Letter XI. To Mere Angexique Aunauld, Abbess of the Benedictine Abbey of Port-royal

On peaceful humility, union with Christ, and Holy Communion.

[This celebrated woman, abbess at fourteen, had already at the age of seventeen, despite the strongest opposition, introduced a reform into her own abbey, and was now engaged in the still more difficult work of reforming the abbey of Maubuisson. Un happily she did not persevere in reforming herself. She was irresistibly attracted and subjugated by the virtues and gentle strength of St. Francis, put herself entirely and sincerely under his direction, and begged leave to quit the Benedictine Order and become a sister of the Visitation. He never encouraged her in this idea, though he permitted her to apply to Rome. Her request was not granted. After the Saint's death she fell under the influence of St. Cyran, and her strong impetuous nature, blinded by personal and family pride, hurried her into the abysses of Jansenism.

The Saint at her request went to preach at Port- Royal, where her sister Agnes was superior in her absence. During his sermon he burst into tears, and being afterwards asked the cause, he said: " It was because God let me know that your house will lose the faith. The only way to preserve it is obedience to the Holy See."

These letters also seem prophetic in their insight into the dangers which beset the path of the poor young abbess, and the means necessary to avoid them.

It is to be noted that the Saint frequently speaks of her soul as if it were one of her religious daughters—" that daughter whom I have recommended to you."]

I DO not write to you, my dear daughter, because I have not the leisure this morning; a soul who has to return to the country and came to make her general confession to rne unexpectedly, took away the free time that I had. I affectionately salute your dear soul which my wretched one cares for more than I can say, never ceasing to desire it the protection of divine love; and I will certainly see it before my departure, if possible, in order that, knowing it still more particularly, I may, God so disposing, serve it on occasion more according to its desire.

Meantime tell that well-beloved daughter whom I have so much recommended to you, and who is so dear

LET. XIL] Further Letters Outside Visitation. 297 to my heart, that I continue to say to her that God wills to draw her to an excellent kind of life, and that therefore she must bless this infinite goodness which has regarded her with his loving eyes; but at the same time I tell her that the way by which she is to follow this vocation is not extraordinary; for, my dear daughter, it is a sweet, tranquil and strong humility, and a most humble, strong and tranquil sweetness. Tell her, my dear daughter, that she must in no way think whether she is to be amongst low souls or high; but let her follow the way I have marked out for her, and repose in God, walking before him in simplicity and humility.

Let her not look whither she is going, but with whom she goes, and I tell her she goes with her King, her Spouse, and her crucified God. Whithersoever she may go she will be blessed. To go with her crucified Spouse is to abase and humble self, to put down self even unto the death of all our passions, and I say unto the death of the cross. But, my dear daughter, note that I turn back to say that this putting down of self must be practised gently, tranquilly, constantly, and not only sweetly but gaily and joyously.

Tell her to communicate without fear, in peace, with humility, to correspond with that Spouse who, to unite himself to us, has annihilated and sweetly lowered himself to become our meat and nourishment — ours, who are the food and meat of worms. 0 my daughter! he who communicates according to the spirit of the Spouse annihilates self, and says to our Lord: masticate me, digest me, annihilate me, and convert me into thee.

I find nothing in the world of which we have more possession, or over which we have more dominion, than the food which we annihilate for our conservation; and Our Lord has come to this excess of love, that he has made himself food for us: and we, what should we not do that he may possess us, eat us, chew us, swallow us and swallow us again (avale et ravale) — do with us as he will? If any one murmur, take it humbly and lovingly: the murmurs will change into benedictions. For the rest I will speak to you in person.

Take no pains to construct carefully the letters you send me; for I do not seek fine buildings nor the language of angels, but the nest of doves and the language of love. Live all for God, my dear daughter, and often recommend to his goodness the soul of him who, with an invariable affection, is entirely dedicated to yours.

I only thought of writing to salute you, but insensibly I have gone on to write a letter. My brother salutes you very humbly, and I salute our three dear sisters. I salute the little sister, daughter of M. Thonze, and wish her a happy perseverance.