Letter 142. To a Lady, Expecting her Confinement

Above all things, my dear daughter, strive to attain a calm mind, not because it is the source of content, but because it is the result of true Love of God, and resignation of our own will We have daily occasions for exercising this.

Go where we may there are sure to be plenty of contradictions awaiting us; even if they do not arise through others, we bring them upon ourselves. Oh, my dear child, how holy and acceptable to God we should be, if we did but know how to use rightly the many opportunities for self-mortification which our natural position affords us I They are practically more frequent than those which surround Religious; the thing is that we do not make such good use of them as Religious do.

You must take care of yourself under your present circumstances; do not be distressed if you are imable to carry out your wonted religious practices. If kneeling tries you, sit down; it* you cannot keep up your attention for half an hour, limit your prayer to a quarter of an hour, or even less. Place yourself in the Presence of God, and offer all your pain to Him. Do not be afraid of expressing what you suffer, but pour out your complaints to God with the loving spirit of a child to its mother. So long as that loving spirit exists there is no danger in complaining, or seeking relief, or healing, or in striving to get alleviation by means of change. Only do it all with love and resignation to God's Holy Will.

Do not be troubled because you cannot make your acts of faith, &c., as you wish. They are not lost in God's Sight, altliough they are made wearily and painfully, almost, as it may seem, against the grain. You can only offer to God that which you have, and at this time of trial you cannot help being weary and oppressed. Just now “ your Beloved is as a bundle of myrrh”* to you; but give good heed that you press it closely to your breast. “My Beloved is mine, and I am His.”* He shall ever rest within my heart; but Isaiah calls Him “a Man of Sorrows.” * He looks favourably upon suffering, and upon those that bear it. Do not torment yourself with trying to do much, rather seek to bear what is laid upon you in a loving spirit. God will look upon you with a Gracious Eye, and will, bring you to that Life where we shall be wholly His, wherein nothing can > Cant I 13. * Cant. ii. 16. > Isa. liii. 3.

separate us from His Love; we shall live to and for Him only, He will be our God for ever and ever. I will not fail to ask it of Him, or in Him to be, sincerely yours, &c.

C8“0 CXLVIL