Chapter VI: Letter to Sœur Marie Du Sacré-Cœur

O Jesus, suffer me to tell Thee that Thy Love reacheth even unto folly.... What wilt Thou, in face of this folly, but that my heart dart upwards to Thee--how can my confidence have any bounds?

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI

It is not because I have been shielded from mortal sin that I lift up my heart to God in trust and love. I feel that even if there lay upon my conscience all the crimes one could commit I should lose nothing of my confidence. Broken-hearted with compunction I would go and throw myself into the arms of my Saviour. I know that He cherished the Prodigal Son, I have heard His words to Mary Magdalene, to the adultress, to the Samaritan woman. No one could frighten me, for I know what to believe concerning His Mercy and His Love. I know that in one moment all that multitude of sins would disappear--as a drop of water cast into a red-hot furnace.

It is related in the Lives of the Fathers of the Desert that one of them converted a public sinner whose misdeeds scandalized the whole country. Touched by grace this sinful woman was following the saint into the desert, there to do rigorous penance, when, on the first night of her journey, before she had even reached the place of her retreat, the bonds of life were broken by the impetuosity of her loving contrition. The holy hermit at the same moment saw her soul borne by Angels into the Bosom of God.

That is truly a striking instance of what I want to express, but one cannot put these things into words....

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI

Happy indeed am I to die and go to Heaven, but when I think on those words of our Lord: “_Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to his works_,”[63] I reflect that He will be very much embarrassed as regards me: I have no works.... Well, He will render to me ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WORKS!

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS

(_The Little Flower of Jesus_)]

One evening as they were telling her something which had been said at recreation, touching the responsibility of those who have the charge of souls, Sœur Thérèse de l’Enfant Jésus spoke these beautiful words: “‘_To him that is little, mercy is granted._’[64] It is possible to remain _little_, even in the most important offices; and is it not written that at the end _the Lord will arise to save the meek and humble of the earth_?[65] It says not to _judge_ but to _save_.”

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

A novice questioning as to whether our Lord were not dissatisfied with her on account of her many miseries, Sœur Thérèse made answer:

“Set your mind at rest: He whom you have chosen as your Spouse possesses certainly every perfection that can be desired; but, if I may dare to say it, He has at the same time one great infirmity: _He is blind!_ And there is a science which He knows not, that of _calculation_. These two points which would be most lamentable deficiencies in an earthly spouse, render ours infinitely lovable. Were He to consider our sins and reckon with them, do you not think that in the face of all these sins He would cast us back into nothingness? But no, His love for us makes Him absolutely blind!

“See for yourself: if the greatest sinner on earth, at the hour of death repent of his transgressions and expire in an act of love, immediately, without calculating on the one hand the numerous graces abused by this unhappy man, nor on the other, all his crimes, Jesus sees nothing, counts nothing, but the penitent’s last prayer, and delays not to receive him into the arms of His Mercy.

“But to render Him thus blind, to hinder Him from doing the least little bit of reckoning, we must know how to lay siege to His Heart; at that point He is defenceless....”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

To another, who bitterly repented of a fault just committed, Sœur Thérèse said:

“Take your Crucifix and kiss it.”

The novice kissed the feet.

“Is that how a child embraces her Father? Put your arms round His Neck immediately and kiss His Face.”

She obeyed.

“That is not all, He must return your caresses.”

And she had to hold the Crucifix to each cheek; then Thérèse said:

“That is well, now all is forgiven!”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

Having caused her pain, a novice went to ask pardon of Sœur Thérèse, who replied with emotion: “If you only knew what I feel! Never have I so well understood with what love Jesus receives us, when, after a fault we beg Him to forgive us. If I, His poor little creature, feel such tenderness for you the moment you return to me, what must pass in the Heart of the good God when we return to Him?... Yes, surely, more swiftly yet than I have just done, will He forget all our iniquities, never again to remember them.... He will do even more--He will love us still better than before our fault!...”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

FOOTNOTES:

[54] Prov., ix, 4.

[55] Is., lxvi, 12, 13.

[56] _Cf._ Ps., lxx, 17, 18.

[57] Ps., cii, 8, 13, 14.

[58] Luke, xv, 31.

[59] _Cf._ Zach., xiii, 6.

[60] _Cf._ Luke, xv, 22.

[61] Matt., v, 48.

[62] Ps., cii, 14.

[63] Apoc., xxii, 12.

[64] Wisdom, vi, 7.

[65] _Cf._ Ps., lxxv, 10.

SELF-ABANDONMENT

I cannot think without rapture of the dear little Saint Cæcilia: what a model! In the midst of a pagan world, in the heart of danger, at the moment when about to be united to a mortal who sought none but earthly love, it seems to me that she ought to have trembled and wept. But no, _while her bridal was celebrated with joyful melody Cæcilia was singing in her heart_.[66] What abandonment to God! Without doubt she listened to other melodies than those of earth; her Divine Spouse, He too, was singing, and Angel choirs sang again the refrain of one most blessed night: “_Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to men of good will._”[67]

The glory of God!--Oh! Cæcilia understood it; most earnestly did she long for it. She divined that her Jesus was athirst for souls ... that is why her whole desire was that she might lead speedily to Him the soul of the young Roman, who dreamed of naught but human glory: this wise Virgin will make of him a martyr, and multitudes will follow in his footprints. She fears nothing: the Angels have promised and have sung of peace. She knows that the Prince of Peace is bound to protect her, to shield her virginity and to give to her its recompense. “_O how beautiful is the chaste generation!_”[68]