Letter 55. To the Mere De Chastel

SS, Simon and Jude^ 1615.

Indeed, my dear daughter, you gratify me by calling me your father; for my heart has a most paternal feeling towards your heart, which I do not cease to love, although I see plainly that it is rather weak under these common little contradictions which it encounters. At times it «eems about to lose courage on account of passing words and rebukes, but the poor little heart has not really failed, for God upholds it with His Strong Hand, and in His Mercy He never yet forsook His feeble children. Be sure, my dear daughter, that He never will forsake you; you may be tormented and wearied with vexations, temptations to be downcast and pettish, but your will is fixed in Him.

Indeed, my dear daughter Marie, you say truly that there are two beings in you. The one is a Marie, who, like S. Peter, is tender, sensitive, ready to be irritated by a touch. This Marie is a daughter of

S. FRANCIS DE SALES. l6i

Eve, and so her temper is frail The other Marie wills to be wholly God's; and in order so to be, she wills in all simplicity to be humble and gentle towards every one, and she would fein imitate S. Peter after he was converted. This Marie is the child of the Blessed Virgin.

These two diverse Maries come into collision, and the bad one is so bad that often the other scarce knows how to defend herself, and then, perforce, she fancies herself beaten, and believes the bad Marie to be stronger. But not so, my poor dear child; the bad one is not stronger than you. She is more perverse, more enterprising, more obstinate, and when you lose heart and sit down to ciy she is pleased, because it is so much time lost for you; and if she cannot make you lose eternity, at all events she will try to make you lose time!

My dear daughter, rouse your courage; arm yourself with patience, such as we all need with ourselves; often wake up your heart, that it may be on its guard against surprises; be watchful of your enemy; tread cautiously for fear of the foe; it you are not on your guard against her, she will be too much for you. Even if she should take you by surprise, and make you totter, or give you a slight wound, do not be put out — call upon our Dear Lord and our Lady. They will hold out a helping hand, or if they leave you awhile in trouble, it will but be that you may be led to cry out more earnestly for help. Now do not be ashamed of all this, my daughter, any more than S. Paul was when he confessed that there were two beings in him, one rebellious against God, the other obedient to Him. Be perfectly simple, do not be angry, humble yourself without being disheartened, be bold without presumption. Remember that our Lord and His Mother, having placed you amid the worry of a household, see and know that it does worry you, but they will not cease to love you so long as you are humble and truthfiiL But, dear daughter, do not be ashamed because you are somewhat dusty and soiled; so long as you humble yourself, everything will turn to gocki. Pray for me, and may God always be your Love and yom: Protector. Amen.

[347 and 348.3 LVIIL