Letter 19. To a Young Lady

CONCERNING HER VOCATION.

I AM very glad to hear that you are growing in the love of our Lord, as M. de N tells me is the case, though he only spoke generally, mentioning no details save that you wish to become a Religious. The wish is a good one, doubtless, but you must not let it disturb you, as for the present it cannot be carried out If our Saviour wills that it should be fulfilled. He will bring it about by means of His own, which as yet we know not

But meanwhile, do the work which concerns you at the present moment; that is to say, go on quietly with your spiritual exercises; give yourself up many times each day, both heart and mind, into God's Hands, commending your work heartily to Him; consider what daily opportunities you have of serving His Divine Majesty, whether by your own advance in holiness, or by promoting that of your neighbour, and make a faithful use of all such. You will profit greatly, my daughter, by this practice, in the Love of God. I know that you grieve sorely at being forsaken by your father; but you must say with your heart, as well as with your lips, “When my father and my mother forsake me, the Lord taketh me up." * Doubtless it is a cross, my child, to be thus forsaken of men, but it is a very holy cross, and one most specially calculated to win the Love of God.!' You must be very brave in the strength of this blessed Love, and trust wholly in the assurance we have that our Heavenly Bridegroom never fails those whose hope is in Him.

I send you a little cross, in the midst of which the martyr. Saint Thekla, is represented, to encourage you in suffering willingly for our Lord. It is not a return for your beautiful gift, but only in remembrance of the affectionate love which I bear through our Lord for your soul. I pray you commend me often to Him, as your most humble and faithful in our Holy Cross, &c.

t»3.3 XX.