Letter XL. To Mademoiselle de Traves

The Saint removes two scruples which she had.

4th July, 1620. It is the truth that not only are you my very dear daughter, but it is the truth that every day you are more so in my love. And, God be praised because he has not only created in my heart an affection for you really more than paternal, but also because he has placed in your heart the assurance you ought to have of this. And, indeed, my dearest daughter, when in writing to me you say sometimes, your dearest daughter loves you, and when you speak to me in that quality, I confess that I receive an excellent satisfaction from it. Believe it, and say truly, I pray you, that you are assuredly my dearest child, and never doubt it. What you said to save a little temporal good was not a lie, but only an inadvertence, so that at most there could only be a venial sin, and as you describe the case to me, there would even seem to be no sin at all, as there was no question of injustice to your neighbour.^

• The Saint does not say that a lie would be no sin if it did no harm to our neighbour, but that we might plead inadvertence with more probability, when there was no question of serious consequences.— {Translator s Note.)

Make no scruple, either little or great, in communicating before holy Mass, above all where there is so good a cause as you mention; but even if there were not, still there would not be the merest shadow of sin.

And keep your soul always in your hands, my dearest daughter, to preserve it well for him who having ransomed it for you alone deserves to possess it. May he be for ever blessed! Amen. Truly I am very faithfully yours in him, and the very humble servant of yourself, and of your dear sister, and of all your house.