Chapter III: Letter to Her Missionary “brothers”

She was looking at the sky one day when some one remarked to her:

“Very soon you will dwell beyond the blue sky; with what love you contemplate it!”

She merely smiled, but afterwards said to the Mother Prioress:

“Mother, our Sisters little know what I suffer! Looking at the blue sky I was thinking only of the beauty of the material heavens; _the other is more and more closed to me_.... I was at first distressed by that remark, then an interior voice answered: ‘Yes, through love thou didst look at the heavens. Since thy soul is wholly consecrated to Love, all thy actions, even the most indifferent, bear the impress of this divine seal.’ I was instantly consoled.”

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

Until two days before her death she wished to be alone at night, however, notwithstanding her entreaties, the Infirmarian used to rise several times to visit her. On one occasion she found our little invalid with hands clasped and eyes raised to Heaven.

“But what are you doing?” she asked; “you should try to sleep.”

“I cannot, dear Sister, I suffer too much! then I pray....”

“And what do you say to Jesus?”

“I say nothing, _I love Him_!”

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

A sister was speaking to her of the happiness of Heaven: Thérèse interrupted, saying:

“It is not that which attracts me....”

“What is it then?”

“Oh! it is LOVE! To love, to be beloved, and _to come back to earth to make_ LOVE _loved_.”

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

Love alone have I ever given to the good God, with love He will repay me.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

All that I have written regarding my desire of suffering is most true; oh! I do not repent of having surrendered myself to Love.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

Jesus! Jesus! if it be so sweet to desire Thy Love, what will it be to possess and to enjoy it for ever!

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI

O Jesus! could I but tell all _little souls_ of Thine ineffable condescension!... I feel that if it were possible to find one more weak than mine Thou wouldst take delight in showering upon her greater favours still, provided that she abandoned herself with entire confidence to Thine Infinite Mercy.

But why these desires, O my Beloved, to impart the secrets of Thy Love? Is it not Thyself alone Who hast made them known to me and canst Thou not reveal them to others? Yes, I know it and I implore Thee to _do_ so: _I beseech Thee to let Thy divine gaze rest upon an immense number of little souls, I beseech Thee to choose in this world a Legion of little victims worthy of Thy Love!_

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI

Her last words--looking at her crucifix:

“OH!... I LOVE HIM!... MY GOD, I ... LOVE ... THEE!!!”

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII

O my God, Most Blessed Trinity, I desire to love Thee and to make Thee loved, to labour for the glory of Holy Church by saving souls still on earth and by delivering those who suffer in purgatory. I desire to accomplish Thy Will perfectly, and to attain to the degree of glory which Thou hast prepared for me in Thy Kingdom, in one word, I desire to be a saint, but I know that I am powerless, and I implore Thee, O my God, to be Thyself my sanctity.

Since Thou hast so loved me as to give me Thine only Son to be my Saviour and my Spouse, the infinite treasures of His merits are mine, to Thee I offer them with joy, beseeching Thee to see me only as in the Face of Jesus and in His Heart burning with Love.

Again, I offer Thee all the merits of the Saints--in Heaven and on earth--their acts of love and those of the holy Angels; and finally I offer Thee, O Blessed Trinity, the love and the merits of the Holy Virgin, my most dear Mother; it is to her I entrust my oblation, begging her to present it to Thee.

Her Divine Son, my well-beloved Spouse, during His life on earth, told us: “_If you ask the Father anything in My Name He will give it to you._”[8] I am then certain that Thou wilt hearken to my desires.... My God, I know it, the more Thou willest to give the more dost Thou make us desire. Immense are the desires that I feel within my heart, and it is with confidence that I call upon Thee to come and take possession of my soul. I cannot receive Thee in Holy Communion as often as I would; but, Lord, art Thou not Almighty?... Remain in me as in the Tabernacle--never leave Thy little Victim.

I long to console Thee for the ingratitude of the wicked and I pray Thee take from me the liberty to displease Thee! If through frailty I fall sometimes, may Thy Divine glance purify my soul immediately, consuming every imperfection--like to fire which transforms all things into itself.

