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."