Letter 71. To Madame De Chantal

ON SELF-RENUNCIATION.

Oh, Dear Lord, what a blessing and consolation it is to me to see our Mother thus renouncing herself before Thee! I have long felt the most intense sweetness when I sing the response in the holy office, “Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the Name of the Lord."* How blessed it must have been to S. Joseph and the Holy Virgin as they journeyed towards Egypt, to see nothing save their gentle Jesus! The object of thfe Transfiguration, my dear Mother, is to see neither Moses nor Elias, nought save Jesus Christ And the delight of the Bride is to be alone with her King, to say, “ My Beloved is mine, and I am His.” •

• Job, i. 21. *€0111. ii. 16.

We must strive to be stripped of all things, and to let our affections be so wholly and solely united to God that nothing may cling to us as of ourselves. Joseph was very happy in wearing his robe so loosely, that when sm seized and would have held him by it, he left it behind him and fled.*

I stand in wondering love before the Saviour of our souls. Who came forth naked from His Mother's womb, and, dying naked on the Cross, was once more laid in her lap to be made ready for His burial. I ponder that Mother's readiness to despoil herself of all things, even of her Son, ‘‘ The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the Name of the Lord." Yes, dear Mother, I bless the Lord, Who has stripped you. My heart rejoices to see you in so hopeful a state, and with Isaiah I say, “ Walk naked and barefoot before the Lord; " do not heed making acts of devotion unless they arise within your heart; be content to say, “Naked came I forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither." Do not constrain yourself, but go, as you determined yesterday; “ hearken and incline thine ear, forget also thine own people, and thy father's house,"’ — “so shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty,” — in your simple self-remmciation. Abide therein, and ask no more. Amen.

• Gen., xxxix. ■Psalm xlv. 1(X

[463] LXXIV.