Chapter XV: Letter to Her Sister Céline

[5] Matt., xxv, 34-36.

IF I were still to live, the office of Infirmarian is the one which would please me most. I would not ask for it, but if it came direct by obedience I should think myself highly privileged. It seems to me that I would discharge its duties with a tender love, thinking always of our Saviour saying: "_I was sick and you visited me._" [6] The Infirmary bell should be for you as Heavenly music. You ought purposely to pass along beneath the windows of the sick to give them facility in calling you and asking your services. Ought you not to consider yourself like a little slave whom everyone has a right to command? If you could but see the Angels who from the heights of Heaven watch you battling in the arena! They await the end of the combat to cover you with flowers and wreaths. The good God does not disdain these combats, unknown and therefore all the more meritorious. "_The patient man is better than the valiant, and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh cities._" [7]

By our little acts of charity practised in the shade we convert souls far away, we help missionaries, we win for them abundant alms; and by that means build actual dwellings spiritual and material for our Eucharistic Lord.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

[6] Matt., xxv, 36. [7] Prov., xvi, 32.

A NOVICE remarked to Sœur Thérèse: "I do not like to see others suffer, especially saintly souls." She replied instantly:

"Oh! I am not like you: to see saints suffer never moves me to pity! I know they have the strength to endure, and they thus give great glory to God: but those who are not holy, who know not how to profit by their sufferings, oh! how I pity them; they do indeed arouse my compassion, and I would do all I could to comfort and help them."

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

SEEING her extreme weakness the doctor ordered some strengthening remedies; Sœur Thérèse was distressed at first on account of their high price: then she said to us: "I am no longer grieved about taking these costly remedies, for I have been reading that St. Gertrude rejoiced at the thought that all would be to the advantage of those who do us good, since our Lord has said: '_As long as you did it unto one of these My least brethren you did it unto Me_.'" [8]

She added: "I am convinced of the uselessness of medicine for the purpose of curing me, but I have made a compact with the good God, that He is to allow some poor Missionaries to profit by it, who have neither time nor means to take care of themselves."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

[8] Matt., xxv, 40.

REMEMBERING that _Charity covereth a multitude of sins,_ [9] I draw from this fruitful mine opened to us by our Lord in His sacred Gospels. I search the depths of His adorable words and cry out with David: "_I have run in the way of Thy commandments when Thou didst enlarge my heart_." [10] And charity alone can enlarge my heart . . .

O Jesus! since this sweet flame consumes it I run with delight in the way of Thy new Commandment, and therein will I run until the blessed day when with Thy Virgin train I shall follow Thee through Thy boundless Realm singing Thy _New Canticle_ which must surely be _the Canticle of LOVE_.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX

[9] Prov., x, 12. [10] Ps., cxviii, 32.

FAITH

WHAT helps me most when I picture to myself the interior of the Holy Family is to think of a quite ordinary life.

The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph knew well that Jesus was God, but wondrous things were nevertheless hidden from them and like us they lived by faith. Have you not noticed what is said in the sacred text: "_And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them_," [1] and these other words no less mysterious: "_His father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him_"? [2] Does not this imply that they heard of something new to them, for this wondering suggests a certain astonishment?

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

[1] Luke, ii, 50. [2] Luke, ii, 33.

DURING her temptations against faith she wrote: "I strive to work by faith though bereft of its consolations. I have made more acts of Faith in this last year than during all the rest of my life.

"On each fresh occasion of combat, when the enemy desires to challenge me, I conduct myself valiantly: knowing that to fight a duel is an unworthy act, I turn my back upon the adversary without ever looking him in the face; then I run to my Jesus and tell Him I am ready to shed every drop of blood in testimony of my belief that there is a Heaven, I tell Him I am glad to be unable to contemplate, while on earth, with the eyes of the soul, the beautiful Heaven that awaits me so He will deign to open it for eternity to poor unbelievers."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX

HE whose Heart ever watcheth, taught me, that while for a soul whose faith equals but a tiny grain of mustard seed, he works miracles, in order that this faith which is so weak may be fortified; yet for His intimate friends, for His Mother, He did not work miracles until He had put their faith to the test. Did He not let Lazarus die though Martha and Mary had sent to tell Him that he was sick? At the marriage at Cana, the Blessed Virgin having asked Him to come to the assistance of the Master of the house, did He not reply that His hour was not yet come? But after the trial, what a recompense! Water changed to wine, Lazarus restored to life. . .

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VI

A SISTER said to her that beautiful Angels clothed in white robes, and of joyous and resplendent countenance, would bear away her soul to Heaven. She replied: "These imaginations do not help me: I can draw no sustenance except from the Truth. God and the Angels are pure Spirits, no one can see them as they really are, with corporal eyes. That is why I have never desired extraordinary favours. I would rather await the Eternal Vision."

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

"I HAVE asked God to send me a beautiful dream to console me when you are gone," said a novice.

"Ah! that is a thing I should never do--ask for consolation! . . . Since you wish to be like me you well know that I say:

Oh! fear not, Lord, that I shall waken Thee:
I await in peace th' eternal shore. . .

"It is so sweet to serve the good God in the dark night of trial; we have this life only in which to live by faith."

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

HOPE

TIME is but a shadow, a dream; already God sees us in glory and takes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul! I understand then why He lets us suffer . . .

VIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

A DAY . . . an hour . . . and we shall have reached the port! My God, what shall we see then? What is that life which will never have an end? . . . Jesus will be the soul of our soul. Unfathomable mystery! _"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man what great things God hath prepared for them that love Him."_ [1] And this will all come soon--yes, very soon, if we ardently love Jesus.

VI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

[1] I Cor., ii, 9. _Cf_. Is., lxiv, 4.

LIFE is passing, Eternity draws nigh; soon shall we live the very life of God. After having drunk deep at the fount of bitterness, our thirst will be quenched at the very source of all sweetness.

_Yes, the figure of this world passeth away,_ [2] soon shall we see new heavens; a more radiant sun will brighten with its splendours, ethereal seas and infinite horizons . . . We shall no longer be prisoners in a land of exile, all will be at an end and with our Heavenly Spouse we shall sail o'er boundless waters: now our _harps are hung upon the willows that border the rivers of Babylon,_ [3] but in the day of our deliverance what harmonies will then be heard! With what joy shall we not make every chord of our instruments to vibrate! Today, _we weep remembering Sion . . . how shall we sing the songs of the Lord in a strange land?_ [4]

V LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

[2] I Cor., vii, 31. [3] _Cf_. Ps. cxxxvi, 2. [4] _Cf_. Ps., cxxxvi, 1, 4.

HOW I thirst for Heaven--that blessed habitation where our love for Jesus will have no limit! But to get there we must suffer . . . we must weep . . . Well, I _wish_ to suffer all that shall please my Beloved, I wish to let Him do just as He wills with His _"little ball."_