Letter XVII. To a Lady

He blames one of his spiritual daughters, who, in speaking of him, said extravagant things in his praise.

22nd April, 161 8.

My dearest Daughter of my Heart, — Know that I have a daughter, who tells me that my departure has caused her an agony of pain; that if she did not restrain her eyes they would shed as many tears as the sky rains drops of water, to lament my departure, and such fine words. But she goes very much farther; for she says that I am not a man, but some divinity sent to be loved and admired; and, she adds this notable speech that she would go to much greater extremes if she dared.

What are you saying, my dearest daughter: does it seem to you that she is not wrong to speak so? Are not these extravagant words? Nothing can excuse them except the love which she bears me, which is indeed quite holy, but expressed in worldly terms.

Now, tell her, my dearest child, that we must never attribute, in one fashion or another, Divinity to frail creatures; and that to think of even going further in praise is an improper thought; or at least to say it is to say improper words; that she must have more care to avoid vanity in words than in hair or dress; that for the future her language must be

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45o St Francis de Sales.

plain and not frizzled (/rise). But still, tell it her so gently, amiably and holily, that she may take this reprimand well: it proceeds from my heart, which is more than paternal. This you know, being truly daughter most dear of my heart, and daughter in whom I have put full confidence. May God be for ever our love, my dearest daughter, and live in him and for him eternally. Amen.

A few years earliar the Saint had spoken to Madame de Chant al on a similar occasion, asfolloivs:

My daughter, I am but vanity, and yet I do not esteem myself as much as you esteem me. I greatly wish you knew me properly; you would not cease to have an absolute confidence in me, but you would scarcely esteem me. You would say: he is a reed on which God wants me to lean: I am perfectly safe, because God wills it so; the reed, however, is good for nothing.

Yesterday, after having read your letter, I walked two turns, with my eyes full of tears, at seeing what I am, and what I am thought to be. I see then that you esteem me, and methinks this esteem gives you much satisfaction r that, my child, is an idol. Still, be not troubled about this; for God is not offended by sins of the understanding, although we are bound to keep from them if possible. Your strong affections will grow calmer every day by frequent actions of indifference.