Letter XXVIII. To Mother de Chantal

Thoughts of the greatness of God: directions as to her stay in Paris and the reciting of the Office: for many things there is no need to obtain express leave from Rome; the Saint's wishes as to the grille and the plan of his monasteries.

0 MY dear mother, God knows how joyful I was this morning to find my God so great that I could not even

• Rom. iv. 17. t Ps. liv. 9.

LET. XXVIIL] Later Letters to Visitation. 2 1 9 imagine his greatness! But since I am able neither to magnify it nor to increase it, I greatly desire, by God's help, to proclaim everywhere his grandeur and his immensity. Meantime let us sweetly hide our littleness in this greatness; and as a little chicken, covered over with the wings of its mother, lies so warm and safe, let us lay our hearts to rest under the sweet and love-full Providence of Our Lord, and warmly shelter ourselves under his holy protection. I have had many other good thoughts, but rather by manner of outflowing of heart into Eternity and the Eternal One than by manner of reasoning.

God be praised that you are in your house. The difficulties that you have had over getting in, will confirm your staying there, according to the method which it pleases God to employ in his service.

I judge that it is expedient you should come back, with a sincere resignation to return to where you now are when the service of God shall require it; for it be hoves thus to live a life exposed to trouble, since we are children of the trouble and death of Our Saviour. But you must not hurry yourself; because, as you say, the winter will not hinder your journey, as it is necessary that you should stay a little amongst your daughters who are in France.

Alas! how do I affectionately deplore this absolute separation which takes this poor girl away from us, to remain at the mercy of the world. I can, however, do no more.

As to the Office, I am told that objection was made because for the chief feasts there were appointed the Psalms of Our Lady, with the chapter, verses, and prayer of the day. How subtle these objections are!

The Fathers of the Oratory do far more; and in Italy many bishops have entirely composed the Offices of the Saints of their Churches. But it cannot be helped; we must let people talk as they choose; and to make all as smooth as we can, we must therefore simply say the Office of the Blessed Virgin, and at the end add a commemoration of the day; for against this there is nothing to be said.

We have obtained from Rome the continuation of the Little Office for a further ten years, after the expiry of the seven which we had already. My agent says that it is wrong to apply to Rome for things in which it can be avoided, and some Cardinals have said the same: for, say they, there are things which have no need of authorisation, because they are lawful, which when authorisation is asked for are examined in a different way. And the Pope is very glad that custom should authorise many things which he does not wish to authorise himself on account of consequences. But of this we will talk on your return.

I have had made here a beautiful plan for a monastery, which I will send you on the first chance; he who drew it is a very good artist, and has made it from the descriptions of monasteries which St. Charles got made, though accommodating himself to the Visitation. I think we must make as soon as we can, according to the convenience of places, all the monas teries so; and the lattice work always very close, and the wooden bars distant from the grilles; for it is a great satisfaction to talk in the parlours without anxiety. A rail must also be put behind the grille of the choir in the same way as in the parlour.

I am expecting M. Crichant, whom I will embrace

LET. xxix.] Later Letters to Visitation. 221 with all my heart. May God bless you, my dear mother, and sanctify you ever more and more! I am for ever, my dear mother, yours, as you know.