Letter II. To an Aunt

Consolations on the death of her husband. The perfection of true friendship is only found in Paradise.

Madam my Aunt, — Did I not know that your virtue can give you the consolations and resolutions necessary to support with Christian courage the loss which you have had, I should try to give you some reasons for it in this letter: if it were required I would bear them to you myself. But I consider that you have so much charity and fear of God that, seeing his good pleasure and holy will, you will conform yourself to it, and will soften your sorrow by the consideration of the evil of this world, which is so miserable that but for our frailty we should rather praise God when he takes from it our friends than trouble ourselves about it. It is necessary that all, one after another, should quit it in the order which is appointed; and the first are the best off, when they have lived with care of their salvation and soul, like my uncle and elder, whose actions have been so agreeable and profitable to all his friends, that we, who have been the most familiar and intimate, cannot refrain from much regretting the separation. Such sorrow is not forbidden us provided that we moderate it by the hope which we have of not

K remaining separated, but in a little time of following him to heaven, the place of our repose, God giving us this grace. There shall we form and enjoy without end good and Christian friendships, which in this world we have only begun. This is the chief thought our friends departed require from us, in which thought I beg you to keep yourself, leaving inordinate sorrow for souls which have not such hopes. Meanwhile, Madam my aunt, I have such love for the memory of the departed, and for your service, that you will greatly increase the obligation I am under if you do me the honour to command me in all liberty, and to employ me in all assurance. Do this, I beseech vou with all my heart, and I beg our Lord to increase in you his holy consolations, and to fill you with the graces which are wished you by your, &c.