"You realise it, certainly, for you have always practised self-denial."
"Yes, I have forgotten myself, and I have tried not to see myself in anything."
* * * * * *
"When some one knocks at our door, or when we are rung for, we must practise mortification and refrain from doing even another stitch before answering. I have practised this myself, and I assure you that it is a source of peace."
After this advice, and according as occasion offered, I promptly answered every summons. One day, during her illness, she was witness of this, and said:
"At the hour of death you will be very happy to find this to your account. You have just done something more glorious than if, through clever diplomacy, you had procured the good-will of the Government for all religious communities and had been proclaimed throughout France as a second Judith."
* * * * * *
Questioned as to her method of sanctifying meals, she answered:
"In the refectory we have but one thing to do: perform a lowly action with lofty thoughts. I confess that the sweetest aspirations of love often come to me in the refectory. Sometimes I am brought to a standstill by the thought that were Our Lord in my place He would certainly partake of those same dishes which are served to me. It is quite probable that during His lifetime He tasted of similar food—He must have eaten bread and fruit.
"Here are my little rubrics: