Chapter V: Letter to Mère Agnès De Jésus

The sole happiness upon earth consists in hiding oneself and remaining in total ignorance of created things.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VIII

Far from dazzling me all the titles of nobility appear to me but empty vanity. I have understood those words of the _Imitation_: “_Be not solicitous for the shadow of a great name_.”[44] I have understood that true greatness is found not in the name but in the soul.

The Prophet tells us that _the Lord God shall call His servants by_ ANOTHER NAME;[45] and we read in St. John: “_To him that overcometh, I will give ... a white counter, and in the counter a new name written, which no man knoweth but he that receiveth._”[46] It is in Heaven, therefore, that we shall know our titles of nobility. Then _shall each one receive from God the praise that he merits_,[47] and he who upon earth will have made choice of being the poorest and the most unknown for love of our Lord, he will be the first, the noblest and the richest.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VI

I thank my Jesus for making me walk in darkness; in it I am wrapped in profound peace. Willingly I consent to stay, during the whole of my religious life, in this sombre tunnel into which He has made me enter; I desire only that my darkness may win light for sinners.

IV LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS

In this world we must not become attached to anything--not even things the most innocent, for they fail us at the moment when we are least expecting it. The eternal alone can satisfy us.

I LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR

This prayer she bore upon her heart on the day of her Profession:

“O Jesus, my Divine Spouse, grant that the robe of my baptism be never sullied! Take me, rather than suffer me here below to stain my soul by committing the slightest wilful fault. May I never seek nor ever find but Thee alone! May all creatures be nothing to me, and I nothing to them! May no earthly thing disturb my peace!

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“Grant that I fulfil my engagements in all their perfection; that none concern themselves about me; that I may be trodden underfoot, forgotten, as a little grain of sand. I offer myself to Thee, O Well-Beloved, that Thou mayst ever perfectly accomplish Thy holy will in me, without let or hindrance from creatures.”

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VIII

With jealous care all must be kept for Jesus; it is so good to work for Him, and for Him alone! How joyous then the heart and how buoyant the spirit!...

VI LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS

I have never wished for human glory, contempt it was, that had attraction for my heart; but having recognized that this again was too glorious for me, I ardently desire to be forgotten.

VII LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS

If you only knew to what a degree I wish to be indifferent to the things of the earth! What matters to me all created beauty? I should be truly unfortunate were I to possess it. Oh! how great, how noble, seems my heart when I look at it in relation to this world’s goods, since all of them put together could never satisfy it; but when I consider it with reference to Jesus, how _small_ it then appears to me.