Letter 138. To a Lady of High Rank, Who Was Being Involved in Law Proceedings

TO A LADY OF HIGH RANK, WHO WAS BEING INVOLVED IN LAW PROCEEDINGS.

I DO not dwell upon the more than fatherly love which I have in my heart for you, my dearest child, for I think that God, Who called it forth, will tell you of that, and if He does not, it is not in my power to do so. But why should I say all this? Because, dear child, I have not written to you so often lately as perhaps you may have wished, and sometimes people measure affection more by sheets of paper than by the rarer but more useful proofs of the heart’s inward feelings. •..

Now, without further preface, I am going to say plainly and without disguise what my soul bids me say to you. How long, my dearest child, are you going to strive after other victories in the world, and over the things of the world, than those which our Saviour sought for, and at which He bids you aim? What did He do. Lord of all the world as He was? My child. He was the true Lord of all things, but did He ever strive even for ‘‘ where to lay His Head ”? He was wronged on every side; did He ever go to law? Did He ever bring any of His enemies before

Google the judgment seat? Never, of a truth! nor would He even summon the traitors who crucified Him before God’s tribunal, but rather He pleaded for their pardon; “ Father, forgive them.” And He has given us as a precept, “ If any one will take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.”

I am not superstitious, nor do I condemn those who go to law, provided it be with truth, judgment, and justice; but I say, I exclaim, I cry out, and if need be, I would write with my own blood, that he who would be perfect and wholly the child of Jesus Christ Crucified, had need follow our Lord’s teaching in this respect. Let the world rave, let worldly prudence tear her hair, let all the wise men of our day invent as many subterfuges, and excuses, and pretexts as they will; before all the maxims of prudence, there rise up the words, “ If any man will take thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.”

But, you will say, this is to be understood in a certain sense. True, my dearest child, but thanks be to God, we can take it in that certain sense, for we aim at perfection, and we seek to follow as closely as we can him who said in his apostolic fervour, “ Having food and raiment, let us be therewith content;”* and who exclaimed to the Corinthians, “ Now, therefore, there is utterly a fault among you, ^ 1. Tim. vL 8.

becaus#» ye go to law one with another.” ^ Now listen, my chi d, to what this man went on to say, one who, thrmgh he lived, it was “ not I, but Christ liveth in me.” “ Why,” he asks of his spiritual children, why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffei yourselves to be defrauded?” Observe, my child, that he does not speak thus to a spiritual daugh ter who has specially high aspirations after a life of perfection, but to all the Corinthians. Take notice that he bids them “ take wrong; ” he accuses them of sin in going to law with those who deceive and defraud them. Why sin? Because, in so doing, they give cause for scandal to the unbelieving world, which would say: ‘‘ See how these Christians follow out tf eir doctrine 1 Their Master said: Let him that would take thy coat have thy cloak also; but they risk eternal gain for that which is temporal; they sacrifice the brotherly love they ought to maintain for mere profit” S. Augustine bids us notice that the Lord did not say. If any man take thy ring let him have thy brooch — ^both superfluities — ^but He speaks of coat and cloak, which are necessaries. Oh, my deal est child, this is the true wisdom of God, His Prudcrce, which is a holy adorable sin\plicity— or, to use aii Apostle’s language, the foolishness of the Cross.”

But you will reply in the tone of human prudence.

^ L Cor. vi. 7.

To what would you bring us? Are men to trample us under foot, insult us, make mere puppets of us, tear away our very garments, and are we to keep silence? Yes, indeed — ^all this — I would have it so; yet, not I, but Jesus Christ speaking by me. Listen to His Apostle, who exclaims, “ Even unto this present hour we both hunger and thirst, and are naked and buffeted, and have no certain dwelling-place; being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer i^; being defamed, we intreat; we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.”* The inhabitants of Babylon do not understand this doctrine, but those who dwell upon Mount Calvary follow it

I can fancy, dear child, that I hear you say, ** Oh, Father, you have become very severe all of a sudden.” It is not suddenly at all events, for ever since God gave me grace to know anything of the Cross, this conviction took hold of my soul, and has never varied. If I have not lived consistently with it, that has been my own weakness, not lack of conviction; the world^s clamour may have made me do the external wrong which I loathed in my heart, and it humbles me while I whisper these words into your ear, dear child. I never gave back ill for ill save d contre ccsur. I have not examined * L Cor. iv. 11-13.

my conscience specifically, but so far as I can tell, generally speaking, I think this is true, and I am all the more inexcusable.

My child, I am writing hurriedly; this letter has been twice resumed, and love is not always prudent or discreet; it is apt to hurry on. There are so many honourable, wise, kind, good people about you, cannot some of them bring Madame de C....

and Madame de L to reason, so that you may arrange matters? Are they tigresses who cannot hear reason? Have you not M. N.... whose wisdom in all things is so sure? Would not M. de.. •. charitably help you in such a Christian work of peacemaking? Or the good Pfere... • would he not rejoice to serve God in this matter, which really affects the welfare of your soul, and at all events must hinder your spiritual progress? What a string of artifices, secularities, dishonesties, perhaps lies! what endless little quiet bits of injustice, almost imperceptible calumnies, occur in such a maze of legal proceedings I One would think you were going to be married, or to live in the world and wished to keep up your position, that you require this and that! What will be the result of all this swarm Of worldly thoughts and considerations? Leave the things of this world to worldly men; what do you want with them? Two thousand crowns or less is ample pro-

32t vision for one who serves a Crucified Saviour! A hundred and fifty crowns is an all-sufficient income for one who believes in Apostolic poverty! ‘‘But if I am not an inclosed nun, if I only reside associated with some monastery, I sliall not be able to keep up any position, or have any attendants.” Well, did you ever hear that our Lady had any? What does it matter whether people know that you are of a good worldly house if you belong to God’s House? “ Oh, but I should like to found some good work, or at least to help on some religious house. I am but feeble in body, and that would ensure me a better reception.” Indeed, my dearest child, I knew that your piety was but a scaffolding to self-love, it is so pitifully earthly. No, forsooth, we will none of the Cross, unless it be of gold, well chased and enamelled. It is a very lordly, though most devout and admirable spiritual piece of abjection to be looked upon in a congregation as its foundress, or at least as its benefactress. Why, Lucifer himself might have remained in Heaven at this rate! But to live upon alms, as our Lord lived, to accept charity when we are sick, being as we are high bom and proud, this is very difficult and hard to bear! Tme, it is hard to man, but not to the Son of God, and He will work in you. “But is it not well to keep one’s own property and use it as one will for

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God’s Service/’ The words ‘‘as one will” explain the secret of our difference. “ Well then, as you will, dear Father, for I am your dutiful child.” Ah, then, my will is that you should be satisfied with whatever M. and Madame de.... decide on, and that you give up the rest for the Love of God, and your neighbours’ edification, and the peace of mind of your sisters. In this way you will really devote it to the good of mankind, and to the promotion of God’s Glory. Oh, my dearest child, what blessings, what graces, what spiritual riches will pour in upon your soul if you do thus. You will abound and overflow; God will bless the little you have, and abundantly satisfy you. Indeed it is not hard to Him to do as much with five barley loaves as Solomon could do with all his train of purveyors.

Be at peace. Ever your most devoted father, &c.