Letter XLV. To one of his Sisters

The Saint exhorts her to live in a great conformity with our Lord.

My dearest Sister, — I am writing just to wish you good-night, and to keep you in assurance that I do not cease wishing a thousand thousand heavenly blessings to you, and to my brother; but particularly that of being ever transfigured in our Lord. Oh! how lovely is his face, and his eyes, how mild and wondrous in sweetness, and how good is it to be with him on the mount of glory! It is there, my dear * Cant, i. 12.

sister, my child, that we ought to lodge our desires and our affections, not on this earth, where there are but vain beauties and beautiful vanities. Well, now, thanks to this Saviour, we are on the slope of Mount Thabor, as we have firm resolutions to serve and love fully his divine goodness; we must then encourage ourselves to a holy hope. Let us ascend ever, my dearest sister, let us ascend without growing tired to this heavenly vision of the Saviour; let us withdraw ourselves, little by little, from earthly and base affections, and aspire after the happiness which is prepared for us.

I conjure you, my dear child, to beseech our Lord earnestly for me, that he would keep me henceforth in the paths of his will, that I may serve him in sincerity and fidelity. Look, my dear child, I desire either to die or to love God, either death or love: for life that is without this love, is infinitely worse than death. My God! dearest child, how happy shall we be, if we love well this sovereign goodness, which prepares us so many favours and benedictions.

Let us belong entirely to it, my dearest child, amid the many trials which the diversity of worldly things causes us. How would we better testify our fidelity than amid contrarieties! Ah! my dearest child, my sister, solitude has its dangers, the world has its snares, but everywhere we must have good courage, since everywhere the help of heaven is ready for those who have confidence in God, and who, with humility and sweetness, implore his paternal assistance.

Be on your guard not to let your carefulness turn to solicitude and anxiety; and though you are tossed on the waves and amid the winds of many troubles, always look up to heaven, and say to our Lord: O God, it is for you I voyage and sail: be my guide, and my pilot. Then comfort yourself in this, that when we are in port, the delights we shall have there will outbalance the labours endured in getting there. But we are on our way there, amid all these storms, if we have a right heart, good intention, firm courage^ our eyes on God, and in him all our trust.

And if the violence of the tempest sometimes disturbs our stomach, and makes our head swim a little, let us not be surprised; but, as soon as ever we can, let us take breath again, and encourage ourselves to do better. You continue to walk in our good resolutions, I am sure. Be not troubled, then, at these little attacks of disquiet and annoyance which the multiplicity of domestic affairs causes you; no, my dearest child, for this serves as an exercise to practise those most dear and lovely virtues which our Lord has recommended us. Believe me, true virtue does not thrive in exterior repose, anymore than good fish in the stagnant waters of a marsh. Vive Jesus '