Letter XVII. To a Young Lady

The Saint exhorts her to keep her good resolutions. The best afflictions are those which humble us. Means to acquire fervour in prayer.

Mademoiselle, — I will gladly keep the copy of your vow, and God will keep the fulfilment of it. He was its author, and he will be its keeper. I will often make for this end St. Augustine's prayer: Alas! Lord, here is a little chicken hidden under the wings of your grace: if it gets out of the shadow of its mother the kite will seize it. Let it then live by the help and protection of the grace which brought it forth. But look, my sister, you must not even think whether this resolution will be lasting; this must be held as so certain and settled that there can no longer be any doubt of it.

You do me a great favour in telling me a word about your inclinations. However slight these may be, they injure our soul, when they are ill regulated. Keep them in check, and do not think them of small account; for they are of much weight, in the scales of the sanctuary.

The desire to avoid occasions is not to be gratified in this matter; for it makes us give up real earnestness in fighting. This latter is a necessity, while the former is impossible; moreover, where there is no danger of mortal sin, we must not flee, but must conquer all our enemies, and keep on, not losing heart, even if sometimes beaten.

Yes, truly, my dear daughter, expect from me all that you can expect from a true father; for I have, indeed, just such affection for you; you will know it as we advance, God helping.

So then, my good daughter, here you are afflicted, in just the proper way to serve God. Afflictions without abjection often puff the heart up instead of humbling it, but when we suffer evil without honour, or when dishonour itself, contempt and abjection are our evil, what occasions have we of exercising patience, humility, modesty, and sweetness of heart!

The glorious St. Paul rejoiced, and with a holy, and glorious humility, in that he and his companions were esteemed as the sweepings and rakings of the world. You have still, you tell me, a very lively sense of injuries; but, my dear daughter, this u still," what does it refer to? Have you already done much in conquering those enemies? I mean by this to remind you that we must have good courage and a good heart to do better in the future, since we are only beginning, though we have a good desire to do well.

In order to become fervent in prayer, desire very much to be so, willingly read the praises of prayer, which are given in many books, in Granada, the beginning of Bellintam, and elsewhere; because the appetite for food makes us very pleased to eat it.

You are very happy, my child, in having devoted yourself to God. Do you remember what St. Francis said when his father stripped him before the Bishop of Assisi? " Now, therefore, I can well say: ( Our father who art in heaven/ " David says: My father and mother have left me, but the Lord has taken me up* Make no apology for writing to me, there is no need, since I am, so willingly, devoted to your soul. May God bless it with his great blessings and make it all his!

Amen.