VARIOUS SUBJECTS
Léonie, no doubt finding that she was growing too old to play with dolls, came one day to Céline and me, with a basket full of dolls’ clothes, odds and ends of pretty materials, trimmings, etc., on which she had laid her doll, saying to us: “There, little sisters—choose!” Céline looked, and took a knot of edging. After reflecting a moment I, in turn, put out my hand saying: “I choose all!” and I carried off basket and doll without further ceremony.
This trait of my childhood is, as it were, a summary of my entire life. Later on when the meaning of perfection began to unfold itself to me, I understood that to become a saint it is necessary to suffer much, ever to seek after that which is most perfect, and to forget self. I understood that in sanctity the degrees are many, that each soul is free to respond to the advances of our Lord, to do little or much for His sake, in a word, to choose between the sacrifices that He asks. Then, as in the days of my childhood, I exclaimed: “My God, I choose all! I do not wish to be a saint by halves; the thought of suffering for Thee does not frighten me, one thing only do I fear—my own will; take Thou my will, for I choose all that Thou willest.”
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. I
My Father took me for a pleasant tour during which I began to know a little of the world. Around me all was gaiety and delight; I was made welcome, petted, admired, in short, for fifteen days the pathway of my life was strewn with naught but flowers. Holy Wisdom well says that the bewitching of trifles overturneth the innocent mind.[98] At the age of ten the heart easily allows itself to be dazzled, and I own that this sort of life had some charms for me. Alas! how well the world contrives to reconcile the delights of earth with the service of God. How seldom does it think of death.
And death, nevertheless, has come to a great many of the people whom I then knew, young, rich and prosperous. I like to go back in thought to their beautiful dwellings, to ask myself where are they, and what benefit do they now draw from the castles and parks where I saw them enjoying all the comforts of life.... And I reflect that “all is vanity”[99] “but to love God and to serve Him alone.”[100]
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IV
What compassion I have for souls who are going astray. It is so easy to lose one’s way in the flowery paths of the world. Undoubtedly for a soul who has risen a little above the things of earth, the sweetness offered is intermingled with bitterness, and the immense void of its desires cannot be filled by the praises of a moment.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IV
We have but life’s brief day to save souls and thus to give to Jesus proof of our love. The morrow of this day will be Eternity and then He will render to you a hundredfold for the joys which you have sacrificed for Him. He knows the extent of your sacrifice, He knows that the grief of those dear to you increases your own still more; but to save our souls He has Himself suffered this martyrdom. He too, left His Mother, He saw the Immaculate Virgin stand at the foot of the Cross, her heart transpierced by the sword of sorrow.
Ah! if the Divine Master would but grant to those whom you are going to leave for His sake, a foresight of the glory He reserves for you, the multitude of souls who in heaven will form your train, they would be already recompensed for their great sacrifice in parting with you.
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.
II LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
We must practice the little virtues. This is difficult sometimes, but the good God never refuses the first grace, which gives courage to conquer self: if the soul corresponds to it she will find that she immediately receives light. I have ever been struck with those words of praise to Judith: “Thou hast done manfully, and thy heart has been strengthened.”[102] We must first act with courage, then the heart is strengthened and we go from victory to victory.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
My God, how varied are the ways by which Thou dost lead souls. In reading the Lives of the Saints we find a great number of whom nothing has remained to us after their death: not the smallest souvenir, not a written line. Others there are, on the contrary, like our Holy Mother Saint Teresa, who have enriched the Church with their sublime doctrine, not fearing to reveal the secrets of the King,[103] in the hope that souls might know Him better and love Him more. Which of these two ways pleases our Lord best? It seems to me that they are equally pleasing to Him.
All the well-beloved of God have followed the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by whom the Prophet wrote: “Say to the just that all is well.”[104] Yes, all is well when we seek only the Divine Will.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
How narrow are the thoughts of creatures! When they see that a soul has lights which surpass their own, they conclude that the Divine Master loves them less. Since when, then, has He lost the right to make use of one of His creatures, in order to dispense to His children the sustenance needful for them?
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X
When we are grieved at our powerlessness to do good, our only resource is to offer to God the works of others. In this you see the benefit of the communion of Saints.
