Thirteenth Letter

To the Reverend Mother

My Good Mother, — If we were well accustomed to the exercise of the Presence of God, all bodily diseases would be much alleviated thereby. God often permits that we should suffer a little to purify our souls, and to compel us to continue with Him. I cannot understand how a soul, which is with God and which desires Him alone, can feel pain: I have had enough experience to banish all doubt that it can.

Take courage, offer to Him unceasingly your sorrows, pray to Him for strength to endure. Above all, acquire a habit of holding constant converse with God, and forget Him 54 the least you can. Adore Him in your infirmities, offer yourself to Him from time to time; and in the very height of your sufferings beseech Him humbly and lovingly — as a child his good father — to grant you the aid of His grace and to make you conformable to His holy will. I will help you with my poor halting prayers.

God has many ways of drawing us to Himself. He hides Himself sometimes from us; but faith alone, which will not fail us in time of need, ought to be our support and the foundation of our confidence, which must be all in God.

I do not know how God will dispose of me. I am always more happy. The whole world suffers, yet I, who deserve the severest discipline, experience joys so constant and so great, that I can scarce contain them.

I would willingly ask of God a share of your sufferings, but that I know my weakness which is so great, that if He left me one moment by myself, I should be the most wretched man alive. And yet I know not how He can leave me alone, because faith gives me as strong a conviction as sense can do, and I know that He never forsakes us, till we have first forsaken Him. Let us fear to leave Him. Let us ever abide with Him: let us live and die with Him. Make you 55 this petition for me, as I for you. — Yours, etc.

November 28 tk, 1690.