IT appears to me that humility is the truth. I know not whether I am humble, but I know that I see the truth in all things.
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
I HAVE understood what true glory is. He whose Kingdom is not of this world [1] showed me that the only enviable royalty consists in loving to be unknown and esteemed as nothing, [2] and finding our joy in contempt of self. I wished that like the Face of Jesus, mine might be as it were hidden and despised. [3] That none upon earth might esteem me. I thirsted to suffer and to be forgotten.
HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. VII
[1] John, xviii, 36.
[2] Imit., I, ii, 3.
[3] Is., liii, 3.
JJESUS made me understand that the true, the only glory is that which will last for ever; that to attain to it we need not perform wonderful deeds, but rather, those hidden from the eyes of others and from self, so that the left hand knoweth not what the right hand doth. [4]
HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IV
[4] Matt., vi, 3.
THÉRÈSE is weak, very weak; of this she has new and salutary experience every day. But Jesus takes pleasure in teaching her how to glory in her infirmities. [5] It is a great grace this, for herein is found peace and tranquillity. When we see ourselves so miserable, we wish no longer to look at self but only on the Well-Beloved.
II LETTER TO HER COUSIN MARIE GUÉRIN