Letter VII. To Mother de Chantal. on Tlie Mystery of Christmas

FINDING myself in these great feast days tied by a thousand engagements, it is really all but impossible for me to go and visit you, my dear daughter. I would, however, have gladly done so in order to enter tain you all with some considerations on the holy mystery which we celebrate; but, my dear daughter, nothing will fail you, since you will be in the presence of that sacred Infant whose image you will have in your memory and imagination as if you saw him born in his poor little crib at Bethlehem. 0 my daughter, how many holy affections does this birth make rise within our hearts, above all of the perfect renunciation of the goods, the pomps, the consolations, of this world.

I do not know whether I find any mystery which so sweetly mingles tenderness with austereness, love with rigour, sweetness with severity. Never was seen a poorer or happier bringing forth; never so glorious or so well satisfied a Mother. Certainly she who bears the Son of God Has no need to beg from the world exterior consolations. Saint Paula also preferred to live as a poor hospice-sister in Bethlehem, rather than to be a rich lady at Rome, for it seemed to her that she heard day and night in her dear hospital the infantine cries of the Saviour in the crib, or, as St. Francis used to say, of the dear Babe of Bethlehem, who inspired her with contempt for worldly grandeur and affections, and called her to most holy love of abjection. This dear little Saviour knows well, my dear daughter, that since the morning my heart cries out and begs Jesus for yours. Yes, sweetest Jesus, precious balm which givest all sweetness to Angels and to men, enter, possess the soul of this dear daughter. Enjoy these affections fully, in order that the odour of his sweet-scented name may spread out into all your actions. Ah! my daughter, you are all dear to me, because you hold nothing dear but Jesus, and since as I know well it is through him that I am very dear to you, let me therefore be still more so this year. But above all may Jesus be so more and more unto most holy eternity. Amen.