Letter XXII. To one of his Sisters

To avoid eagerness in devotion, and tojjractise mortifications which come of themselves.

20th July, 1607.

Madam my dearest Sister, — It is impossible for me to restrain myself from writing to you at all opportunities which present themselves. Do not worry yourself;

no, believe me, practise serving our Lord with a gentleness full of strength and zeal: that is the true method of this service. Wish not to do all, but only something, and without doubt you will do much.

Practise the mortifications which oftenest present themselves to you; for this is the thing we must do first; after that we will do others. Often kiss in spirit the crosses which our Lord has himself placed on your shoulders. Do not look whether they are of a precious or fragrant wood; they are truer crosses, when they are of vile, abject, worthless wood. It is remarkable that this always comes back to my mind, and that I know only this song. Without doubt, my dear sister, it is the canticle of the Lamb: it is a little sad, but it is harmonious and beautiful. My father, be it not as I will but as thou wilt*

Magdalen seeks our Lord while she has him: she demands him from himself. Wherefore she is not content to see him thus, and seeks him to find him

• Matt. xxvi. 39.

otherwise: she wanted to see him in his glorious dress, and not in a gardener's vile dress; but still at last she knew it was he, when he said: Mary.

Look now, my dear sister, my child, it is our Lord in gardener's dress that you meet here and there every day in the occasions of ordinary mortifications, which present themselves to you. You would like him to offer you other and finer mortifications. O God, the finest are not the best. Do you not think he says Mary, Mary 1 No: before you see him in his glory, he wishes to plant in your garden maDy flowers, little and lowly, but to his liking: that is why he is dressed so. May our hearts be ever united to his and our wills to his good pleasure. I am, without end and without measure, my dear sister, your, &c.

Have good courage, be not afraid, only let us oe God's, for Go'd is ours. Amen.