Letter I. To the Abbess of Purrs D'orbe

Consolation on losing Madame de Chantal: weakness is not to discourage her, if the will be good. Advice on certain points in the management of her community. Assurances of affection.

SALES, zoth April 1611.

WELL now, my dear sister, my daughter, I am going to write to you as fully as I can on the subject of your letter, which has been handed to me by the sister whom you love so much, and who reciprocally cherishes you with all her heart.

It is true we have her at last, this dear sister, but still it is not I who have taken her away from you, it is God who has given her to us, as the result will with God's help make clear. I have no doubt that that little conversation which you had together at Bourbilly was very sweet to you; for it is a happy thing when two souls meet who love one another only in order to love God better; but it was impossible that this sensible presence should last long, because our common Master wants the one there and the other here for his service. But we do not cease to be ever joined and united, for we keep with one another by the common aim or undertaking that we have.

I am very glad that you fail but little in the exer cises which I have appointed you; for this shows that those faults which you commit do not come from unfaithfulness but from weakness; and weakness is not a great evil, provided that a faithful determination put it right little by little, as I conjure you to do, my dear daughter, as regards your own weakness; with out at all distressing yourself because ordinarily you have neither feeling nor relish in any of your exercises: for Our Lord does not require this from us, nor does it depend on ourselves to have it or to have it not.

So we must build on solid ground, and consider whether our will is fully delivered from evil affections, such as hardness of heart towards our neighbour, impatience, contempt of others, too strong affection for creatures, and the like. And if we have no reserve as to being all God's, if we have the determination rather to die than offend him, so long as these are the reso lutions of our hearts and we feel them ever stronger in us, there is nothing to fear, and no cause to be troubled at not having sweetness or devout feelings.

Now we have a good proof of the strengthening of these dear resolutions, in that by the grace of God you have persevered in keeping to what I told you in confession, as you assure me; for this is worth a hundred thousand spiritual sweetnesses. Thus then do always.

I will say the Mass that you ask me, though I never eay one which is not very expressly yours; but I can-

UZT. L] Further Letters Outside Visitation. 265 not recall to mind the subject which you say I know — there is no need to do so.

If Madame Thenie'e continues unwilling to submit, you will have no part in her fault; meantime I rejoice that the rest of our articles are kept. And as for the one who will not accommodate herself to the community, you must bear with her, and show kindness towards her, and God will bring her round to the way of the others.

And so, my dear daughter, the multitude of diffi culties terrified you, and you had thoughts of giving it all up; meantime you have found that all is done: it will be the same with all the rest, perseverance will overcome everything.

As to the pensions, they are rightly in your hands, as no one else can look after them; but you may well get one of your daughters to keep account of them. You made me smile when you wrote that you would have given their pensions to each of the religious if you had not feared that I should be cross with you. Oh! my dear daughter, when did you ever see me cross with you? I am, however, very glad that there is some little fear of displeasing a poor miserable father, for truly you will never displease me, my dear daughter, save when you displease Our Lord, and withdraw your self from his pure and holy love.

You really must go to Chapter, spite of all the repugnance you may feel, and after the reading of the rule you must say something, be it merely — May God give us the grace to observe what has been read.

At Corpus Christi I see no difficulty about having the procession round the cloister, for this does not create a precedent on account of the greatness of the solemnity.

Alas! my daughter, if nobody worked for souls except those who have no difficulty in their exercises and who are perfect, you would have no father in me; we are not to give up consoling others because we are in perplexity ourselves. How many good doctors are there who are far from being in good health, and how many beautiful paintings are made by ugly painters? When therefore your daughters come to you, tell them simply and with charity what God may inspire you with, and do not send them away from you empty.

You do well thus to get Fathers Minim to come from time to time, for that will enlarge the hearts of your daughters, and will comfort their souls. I am grieved, with you, at the dislike which they have for your ordinary chaplain, but the introduction of the Minims can supply for all this, since, as you say, it is hard to find priests properly qualified, and this one is fairly capable. And now, my dear sister, my very dear daughter, you must take up your former courage, and rather die than give in.

Keep as much as you can with your daughters; for your absence can only give them occasions for murmuring; and nothing can so much sweeten their subjection to rule as your own, nothing can so well keep them in the enclosure of observance as to see you there with them; and it is in this that we must crucify ourselves for him who was crucified for us. How happy will you be if you dearly love your little flock — for after the love of God that holds the first rank.

I will write to you whenever I can and as much as

LET.H.] Further Letters Outside Visitation. 267

I can; and changelessly will I persevere in the affection which I have once with such goodwill given to you. Remain firm in this belief, for it is, with God's help, infallible. No, neither death, nor things present, nor those to come, shall ever separate rue from that love which I bear you in Jesus Our Lord, to whom be honour and glory. Your, &c.

But look, my dear daughter, what I say to you I recommend to you very decidedly, for your sister has told me you want me to speak so. My dear sister, assure all your good and well-beloved sisters and daughters that I honour and cherish them very greatly, particularly Madame your very dear sister, and I am grieved that I cannot write to them now. And to humble you yet a little, salute from me M. Lafon and those good daughters who are serving God in the per son of his servants; for all this is dear to me.