Fourth Letter

To the Same

My Reverend and Greatly Honoured

Mother, — I have received from Mdlle. le the chaplets which you gave her for me. I wonder that you have not given me your thoughts on the little book I sent to you, and which you must have received. Pray, set heartily about the practice of it in your old age; it is better late than never.

I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the practice of the Presence of God. For my part, as I can, I keep myself retired with Him in the very centre of my soul; and, when I am so with Him, I fear no evil; but the least turning away from Him is to me insupportable.

This exercise does not much fatigue the body; yet it is proper to deprive it sometimes, nay often, of many little pleasures, which are innocent and lawful. For God will not suffer a soul, which would fain be wholly devoted to Him, to take other pleasures than with Him: that is more than reasonable.

I do not say that for this cause we must place any violent constraint upon ourselves. No, we must serve God in a holy freedom, we must do our business faithfully, without trouble or disquiet; recalling our minds to God meekly, and with tranquillity, as often as we find them wandering from Him.

It is, however, needful to put our whole trust in God, laying aside all other cares, and even some particular forms of devotion, 35 very good in themselves, but yet such as one often engages in unreasonably: because, in fact, those devotions are only means to attain to the end, so when by this practice of the Presence of God we are with Him Who is our End, it is then useless to return to the means. Then it is that abiding in His Holy Presence, we may continue our commerce of love, now by an act of adoration, of praise, or of desire; now by an act of sacrifice or of thanksgiving, and in all the manners which our mind can devise.

Be not discouraged by the repugnance which you may find to it from nature; you must do yourself violence. Often, at the outset, one thinks it is lost time; but you must go on, and resolve to persevere in it till death, despite all difficulties. I commend myself to the prayers of your holy Community, and to yours in particular. — I am, in Our Lord, yours, etc.

November 3rd, 1685.