Letter 134. To a Lady, Expecting her Confinement

Madame,

Your letter of May 16 gives me cause to thank God for keeping alive in your heart the longing after Christian perfection, which I can trace so plainly in the pious simplicity with which you describe your temptations, and your struggles against them. I see that our Dear Lord is helping you, inasmuch as day by day, step by step, you gain greater freedom from your former faults and failings. I doubt not that you will soon be altogether victorious, since you are so vigorous in resistance, and so full of hope and trust in our Good Lord’s Grace....

I am glad to hear that you are more cheerful than you were. Assuredly, madame, your happiness will increase daily, as the sweetness of our Saviour’s Love spreads itself more within your soul. I feel sure that your cheerfulness and content will specially make themselves felt in your social intercourse, and chiefly in your own family, where your first duty lies, and where your religion should be most exercised. If you really love religion, live so as to lead all around you to love and reverence it too; they will do so if they see its favourable results set forth in you.

In truth you have great means of doing good! You have every opportunity of making your house a very paradise of goodness, with a husband who is so well disposed to help you. You may indeed be most happy, if you take pains to suit your religious exercises to the convenience of your household, and to your husband’s wishes. I know few married women who have better opportunities of being religious than you, madame, and consequently, you are bound to make great progress in holiness. • • «

I heard that you were expecting your confinement, and I thank God, Who wills to add to the number of His children and yours. The trees of the earth bring forth fhiit for the service of men; but it is given to women to bear children for God's Service; and therefore Holy Scripture reckons child-bearing as a blessing. Do you make a double use of your prospects; — first, by offering your unborn child continually to God, as S. Augustine was offered by his mother; and next, by offering the inevitable discomfort and suffering of your condition to our Lord, blessing Him for that through your pain He wills to bring into the world one who, thanks to His Grace, will praise Him with you through all Eternity. May God be glorified in all our troubles and joys.

C788.I CXXXIX.