Letter XXV. To A Lady

The Saint consoles her in the illness of her daughter and blames the excessive love of mothers for their children.

Annecy, S. Dominic's Day, 4th August, 1621. Madam, — I honour you and your daughter extremeJy, and am very pleased to contribute all that I have for your mutual content. To her, please God, I will give my counsel apart; but to you I give it now, assuring myself that your good nature will take it in good part.

Madam, it is possible for any love, except the love of God, to be too strong, and when too strong it is dangerous: it excites the passions of the soul, because being a passion, and the mistress of the passions, it agitates and troubles the spirit. For it is a disturbing force, and finding order it disorders all the economy of our affections.

Well, must we not think that the love of mothers for their children may be the same? Yea, and the more readily because it seems lawful, having the passport of natural inclination, and the excuse of the goodness of the fond heart of mothers.

We speak of you pretty often, the good Father N. and I, and with respect and lovingness: yet, — pardon me, please, — but when he tells me excitements and anxieties of your heart in regard of the illness of Madame de N., I cannot help thinking there is some excess. But now, if you find that I speak my mind too freely, and that I am wrong, what means of excusing myself can I find? At the same time I wish to lose nothing of your good will; for I too highly esteem it, and prize infinitely the heart from which it comes, and the spirit which gives it birth.

And, in general, I wish to say in a word that you have such power to move hearts, mine having felt the power of your spirit, and being quite subdued by it, that you have no need of help to move that of Madame de N. to whatever you please. I am sure that after the power of the Spirit of God, to which all must give way, yours will be in all cases the greatest. Live to

God, Madam, and to the most Holy Trinity, in whom I am; yours, &c.