Letter 106. To a Religious

Indeed, my dear daughter, I do not think it any way strange that you should wish for my letters, for (not to say that it is God^s Will, which is the key-note of our correspondence), I gain so much comfort from your communications, as to be easily able to imagine that you find some small measure thereof from mine, and we may look on the one side and the other for a spiritual benefit, and mutual consolation to our souls.

I have nothing to say, daughter, as to your tearless heart; no indeed, my child, the poor heart is not to blame; this does not arise firom any want of resolution or warm desire to love God, but from the want of external emotion, which does not depend upon the heart, rather upon other causes over which we have no control. Just as in this world we can neither make it rain or cease raining when we will, so neither can we weep when we would fain do so out of devotion, nor restrain our tears when some sudden gust of feeling calls them forth. For the most part this is no fault of ours, but so ordered by God’s Providence, which wills us to travel by a dry and desert road, enduring toil and hardness.

Keep your bouquet in hand,* but if any other sweet and gracious odour presents itself, do not fail to enjoy it thankfully; the only object of the bouquet is to supply you through the day with spiritual delight and comfort. Be steady as to the one thing, that your heart be wholly given to God — ^there is nothing more profitable.

On no account wish for persecution in order to test your faithfulness; it is far better to wait for such as God may send, than to wish for anything of the kind. Meanwhile your fidelity is tested in manifold other ways, — ^humility, gentleness, charity in tending your poor invalid with a hearty, loving care. God gives you leisure to lay in a store of patience and vigour, and in due time the occasions for using them will come. My dear daughter, lay aside the garments of your bondage by continually renouncing your earthly

» This is an allusion to the “Vie Devote,” where Philothee ii recommended at the close of her meditation to gather a spiritual bouquet, and to smell it often through the day.

25s affections, and believe that the King does give you royal robes to win you to His Holy Love. Hail Jesus! My dear daughter, that must be the watchword by which we live and die, and in which I am ever yours, &C.

[714.] CX.