Letter 27. To a Lady. on Interior Peace

Madame, April 8, 1608.

I have received your first letter with special satisfaction, as a'good beginning of the spiritual intercourse which is to exist between us, to the advancement of God’s Kingdom in our hearts. May God help me to guide you wisely.

It is not possible that you should so quickly become mistress of your own soul, or control it thoroughly at the outset Be content if firom time to time you gain some little victory over your besetting sin. It is a duty to bear with other people, but first of all we must learn to bear with ourselves, and to have patience with our own imperfection.

My dear child, are we to expect to win inward peace without going through ordinary contradiction and difficulty? Now attend to these rules.

Every morning compose your soul for a tranquil day, and all through it be careful often to recall your resolution, and bring yourself back to it, so to say.

If something discomposes you, do not be upset, or troubled, but having discovered the fact, humble yourself gently before God, and try to bring your mind into a quiet attitude. Say to yourself^ ** Well, I have no made a false step, now I must go more carefully and watchfully." Do this each time, however frequently you fall When you are at peace use it profitably, making constant acts of meekness, and seeking to be calm even in the most trifling things. Our Lord says, “ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much." * Above all, do not be discouraged; be patient; wait \ strive to attain a calm, gentle spirit. God will uphold you with His Hand, and if He should let you stumble it will only be to show you that without Him you would fall altogether, and to teach you to hold His Hand the tighter. Farewell May you be His wholly, solely, irrevocably.

[15a) XXIX.