“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....”