Letter XII. To the Same

[This letter seems to have been formed, by M. Maupas, from various letters.]

The. evil of pride amongst religious: method to be used by superiors in introducing reforms: care in admitting

About 2$th August 1608.

WOULD you like to know what I think on the matter, madame? Humility, simplicity of heart and affection, and submission of mind, are the solid foundations of the religious life. I would rather cloisters were filled with all vices than with the sin of pride and vanity; because in other offences one can repent and get pardon, but the proud soul has in itself the principle of all vices, and never does penance, considering itself to be in a good state, and despising all the advice which is given to it. Nothing can be done with a soul that is vain and full of self-conceit; it is no good either to self or others.

To make government good it is further needed that superiors should resemble shepherds feeding their flocks, and should not neglect the smallest chance of giving edifying example to their neighbour, because, QS there is no little stream which does not run to the sea, so there is no deed which does not lead the soul to that great ocean of the wonders of God's goodness.

Madame, your leading of your daughters in this holy work should be sweet, gracious, compassionate, simple, and persuasive; and, believe me, the most per-

LET. XHI.] Previous to Founding of Visitation 79 feet guiding is that which most closely follows God's ordering of us, which is full of tranquillity, quietude, and repose, and which, even in its greatest activity, has no emotion, and makes itself all to all things.

Moreover, the diligence of superiors ought to be great in applying a remedy to the very lightest murmurings of the community. For as great storms are formed from invisible vapours, so in religion great troubles come from very light causes.

Again, nothing is so destructive to Orders as the want of care which is used in examining the spirit of those who throw themselves into the cloister. People say, he is of a good house, he has a good head; but they forget that he will with great difficulty submit to religious discipline.

Before admitting them one should represent to them the true mortification and submission which religion demands, and not dwell so temptingly on the numerous spiritual consolations. For just as a stone though thrown upwards returns downwards by its own movement, so the more a soul whom God wants in his service is repelled, the more it will be urged to what God wants from it. Besides, those who choose this path as it were disappointed because they have high aspirations with low fortune, ordinarily bring more disorder than good order into the cloister.

8a LETTEE XIV.

To THE SAME.

Directions on enclosure, extraordinary confessors, administration of revenues: Jiow to leJtave to a disobedient subject: advice as to her own perfection.

1608 or 1609.*

YES, my daughter, I say it in writing as well as by word of mouth, be joyful as far as possible in well doing, for it is a double grace of good works to be well done and to be cheerfully done. And when I say in well-doing, I do not mean to say that if some defect happen you are to give yourself to sadness on that account; for God's sake, no! for this would be to add fault to fault; but I mean that you must persevere in wishing to do what is good, and must always return to good as soon as you realise that you have left it, and in general that you must live joyfully by virtue of this fidelity.

I have to tell you that, besides the former writing which I send you, you must keep the cloister and the dormitory closed to men; thus will the enclosure be established gradually.

The Council of Trent commands all superiors and superioresses of monasteries that at least three times a year they should make all who are under their charge go to confession to extraordinary confessors, as is strongly required for a thousand good reasons. Wherefore you must observe it, getting some good monk or very devout priest, to whom all must on * The French says, " 1st May 1606." [Tr.]

'. xiv.] Previous to Founding of Visitation. 8 1 that occasion confess. I have told you the reason why all must confess, but this will be a grievance to no one; for those who like need only confess the faults of a day or two, going to confession previously, and those who like can act otherwise.

It must be your place, my dear daughter, to administer the pensions, but depute one of the sisters to the office of keeping account of what may be used.

It will be good, in your little chapters, to recommend the mutual and tender love of one another, and to testify that you have it towards them, but particularly towards her of whom you write to me, whom you must by charity recall to a good understanding and sweet confidence with the rest. I write her a little word.

You will no doubt find the first instructions I gave you, five years ago, on the way by which you must gently bring all these souls to your good design. You will see there many things which for the sake of brevity I will not say now.

As to her who is absent, you must write to her or her brother, that for the greater glory of God, the salvation of your souls, the edification of your neighbour, and the honour of your monastery, you have resolved, with all your religious sisters, to live more retiredly within your house than you have done hitherto; that, this thing being so reasonable and becoming, you have no doubt she will agree to it; that you request and summon her to do this by the obedience which she has vowed to you, outside of which she cannot effect her salvation; promising her that she will find nothing in yourself or in others except a sweet and very loving mutual intercourse, which alone, besides her duty,

IV. F would invite her to a lioly retreat, and the like. If upon this she return not, you must cite her twice more with intervals of three weeks. But if after all she re turn not, you will say to her that she determines then not to be received again and to be shut out from her place. I think, however, that her friends will make her return, and when she does, you will treat her sweetly and with great patience.

If I forget anything I will say it to our sister, who will infallibly go to see you, and she loves you very strongly. As for your private self, do not fail to make mental prayer every day, at the same time as it is being made in choir, if you cannot attend there; and this for half an hour. Do not torment yourself when you cannot have feelings as strong as you would desire, for it is the goodwill which God wants. Read spiritual books for a quarter of an hour each day before going to Vespers, or before saying them when you cannot go to them.

You will go to bed every day at ten, and rise at six. When you are obliged to be in bed, get some one to read from time to time as suits you.' Often kiss the cross which you wear; renew the good purposes which you have made of being all God's, immediately before going to rest, or while you are going, or in your oratory, or elsewhere; and make one fuller renewal by half a dozen aspirations and humiliations before God.

I give you for your special patron of this year the glorious St. Joseph, and for your patroness St. Scholastica, sister of St. Benedict, in whose life you will find many actions, as in that of St. Benedict, worthy of being imitated.

See now, my very dear and good daughter, undertake to gain for yourself a great courage in the service of Our Lord; for assuredly his goodness has chosen you to make use of you, provided that you will it, for the true re-establishment of his own glory and that of souls. In your house you could not hold a safer path than that of holy obedience; wherefore I greatly rejoice that you are attached to it, for the reason you tell me. Kemember well, then, what I have recommended to you on the part of Our Lord, to whom I commend you, beseeching him, by his death and passion, to crown you with his holy love, and to make you more and more entirely his own.

As for me, my dear sister, my well-beloved daughter, I have a very entire will to love, honour, and serve you; and nothing will ever take away from me this affection, since it is in this same Saviour and for him that I have taken it up, being ever your humble brother and servant, &c.