Letter 1789. To Sister Marie Madeleine de Granieu

I thank God, my daughter, for having put into your heart that entire trust that you have always had in me, I who love you so tenderly. Your continual interior suffering excites my loving and motherly compassion. Yet I think I perceive some kind of relief therein, and a something more that makes me very hopeful. Yes, my daughter, and I would have you accept your trouble and bear it with great patience and gentleness, awaiting the hour destined by divine Providence for your relief. God still delays, but He will come, do not doubt it; tarry His time in profound submission. Meanwhile keep your lamp burning, overcoming yourself as much as possible so as to enable you to give to this divine Lord all He asks of you—that is to say, the actions that are in your power. Try during your halfhour’s prayer to remain in exterior reverence before Him, and, by desire, in interior reverence. From time to time

Aen.

say a word to Him of submission, of confidence, of petition for help. If you were in the parlour, my daughter, with persons who were distasteful to you, politeness would keep you there tranquilly, without showing weariness. With all the greater reason when we are with the sovereign Good must we bear ourselves with courtesy and perform all our duties in the best way we can. Often say a few words to Our Lord without reverting to the way in which you are acting and speaking to Him; for to find relish and satisfaction therein is not in your power, and thinking that actions done and words said thus, as it were by violence, could not be acceptable to God nor profitable to your soul would depress and sadden you. -But herein you deceive yourself, for it is just this violence, my dearest daughter, that God at present requires of you. By it you will ravish His divine Heart and attain to His blessed Paradise. Do not doubt it. Your path is indeed painful, but there are others that have still more thorns and difficulties; yet who would dare to say to Our Lord: ‘Why do You lead me this way?’ We should therefore very humbly and filially bring our mind and our whole being into lowly subjection to this sovereign Lord, against whom we must not kick, nor must we evade this way to take voluntarily or deliberately any other course that might be displeasing to Him.

Now renew your courage, my beloved, and do as I tell you. Try, above all, not to be so introspective, but rather look as often as you can upon our good God and His holy Mother. Pass no day without offering some special prayers to this Mother of Mercy. Keep your spirit sweetly tranquil and cheerful, notwithstanding your extreme trouble of mind.

I am very glad Sister M. Antoinette [de Villiers] is a consolation to you; she is a dear daughter of mine. I hope your peace and contentment in your present abode may increase more and more. May God shed upon you abundantly His holy graces. This is my wish and prayer. Yours, etc.