Chapter II: Letter to Her Missionary “brothers”

The good God has promised a hundredfold to all who have left father or mother or sister for love of Him. These words are, I know, usually applied to those who have entered the religious state, but in my heart I feel that they were also spoken for the generous parents who make to God the sacrifice of children whom they cherish more than self.

LETTER TO HER COUSIN JEANNE GUÉRIN

How can a heart given up to human affection be united intimately to God? That, I feel is not possible. I have seen so many souls deluded by this treacherous light, dart into it like the poor moth and burn their wings, then return wounded to Jesus, the Divine Fire which burns without consuming.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IV

In giving oneself to God the heart does not lose its natural tenderness; on the contrary, its love grows deeper by becoming more pure and more Christlike.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

There are souls for whom God’s mercy wearies not of waiting, and to whom He gives His light only by degrees.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X

When in the morning we feel no courage, no energy for the practice of virtue, this is a grace, this is the moment to “_lay the axe to the root of the tree_”[101] depending solely on Jesus. If we fall all is retrieved by an act of love, and Jesus smiles. He helps us without appearing to do so, and the tears which the wicked cause Him to shed are dried by our poor feeble love.