuary of souls I judged at -the first glance that the task exceeded my powers, and very -quickly placing myself in the arms of the good God I imitated -the little child, who, seized with sudden fear, tries to hide -its golden head on its father's shoulder, and I said: "Lord, -Thou knowest it, I am myself too little to be capable of -nurturing these Thy children; if Thou dost will to give to them, -through me, what is suited to each one, fill Thou my little -hand, and without leaving Thine arms, without even turning my -head aside, I will distribute Thy treasures to the souls who -come to me to seek sustenance. When they find it to their liking -I shall know that it is not to me they owe it but to Thee; on -the other hand if they complain, and find bitter what I offer -them, my peace shall remain undisturbed, I will try to convince -them that this nutriment comes from Thee, and I will carefully -refrain from seeking any other for them." - -When I thus understood that it was impossible for me to do -anything by myself, the task appeared to me simplified. -Interiorly, I occupied myself solely in trying to become more -and more united to God--knowing that the rest would be added -unto me. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -FROM afar it seems easy to do good to souls, to make them love -God more, to mould them after our own views and opinions. But -coming closer one feels, on the contrary, that to do good -without the divine assistance, is as impossible a thing as to -bring the sun back after it has set. One feels that it is -absolutely necessary to forget our own inclinations, our -personal notions, and to guide souls, not by our own way--the -way we ourselves go--but by the particular way that Jesus wishes -to lead them. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -WHEN very young, and staying with my aunt, a book was given to -me to read. In one of the stories I saw that the mistress of a -school was much praised because she knew how to get on cleverly -in the world without offending anyone. This phrase I remarked -especially: "She would say to the one, 'You are not wrong,' and -to the other, 'You are right;" and while I read I was thinking: -"Oh! . . . I would not have acted thus; we must always tell the -truth." And so I do, always. Far more difficult it certainly is, -for when told of some little vexatious occurrence, it would be -easy to lay blame on the absent, and she who complains would at -once be pacified. Yes, but . . . I do quite the reverse. If I am -not liked, what matter! Let no one come to me who does not want -to hear the truth. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THAT a reprimand may be fruitful it must cost in the giving; and -it must be given without a shade of passion in the heart. - -One must not let kindness degenerate into weakness. When we have -blamed justly we ought to leave it so, and not yield to feelings -of distress at having given pain. To run after the aggrieved one -in order to console her, is to do more harm than good. To leave -her to herself is to force her to expect nothing from creatures, -to have recourse to the good God, to see her failings and to -humble herself. Otherwise she would grow accustomed to being -consoled after a deserved rebuke and would behave as does a -spoilt child, who stamps and cries, well knowing that this will -make its mother return to wipe away the tears. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -_LET the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, abound -in your lips and hearts._ [2] If we have to do with a difficult -soul, let us not be discouraged, nor ever abandon her. Let us -have always "_the sword of the Spirit_" to reprehend her for her -faults, and not allow things to pass for the sake of leaving -ourselves in repose; let us fight unceasingly, even without hope -of gaining the victory. What matter about success! Let us fight -on, whatever be the weariness of the struggle. Let us not say: -"I can make nothing of this soul, she does not understand; I -must give it up." Oh! what cowardice that would be. We must do -our duty unto the end. - -[Sœur Thérèse in these passages refers to her charge as Mistress -of Novices.] - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[2] Ephes., vi, 17. - - -THE novices expressed their surprise at finding that she guessed -their most hidden thoughts. - -"Here is my secret," she said to them: "I never give you any -advice without invoking the Blessed Virgin; I ask her to inspire -me to say what will do you the most good, and I myself am often -astonished at the things that I teach you. I simply feel in -saying them to you, that I am not deceived and that Jesus speaks -to you by my mouth." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -"GIVE us some advice as to how we ought to act concerning our -spiritual direction," they said to her. - -"With great simplicity and without depending too much on -assistance, which may fail you at any moment. You would soon be -forced to say with the Spouse in the Canticles: '_The -keepers . . . took away my veil from me and wounded me_,' it -was only '_when I had a little PASSED BY them I found Him whom -my soul loveth_.' [3] If with detachment you humbly inquire -where is your Beloved, _the keepers_ will direct you. -Nevertheless, most frequently, you will find Jesus only after -you have _passed by_ all creatures. For my part, I have many -a time repeated this verse of the Spiritual Canticle of St. -John of the Cross: - - Send me no more - A messenger - Who cannot tell me what I seek. - All they who serve - Relate a thousand graces of Thee; - And all wound me more and more, - And