Letter XXXV. To a Lady

We should not refrain from speaking of God when it may be useful. It is not being a hypocrite to speak better than we act. Advice for a person in society.

Annecy, 26th April, 161 7.

I answer your letter of the 1 4th, my dearest daughter, i°. Tell that dear B. Marie, who loves me so much, and whom I love even more, to speak freely of God wherever she may think it will be useful, quite indifferent as to what those who hear her may think or say of her. In a word, I have already told her that she must do nothing and say nothing for the sake of! being praised, nor omit to say or do anything for fear of being praised. And it is not to be a hypocrite not to do as well as we speak; for, Lord God! where should we be? I should have to be silent for fear of being a hypocrite, since if I spoke of perfection it would follow that I should think myself perfect. No, certainly, my dear child, I do not think myself perfect when I talk of perfection, any more than 1 think myself an Italian when I talk Italian: but I think I know the language of perfection, having learned it from those with whom I have conversed, who spoke it.

2°. Tell her she may powder her hair, since her intention is right; for the fancies she has about it are not at all to be considered. You must not entangle your spirit in these cobwebs. The hair of the soul of this daughter is even more scant than that of her head; this is why she embarrasses herself. We must not be so punctilous, nor occupy ourselves with so many reflections; this is not what our Lord wants. Tell her then to walk in good faith, by the middle path of the lovely virtues of simplicity and humility; and not by the extremes of these subtleties of discussion and consideration. Let her boldly powder her head; for even respectable pheasants powder their plumage for fear of insects. #

30. She need not lose the sermon, or any good work for want of saying: make haste; but let her say it gently and quietly. If she is at table, and the Blessed Sacrament passes, let her accompany it in spirit, if there are other people at table with her j if there is no one, she may accompany it if, without hurry, she can get there in time; and then let her return quietly to take her refection; for our Lord did not wish that even Martha should serve him with a troubled eagerness.

31. I have told her that she may speak strongly and decidedly when required, to keep in order the person she knows of; but I have reminded her that strength is more effective when it is quiet, and is

• We are unable to express in English the fineness of the irony, the persuasiveness of the hidden argument, or the simplicity of the Saint's language, " Quelle poudre hardiment sa tete; car les faisans gentils poudrent bien lews pennages, de peur que les poux ne sy engendrent."

allowed to spring from reason, without mixture of passion.

50. The society of the twelve cannot be bad, for the exercise which it uses is good; but this B. M., who wishes to have no perhaps, must suffer it here, and must let us say, that perhaps this is a good society; being in no way certified by any prelate, nor by any person worthy of faith, we cannot be assured that it has been properly instituted; the little book which says so, alleges neither author nor witness to prove it. Still, that is good which cannot harm and may profit.

6°. Let her practise prayer, either by points, as we have said, or after her own custom, it matters little: but we distinctly remember telling her just to prepare the points, and to try at the beginning of prayer to relish them; if she relish them it is a sign that at least for that time, God wants her to follow this method. If, however, the sweet customary presence engages her afterwards, let her entertain it; let her also enter into the colloquies which God himself suggests, and which, as she explains them to me in your letter, are good; still she must sometimes also speak to this great All, so that our nothing may do the part. Well, as you read our books, I will add nothing, save to tell you to go simply, sincerely, frankly, and with the naivete of children, sometimes in the arms of the heavenly Father, sometimes holding his hand.

I am glad that my books have found entrance into your soul, which was so bold as to think that it sufficed for itself; but they are the books of that father and of that heart whose dear daughter you are, since it has so pleased God, to whom be honour and glory for ever.