Letter XV. To the Same

On longanimity in HIP pursuit of perfection: necessity of calming the heart: for himself he desires God's will only: solicitude for some of her Religious and friends.

1 6th December 1619.

I BEGIN where you finish, my dear and most trufy well-beloved daughter; for your last letter of those

• Heine (Queen)?

LET. xvi.] Further Letters Outside Visitation. 307 which I have received finishes thus: I think that you know me well. Yes, it is true, without doubt, I know you well, and that you have ever within your heart an invariable resolution of living wholly to God, but also I know that your great natural activity makes you feel many vicissitudes in your impulses.

No, my daughter, I pray you do not believe that the work which we have undertaken to do in you can be so soon done. Cherry-trees soon bear their fruits, because their fruits are only cherries, lasting but a short time; but the palm, the prince of trees, does not bear fruit for a hundred years after it has been planted, it is said. A life of lower level may be gained in a year, but the perfection to which we aspire — oh! my dear daughter, it cannot come till after many years, speaking of the ordinary course.

And say this further to that daughter whom I have so much recommended to you, that in truth I cannot forget her either day or night, my soul incessantly imploring the grace of God for her: and tell her confidently that no, never will I be cast down about her weaknesses and imperfections. Should I not be cruelly unfaithful if I did not look upon her with sweetness amid the eiforts which she makes to strengthen her self in gentleness, in humility, in simplicity? Let her continue her efforts faithfully, and I will ceaselessly continue to long and strive for her good and progress. The good father thanks me so kindly for the affection which I bear towards this dear daughter, without considering that it is an affection so precious to me, and so naturalised in my soul, that no one should be more pleased with me for that than he would be for my wishing good to myself.

But tell her, that dear daughter, that in her morning exercise she must put her heart in an attitude of humility, of sweetness, and of tranquillity, and that she must put herself back into it after dinner during grace, and at Vespers, and in the evening, and that during the day she must remember I have told her to do it.

Tell her that I stay here in my diocese, so long as God pleases, and that as nothing can draw me from it save some particular occasion which I shall think to be to the glory of Our Lord, so when this presents itself, I shall have no more difficulty in at once detaching my self from the favours which I receive than before they were given me. I am and will be and wish to be for ever at the mercy of God's Providence, without willing that my will should hold there other place than that of follower. You always know everything, but keep your knowledge to yourself.

I am again invited to go to Paris, and on advantageous conditions. I have said: I will neither go there nor stay here save according to the good plea sure of heaven. This country is my fatherland according to my natural birth; according to my spiritual birth the Church is. Wherever I think I can better serve the latter there I will gladly be, without attach ing myself to the former.

No, my daughter, do not leave out your prayer unless for causes which it is almost impossible to control. There is no harm but on the contrary good in treating with our good Angel.

But let us say a word of our dear daughters. Alas! will poor N. also lose the fruit of her vocation? 0 my God! permit it not. Her poor sister is in great

LET. xvi.] F^lrther Letters Outside Visitation. 309 danger, according to what is written to me; and I assure you that ray soul is very much afflicted about it; and I should like, if I could, to do much to retain these two sisters for God, who wants them provided they do not resist.

I do not write at present to our dear Sister Catherine of Genoa. I think that the assembly of L. can have done nothing against her, since you say nothing to me about it. Oh no; for God will protect that dear soul, and will not let so fierce a storm come to beat her down. Let her take good heart again and live joy fully.

As to the C. you must not be vexed at the refusal of it; the good which is to come from it is too great to allow no difficulty or contradiction over it. M. will return to himself, no doubt; I could not restrain my self from writing to him at much length, although I do,not know him; I thought I ought to do this for the advantage of Our Lord's business.

Kemain in peace, my dear daughter, and often pray for my amendment that I may be saved, and that one day we may rejoice in the eternal joy, remembering the attractions with which God has favoured us, and the mutual contentments which he has willed us to have in speaking of him in this world. 0 my daughter, may he be for ever the sole object of our heart's desires! Amen.