Letter 1927

LETTER 1927 [No date.] Vive > Jésus!

My very dear Daughter,—It grieves me truly to see that your heart, which has so often been favoured with divine consolations, lets itself be preoccupied and so powerfully taken hold of by affection for creatures. Oh, but this is great misery for you! Give it up, dearest daughter: tear to pieces, smash, cut asunder all these chains of love of creatures, whoever they may be, whether relatives or others, and adhere to one sole desire, that of loving and serving our most gracious Saviour. May He be blessed for ever, in that He has in His mercy given you this desire to liberate yourself from these troublesome embarrassments! This Lover of souls, gentle Jesus, can never abandon a soul as long as He sees in her one spark of goodwill to resist evil; so does He give proof of His divine love. Have good courage then, dearest daughter; place your confidence in His infinite goodness, and, if only on ~ your side you are faithful to do what is in your power to free yourself, He will give you His divine help. I know well that nature must suffer in doing this. Let not this surprise you. Do not strive to heal the wound; bear the pain lovingly without making reflections on it or seeming to take notice of it, and keep your mind and your will steadfast in God, doing faithfully the good that He will put in your way, and not what these false and perverse affections suggest. Act at such times gently and tranquilly, but faithfully. If you could be changed to some neighbouring monastery for a time it would help you; yet, as this cannot easily be done, have courage and put your strength in God, who will assist you. I beseech His goodness with all my heart to do so, and you to believe that I love you in His divine unvariable love.

But I conjure you to be faithful to Him.