Chapter XIV: Letter to Her Sister Céline

I am no longer surprised at anything, nor do I grieve at seeing that I am frailty itself; on the contrary I glory in it, and expect to discover new imperfections in myself each day. These lights concerning my nothingness do me more good, I affirm, than lights regarding faith.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

When we commit a fault we must not think it due to a physical cause, such as illness or the weather, we must attribute this fall to our imperfection, but without ever growing discouraged.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

Since Jesus has gone back to Heaven I can follow Him only by the path He has traced. Oh how luminous are His footprints--diffusing a divine sweetness.... I have but to glance at the holy Gospels and immediately I inhale the fragrance of the life of Jesus, and I know which side to take. Not to the first place do I run but to the last. I let the Pharisee go up, and full of confidence I repeat the humble prayer of the publican. Above all I copy the example of Magdalene; her amazing, or rather, her loving audacity, which so touched the Heart of Jesus, charms my own.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI

With a simplicity that delights me my little Sisters, the novices, tell me of the interior combats I arouse in them, in what way they find me trying; they are no more embarrassed than if it were question of some one else, knowing that by acting thus, they greatly please me.

Ah! truly it is more than a pleasure, it is a delicious feast which replenishes my soul with joy. How can a thing so disagreeable to nature give such happiness? Had I not experienced it I could not have believed it.

One day when I had an ardent desire for humiliation, it happened that a young postulant so fully satisfied it, that the thought of Semei cursing David came to my mind and I repeated interiorly with the holy King: _Yes, it is indeed the Lord who has commanded him to say all these things to me_.[33]

Thus the good God takes care of me. He cannot always offer me the strength-giving bread of exterior humiliation, but from time to time He permits me to feast upon _the crumbs that fall from the table of the children_.[34] How great is His Mercy!

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X

All creatures might incline towards _the little flower_, admiring it and overwhelming it with their praise, but never would that add a shadow of vain satisfaction to the true joy of knowing itself to be a mere nothing in the sight of God.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

Because I was little and weak, Jesus stooped down to me and tenderly instructed me in the secrets of His Love.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. V

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_;[35] and the greatest is His having shown me my littleness, my powerlessness for all good.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

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_[36] 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_,[37] 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

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?_”[38] and St. Peter confesses his helplessness: “_Lord we have laboured all night and have taken nothing._”[39] 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.