COUNSEL AND REMINISCENCES
Though I do not undervalue beautiful thoughts that seem to unite us to God, I have long understood that we must carefully guard against leaning too much upon them. The most sublime inspirations are nothing without deeds.
Other souls, it is true, may draw therefrom much profit if they testify humble gratitude to God for being permitted to share the feast of one of His privileged children. But if the privileged one were to grow vain of her spiritual riches, if her prayer resembled that of the Pharisee, she herself would become like to a person starving to death before a well-served table while all her guests take from it abundant nourishment, and cast perhaps a look of envy on the possessor of so much wealth.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X
The Well-Beloved has no need of our glorious deeds nor of our fine thoughts. If He desire sublime conceptions has He not His Angels, whose knowledge surpasses infinitely that of the world’s greatest geniuses? It is not then either intellect or talent that He looks for here below.... He has called Himself the Flower of the Field[105] to show us how much He cherishes simplicity.
XIV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
To keep the word of Jesus, this is the sole condition of our happiness, the proof of our love for Him; and this word—it seems to me that it is Himself, since He is called the Uncreated Word of the Father.
XVIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
Jesus needs neither books nor Doctors of Divinity in order to instruct souls; He, the Doctor of Doctors, He teaches without noise of words.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VIII
As Text there is a verse which I utter unwillingly each day. It is this: “Inclinavi cor meum ad faciendas justificationes tuas in æternum, propter retributionem.” (I have inclined my heart to do Thy justifications for ever, because of the reward.)[106] Interiorly, I hasten to say: “O my Jesus, Thou knowest well that it is not for the reward I serve Thee, but solely because I love Thee, and for the sake of saving souls.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
In Heaven only shall we see the absolute truth concerning all things. On earth, even in the Holy Scripture, there is a certain obscurity: it grieves me to see differences in the translations; had I been a Priest I would have learned Hebrew, so that I might be able to read the Word of God in that human language in which He deigned to express it.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
We are not yet in our Fatherland, and temptation must purify us as gold is purified by the action of fire.
XVIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
It is best not to expose oneself to the combat when defeat is certain.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
God is often satisfied with our desire of labouring for His glory.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
A soul in the state of grace has nothing to fear from the demons, who are cowards, capable of flight before the gaze of a child.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. I
To the pure all is pure,[107] the simple and upright soul sees not evil in anything, since evil exists in impure hearts only and not in material objects.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VI
The good God has told us that in the Last Day He “will wipe away all tears from our eyes,”[108] and without doubt, the more tears to be dried, the greater will be the consolation.
III LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR
The Spouse in the Canticles, not having been able in repose to find her Beloved, arose, she says and went about the city to seek Him, but in vain ... she could not find Him save beyond the ramparts. It is not the will of Jesus that we should find His adorable Presence without effort. He hides Himself, He envelopes Himself with darkness.... It was not thus He acted in regard to the multitudes, for we read in the Gospels that the people were in admiration when He spoke.
Weak souls Jesus charmed by His divine utterances. He was trying to render them strong for the day of temptation and of trial; but small, truly, was the number of His faithful friends when He was silent[109] before His judges. Oh, what melody for my heart is that silence of the Divine Master.
XV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
I have read in the Holy Gospel that the Divine Shepherd leaves in the desert all His faithful flock, to go in haste after the sheep that is lost. How touching is this confidence. He is sure of them, they are captives of love—how could they break away? Even so does the well-beloved Shepherd of our souls rob us of the sense of His presence in order to give to sinners His consolations; or else, if He leads us to Mount Thabor it is for one moment ... the valleys are nearly always the place of pasture, it is there He takes His repose at mid-day.[110]
XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
The sole crime with which Herod reproached our Lord was folly ... and frankly, that charge was true. Yes, it was folly to come seeking the poor shallow hearts of mortals, therein to make His throne. He, the King of Glory Who sitteth above the Cherubim! Was not His happiness complete in the company of His Father and the Spirit of Love? Why come to earth to seek out sinners and to make of them His friends, His chosen companions?
