Letter 1958

LETTER 1958 [No date.] Vive & Jésus!

My very dear Daughter,—Your heart is, I see, always in combat; but be of good courage. You will advance quickly if you are faithful to the grace of God and to the instructions you have received. Have patience then with yourself, and be not surprised because your mind does not submit as easily as you would wish, but quite gently encourage it to the love and practice of holy humility and simplicity, and in a few years, by the grace of God, it will no longer relish aught but virtues that yield most exquisite delight: virtues that the Saviour loves and cherishes, and that our Blessed Father so much recommended. Now that [of which you speak] is nothing but a permission of God, who wills to test you in both body and soul. What can you do, daughter, save to adore divine Providence amidst your labours and pains, and submit yourself graciously and cheerfully, seeing therein and worshipping the most holy will of God who permits them! Do not reflect on them, however much you may feel them, nor dread them, nor wish to be freed from them, nor seek any other remedy than simple submission to this suffering for as long as it shall please God to leave it with you. Divert yourself a little by interior and exterior actions, speaking to God of quite other things, even though without feeling or relish. Do this, my daughter, and you will be very happy. When a sensitive soul is seen to be subject to scruples we look upon it as a sign of a good conscience; but her failing to submit herself to the advice given her shows there is obstinacy and secret presumption, and one expects before long to see her overcome by great perplexity and uneasiness of spirit. Now I say the same as to your inclination to mortification: it shows that the fire of divine love is in your heart; but should this inclination not be absolutely submissive to the direction of your superiors, should it cause you trouble, or make you eager, and thus withdraw you from the sweet and tranquil attention which you ought to have to the presence of God, then are you being carried away by your human spirit and by the impulse of nature, in which case the devil can bring in his temptations. The Spirit of God leads us to complete submission. It acts in us gently, without noise or contention. It makes us choose rather to be conformable in all things to the ways of our sisters than to seek all these imaginary and pretended virtues that we think to find in the practice of exterior mortifications which we invent for ourselves. If you take my word in this, dear daughter, you will mortify yourself by not mortifying yourself in the way you desire. And believe me that by so doing you will practise the real mortification and ardour that God desires of you. Combat, then, faithfully this inclination to want to do more than others, and submit to the will of your superiors. Keep yourself in that holy indifference which is so much recommended to us. Ask for nothing and refuse nothing, but hold yourself in readiness to do all that God and holy obedience command. Set no value on anything whatsoever if it be outside the bounds of this submission. When God draws you to the repose of His sweet presence do not distract your mind by anything except what is of obedience. Who possesses God possesses all, and needs not to look for ways of finding Him, but only to keep lovingly to faithful observance. Pray for yours, etc.