Letter XXVI. To an Out-slster of the Visitation

Nothing is little in God's service; lut her office has a peculiar importance.

2nd August 1621.

MY VERY DEAR DAUGHTER — I am extremely glad to know that you have stayed in the more particular service of Our Lord, in the house of his most holy Mother, in a condition that I consider one of great profit. 1 ham chosen to be abject, says the prophet,! in the house of my God, rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of the great, who are often not so good. You have been happy in having hitherto served God in the person of a mistress of whom God is master, and with whom you have had all kinds of opportunities of spiritual profit; but you are still more happy to go and serve this same

• Matt. vi. 31. t Ps. Ixxxiii. II,

LET. XXVIL] Later Letters to Visitation. 217

Lord in the person of those who, to serve him better, have quitted all things.

It is a great honour, my dear daughter, to be charged with the protection of a house wholly composed of spouses of Our Lord; for whoever guards the doors, " turns," and parlours of monasteries, guards the peace, tranquillity, and devotion of the house, and moreover can greatly edify those who have need to go to the monastery. There is nothing small in the service of God; but it seems to me that this charge of the turn is of very great importance and exceedingly useful to those who exercise it with humility and spiritualmindedness.

I thank you for the communication which you have made to me of your contentment, and pray you to salute Mesdames de Moignon, and, when you see her, Madame de Villeneuve. Your humble brother and servant, &c.