Letter XXIX. To a Lady

Consolations on the illness of her husband.

i*]th February, 1620. With you, my dearest daughter, there is no need of ceremony: for God having made my heart so strongly locked to yours, there is nothing between us, I think. This is to explain why I write to you only these two words, keeping my leisure to write to others whom I must answer.

But what are these two words? Humility and Patience. Yes, my very dear child, and ever, indeed, dearer child, you are surrounded with crosses so long as your dear husband is poorly: now sacred love will tell you that, in imitation of the great lover, you must be on the cross with humility, as unworthy to suffer anything for him who has suffered so much for us, and with patience, not wishing to come down from the cross till after death, if it so please the Eternal Father.

O, my dearest daughter, commend me to this Divine lover, crucified and crucifying, that he may crucify my love and all my passions, in order that I may no longer love any but him, who for the love of our love has willed to be painfully but lovefully crucified.

My brother De Boisy, your host, is going to be made bishop, to succeed me, Madame and His Most Serene Highness having so wished it, without my either directly or indirectly having had anything to do with it. This makes me hope for a little repose, to write something or other about the Divine Lover, and his love, and to prepare myself for eternity.

My dearest daughter, I am beyond comparison the very humble servant of yourself, and of your husband, and of M. C, but above all, of your dear soul, which may God bless. Amen.