Letter V. To a Lady

How to behave in great sufferings.

My dear Daughter, — Let us leave meditation for a short time — it is only to spring better that we step back; and let us practise well that holy resignation and that pure love of our Lord, which is never entirely practised save in troubles; for to love God in sugar — little children would do as much; but to love him in wormwood, that is the test of our amorous fidelity. To say: Vive Jesus, on the mountain of Thabor, St. Peter, while still carnal, has quite courage enough; but to say: Vive Jesus, on Mount Calvary — this belongs only to the Mother, and to the beloved disciple who was left to her as her son.

So then, my daughter, behold I commend you to God, to obtain for you that sacred patience; and I cannot ask him anything for you except that he would fashion your heart just at his will, in order to lodge and reign therein eternally. May he do it with the hammer, or with the chisel, or with the brush; it is for him to act at his pleasure. Is it not so, my dear daughter: must he not do this?

I know that your pains have been increased lately, and in the same measure has my sorrow for them increased; although I praise and bless our Lord with you for his good pleasure exercised in you, making you share his holy cross, and crowning you with his crown of thorns.

But, you will say, you can hardly keep your thoughts on the pains our Lord has suffered for you, while your own pangs oppress you. Well, my dear child, you are not obliged to do so, provided that you quite simply offer up your heart as frequently as you can to this Saviour, and make the following acts: i°. Accept the pain from his hand, as if you saw him himself putting and pressing it on your head. 2°. Offer yourself to suffer more. 30. Beg him by the merit of his torments, to accept these little distresses in union with the pains he suffered on the cross. 40. Protest that you wish not only to suffer, but to love and cherish them as sent from so good and so sweet a hand. 50. Invoke the martyrs and the many servants of God, who enjoy heaven for having been afflicted in this world.

There is no danger in desiring some remedy, indeed you must carefully procure it; for God, who has given you the evil, is also author of its cure. You must then apply it, yet with such resignation that, if his Divine majesty wishes the evil to conquer, you will acquiesce; and if he wishes the remedy to succeed, you will bless him for it.

There is no harm, while performing your spiritual exercises, in being seated. None at all, my daughter;

nor would there be for difficulties much less than those you suffer.

How happy are you, my daughter, if you continue to keep yourself under the hand of God, humbly, sweetly, and pliantly! Ah! I hope this headache will much profit your heart; your heart, which mine cherishes with quite a special love. Now, my daughter, it is that you may, more than ever, and by very good signs, prove to our sweet Saviour that it is with all your affection you have said and will say: Vive Jesus! Vive Jesus! my child, and may he reign amid your pains, since we can neither reign nor live save by the pain of his death. I am in him entirely yours.