Letter II. To a Superioress of the Visitation. [Mother Fame, ?]

Preparation for Cliristmas. On the siveetness of Christ's zeal, and how he receives all who will to come to him.

igth December 1619.

0 MY daughter, God has shown you a great mercy in bringing back your heart to a gracious forbearance with your neighbour, and in having cast the holy balm of sweetheartedness towards others into the wine of your zeal. See, I answer at last, though late, the letter which you wrote me after my passing visit to you, and I answer briefly, simply, lovingly, as to my most dear daughter whom I have loved almost from her cradle, because God had so disposed. Only this was wanting to you, my dear daughter: your zeal was quite good, but it had the defect of being a little bitter, a little severe, a little exacting; now we have it purified from this; it will henceforth be sweet, mild, gracious, peaceful, forbearing.

Ah! when we look at the dear little Infant of Bethlehem — whose zeal for souls is incomparable, for

LBT. m.] Letters for Various Festivals. 405 he comes to die that he may save them — he is so humble, so sweet, so amiable. Live joyfully and courageously, my dear daughter; I mean in the superior part of your soul; for the Angel who heralds the birth of our little Master announces in his song, and sings as he announces, that he proclaims joy, peace, happiness for men of good will; in order that no one may be ignorant that to receive this Infant it is enough to be of good will, although one may not up to this have been of good deed. For he came to bless good wills, and little by little he will make them fruitful and of good effect, provided that they let him govern them, as I hope that we shall do ours, my dear daughter. Amen. And I am entirely yours, &c.