Letter I. To a Lady

Consolations and advice to a person who had a lawsuit.

igth September, 1610. My dearest Daughter, — I know the multitude of your troubles, and have recommended them to our Lord. May it please him to bless them with the sacred benediction with which he has blessed his dearest servants, that they may be used for the hallowing of his holy name in your soul.

And I must confess that though, in my opinion, afflictions which regard our own persons, and the afflictions which come from sins, are more trying, still the afflictions of lawsuits cause me more pity, because more dangerous for the soul. How many people have we seen at peace in the thorns of sicknesses and loss of friends, who lose interior peace in the worry of exterior lawsuits! And this is the reason, or rather the cause without reason: we have difficulty in believing that the evil of suits is employed by God for our trial, because we see that they are men who prosecute. We do not dare to resist that all-good, all-wise Providence, but we resist the men who afflict us, and we quarrel with them, not without danger of losing charity, the only loss we ought to fear in this life.

But then, my dearest daughter, when shall we show our fidelity to our Lord if not in these occasions? When shall we restrain our heart, our judgment, and our tongue, unless in these places, which are so rough and so near to precipices? For God's sake, my dearest daughter, let not a time so favourable to your spiritual progress pass without collecting plenty of fruits of patience, humility, sweetness, and love of abjection. Remember that our Lord said not a single word against those who condemned him. He did not judge them; he was wrongly judged and condemned, and he remained in peace, and died in peace, and revenged himself only in praying for them. And we, my dearest daughter, we judge our judges and our opponents; we arm ourselves with complaints and reproaches.

Believe me, my dearest daughter, we must be strong and constant in the love of our neighbours, and I say this with all my heart, without regard either to your opponents, or to what they are to me; and I know that nothing affects me in this matter save jealousy for your perfection. But I must stop, and I did not mean to say even so much. You will have God always, when you please. And is not this to be rich enough? I beg that his will may be your repose, and his cross your glory. I am without end, your, &c.