Letter XXXIII. To one of his Spiritual Daughters

Effects of self -love very different from those of fraternal charity.

Early in 1616.

When will this natural love, which rests on consanguinity, on propriety, on politeness, on similarity, on sympathy, on amiability, — be purified, and reduced to the perfect obedience of the simple pure love of the good pleasure of God? When will this self-love no longer desire exterior presence, testimonies and signs, but will remain fully satisfied with the invariable and immutable assurance that God gives it of his perpetuity. What can presence add to a love which God produces, sustains and preserves? What marks of perseverance

• This letter corresponds, word by word, with a part of Conference XII.

can be required in a unity which God has created? Distance and presence will never add anything to the solidity of a love, which God has himself formed.

When shall we all be steeped in gentleness and sweetness towards our neighbour? When shall we see the souls of our neighbour in the sacred bosom of our Saviour? Ah! he who sees his neighbour outside this, runs the risk of not loving him purely, nor constantly, nor equally; but there, in that place, who would not love him, who would not bear with him? Who would not suffer his imperfections? Who would find him ill-favoured? Who would find him tiresome? Well, my dearest child, this neighbour is really there on the bosom and the breast of this amiable Saviour, and he is there so loved, and so love-able that the lover dies of love for him, a lover whose love is in his death, and death in his love.