they leave me dying, - WHILE THEY BABBLE I KNOW NOT WHAT." - - _Trans. D. Lewis, M. A._ - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[3] Cant., v, 7; iii, 4. - - - -THE BLESSED VIRGIN - - - -HOW I love the Blessed Virgin! Had I been a Priest, oh! how I -should have spoken of her. She is represented as unapproachable, -rather ought she to be shown as imitable. She is more Mother -than Queen. I have heard it said that all the Saints are -eclipsed by her radiant brightness as the sun at rising makes -the stars disappear. How strange that seems--a mother eclipsing -the glory of her children! I think quite the contrary. I believe -that she will immensely increase the splendour of the -elect . . . The Virgin Mary! how simple does her life appear -to me. . . - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -SOMETIMES I find myself saying to the Holy Virgin: "Do you know, -O cherished Mother, that I think myself more fortunate than you? -I have you for Mother and you have not, like me, the Blessed -Virgin to love . . . You are, it is true, the Mother of Jesus, -but you have given Him to me, and He, from the cross gave you to -us as our Mother, so we are richer than you. Of old it was your -desire that you might be the little handmaiden of the Mother of -God; and I, poor little creature, I am, not your servant, but -your _child_: you are the Mother of Jesus and you are _my -Mother_." - -XIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -O MARY, if I were Queen of Heaven and thou wert Thérèse, I fain -would be Thérèse to see thee Queen of Heaven! - -8 September, 1897. - -Last words written by Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus. - - - -VARIOUS SUBJECTS - - - -LÉONIE, no doubt finding that she was growing too old to play -with dolls, came one day to Céline and me, with a basket full of -dolls' clothes, odds and ends of pretty materials, trimmings, -etc., on which she had laid her doll, saying to us: "There, -little sisters--choose!" Céline looked, and took a knot of -edging. After reflecting a moment I, in turn, put out my hand -saying: "I choose all!" and I carried off basket and doll -without further ceremony. - -This trait of my childhood is, as it were, a summary of my -entire life. Later on when the meaning of perfection began to -unfold itself to me, I understood that to become a saint it is -necessary to suffer much, ever to seek after that which is most -perfect, and to forget self. I understood that in sanctity the -degrees are many, that each soul is free to respond to the -advances of our Lord, to do little or much for His sake, in a -word, to choose between the sacrifices that He asks. Then, as in -the days of my childhood, I exclaimed: "My God, I choose all! I -do not wish to be a saint by halves; the thought of suffering -for Thee does not frighten me, one thing only do I fear--my own -will; take Thou my will, for _I choose all_ that Thou willest." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. I - - -MY Father took me for a pleasant tour during which I began to -know a little of the world. Around me all was gaiety and -delight; I was made welcome, petted, admired, in short, for -fifteen days the pathway of my life was strewn with naught but -flowers. Holy Wisdom well says that _the bewitching of trifles -overturneth the innocent mind._ [1] At the age of ten the heart -easily allows itself to be dazzled, and I own that this sort of -life had some charms for me. Alas! how well the world contrives -to reconcile the delights of earth with the service of God. How -seldom does it think of death. - -And death, nevertheless, has come to a great many of the people -whom I then knew, young, rich and prosperous. I like to go back -in thought to their beautiful dwellings, to ask myself where are -they, and what benefit do they now draw from the castles and -parks where I saw them enjoying all the comforts of life . . . -And I reflect that _"all is vanity"_ [2] _"but to love God and -to serve Him alone."_ [3] - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - -[1] _Cf._ Wisdom, iv, 12. -[2] Eccles., i, 2. -[3] _Imit_., I, i, 3. - - -WHAT compassion I have for souls who are going astray. It is so -easy to lose one's way in the flowery paths of the world. -Undoubtedly for a soul who has risen a little above the things -of earth, the sweetness offered is intermingled with bitterness, -and the immense void of its desires cannot be filled by the -praises of a moment. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - - -WE have but life's brief day to save souls and thus to give to -Jesus proof of our love. The morrow of this day will be Eternity -and then He will render to you a hundredfold for the joys which -you have sacrificed for Him. He knows the extent of your -sacrifice, He knows that the grief of those dear to you -increases your own still more; but to save our souls He has -Himself suffered this martyrdom. He too, left His Mother, He saw -the Immaculate Virgin stand at the foot of the Cross, her heart -transpierced by the sword of sorrow. - -Ah! if the Divine Master would but grant to those whom you are -going to leave for His sake, a foresight of the glory He -reserves for you, the multitude of souls who in heaven will form -your train, they would be already recompensed for their great -sacrifice in parting with you. - -II LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" - - -THE good God has promised a hundredfold to all who have left -father or mother or sister for love of Him. These words are, I -know, usually applied to those who have entered the religious -state, but in my heart I feel that they were also spoken for the -generous parents who make to God the sacrifice of children whom -they cherish more than self. - -LETTER TO HER COUSIN JEANNE GUÉRIN - - -HOW can a heart given up to human affection be united intimately -to God? That, I feel is not possible. I have seen so many souls -deluded by this treacherous light, dart into it like the poor -moth and burn their wings, then return wounded to Jesus, the -Divine Fire which burns without consuming. