Letter 101. To a Superior of the Visitation

My Dear Daughter,

As to that good person, she deceives herself greatly if she imagines that she can become perfect through Ps. cxxyii. i

prayer, without heeding obedience, which is the favourite virtue of the Bridegroom, in which, by which, and for which He vouchsafed to die. History and experience tell us that both Religious and other men have come to be Saints without the help of mental prayer, but never without obedience.

You are quite right, my daughter; there must be neither reserve nor condition, for if you were to admit Sisters subject to any such; the congregation would soon be filled with the subtlest and most dangerous of all self love. One Sister would mahe a condition that she should communicate every day; another, that she might hear three masses; another, that she should have four hours daily for meditation; another, that her work should always be among the sick; and in this way, every one would follow her own taste or presumption rather than Christ Crucified. Those who join our congregation must understand that its object is to be a school and guide towards perfection, and that we aim at helping our spiritual daughters to advance therein by the most effectual means; — ^moreover, those are not such as are self-chosen. “He who governs himself,” says S. Bernard, “ has a great fool for his governor.”

We should love prayer, but we should love it because we love God. Now he who loves prayer fox God’s Sake, desires no more time for it than God wills him to have; and what that is is signified to each by obedience. If, therefore, this child (whom I love by reason of all the good which you tell me of her) wishes to grow perfect after her own fashion, she must be given up to her own guidance; but I do not think she will wish it. If she is really devout, and has a true spirit of prayer, she will submit to holy obedience.

The true servant of God takes no thought for the morrow; she fulfils that which He requires of her today in a faithful spirit; and in like wise she will fulfil to-morroVs duty; and each as it follows, without let or hindrance. This is how we must unite our wills, not to the means of serving God, but to His Will and pleasure. ‘‘ Take no thought for the morrow, saying, what shall we eat, or what shall we drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed, for your Heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things; but seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added imto you.^' This is applicable to our spiritual as well as to our natural life.

Let this daughter, then, wm a childlike heart, a will soft as wax, and a mind divested of wishes and inclinations, save the wish to love God. She should be wholly indifferent as to the means by which she is led to love Him. Go on patiently, and in a holy mind amid the cares of your charge, my very dear and beloved daughter. I pray G9d that He may ever be the life of your soul. Amen.

C7ot.l CV.