Chapter XVII: Letter to Her Sister Céline

To think ourselves imperfect, and others perfect--that is happiness. That creatures should recognize we are without virtue takes nothing from us, makes us no poorer; it is they who by this lose interior joy; for there is nothing sweeter than to think well of our neighbour.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

It is a great joy to me, not only when others find me imperfect, but above all when I feel that so I am: compliments, on the contrary, cause me nothing but displeasure.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

A novice confided to her that she made no progress and felt quite discouraged.

“Till the age of fourteen,” said Thérèse, “I practised virtue without feeling its sweetness. I wished for suffering but had no thought of finding my joy therein; that is a grace which has been granted me later. My soul was like a beautiful tree whose blossoms no sooner opened than they fell.

“Offer to the good God the sacrifice of never gathering the fruits of your labours. If He so will that during your whole life you feel a repugnance to suffer and to be humiliated, if He permit that all the flowers of your desires and of your good-will fall to earth without fruit, be not troubled. At the moment of your death He will know well how to bring to perfection, in the twinkling of an eye, beautiful fruits on the tree of your soul.

“We read in the Book of Ecclesiasticus: ‘_There is an inactive man that wanteth help, is very weak in ability, and full of poverty: yet the eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath lifted him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many have wondered at him and have glorified God._

‘_Trust in God, and stay in thy place. For it is easy in the eyes of God, on a sudden to make the poor man rich. The blessing of God maketh haste to reward the just, and in a swift hour His blessing beareth fruit!_’”[40]

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

“You have always been faithful to divine grace, have you not?”

“Yes, since the age of three I have refused nothing to the good God. Yet not mine the glory. See how the setting sun this evening gilds the topmost branches of the trees; even so does my soul appear to you--all bright and gilded, because it is exposed to Love’s rays. If the Divine Sun withheld from me His rays, my soul would immediately become obscured and enveloped in darkness.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

“You really are a saint!” some one said to her.

“No, I am not a saint; I have never done the works of the Saints. I am a very, very little soul on whom the good God has outpoured the abundance of His grace. You will see in Heaven that I am telling you the truth.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

She said to the Prioress: “Mother, I feel that if I were unfaithful, if I committed but the very slightest infidelity, fearful troubles would follow, and I could no longer accept death with resignation.”

And as the Mother Prioress showed surprise at hearing her speak thus, she continued:

“I mean an infidelity springing from pride. For instance, if I said: ‘I have acquired such or such a virtue, I am able to practise it,’ or, ‘O my God, I love Thee too well--Thou knowest it--to dwell on one single thought against faith,’ I feel that I should forthwith be assailed by the most dangerous temptations and should certainly be overcome by them.

“To avoid this calamity I have but to say humbly from the depths of my heart: ‘O my God, I implore of Thee, suffer me not to be unfaithful!’

“I very well understand how St. Peter fell. He depended too confidently on the fervour of his feelings, instead of relying solely upon Divine strength. Had he said to Jesus: ‘Lord, give me the strength to follow Thee even unto death,’ that strength, I am quite sure would not have been refused him.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

“Oh! when I think of all I have to acquire!” exclaimed a novice.

“Say, rather, _to lose_. Jesus, it is, who charges Himself with the care of filling your soul according as you free it from its imperfections. I plainly see that you are taking the wrong road, you will never arrive at the end of your journey. You wish to scale a mountain and the good God wants to make you descend: He is waiting for you low down in the fertile valley of humility.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

“When I receive a reproof,” said another, “I would rather have deserved it than be wrongfully accused.”

“As for me,” replied Thérèse, “I prefer being blamed unjustly, then I have no cause for self-reproach and I offer this unmerited blame to the good God with joy, then I humble myself at the thought that I should be quite capable of doing that of which I was accused.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

When we are not understood, and are unfavourably judged, what good is there in defending ourselves? Let us leave it so and say nothing, it is so sweet to let ourselves be judged no matter how! It is not told in the Gospels that Saint Magdalen gave any explanation when blamed by her sister for sitting inactive at the feet of Jesus. She did not say: “Martha, if thou didst but know my happiness, if thou didst but hear the words I hear, thou too wouldst lay all else aside, to share my joy and my repose.” No, she chose rather to be silent.... O blessed silence which gives to the soul such peace!

