Chapter I: AM too little to have any vanity, I am also too little to know

how to turn beautiful phrases so as to make it appear that I have a great deal of humility. I prefer to acknowledge simply that _He that is mighty hath done great things to me_; [9] and the greatest is His having shown me my littleness, my powerlessness for all good.

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. IX

[9] Luke, i, 49.

THE only thing not subject to be envied is the lowest place, it is therefore this lowest place alone which is without vanity and affliction of spirit. Still, _the way of a man is not always in his power_ [10] and sometimes we are surprised by a desire for that which glitters. Then, let us take our place humbly amongst the imperfect, deeming ourselves little souls whom the good God must sustain at each moment. As soon as He sees us truly convinced of our nothingness and we say to Him: _My foot hath slipped: Thy mercy, O Lord, hath held me up,_ [11] He stretches out His Hand to us; but if we _will_ attempt to do something grand, even under pretext of zeal, He leaves us alone. It is enough therefore that we humble ourselves, and bear our imperfections with sweetness: there, for us, lies true sanctity.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

[10] _Cf_. Jer., x, 23. [11] _Cf_. Ps., xciii, 18.

THE most eloquent discourses would be incapable of inspiring one act of love without the grace that moves the heart.

See a beautiful, rose-tinted peach, of so sweet a savour that no craft of confectioner could produce nectar like it. Is it for the peach itself that God has created this lovely colour and delicate velvety surface? Is it for the sake of the peach that He has given it so delicious a flavour? No, it is for us; what alone belongs to it and forms the essence of its existence is its stone; it possesses nothing more.

Thus is Jesus pleased to lavish His gifts on some of His creatures, that through them He may draw to Himself other souls; but in His mercy He humiliates them interiorly, and gently constrains them to recognize their nothingness and His Omnipotence. These sentiments form in them, as it were, a kernel of grace, which Jesus hastens to develop for that blessed day when clothed with a beauty, immortal, imperishable, they shall without danger have place at the Celestial banquet.

XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE

THE Apostles, without Jesus, laboured long--a whole night-- without taking any fish; their toil was pleasing to Him but He wished to show that He alone can give anything. He asked only an act of humility: _"Children, have you any meat?"_ [12] and St. Peter confesses his helplessness: _"Lord we have laboured all night and have taken nothing."_ [13] It is enough! The Heart of Jesus is touched . . . . Perhaps if the Apostle had taken a few little fishes the Divine Master would not have worked a miracle; but he had _nothing_, and so through God's power and goodness his nets were soon filled with great fishes.

That is just our Lord's way. He gives as God, but He _will_ have humility of heart.