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV - - -IN giving oneself to God the heart does not lose its natural -tenderness; on the contrary, its love grows deeper by becoming -more pure and more Christ-like. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - - -THERE are souls for whom God's mercy wearies not of waiting, and -to whom He gives His light only by degrees. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -WHEN in the morning we feel no courage, no energy for the -practice of virtue, this is a grace, this is the moment to _"lay -the axe to the root of the tree,"_ [4] depending solely on -Jesus. If we fall all is retrieved by an act of love, and Jesus -smiles. He helps us without appearing to do so, and the tears -which the wicked cause Him to shed are dried by our poor feeble -love. - -II LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[4] Matt., iii, 10. - - -WE must practice the little virtues. This is difficult -sometimes, but the good God never refuses the first grace, which -gives courage to conquer self: if the soul corresponds to it she -will find that she immediately receives light. I have ever been -struck with those words of praise to Judith: _"Thou hast done -manfully, and thy heart has been strengthened."_ [5] We must -first act with courage, then the heart is strengthened and we go -from victory to victory. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[5] Judith, xv, 11. - - -MY God, how varied are the ways by which Thou dost lead souls. -In reading the Lives of the Saints we find a great number of -whom nothing has remained to us after their death: not the -smallest souvenir, not a written line. Others there are, on the -contrary, like our Holy Mother Saint Teresa, who have enriched -the Church with their sublime doctrine, not fearing _to reveal -the secrets of the King,_ [6] in the hope that souls might know -Him better and love Him more. Which of these two ways pleases -our Lord best? It seems to me that they are equally pleasing to -Him. - -All the well-beloved of God have followed the inspiration of the -Holy Spirit by whom the Prophet wrote: _"Say to the just that -all is well."_ [7] Yes, all is well when we seek only the Divine -Will. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - -[6] Tobias, xii. -[7] _Cf._ Isaias, iii, 10. - - -HOW narrow are the thoughts of creatures! When they see that a -soul has lights which surpass their own, they conclude that the -Divine Master loves them less. Since when, then, has He lost the -right to make use of one of His creatures, in order to dispense -to His children the sustenance needful for them? - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -WHEN we are grieved at our powerlessness to do good, our only -resource is to offer to God the works of others. In this you see -the benefit of the communion of Saints. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THOUGH I do not undervalue beautiful thoughts that seem to unite -us to God, I have long understood that we must carefully guard -against leaning too much upon them. The most sublime -inspirations are nothing without deeds. - -Other souls, it is true, may draw therefrom much profit if they -testify humble gratitude to God for being permitted to share the -feast of one of His privileged children. But if the privileged -one were to grow vain of her spiritual riches, if her prayer -resembled that of the Pharisee, she herself would become like to -a person starving to death before a well-served table while all -her guests take from it abundant nourishment, and cast perhaps a -look of envy on the possessor of so much wealth. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. X - - -THE Well-Beloved has no need of our glorious deeds nor of our -fine thoughts. If He desire sublime conceptions has He not His -Angels, whose knowledge surpasses infinitely that of the world's -greatest geniuses? It is not then either intellect or talent -that He looks for here below . . . He has called Himself _the -Flower of the Field_ [8] to show us how much He cherishes -simplicity. - -XIV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[8] Cant., ii, 1. - - -TO keep the word of Jesus, this is the sole condition of our -happiness, the proof of our love for Him; and this _word_--it -seems to me that it is Himself, since He is called the Uncreated -_Word_ of the Father. - -XVIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -JESUS needs neither books nor Doctors of Divinity in order to -instruct souls; He, the Doctor of Doctors, He teaches without -noise of words. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VIII - - -AT Sext there is a verse which I utter unwillingly each day. It -is this: "_Inclinavi cor meum ad faciendas justificationes tuas -in æternum, propter retributionem_." (I have inclined my heart -to do Thy justifications for ever, because of the reward.) [9] -Interiorly, I hasten to say: "O my Jesus, Thou knowest well that -it is not for the reward I serve Thee, but solely because I love -Thee, and for the sake of saving souls." