Letter XV. To the Same

The Saint consoles her by telling her that she is united to Christ though she does not feel his presence: "Hallowed be thy name"

2ist July 1615.

MY VERY DEAR DAUGHTER — Upon a time * Magdalen was speaking to Our Lord, and thinking herself sepa rated from him, she wept and begged for him, and was so overcome that while seeing him she saw him not. Well, now — courage! Let us not anxiously trouble ourselves; we have our sweet Jesus with us, we are not separated from him; at least so I firmly believe. Woman, why weepest tkou? No, we must no longer be woman, we must have a man's heart; and provided that we have our soul steady in the will of living and dying in the service of God, let us not trouble ourselves about darkness, or powerlessness, or barriers. And speaking of barriers, Magdalen wanted to embrace Our Lord, and this sweet Master puts a barrier. No, he says, Touch me not; for / have not yet ascended to the Father. There on high will be no barriers; here we must endure them. Let it suffice us that God is our God; and that our heart is his home.

• John xx.

Shall I tell you a thought which I lately formed in the hour of the morning which I reserve for my poor weak soul? My point was the petition of the Lord's Prayer: Hallowed be thy name. 0 God, I said, who will give me the happiness of one day seeing the name of Jesus graven at the very bottom of the heart of her who already bears it marked on her brcaso? I called to mind also the palaces in Paris, on the front of which is written the name of the princes to whom they belong; and I rejoiced to think how the palace of your heart is "Jesus Christ's" May he deign to live there eternally. Pray earnestly for me, who am so greatly and so paternally yours.