XXVII. To a nun

These letters were written to an Irish sister who was in a convent in Belgium. Before her entry into religion she had lived in the world until her husband’s death. She had a son named Charlie, who became a monk at Maredsous. He is mentioned several times in these letters. Abbot Marmion, who received him into the novitiate, gave him his own monastic name of Columba. This monk died some time before his mother.

In these letters we can appreciate the way in which Abbot Marmion understands spiritual direction, and the formation to contemplative prayer.

Pax Maredsous. 12 Jan [1911| My dear Mere Emmanuel,

I delayed writing until Charlie had finished his retreat, so as to be able to give you my opinion. He is leaving today, or tomorrow, after a very serious retreat. As Dom Paul was obliged to leave the abbey for a few days, I confided Charlie to D. Idesbald, Master of novices, who had helped him on a former occasion. We are both of opinion that Charlie has a true monastic vocation. His motive for wishing to be a monk is, that in the monastic state one loves God more perfectly & consecrates oneself more entirely to Him than in the world. This, of course, is a very high & noble motive. It is better that neither you, nor your Rey. Mother, should make any allusion to his vocation until it is a fait accompli.’ He has an intense repugnance to being driven towards the religious state; & is most sensitive on that point. Of course I know you do not “drive” him; but he has got it into his head; & this was a real obstacle. I feel he will be a very good monk.

Please present my respects to your Rev. Mother, & believe me, yours devotedly in J.C.

Columba, Abb.

• An accomplished fact.

F Pax. Abbaye de Saint-Benoit. Maredsous. le 21. IX 1919 My dear Child,

I have just received your letter. I too believe that our Lord wishes to confide your soul to my care. I am not a great partisan of much direction. I feel that the H. Spirit is the one director who is capable to give the true light & inspiration. Yet it is God’s way to direct us by His Ministers; especially as says St. Fr. de Sales, La femme, quelque intelligente ou sainte qu'elle soit, doit étre conduite par le Ministre du Xt.’ This is God’s way. What is necessary, is that the director know the soul perfectly; & that once done, he must indicate the way she is to follow, & then leave her to the H. Spirit. From time to time, at long intervals, he must control her progress; & if anything out of the common way should happen, he must know it. But in my opinion, long & frequent letters of direction do more harm than good.

Charley is doing very well indeed. I must try & have him ordained here, about Easter-time, & then you could come & put up at the hospice for the ceremony & the first Mass.

I am really anxious to go and see you, but can’t as yet fix the date. It will be soon, please God. I shall let you know some days beforehand, so that you may be prepared.

May God bless & love you, & make you all His own. Yrs. in J.C.

| Columba, Abb.

Pax. Abbaye de Maredsous. 2a My dear Child,

I hope to get to Binche at 10:19. Monday; & leave on Tuesday at 12:30. I can see you as long as may be necessary; & give a conference to the Community at the hour which suits best. On reading your letter I felt that I understand what God wants from you. 1) The H. Spirit is inviting you to passive prayer, & you must not “extinguish the Spirit” * by misplaced activity. Nothing is more glorious

7 “A woman, however intelligent and holy she may be, should be guided by Christ’s minister.”

*I Thess. 5:19. to God, nor more advantageous for us than to give God a free hana in our souls, once He intimates His desire to have it. Blosius says that a soul which abandons herself to God’s action without reserve, allowing Him to operate as He wishes in her, does more for His glory, & for souls in one hour, than others in years.”

2. Once you feel the attraction to remain in the silence of adoration in God’s presence, you must give yourself entirely to the H. Spirit, & remain there in pure faith. Desponsabo te mihi in fide.* If God gives you no feeling, no sentiment, no distinct thought, just lie there before Him in silent love. During such moments He operates insensibly on the soul, & does more for her perfection, than she could in a life-time by her own thoughts, etc.

3. If at any moment you feel attracted to petition, or other acts, follow this attraction. It is not necessary to pronounce words, or to form distinct thoughts. Just present yourself & your petition in silent prayer before God’s face. He sees all that your heart is saying desiderium pauperum audivit auris tua.*

4. The distractions are only on the surface of your soul. They are a cross, but you must learn to despise them. Your prayer goes on in the hidden depths of your soul, which is, as it were, lying on God’s bosom, His Essence, & drinking in vast draughts of love & light.

5. If God ever speaks interior words, be sure to submit them to your director before acting on them. Be very prudent in speaking of your interior, even to priests, many of whom have no experience of such things. |

Pray for me. May God bless & love you. a

Columba Marmion, Abb.

Pax Maredsous. 20.2. My dear Child,

As it is Lent, & Iam very busy, I may only send a word. Your last letter helped me for what you say of God’s Maternity (for all paternity & maternity are united in Him, & derive from His bosom)

• Blosius, 4 Book of Spiritual Instruction, chap. 1, N° 4.

°“T will espouse thee to me in faith” (Osee 2:20). “«The Lord hath heard the desire of the poor” (Ps. 9, 17). struck me very much. I feel a great longing for heaven. Yet I don’t feel as if my work was done. I fear the judgement; & yet I cast myself on God’s bosom with all my miseries & my responsibilities, & hope in His mercy. Nothing else can save us, for our poor little works are not fit to be presented, & only His Fatherly affection deigns to accept them. Non aestimator meriti sed veniae’ as we pray at Mass. The little Servants of the H. Sacr. will have a great place in heaven, vos permansistis mecum in tentationibus meis?

Columba is doing well, & will be a very holy monk I feel. I know you pray for me, as I do for you. May God bless you, & give you grace to refuse Him nothing.

I may see you in March.

Yrseineyee + Columba, Abb.

Pax. Abbaye de Saint-Benoit. Maredsous. le 27. IX. 1920 My dear Child,

I am glad to hear that your soul is in peace. Querite pacem et persequere eam.’ God would have us do all in our power to be in peace, in order to communicate Himself to our souls. Non in commotione Dominus.” You must not go back on the past. God does not wish it, except in a general way, just to humble yourself before Him, casting yourself at His feet as a poor sinner, & asking His pardon. “Oh God, be merciful to me a sinner.” ? You are called to be united to the Word as His S. Humanity is, that is to say, in deep adoration & annihilation of your personality, — His Humanity had no human personality —, & consequently, all its powers belonged immediately & exclusively to the Word. If you give yourself up without reserve to the divine action of the S. Humanity, He will take you with Him in that Divine Current which flows like an impetuous torrent ever into the bosom of the Word. There your little personality will be lost,

*“Not weighing our merits, but freely pardoning us our sins.”” From the Canon of the Mass.

• “You are they who have continued with me in my temptations” (Luke 22:28).

• “Seek after peace and pursue it” (Ps. 33:15).

• “The Lord is not in the wind” (III Kings 19:11). * Luke 18:13.

& disappear in deep adoration & perfect love; & so all that comes from that personality, — self-love, susceptibility, sadness, etc., will be destroyed. I must leave you. I commenced this several times, but could not get on. Charlie is as good as gold. Every one loves him. He loves Xt. with all his heart; & is most charitable, joyous, & fervent. God has spoiled you. My humble respects to your good Superioress. # Columba, Abb.

P.S. I need great prayers at present, for a most important matter which regards my person, entre nous.*

Pax Maredsous. 2. I. 22. My dear Child,

It is certainly very nasty of me to have left your two letters so long unanswered. However, it is neither want of interest, nor forgetfulness: I pray daily at H. Mass for you. It is from sheer exhaustion & overwork. Your soul is all right. Look at God through Jesus’ eyes, & don’t bother about where your imagination is. We are the members of J.C., & our miseries, assumed by Him, cry out Mercy in His Name to the Father. He is ever before God’s face for us, & hidden in Him. His prayer, as He gazes on His Father’s face, becomes ours. I understand so well St. Paul’s Libenter gloriabor in infirmitatibus mets ut inhabitet in me virtus Xti.' The H. Ghost is the link which unites us to Xt. When before the B. Sacrament, don’t think that the B. Sac. is outside you. It is in you by the H. Ghost; & each inmost thought is there in Him, more really & surely than if you held His Sacred feet like Magdalen. This is why St. Paul says, “No one can say Dne. Jesu except in the H. Ghost.”* That is, it is the H. Ghost who introduces us into the interior of Jesus. I shall look to dear D. Columba’s studies. He is a most holy monk, & loved by everyone. Pray much for me. Best wishes to R. Mother & all for 1922.

Columba Marmion, Abb.

“Between us.

*“Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell ieine, (11 Cor, 12:9). mors t 223.

Vil. tH Pax. Abbaye de Maredsous. 18. VIII. 22 My dear Child, I have just got back from London & am so busy, yet I must send you a line. It is a real crime to preach such doctrine to souls, who have left al] for Jesus, & to whom He has promised on His Solemn word, (Amen, Amen dico vobis),* that they will have the hundred fold in this life, & life eternal; & mind He says Omnis qui reliquerit.” Jansenism has done more harm to souls than Protestantism. For it cloaks its venom under the veil of sanctity. The Church teaches that God wishes to show His power parcendo maxime et ignoscendo.® We are to glorify God’s mercy. We are so weak, so frail, so deeply wounded, like the man that went down to Jerico, that we touch His Father’s heart. Now, my dear Child, just put those thoughts away, & go to Jesus as you always do. He is your strength. St. Paul took glory in his infirmities, in order that Xz’s strength might dwell in him.* There is your path. God loves you, & it would pain His loving heart were you to distrust Him. Say with St. Paul Scio cui credidi et certus sum.

I am praying for you.

Yrs. 4 Columba, Abb.