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

In a moment of temptation and combat a novice received this note:

“_The just man shall correct me in mercy and reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head._[41] I cannot be corrected or tried except by the just, inasmuch as all my Sisters are pleasing to God. It is less bitter to be reproved by a sinner than by the just; but _through compassion for sinners_, to obtain their conversion, I pray Thee, O my God, that I may be bruised by the just souls who are round about me. Again, I beg that the oil of praise, so sweet to nature, _anoint not my head_, that is to say, enervate not my mind, by making me believe that I possess virtues which I have only with difficulty practised several times.

“O my Jesus! _Thy Name is as oil poured out_;[42] it is in this divine perfume that I wish to be wholly bathed, far away from the notice of creatures.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

At the close of her life she was able to say: “I used so to rise above all things, that I drew strength from humiliations.”

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

“God has a special love for you,” remarked a young Sister, “since to you He entrusts other souls.”

“That does not add anything to me, and I am only really just what I am in God’s sight.... It does not follow that He loves me more, because He wills that I should be His interpreter to you; rather, He makes me your little servant. It is for you and not for me that He has given me the charms and virtues apparent to you.

“Often I compare myself to a little bowl which God fills with good things of every kind. All _the kittens_ come to it to take their share, and sometimes there is a contest as to which shall have most. But the Child Jesus is there, keeping watch: ‘I am very willing that you drink from my little bowl’ saith He, ‘but take care lest you overturn it and break it.’

“Truth to tell, the danger is not great, because I am placed on the ground. It is otherwise with Prioresses: they, being set on tables run many more risks. Honours are always dangerous.

“Oh! how poisonous the praises served up day by day to those who hold high places. What baneful incense! And how necessary it is that the soul be detached from self, that so she may escape unharmed.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

To help a novice to accept a humiliation she said to her in confidence: “If I had not been received into Carmel I would have entered a Refuge, to live there unknown and despised in the midst of the poor penitents. To pass for such in the eyes of all would have been my happiness. I should have been the apostle of my companions telling them what I think of the Mercy of the good God.”

“But how would you have been able to hide your innocence from your Confessor?”

“I would have told him that while in the world I had made a general confession and had been forbidden to do so again.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

One day they brought her some ears of corn. She took one so laden with grain that it leaned down upon its stalk, and having looked at it for a long time she said to the Mother Prioress:

“Mother, this ear of corn is an image of my soul: the good God has laden me with graces for myself and for many others!... Oh! I wish ever to bow down beneath the abundance of Heaven’s gifts, recognizing that all comes from above.”

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

What do you think of all the graces which have been poured down upon you?

“I think that _the Spirit of God breatheth where He will_.”[43]

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

A sister said that in Heaven she would be a beautiful flower, resplendent with light.

“Oh no,” she replied, “you know how in pretty bouquets they conceal some moss to make the flowers stand out; well, I shall be a little bit of moss to set off the beauty of the elect.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

During her last agony the Mother Prioress encouraged her with these words:

“My child, you are quite ready to appear before God because you have always understood the virtue of humility.”

Then of herself she gave this beautiful testimony:

“Yes, I feel it, my soul has never sought but the truth ... yes, I have understood humility of heart!”

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

FOOTNOTES:

[27] John, xviii, 36.

[28] _Imit._, I, ii, 3.

[29] Is., liii, 3.

[30] Matt., vi, 3.

[31] II Cor., xi, 5.

[32] John, xiii, 8.

[33] Kings, xvi, 10.

[34] Mark, vii, 28.

[35] Luke, i, 49.

[36] _Cf._ Jer., x, 23.

[37] _Cf._ Ps., xciii, 18.

[38] John, xxi, 5

[39] Luke, v, 5.

[40] Ecclus., xi, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24.

[41] Ps., cxl, 5.

[42] Cant., 1, 2.

[43] John, iii, 8.

DETACHMENT

If the impossible were possible and that God Himself did not see my good actions, I would not grieve about it. I love Him so much that I should like to be able to give Him pleasure without His knowing that it was I.... Knowing and seeing it, He is, in a way, bound to repay me.... I would not give Him the trouble.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

The glory of Jesus ... that is my whole ambition; my own I abandon to Him; and if He seem to forget me, well, He is at liberty to do so since I am mine no more, but His. He will more quickly tire of making me wait, than I, of waiting!

VII LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS

There is no stay, no support to seek out of Jesus. He alone changeth not. What happiness to think that He can never change!