Letter 31. To Madame De Miendry, Against a Troubled Mind

AGAINST A TROUBLED MIND.

Write to me as often as you please, in perfect confidence, and without ceremony; such fireedom befits our fiiendship. I beg you to despise all these foolish, self-conceited thoughts which flit across your mind concerning your good deeds; they are really no more than troublesome flies, which can do no worse than tease you. Do not spend time in examining whether or no you have consented to them; go on with your work as though such things were no concern of yours.

Do not try to force yourself to pity or compassion when meditating on the Passion; it is enough if, in our meditations, we form good resolutions as to our amendment of life, and stedfastness in the Love of God, without sighs and tears, or conscious tenderness. There is a wide difference between that sweetness of devotion which we desire because it is agreeable, and that resolution of heart which we ought to desire because it renders us true servants of God. Again, do not take any notice of the impure thought which troubles you. Only say to our Lord in your heart, “ Lord, Thou knowest that I honour Thee above all things, I am Thine,” and go on without arguing against the temptation.

Do not be disturbed at the faultiness of your self-examination. It cannot be very great when you have a true desire to purify your conscience, and it is not well to torture the soul while conscious of the wish to be faithful to God. When your ordinary Confessor is out of reach, do not fail to go to some one else, thinking only of God, and not of the man who confesses and absolves you. Continue to go frequently to confession, and may God ever dwell in your heart. In Hun I am, madame, yours, &a

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[X67.] XXXIIL