Letter 95. To Madame De Chantal

I WOULD have you be extremely small and lowly in your own eyes, as soft and yielding as a dove, loving lowliness and cultivating it faithfully. Make good use of every opportunity for so doing. Do not be quick of speech; rather let your words be slow, humble, gentle, and let your modest thoughtful silence be eloquent

Bear with your neighbour, and be ever ready to make excuses for him. Do not philosophise over the contradictions which beset you; do not dwell upon them, but strive to see God in all things without exception, and acquiesce in His Will with absolute submission.

Do everything for God, uniting yourself to Him by a mere upward glance, or by the overflowing of your heart towards Him.

Never be in a hurry: do everything quietly and in a calm spirit Do not lose your inward peace for anything whatsoever, even if your whole world seems upset What does anything belonging to this life matter, when compared with a peaceful heart?

Commend all to God, and then lie still and be at rest in His Bosom.

Whatever happens, abide stedfast in a determination to cling simply to God, trusting to His Eternal Love for you; and if you find that you have wandered forth from this shelter, recall your heart quietly and simply.

Maintain a holy simplicity of mind, and do not smother yourself with a host of cares, wishes, attacliments, or longings, under any pretext

Our Lord loves you, and would have you wholly His. Seek no other arms to bear you, no other breast whereon to rest Let Him be the boundary of ygur horizon; fix your mind on Him alone.

Let your will be so closely bound to His, that nothing can come between — forget all else. God would have your undivided heart Be of good cheer, and prostrate yourself before Him, seeking nothing save your Dear Lord's Love.

Refuse nothing, however painful; put on Christ Crucified, love Him in His Sufferings, and often turn to these in ejaculatory prayer.

Do this, my dear daughter and mother, and may Jesus Christ fulfil all His Holy Will in us, for us, and by us. Amen.

1^793 XCVIIL