Letter XIX. To a Lady

We must labour to perfect ourselves in our state. Advice on Confession and Communion.

Madam my dear Sister, — The confidence you have in me gives me continual consolation, and still I am grieved not to be able to correspond so well by letter as I would wish: but our Lord, who loves you, makes up by the great helps you have there.

I approve that in prayer you keep yourself still a little to method, preparing your mind by studying and disposing points, though without further use of the imagination than is necessary to concentrate the mind.

I know well, indeed, that when by good hap we find God, it is good to occupy ourselves in looking at him, and to rest in him; but, my dear daughter, to expect always to find him thus unsought and without preparation, I do not think that this is yet good for us, who are still novices, and who have need rather to consider the virtues of the Crucifix one after the other and in detail than to admire them wholesale and summarily.

But if, after having applied our spirit to this humble preparation, God still gives us no sweetnesses and savours, then we must keep patiently eating our bread dry, and pay our duty without present reward.

I am consoled to know the chance you have of confessing to the good father Gentil. I know him well by reputation, and know what a good and careful servant he is of our Lord; you will then do well to continue your confessions to him, and to take the good counsels he will give you according to your needs.

I would not wish you, madam, to train your daughter to so frequent communion, unless she is able properly to understand what this frequent communion is. To discern communion from other participations is different from discerning between frequent communion and rare communion. If this little soul fully discerns that to frequent holy communion she must have great purity and fervour, and if she aspires after these and is careful to cultivate them, in that case I consider that she may be let approach often, that is, every fortnight. But if she has ardour only for communion, and not for the mortification of the little imperfections of youth, I think it would suffice to let her confess every week, and communicate once a month. My dear child, I think communion is the great means for attaining

Variotts Letters. 319 perfection, but it must be received with the desire and the care to take away from the heart all that displeases him whom we wish to lodge there.

Persevere in thoroughly conquering yourself in these small daily contradictions you receive; make the bulk of your desires about this; know that God wishes nothing from you at present but that. Busy not yourself then in doing anything else: do not sow your desires in another's garden> but cultivate well your own. Do not desire not to be what you are, but desire to be very well what you are; occupy your thoughts in making that perfect, and in bearing the crosses, little or great, which you will meet. And, believe me, this is the great truth, and the least understood in spiritual conduct.

Every one loves according to his taste; few love according to their duty and the taste of our Lord. What is the use of building castles in Spain, when we have to live in France? It is my old lesson, and you know it well; tell me, my dear child, if you practise it well.

I pray you, regulate your exercises, and have in them a great regard for the inclinations of your head. Laugh at those frivolous attacks whereby your enemy represents to you the world as if you were to return to it; laugh at them, I say, as nonsense; there must be no answer to them, but that of our Saviour: Get thee behind me, Satan! Thou shall not tempt the Lord thy God* My dear child, we are in the way of the

• Matt. iv.

saints, let us walk courageously, in spite of the difficulties which are therein.

I think I have satisfied all you want to know from me, who have no stronger desire than to serve you faithfully in this point.

I should much desire to see you; but it was not convenient that I should will it. God will perhaps dispose some means more proper for this: yes, I pray him, if it is for his glory, for which I will to will all.

May he ever live and reign in our souls! I am, madam, my dearest daughter and sister, your, &c.