Letter XII. To the Same

Fresh counsels on the same subject.

How grieved am I, my dearest daughter, not to have received your last letter; but our dear Madame N. having told me the state of your affairs, I tell you from my heart, from a heart which is entirely devoted to yours, that you must not be obstinately set on going to law; you will spend your time in this uselessly, and your heart also, which is worse.

Faith given to you has been broken: he who has broken it has all the more sin. Do you wish, on that account, to engage yourself in so ill an occupation as that of a wretched lawsuit? You will be but poorly revenged, if after having suffered this wrong, you lose your tranquillity, your time, and the peace of your interior.

You could not show greater courage than in despising insults. Happy they who are left free at the cost of the less trying ones! Exclaim as S. Francis did when his father rejected him, " Ah! I will say then with more confidence, Our Father who art in heaven, as I have no longer one on earth." And you; ah! I will say with more confidence: my spouse, my love, who is in heaven.

Preserve your peace, and be content with Divine Providence, which brings you back to the port from which you were departing. As you were intending to act, instead of a prosperous voyage you might have perhaps met with a great shipwreck. Receive this advice from a friend who cherishes you very purely and very sincerely; and I pray God to load you with blessings. In haste, I salute our dear sister.