Letter XXVIII. To a Religious Sister

On patience with self and sweetness with our neighbour.

MY DEAR DAUGHTER — I will answer you in a few words, since I know what you would have said to me by your letter almost as if I had heard you speak with the mouth; for still it is that you are ever that same person which you used to describe to me in past years.

To which I answer, first, that you should meekly bear with yourself, humbling yourself much before God, without any vexation or discouragement.

Secondly, you should renew all the purposes which you have previously made of amending yourself; and although you have seen that in spite of all your resolutions you have remained involved in your im perfections, you must not on this account give up undertaking a good amendment, or resting upon the assistance of God: you will be all your life imperfect, and will always have much to correct in it; wherefore you must learn not to get tired in this exercise.

Thirdly, labour to acquire sweetness of heart for your neighbour, considering him as a work of God, and one who will enjoy, if it please the celestial goodness, the Paradise which is prepared for you: and those whom Our Lord bears with we ought tenderly to bear with, cherishing a great compassion for their spiritual infirmities.

Accept willingly this little visit which the divine goodness has made to you. We must be faithful in little occasions to obtain fidelity in great ones.

LET. xxx.] Further Letters Outside Visitation. 343

Kemain in great peace, and feed your soul with the sweetness of heavenly love, without which our hearts are without life, and our life without happiness. On no account give way to sadness, the enemy of devotion. For what cause should a servant of him who will be our joy for ever make herself sad? Nothing but sin should sadden and distress us; and to this sorrow for sin it is necessary that holy joy and consolation should be attached. I salute you a thousand times, and am with out end, my dear daughter, your, &c.