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[9] Ps., cxviii, 112. - - -IN Heaven only shall we see the absolute truth concerning all -things. On earth, even in the Holy Scripture, there is a certain -obscurity: it grieves me to see differences in the translations; -had I been a Priest I would have learned Hebrew, so that I might -be able to read the Word of God in that human language in which -He deigned to express it. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -WE are not yet in our Fatherland, and temptation must purify us -as gold is purified by the action of fire. - -XVIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -IT is best not to expose oneself to the combat when defeat is -certain. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - - -GOD is often satisfied with our desire of labouring for His -glory. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX - - -A SOUL in the state of grace has nothing to fear from the -demons, who are cowards, capable of flight before the gaze of a -child. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. I - - -_TO the pure all is pure,_ [10] the simple and upright soul sees -not evil in anything, since evil exists in impure hearts only -and not in material objects. - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VI - -[10] Titus, i, 15. - - -THE good God has told us that in the Last Day He "_will wipe -away all tears from our eyes_," [11] and without doubt, the more -tears to be dried, the greater will be the consolation. - -III LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR - -[11] Apoc., xxi, 4. - - -THE Spouse in the Canticles, not having been able in repose to -find her Beloved, arose, she says and went about the city to -seek Him, but in vain . . . she could not find Him save beyond -the ramparts. It is not the will of Jesus that we should find -His adorable Presence without effort. He hides Himself, He -envelopes Himself with darkness . . . It was not thus He acted -in regard to the multitudes, for we read in the Gospels that the -people were in admiration when He spoke. - -Weak souls Jesus charmed by His divine utterances. He was trying -to render them strong for the day of temptation and of trial; -but small, truly, was the number of His faithful friends when -_He was silent_ [12] before His judges. Oh, what melody for my -heart is that silence of the Divine Master. - -XV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[12] Matt., xxvi, 65. - - -I HAVE read in the Holy Gospel that the Divine Shepherd leaves -in the desert all His faithful flock, to go in haste after the -sheep that is lost. How touching is this confidence. He is sure -of them, they are captives of love--how could they break away? -Even so does the well-beloved Shepherd of our souls rob us of -the sense of His presence in order to give to sinners His -consolations; or else, if He leads us to Mount Thabor it is for -one moment . . . the valleys are nearly always the place of -pasture, _it is there He takes His repose at mid-day._ [13] - -XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[13] Cant., i, 6. - - -THE sole crime with which Herod reproached our Lord was _folly_ -. . . and frankly, that charge was true. Yes, it was folly to -come seeking the poor shallow hearts of mortals, therein to make -His throne. He, the King of Glory Who sitteth above the -Cherubim! Was not His happiness complete in the company of His -Father and the Spirit of Love? Why come to earth to seek out -sinners and to make of them His friends, His chosen companions? - -XX LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -_MARY, breaking the fragile vase poured out upon the Head of her -Saviour a perfume of great price_ [14] _and the whole house was -filled with the fragrance thereof._ [15] - -The Apostles murmured against Magdalene; and this it is which -still happens with regard to us: some, even of the most fervent -Christians think we (Carmelites) are exaggerated, that like -Martha we ought to serve Jesus, instead of consecrating to Him -the vases of our lives with the perfumes which are hidden -within. And yet what matters it--the breaking of these vases-- -since our Lord is consoled, and the world in spite of itself is -made sensible of the fragrance they exhale. And oh! how -necessary are these perfumes to purify the unhealthy atmosphere -that it breathes. - -XX LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - -[14] _Cf_. Marc., xiii, 3. -[15] _Cf_. John, xii, 3. - - -"ONE day when I was in tears," relates a novice, "Sister Thérèse -of the Child Jesus told me to acquire a habit of hiding my -little troubles, adding that nothing renders community life more -difficult than inequality of temperament. - -"You are quite right," I answered, "I have thought so myself, -and in future I shall never cry but when alone with the good -God; to Him only shall I confide my trials, He will always -understand and console me." - -"Shed tears before the good God!" she replied with vivacity, -"take care you do no such thing. Still less, by far, before Him -than before creatures ought you to exhibit signs of sadness. He -has but our monasteries, this dear Master, to rejoice His Heart; -He comes amongst us to find a little repose, to forget the -continual lamentations of His friends in the world who for the -most part, instead of recognizing the value of the Cross, meet -it with repining and with tears; and would you behave like the -generality of people? . . . Frankly that is not disinterested -love--disinterested love is _for us to console Jesus, not for -Him to console us._ - -"He is, I know, so kind of heart that if you weep He will dry -your tears; but afterwards He will go away quite sorrowful, not -being able to find in you the repose He sought. Jesus loves the -joyous heart, He loves the ever smiling soul. When will you -learn to _hide_ your troubles from Him, or to tell Him in -gladsome tones that you are happy to suffer for His sake?" