Chapter 46: Of the sensible pleasure which the soul finds in God

As many persons advised the Saint to refrain from medi tation until she recovered her health, she complied with their desire, being always anxious to do the will of another rather than her own ; but on condition that she should be allowed to occupy herself in adorning the crucifixes and other holy images, so that she might at least preserve a perpetual remembrance of Jesus crucified by these exte rior representations. One night, as she was occupied in thinking how she could arrange some straw as a sepulchre for the crucifix, on Friday evening, at the commemoration of the Passion after Vespers, the God of love, who regards the intention rather than the works of those who love Him, insinuated Himself into her thoughts thus : " Rejoice in God, My beloved, and He will give you all your heart's desires." By these words she understood, that when we take pleasure in such things for the love of God, His Divine Heart is pleased thereby ; even as the father of a family engages an excellent concert of music, which enter tains those who are seated at table with him as well as himself.

" But, my most loving God," inquired the Saint, " what glory can this exterior satisfaction give Thee, which satisfies the senses more -than the soul 1 " He replied : " Even as an avaricious usurer would be sorry to lose the opportunity of gaining a single penny, so I, who find all my joy in you, do not intend to allow even your least thought, nor a single movement of your finger, which you have done for love of Me, to pass by without using it for My glory and your eternal welfare." She replied : " If Thine immense good ness can find pleasure in this, what dost Thou say of the verses in which all Thy passion is commemorated ? " "I take the same pleasure in them," replied our Lord, " as a person would who was conducted by his friend, with marks of tenderness and friendship, to an agreeable garden, where, while breathing the fresh air and sweet odour of the place, he would also have the pleasure of admiring its beautiful flowers, hearing a concert of exquisite music, and of re freshing himself with the rarest and most exquisite fruits. And I promise you, My beloved, recompense for the satis faction you have given Me by your verses, and also those who read them often with devotion, while they live in this life of sorrow, which leads to the life eternal."