Fourteenth Letter

To the Same

My Good Mother, — I am in pain to see you suffer so long: what gives me some ease, and sweetens the sorrow which I have for your griefs, is that I am convinced that they are tokens of the love God has for you. Look at them in this light, and you will bear them more easily. As your case is, it is my opinion that you should leave off human remedies, and resign yourself entirely to the Providence of God: perhaps He stays only for that resignation and a perfect trust in Him to cure you. Since, despite all your cares, physic has not had the effect it should, but on the contrary the malady increases, it will not be tempting God to abandon yourself into His hands, and look for all to Him.

I told you in my last that sometimes He permits the body to suffer, to cure the sickness of our souls. Have courage, then: make of necessity a virtue; ask of God, not deliverance from the body’s pains, but strength bravely to endure, for the love of Him, all 56 that He shall desire, and as long as He shall please.

Such prayers, indeed, are a little hard to nature, but most acceptable to God, and sweet to those who love Him. Love sweetens pain: and when one loves God, one suffers for Him with joy and courage. Do you so, I beseech you: comfort yourself with Him, Who is the only Physician of all our ills. He is the Father of the afflicted, ever ready to succour us. He loves us infinitely more than we can imagine: love Him therefore, and seek no other relief than in Him: I hope you will soon receive it Adieu. I will help you with my prayers, poor as they are, and I will ever be in OUR Lord, — Yours, etc.