Letter 64. To Madame De Chantal

ON THE DEATH OF M. DE SAINTE CATHERINE.'

My very Dear Mother, Jan. 25, 1618.

When I was called from you it was to go to M. de Sainte Catherine, but I supposed it was merely an attack as before. However, it proved that I had to help him to say “ Hail, Jesus!” some ten or twelve times, and make a firm protest that all his hope was in the Saviour's Death, which he uttered with great earnestness and strength; and then he went to the Home we all seek, imder the shadow of the great Saint Paul. God, Who gave him to us for His Own Service, has taken him away for His Glory. ‘‘ The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord.” *

Let us remain tranquilly at the Saviour's Feet, ready to live for Him, and by His Grace to die for Him. God will make up to us for this loss, and will raise us up labourers to take the place of these two whom He

• M. de Sainte Catherine, so called to distinguish him from his brother, M. Coex, was the intimate friend of both the Bishop of Geneva and Madame de Chantal. He was a Canon of Geneva, and also for long, Francb de Sales' ordinary Confessor.

• Job, L 21.

K7 has been pleased to call forth from His vineyard, that He may cause them to sit down at His Table. But be of a calm spirit — ^that is absolutely necessary: and remember what we are told in the Book of Wisdom, namely, to “weep a little” over the dead, and then to take comfort in God, Who is our Hope and our Salvation. Amen.

r4«s.] LXVIL