Letter XI. To a Sister of the Visitation

[Apparently the one spoken of in preceding letter.] Cautions against a spirit of self-seeking and self -will.

iqth January 1620,

MY DEAR DAUGHTER — The thought of leaving yonr congregation has all the truest marks of temptation that could be found; but God be praised that in this assault the keep is not yet surrendered nor (as I think) ready to surrender. Oh! my daughter, beware, be ware, of wanting to leave. There is no middle term between your leaving and your ruin; for do you not see that you will never leave save to live to yourself, of yourself, by yourself, and in yourself? And this so much the more dangerously for its being under pretext of union with God, who however neither desires nor ever will desire to have any union with those morose, self-seeking and singular solitaries, who leave their vocation, their vows, their congregations, through bitterness of heart, through vexation of spirit, and through a disgust with common life, with obedience, with rules and holy observance.

Do you not see Simeon Stylites so prompt to leave his pillar on the advice of the elders? — while you, my dear daughter, will not leave your abstinences on the advice of so many good people, who have no interest in wanting to make you leave them except to render you free and detached from love of self. Well then, my dear daughter, sing henceforth the canticle of love: Behold hoiv good and Jww pleasant it is for sisters to dwell together in unity! * Treat your temptation roughly; say to it: Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God: Get thee behind me, Satan: Thou shalt adore the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.^

I leave you to think for yourself, my dear daughter. To make genuflexions to the Blessed Sacrament, as if out of ill-humour, after the temptation — what greater mark of temptation can one have? The effect of in spirations is humble, sweet, tranquil and holy. How then can your inclination be an inspiration, when it is so ill-tempered, hard, sullen and disturbed? With draw yourself from it, my dear daughter; treat this temptation as one treats those of blasphemy, infidelity, heresy, despair: do not parley with it, do not come to terms with it, do not listen to it; contradict it, as far as ever you can, by frequent renewals, of your vows, by frequent submissions to your superior. Often call upon your good Angel; and I hope, my dear sister,

• Ps. cxxxii. i. t Matt. iv.

LET, XIL] Later Letters to Visitation. 1 89 that you will find the peace and sweetness of the love of your neighbour. Amen. I am writing to you without leisure; but do what I tell you. Sing in the choir ever more constantly in proportion as the temptation says, keep silence, after the example of that holy blind man. The peace of the Holy Spirit be with you.