Letter XLIX. To a Superioress of the Visitation

Humility and sweetness the two chief virtues of a superior: " to ask nothing and refuse nothing " is the sum of the Saint's teaching.

IT is the truth, my very dear sister, my daughter, that you have greatly pleased me by the trouble which you have taken to write to me, since also, as I see, you are the one to whom God has disposed to have the charge of superior committed. You will be granted leisure to well prepare yourself, by an entire submission to heavenly Providence, and a perfect strengthening of heart to exercise yourself well in humility, and in sweetness or mildness of heart — the two dear wishes which Our Lord recommended to the Apostles whom he had destined to the superiorship of the universe.

Ask nothing and refuse nothing about all matters of the religious life; this is the holy indifference which will preserve you in the peace of your eternal Spouse, and it is the one only teaching that I want practised by all our sisters, whom my heart affectionately salutes, with yours, my dear daughter.