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THE soul is reflected in the countenance: like to a little child -always content, your countenance should be invariably calm and -serene. When you are alone be still the same, because you are -ever in the Angels' sight. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -OUR Divine Lord wishes to have His court here below as on High, -He desires angel-martyrs, angel-apostles. - -XI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE - - -A SISTER, greatly grieved at seeing her so ill often exclaimed: -"Oh, how sad is life!" But Sœur Thérèse would at once correct -her, saying: - -"Life is not sad, but on the contrary most joyful. If you said -'How sad is our exile,' I should understand you. It is erroneous -to give the name, '_life_,' to that which must end. Only to the -things of Heaven, to that which shall never know death, should -the true name of '_life_' be given; and in this signification -life is not sad but joyful--joyous exceedingly! . . . " - -Her own gaiety was delightful to witness. - -For several days she had been much better and the novices said -to her: "We do not yet know of what malady you will die . . . " - -"But I shall die of _death!_ Did not God tell Adam of what he -would die, saying to him: Thou shalt die of death?" (In the -French: "_Tu mourras de mort_.") [16] - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - -[16] _Cf_. Gen., ii, 17. - - -IT is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. -Death is no phantom, no horrible spectre, as represented in -pictures. In the Catechism it is stated that _death is the -separation of soul and body_, that is all! Well, I am not afraid -of a separation which will unite me to the good God for ever. - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -ONE day she said to the Mother Prioress: - -"Mother, I beseech you, give me permission to die . . . Let me -offer my life for . . . " mentioning the intention. - -And this permission being refused: - -"Very well," she resumed, "I know that at this moment the good -God so much desires _a little bunch of grapes_ which no one -wishes to present to Him, that He will certainly be forced to -come and steal it . . . I ask nothing, for that would be to -depart from my way of abandonment, I merely beg the Blessed -Virgin Mary to recall to her Jesus the title of _Thief_ which He -gives Himself in the holy Gospel, so that He may not forget to -come to _steal_ me away." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -"WILL the Divine Thief be coming very soon to steal His little -bunch of grapes?" some one asked. - -"I see Him afar off, and I take good care not to cry out 'Stop -Thief!!!' On the contrary I call Him saying: 'This way! this -way!'" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -THE Chaplain asked me: "Are you resigned to die?" I said: "Ah! -Father, I find it would be for living that I should need -resignation, but as regards dying, I feel only joy." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII - - -"YOU will be placed amid the Seraphim in Heaven," a novice said. - -"If that should happen, I shall not imitate them; they cover -themselves with their wings at the sight of God. I shall take -good care not to cover myself with my wings!" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -"UNDER what name should we pray to you when you are in Heaven?" -they asked her. She answered humbly: "You will call me 'little -Thérèse.' ('_petite Thérèse_.')" - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -"YOU will look upon us from the heights of heaven, will you -not?" - -"No, I shall come down." - -COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES - - -"AFTER my death I shall let fall a shower of roses." - -HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XIII - - - -PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD - - -[Transcriber's Note: Sister Thérèse was beatified on April 29, -1923.] - - -O JESUS, who, to put our pride to confusion didst will to become -a little child, and who later pronounced that solemn decree: -"_Unless ye become as little children ye shall not enter the -Kingdom of Heaven_," deign to listen to our humble prayer in -regard to her who lived perfectly that life of spiritual -childhood, and who has so well recalled to us the way. - -O little Babe of Bethlehem, by the ineffable charms of Thy -Divine Infancy, O adorable Face of Jesus, by the humiliations of -Thy Passion, we implore, that if it be for the glory of God and -for the sanctification of souls, the halo of the Blessed may -soon irradiate the pure brow of Thy childlike spouse, Thérèse of -the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face. - -O God, who didst inflame with Thy Spirit of Love the soul of Thy -Servant, Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love -Thee and may make Thee greatly loved. - -[_Adapted from a prayer of Sœur Thérèse_.] - - 100 days' indulgence. - CARD. BOURNE, _Arch. of Westminster._ - August 1, 1912. - - - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Thoughts of Saint Thérèse of the Chi -d Jesus, by Saint Thérèse of Lisieux and Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THOUGHTS OF SAINT THERESE *** - -***** This file should be named 63294-0.txt or 63294-0.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/3/2/9/63294/ - -Produced by Michael Gray, Archdiocese of Portland in Oregon -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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