Letter XXXVII. To a Lady

We must not stretch our curiosity so far as to wish to know what is, after death, the fate of a person we have much loved.

My dearest Mother, — Having received your letter and message, I will tell you that I know distinctly the qualities of your heart, and above all its ardour and strength in loving and cherishing what it loves; it is this which makes you speak so much to our Lord of this dear departed, and which impels you to these desires of knowing where he is.

But, my dear mother, we must repress these longings which proceed from the excess of this amorous passion: and when you surprise your mind in this occupation, you must immediately, and even with vocal prayers, return to our Lord, and say to him this or the like: O Lord, how sweet is your providence! how good is your mercy! Ah! how happy is this child to have fallen into your fatherly arms, where he cannot but have good, wherever he is!

Yes, my dear mother: for you must take great care to think of no other place than Paradise or Purgatory; thank God, there is no cause to think otherwise. Draw back, then, thus your mind, and afterwards turn it to actions of love towards our Lord crucified.

When you recommend this child to the Divine Majesty, say to him simply: Lord, I recommend to you the child of my womb: but much more the child of your mercy, born of my blood, but born again of yours. And then pass on; for if you permit your soul to amuse itself with this object, adapted and agreeable to its senses and to its inferior and natural powers, it will never be willing to tear itself away; and under pretence of prayers of piety, it will give itself up to certain natural complacencies and satisfactions, which will deprive you of the time for employing yourself with the supernatural and sovereign object of your love. You must certainly moderate these ardours of natural affection, which only serve to trouble our mind and distract our heart.

So, then, now, my dearest mother, let us withdraw our mind into our heart, and bring it to its duty of loving God most solely: and let us allow it no frivolous self-busy iog, either about what passes in this world or' what passes in the other; but having served out to creatures what we owe them of love and charity let us refer all to that primary, mastering love which we owe to our Creator, and let us conform ourselves to his Divine will. I am, very affectionately, my dear mother, your most faithful and affectionate child, &c.