Letter XXXVIII. To Mother de Chantal

Directions about her journeys. Total abandonment to the divine will.

ANNECY, 22710? October 1622 [21?].

EXAMINE for yourself, my best and dearest Mother, I pray you, the letters sent herewith, and see whether there is a probability that you can without greatly incommoding yourself give this so much desired satisfaction to these dear souls; for if it can well be done, I for my part not only consent to it, but should most earnestly wish it, particularly if it is true that coming from Dijon to Montferrand you would be able to see your dear daughter on your way; and still more if coming from Montferrand to Lyons it were on your way to visit St. Estienne de Forez; and I own that it would be a consolation to me to have news of these new plants, which

• Rom. xii. 19. The Douay translation has Revenge not; the Latin ia non defendentea. [Tr.]

God methinks has planted with his hand for his greater honour and service.

I must tell you, my dear mother, that this morning, having a little solitude, I have made an incomparable act of resignation, but one which I cannot write, and which I reserve to tell you by word of mouth when God gives me the grace of seeing you. 0 how blessed are the souls which live by the will of God alone! Ah! if from the mere tasting a very little of it by a passing consideration one have so much spiritual sweetness in the depths of that heart which accepts this holy will, with all the crosses which it presents, what shall it be with souls all steeped in the union of this will? 0 God, what a blessing to make all our affections humbly and exactly subject to those of purest divine love! Thus have we spoken, thus have we determined; and our heart has for its sovereign law the greater glory of the love of God. Now the glory of this holy love consists in burning and consuming all that is not itself, to reduce and convert everything to and into itself. It exalts itself on our annihilation, and reigns on the throne of our servitude. Oh! my dearest mother, how my will expanded in this sentiment! May it please his divine goodness to continue in me this abundance of high courage for his honour and glory, and for the perfection and excellence of this most incomparable unity of hearts which it has pleased him to give us. Amen. Vive Jesus!

I beseech the Virgin Mary that she may keep you under the protection of her tender maternity, and your good Angel and mine that they may be your con ductors, to make you arrive prosperously as far as the welcome of the poor father so specially yours, and of

LET. xxxix.] Later Letters to Visitation. 241 your dear daughters, who will all await you with a thousand desires, and particularly myself, who am to you in Our Lord neither more nor less than yourself. May God be ever our all. I am in him more yours than I could say in this world: for there are no words for this love there.

Well then, I think that a good month, or five weeks, will give an account of all these journeys (but I am supposing all the time that there is no peril from soldiers on the roads of those countries): after which I will tell you why, and how, I have at present no chance of writing more, though I am well, thanks to God. On the one hand, this bearer urges me extremely, that he may be able to catch you at Dijon; on the other hand, I am pressed for other good affairs, which I cannot give up. All goes well here, and I am more and more your most humble, &c.