Letter XXXVIII. To a Lady

On the too great fear of death.

jth April, 1617. Madam, — On this first opportunity which I have of writing to you, I keep my promise, and present you some means for softening the fear of death which gives you such great terrors in your sicknesses and childbearings: in this there is no sin, but still there is damage to your heart, which cannot, troubled by this passion, join itself so well by love with its God, as it would do if not so much tormented.

1 °. Then, I assure you, that if you persevere in the exercise of devotion, as I see you do, you will find yourself, by little and little, much relieved of this torment; so that your soul, thus exempt from evil affections, and uniting itself more and more with God, will find itself less attached to this mortal life, and to the empty satisfactions which it gives.

Continue, then, the devout life, as you have begun, and go always from well to better in the road in which you are; and you will see that after some time these errors will grow weak, and will not trouble you so much.

2°. Exercise yourself often in the thoughts of the great sweetness and mercy with which God our Saviour receives souls in their death, when they have trusted themselves to him in their life, and have tried to serve and love him, each one in his vocation. How good art thou, Lord, to them that are of a right heart.

3°. Often lift up your heart by a holy confidence, mingled with a profound humility to ward sour Redeemer; saying: / am miserable, Lord, and you will receive my misery into the bosom of your mercy, and you will draw me, with your paternal hand, to the enjoyment of your inheritance. I am frail, and vile, and abject: but you will love me in that day, because I have hoped in you, and have desired to he yours.

4°. Excite in yourself as much as possible the love of Paradise and of the celestial life, and make some considerations on this subject, which you will find sufficiently marked in the Introduction to the Devout Life, in the meditations on the glory of heaven and the choice of Paradise: for in proportion as you esteem eternal happiness, will you have less fear for leaving this mortal and perishable life.

5°. Read no books or parts of books in which death, and judgment, and hell, are spoken of: for, thanks to God, you have quite resolved to live in a Christian manner, and have no need to be pushed to it by motives of terror and fear.

6°. Often make acts of love towards our Lady, the Saints, and the Angels: make yourself familiar with them, often addressing them words of praise and love; for having much intercourse with the citizens of the divine, heavenly Jerusalem, it will trouble you less to quit those of the earthly or lower city of the world.

7°. Often adore, praise and bless the most holy death of our Lord crucified, and place all your trust in his merit, by which your death will be made happy, and often say: 0 divine death of my sweet Jesus, thou shalt bless mine and it shall be blessed; I bless thee and thou shalt bless me. 0 death more dear than life! Thus St. Charles, in his last illness had placed in his sight the picture of Christ's Tomb, and of his prayer in the garden, to console himself in this article of death by the death and passion of his Redeemer.

8°. Reflect sometimes, how that you are daughter of the Church, and rejoice in this; for the children of this mother who are willing to live according to her laws always die happily; and as says the blessed Mother (St.) Teresa, it is a great consolation at death to have been a child of Holy Church.

90. Finish all your prayers in hope, saying: Lord, thou art my hope, my soul trusteth in thee* My God, who hath hoped in thee and hath been confounded?f In thee, 0 Lord, have I hoped, let me never be confound.% In your ejaculatory prayer during the day, and in receiving the Blessed Sacrament, use always words of love and hope towards our Lord, such as: You are my Father, 0 Lord! 0 God! you are the Spouse of my soul, the King of my love and the well beloved of my soul. 0 good Jesus! you are my dear master, my help, my refuge.

io°. Consider often that the persons whom you love most, and to be separated from whom would trouble you, are the persons with whom you will be eternally in heaven: for instance, your husband, your little John, your father: Oh! this little boy, who will be, God helping, one day happy in that eternal life, in which he will enjoy my happiness, and rejoice over it; and I shall enjoy his, and rejoice over it, and we shall never more be separated! So of your husband, your

• Pf. lvi. 2. f Ecclus ii. n.

% Ps. xxx. 1.

father, and others. You will find it all the more easy because all your dearest serve God and fear him. And because you are a little melancholy, see in the Introduction what I say of sadness and the remedies against it.

Here, my dear lady, you have what I can say on this subject for the present. I say it to you with a heart very affectionate towards yours, which I beg to love me and to recommend me often to the Divine mercy, as in return I will not cease to pray it to bless you. Live happy and joyous in heavenly love, and I am your, &c.