Letter I. To a Young Lady

Advice for acquiring true sweetness.

I pray God to bless your heart, my dear daughter, and I say to you these words according to my promise.

You should, every morning, before all things, pray God to give you the true sweetness of spirit he requires in souls which serve him, and resolve to exercise yourself well in that virtue, particularly towards the two persons to whom you are most bound.

You must undertake the task of conquering yourself in this matter, and remind yourself of it a hundred times a day, recommending to God this good design: for I do not see that you have much to do in order to subject your soul to the love of God, except to make it gentler from day to day, putting your confidence in his goodness. You will be blessed, my dearest daughter, if you do this; for God will dwell in the midst of your heart, and will reign there in all tranquillity.

But if you happen to commit some little failings, lose not courage: rather, put yourself straight again at once, neither more nor less than if you had not fallen.

This life is short, it is only given us to gain the other; and you will use it well if you are gentle towards those two persons, with whom God has placed you. Pray for, my soul, that God may draw it to himself.