Letter XXVI. To Madame de Chantal

The difference between putting and keeping ourselves in the presence of God.

1 6th January, 1610. My dearest Child, — Your manner of prayer is good: only be very careful to remain near God in this gentle and quiet attention of heart, and in this sweet slumber in the arms of his holy will; for all this is agreeable to him.

Avoid violent application of the understanding, because it hurts you, not only in other matters, but even in prayer, and work round about your dear object with your affections quite simply, and as gently as ever you can. It cannot be but that the understanding will make some dartings (elancements) to bring itself in; and you must not busy yourself to keep on your guard against it, for that would form a distraction; but when you perceive it, be satisfied with returning to the simple act of the will.

To keep ourselves in the presence of God, and to place ourselves in the presence of God, are, in my opinion, two things: for, to place ourselves there it is necessary to recall our minds from every other object, and to make it attentive to this presence actually, as I say in the book;* but after placing ourselves, we keep ourselves there so long as we make, either by under-

• Introduction, ii. 2.

standing or by will, acts towards God, whether by-looking at him, or looking at some other thing for love of him; or looking at nothing, but speaking to him; or, neither looking nor speaking, but simply-staying where he has put us, like a statue in its niche. And when there is added to this simple staying some feeling that we belong all to God, and that he is our all, we must indeed give thanks to his goodness. If a statue which had been placed in a niche in some room could speak, and was asked: — why are you there? it would say: — -because the statuary, my master, has put me here. Why don/t you move? Because he wants me to remain immovable. What use are you there, what do you gain by being so? It is not for my profit that I am here, it is to serve and obey my master. But you do not see him. No, but he sees me, and takes pleasure in seeing me where he has put me. But would you not like to have movement, to go nearer to him? Certainly not, except when he might command me. Don't you want anything, then? No; for I am where my master has placed me, and his good-pleasure is the unique contentment of my being.

My God! daughter, what a good prayer it is, and good way to keep in the presence of God, to keep ourselves in his will and in his good pleasure! I think that Magdalen was a statue in her niche, when withr out speaking a word, without moving, and perhaps without looking at him, she listened to what our Lord said, seated at his feet; when he spoke she heard;

334 Sti Francis de Sales.

when he paused from speaking, she ceased to listen, and still stayed ever there.

A little child which is on the bosom of its sleeping mother is truly in its good and desirable place, though it says no word to her nor she to it.

My God! how glad I am, my child, to speak a little of these things with you! How happy we are when we will to love our Lord! Let us, then, love him well, let us not set ourselves to consider too exactly what we do for his love, provided we know that we will to do nothing but for his love. For my part, I think we keep ourselves in the presence of God even while sleeping: for we go to sleep in his sight, by his will, and at his pleasure; and he puts us there like statues in a niche; and when we wake we find that he is there near us, he has not moved any more than we: we have then kept in his presence, but with our eyes shut and closed.

Now I am wanted: good night, my dear sister, my child, you will have news of me as often as possible.

Be sure the first word I wrote you was very true, that God had given me to you: the assurance of it becomes every day stronger in my soul. May this great God be for ever our all. I salute my dear little daughter, my sister, and all the household. Keep firm, dear child; doubt not; God holds you with his hand, and will never leave you. Glory be to him for ever and ever! Amen.

Vive Jesus, and his most holy mother! Amen! and praised be the good father, St. Joseph! God bless you with a thousand benedictions!

Various Letters. $35