ZEAL
The cry of Jesus agonizing, “I thirst!” re-echoed continually in my heart, firing it with an ardent zeal till then unknown to me. I longed to give to my Beloved to drink: I too felt myself consumed with the thirst for souls, and at all cost I would wrest sinners from the eternal flames.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. V
The Precious Blood of Jesus I poured on souls, to Him I offered these same souls renewed by the Dew of Calvary; thus I thought to quench His Thirst; but the more I gave Him to drink, the more ardently my poor little soul thirsted—and this I received as a most precious recompense.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. V
Like the Prophets and the Doctors I would fain enlighten souls. Fain would I travel the earth, O my Well-Beloved, to preach Thy Name and to set up Thy glorious Cross in Pagan lands. But one mission only would not suffice for me; would that I could at one and the same time proclaim the Gospel all the world over, even to the remotest of its islands. I would desire to be a Missionary not only for a few years, but to have been one from the creation of the world, and so to continue to the end of time.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI
I long to accomplish the most heroic deeds. I feel within me the courage of a Crusader. I would die on the battlefield in defence of the Church.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI
Open, my Jesus, thy Book of Life wherein are recorded the actions of all the Saints; those actions—would that I too, had accomplished such for Thee!
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI
Souls—dear Lord, we must have souls! Above all, souls of apostles and of martyrs, that through them we may inflame the multitude of poor sinners with love of Thee.
HIST. D’UNE AME, APPENDIX
After recreation one day when the Mother Prioress had spoken of the persecution already raging against Religious Communities, Sœur Thérèse said to a novice: “Ah! Sister, we live in an era of martyrs! Blood will be shed.—What happiness if it should be ours!”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
A novice on her way to the laundry one day, went at a slow pace through the garden, looking at the flowers as she passed. Sœur Thérèse who followed walking quickly, soon overtook her and said: “Is that how one hastens who has children (souls) to support, for whose sustenance she is obliged to work?...”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
During her illness she wrote:
“The will of the good God is my sole desire; and I declare that if in Heaven I could no longer work for His glory, I would choose exile rather than the Fatherland.”
IV LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY “BROTHERS”
What draws me towards the Heavenly Country is the call of our Lord, the hope of at last loving Him as I have so ardently desired, and the thought that I shall be able to make Him loved by a multitude of souls who will bless Him eternally.
VIII LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY “BROTHERS”
Confidently I count upon not remaining inactive in Heaven, my desire is to work still for the Church and for souls: this I ask of God, and I am certain that He will hear me. If I quit already the battlefield, it is not with the selfish desire of taking my rest. Suffering has long since become my heaven here below, and it is difficult to imagine how it will be possible for me to become acclimatized to a country where joy reigns, unmingled with sorrow. Jesus must needs transform my soul completely, else I could not support eternal bliss.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII
Just now a few notes of distant music fell upon my ear, and set me thinking that very soon I shall hear melodies beyond compare; yet this thought can give me but a moment’s gladness; one only expectation makes my heart throb: it is the love that I shall receive and the love that I shall be able to give!
I feel that my mission is now to begin, my mission to make others love the good God as I love Him ... to give to souls my little way. I will spend my heaven in doing good upon earth. This is not impossible, since the Angels in the full enjoyment of the Beatific Vision keep watch over us. No, I shall never rest till the end of the world! But when the Angel shall have said: “Time is no more!”[78] then I shall rest—shall be able to rejoice, because the number of the elect will be complete.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII