Letter 485. To Sister Marie Aimée de Morville

My very dear Daughter,—As you let the sisters see your weaknesses and your fauits, I can no longer be silent, nor keep from expostulating with you upon your altogether scandalous behaviour in the house.—My dear Saviour, bear with me if it please Thee while, under the impulse of my intimate sorrow, I plead to Thee as to my God. Wilt Thou admit to the happiness of our holy vocation her who is so unworthy of Thy grace! If it is in punishment for my sins and my imprudence, strike me, O my Lord, and preserve in peace and holy union these poor, beloved houses; for Thou knowest that nothing is so painful to me as trouble of this nature.

Would that by my blood, dearest daughter, I could cleanse the wounds of your soul and those that you have inflicted on the house! May at least my grief and the tears I shed in such abundance touch your heart, for in spite of myself mine melts at the account of your disorderly conduct. Your callousness and your self-indulgences have thrown you into this entanglement, and, I think also, our too great gentleness with you, for we hoped that, being a Christian, we might gain you in this way, but I see plainly that your spirit of rebellion must be mastered. Believe me, if I were near you, helped by the grace of God, I would tame you into submission and not allow you to hold the upper hand as you do. I beg of our sister the Superior to spare you no mortification that is needful in order that you may humble yourself and submit to your duty. And to this I exhort you on the part of God, and because of the obligation you are under to save your soul which you are exposing to eternal loss. Reflect, I beg of you, on the exact account you will have to give to God of all your faults, and of those which you may have caused others to commit by your dissolute ways and your disorderly actions and behaviour. Since the love of God and the pain you make us suffer does not move you to repentance, may the just fear of the divine chastisements do so. May God have mercy on you and lead you back to your duty. Amen.