Chapter IV: Letter to Mère Agnès De Jésus

(_Her sister Pauline._)

The science of love! Sweet is the echo of that word to the ear of my soul. I desire no other science. _Having given all my substance for it_, like the spouse in the Canticles, _I think that I have given nothing_.[1]

HISTOIRE D’UNE AME, CH. VIII

Without love, deeds, even the most brilliant, count as nothing.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VIII

One evening, at a loss for words to tell Jesus how I loved Him and how much I wished that He might be everywhere served and glorified, I reflected with pain that not one act of love would ever mount upwards from out of the depths of hell. Then I cried out that willingly would I consent to see myself plunged into that place of torment and blasphemy, in order that He might be loved there eternally. That could not really glorify Him since He desires only our happiness, but love makes one want to say a thousand foolish things. If I spoke thus, it was not that I did not long for heaven; but then, my heaven was none other than _Love_, and in my fervour I felt that nothing could separate me from the Divine object of my love....

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. V

Seeing the eternal recompense so disproportionate to the trifling sacrifices of this life, I longed to love Jesus, to love Him ardently, to give Him a thousand proofs of tenderness while yet I could do so....

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. V

The love of God reveals itself in the very simplest soul who resists His grace in nothing, as well as in the most sublime. Indeed, the characteristic of love being to humble itself, if all souls resembled those of the holy Doctors who have enlightened the Church, the good God would not seem to descend low enough in coming to them. But He has created the infant who knows nothing and can only wail; He has created the poor savage who has but the natural law for guidance, and it is even unto their hearts that He deigns to stoop.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. I

In order that Love may be fully satisfied it must needs stoop to very nothingness and transform that nothing into fire.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI

In times of aridity when I am incapable of praying, of practising virtue, I seek little opportunities, mere trifles, to give pleasure to Jesus; for instance a smile, a pleasant word when inclined to be silent and to show weariness. If I find no opportunities, I at least tell Him again and again that I love Him; that is not difficult and it keeps alive the fire in my heart. Even though this fire of love might seem to me extinct I would still throw little straws upon the embers and I am certain it would rekindle.

XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

On _the day of my conversion_ Charity entered into my heart and with it a yearning to forget self always; thenceforward I was happy.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. V

I do not will that creatures should possess a single atom of my love; I wish to give all to Jesus, since He makes me understand that He alone is perfect happiness. All shall be for Him, all! And even when I have nothing to offer Him I will give Him that nothing.