XX LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
Mary, breaking the fragile vase poured out upon the Head of her Saviour a perfume of great price[111] and the whole house was filled with the fragrance thereof.[112]
The Apostles murmured against Magdalene; and this it is which still happens with regard to us: some, even of the most fervent Christians think we (Carmelites) are exaggerated, that like Martha we ought to serve Jesus, instead of consecrating to Him the vases of our lives with the perfumes which are hidden within. And yet what matters it—the breaking of these vases—since our Lord is consoled, and the world in spite of itself is made sensible of the fragrance they exhale. And oh! how necessary are these perfumes to purify the unhealthy atmosphere that it breathes.
XX LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
“One day when I was in tears,” relates a novice, “Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus told me to acquire a habit of hiding my little troubles, adding that nothing renders community life more difficult than inequality of temperament.
“You are quite right,” I answered, “I have thought so myself, and in future I shall never cry but when alone with the good God; to Him only shall I confide my trials, He will always understand and console me.”
“Shed tears before the good God!” she replied with vivacity, “take care you do no such thing. Still less, by far, before Him than before creatures ought you to exhibit signs of sadness. He has but our monasteries, this dear Master, to rejoice His Heart; He comes amongst us to find a little repose, to forget the continual lamentations of His friends in the world who for the most part, instead of recognizing the value of the Cross, meet it with repining and with tears; and would you behave like the generality of people?... Frankly that is not disinterested love—disinterested love is for us to console Jesus, not for Him to console us.
“He is, I know, so kind of heart that if you weep He will dry your tears; but afterwards He will go away quite sorrowful, not being able to find in you the repose He sought. Jesus loves the joyous heart, He loves the ever smiling soul. When will you learn to hide your troubles from Him, or to tell Him in gladsome tones that you are happy to suffer for His sake?”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
The soul is reflected in the countenance: like to a little child always content, your countenance should be invariably calm and serene. When you are alone be still the same, because you are ever in the Angels’ sight.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
Our Divine Lord wishes to have His court here below as on High, He desires angel-martyrs, angel-apostles.
XI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
A sister, greatly grieved at seeing her so ill often exclaimed: “Oh, how sad is life!” But Sœur Thérèse would at once correct her, saying:
“Life is not sad, but on the contrary most joyful. If you said ‘How sad is our exile,’ I should understand you. It is erroneous to give the name, ‘life,’ to that which must end. Only to the things of Heaven, to that which shall never know death, should the true name of ‘life’ be given; and in this signification life is not sad but joyful—joyous exceedingly!...”
Her own gaiety was delightful to witness.
For several days she had been much better and the novices said to her: “We do not yet know of what malady you will die....”
“But I shall die of death! Did not God tell Adam of what he would die, saying to him: Thou shalt die of death?” (In the French: “Tu mourras de mort.”)[113]
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
It is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible spectre, as represented in pictures. In the Catechism it is stated that death is the separation of soul and body, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God for ever.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
One day she said to the Mother Prioress:
“Mother, I beseech you, give me permission to die.... Let me offer my life for ...” mentioning the intention.
And this permission being refused:
“Very well,” she resumed, “I know that at this moment the good God so much desires a little bunch of grapes which no one wishes to present to Him, that He will certainly be forced to come and steal it.... I ask nothing, for that would be to depart from my way of abandonment, I merely beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to recall to her Jesus the title of Thief which He gives Himself in the holy Gospel, so that He may not forget to come to steal me away.”
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII
“Will the Divine Thief be coming very soon to steal His little bunch of grapes?” some one asked.
I see Him afar off, and I take good care not to cry out “Stop Thief!!!” On the contrary I call Him saying: “This way! this way!”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
The Chaplain asked me: “Are you resigned to die?” I said: “Ah! Father, I find it would be for living that I should need resignation, but as regards dying, I feel only joy.”
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII
“You will be placed amid the Seraphim in Heaven,” a novice said.
“If that should happen, I shall not imitate them; they cover themselves with their wings at the sight of God. I shall take good care not to cover myself with my wings!”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
“Under what name should we pray to you when you are in Heaven?” they asked her. She answered humbly: “You will call me ‘little Thérèse.’ (‘petite Thérèse.’)”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
“You will look upon us from the heights of heaven, will you not?”
“No, I shall come down.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
“After my death I shall let fall a shower of roses.”
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII