Letter VIII. To Dom Placid Bailly, a Benedictine Monk

His esteem for Dom Placid 's sister: the true spirit of Religious: on bearing the cross.

ANNECY, izth June 1618.

MY VERY DEAR FATHER — I can assure you that our dear Sister Frances Gabrielle Bailly, your sister, is as dear to me as if she were mine own, her piety having won me to this, and I praise God that she receives and gives much consolation in the congregation of our dear sisters. Our Mother here loves her entirely, and we see that she is a vessel well purified, empty, open to receive great celestial graces: for hers is an upright soul, a spirit empty and stripped of all the things of this world, which has neither thought nor aim save for its God. Oh how happy she is in this state! For little does passing time import a soul which aspires to eternity, and which only takes notice of perishing moments in order to pass by them into immortal life. Ah! my dear Father, my brother, let us live thus in this little pilgrimage, cheerfully conforming ourselves to those with whom we live, in all that is not sin. I.know that your soul is of those whose eyes fail them through strong fixing on the sacred object of their love and saying: When wilt thou console me? *

You ask me for some instruction as to beginning a good religious life. Good heavens! my dear Father,

I, who was never so much as a good clerk, is it for me to instruct holy Religious? Carry with sweetness and

• Ps. cxviii. 8a.

LET. ix.] Further Letters Outside Visitation. 289 love this your cross, which as I understand is great enough to load you with blessings if you love it.

Some little occupation hinders me from answering as I should like the sweet letter which you have written me. I only say to you that to-day is the day when I was consecrated to God for the service of souls: I solemnise this day every year with the greatest affection I can, consecrating myself anew to my God. Kindle my sacrifice with the ardour of your charity, and believe that I am at once your very humble servant, father and brother, &c.

LETTEE IX. To A LADY.

Promises two portraits of himself: simple loving affections the best kind of prayer: to follow attractions the secret of prayer.

2oth June 1618,

BY this safe opportunity I will tell you, my dear daughter, that our Mother tells the truth; I am extremely oppressed not so much with affairs as with hindrances which I cannot get free from. Nevertheless, I would certainly not wish, my dear daughter, that on this account you should abstain from writing to me when you please, for the receipt of your letters unwearies me and much recreates me. Only you must be somewhat good to me in excusing me if I am a little slow in answering; though I can assure you that it will never be but by necessity that I shall delay, for my spirit is pleased indeed to visit yours. IV. T

I cannot refuse you anything, my dear daughter; and therefore the two portraits which you desire shall be made. Why have I not desired to preserve the image of our heavenly Father in my soul, and the integrity of its likeness to him! My dearest daughter, you will kindly help me to ask the grace of having it repaired in me.

Your method of prayer is very good; yes, much better than if you made considerations and reasonings in it, since considerations and reasonings are only to excite the affections; so that if it please God to give us affections without reasonings and considerations it is for us a great grace. The secret of secrets in prayer is to follow attractions in simplicity of heart. Take the trouble to read, or to get read to you, if your eyes cannot serve you so far, the seventh Book of the Treatise on the Love of God, and you will there find all that it is necessary for you to know of prayer.

I remember very well that one day in confession you told me how you were acting, and I said to you that it was quite right, and that although you were to have a point ready, yet if God drew you to some affections as soon as you were in his presence, you were not to cling to the point but to follow the affection; and the more simple and tranquil it was the better it would be, for so it attaches the spirit so much the more strongly to its object.

But, my dear daughter, having once resolved on this do not occupy yourself, in time of prayer, with wanting to know what you are doing or how you pray; for the best prayer or state of prayer is that which keeps us so well employed in God that we think not of ourselves or of what we are doing. In a word, we

LET. x.] Further Letters Outside Visitation. 291 must go to it simply, in good faith and artlessly, to be with God, to love him, to unite ourself with him. True love scarcely goes by method.

Kern am in peace, my dear daughter, walk faithfully in the way wherein God has placed you; take good care holily to give satisfaction to him to whom he has made your companion; and like a little honey-bee, while you faithfully make the honey of sacred devotion make duly also the wax of your domestic affairs; for if one is sweet to the taste of Our Lord, who being in this world eat butter and honey,* the other also is to his honour, since it serves to make the lighted candles of edification of our neighbour.

May God who has taken you by the hand direct you, my dear daughter, whom I love tenderly; and more than paternally do I love your soul and your heart, which may God deign to make more and more his own. Amen. Vive Jesus!