Letter VII. To a Lady

He points out to her remedies against impatience in the accidental troubles of a household.

My dearest Daughter, — Whenever I can manage it you shall have a letter from me: but at present I write to you the more readily, because M. Moyron, my present bearer, is my nearest neighbour in this town, my great friend and ally, by whom, on his return, you will be able to write to me in all confidence, and if the picture of Mother (St.) Teresa is finished, he will take it, pay for it, and bring it, as I have asked him to do.

But, my daughter, I fancy I did not tell you exactly, in my last letter, what I wanted, concerning your little but frequent impatiences in the accidents of your housekeeping. I tell you, then, that you must pay special attention to this, and that you must keep yourself gentle in them, and that when you get up in the morning, or leave prayer, or return from Mass or Communion, and always when you return to these domestic affairs, you must be attentive to begin quietly. Every now and then you must look at your heart, to see if it is in a state of gentleness: and if it is not, make it so before all things; and if it is you must praise God, and use it in the affairs which present themselves with a special care not to let it get disturbed.

You see, my daughter, those who often eat honey find bitter things more bitter and sour things more sour, and are easily disgusted with coarse meats: your soul, often occupying itself with spiritual exercises which are sweet and agreeable to the spirit, when it returns to corporal matters, exterior and material, finds them very rough and disagreeable; and so it easily gets impatient; and therefore, my dear daughter, you must consider in these exercises the will of God, which is there, and not the mere thing which is done.

Often invoke the unique and lovely dove of the celestial spouse, that he would impetrate for you a true dove's heart; and that you may be a dove, not only when flying in prayer, but also inside your nest, and with all those who are around you. God be for ever in the midst of your heart, my dear child, and make you one same spirit with him!

I salute through you the good mother and all the Carmelite sisters, imploring the aid of their prayers. If I knew that our dear Sister Jacob were there, I would salute her also, and her little Francon; as I do your Magdalen, who is also mine.

Vive Jesus.