I thank Thee, O my God, for all the graces Thou hast bestowed on me, and particularly for making me pass through the crucible of suffering. It is with joy I shall behold Thee on the Last Day bearing Thy sceptre--the Cross; since Thou hast deigned to give me for my portion this most precious Cross, I have hope of resembling Thee in Heaven and seeing the sacred stigmata of Thy Passion shine in my glorified body.

After exile on earth I hope to enjoy the possession of Thee in our eternal Fatherland, but I have no wish to amass merits for Heaven, I will work for Thy Love alone, my sole aim being to give Thee pleasure, to console Thy Sacred Heart, and to save souls who will love Thee for ever.

At the close of life’s evening I shall appear before Thee with empty hands, for I ask not, Lord, that Thou wouldst count my works.... All our justice is tarnished in Thy sight. It is therefore my desire to be clothed with Thine own Justice and to receive from Thy Love the eternal possession of Thyself. I crave no other Throne nor other Crown but Thee, O my Beloved!...

In Thy sight time is nothing, _one day is as a thousand years_.[9] Thou canst in an instant prepare me to appear before Thee.

That I may live in one Act of perfect Love, I OFFER MYSELF AS A VICTIM OF HOLOCAUST TO THY MERCIFUL LOVE, imploring Thee to consume me without ceasing, and to let the tide of infinite tenderness pent up in Thee, overflow into my soul, that so I may become a very martyr of Thy Love, O my God!

May this martyrdom, having first prepared me to appear before Thee, break life’s thread at last, and may my soul take its flight, _unretarded_, into the eternal embrace of Thy Merciful Love.

I desire, O Well-Beloved, at every heart-beat to renew this Oblation an infinite number of times, _till the shadows retire_[10] and I can tell Thee my love eternally face to face!

[_Signed_] MARIE-FRANÇOISE-THÉRÈSE
DE L’ENFANT JÉSUS ET DE LA SAINTE FACE

_Rel. Carm. ind._

Feast of The Most Holy Trinity.
The 9th of June in the year of grace, 1895.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] Cant., viii, 7.

[2] St. Augustine.

[3] _Cf._ Ps. xlix, 9, 12, 14.

[4] John, iv, 7.

[5] St. John of the Cross.

[6] _Cf._ Ps. xxxv, 6.

[7] _Cf. Imit._, II, xi, 4.

[8] John, xvi, 23.

[9] _Cf._ Ps. lxxxix, 4.

[10] Cant., iv, 6.

LOVE OF OUR NEIGHBOUR

There are moments when we are so wretched within, that we must needs hurry away from ourselves. The good God does not oblige us to remain at such times in our own company; indeed He often permits that it should be displeasing to us just that we may leave it. And I see no other means of going out of ourselves than by going to visit Jesus and Mary, that is, hastening to deeds of charity.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

I applied myself above all to practise quite hidden little acts of virtue; thus I liked to fold the mantles forgotten by the Sisters, and sought a thousand opportunities of rendering them service.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VII

Had I been rich I never could have borne to see a poor person hungry without giving him to eat. It is the same in my spiritual life: knowing there are souls on the point of falling into Hell, I give them my treasures according as I earn anything, and I have never yet found a moment to say: “Now I am going to work for myself.”

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

I feel that when I am charitable it is Jesus alone who acts in me; the more I am united to Him the more do I love all my Sisters. If, when I desire to increase this love in my heart, the demon tries to set before my eyes the faults of one or other of the Sisters, I hasten to call to mind her virtues, her good desires; I say to myself that if I have seen her fall once, she may well have gained many victories which she conceals through humility; and that even what appears to me a fault may in truth be an act of virtue by reason of the intention.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

True Charity consists in bearing with all the defects of our neighbour, in not being surprised at his failings, and in being edified by his least virtues; Charity must not remain shut up in the depths of the heart, for _no man lighteth a candle and putteth it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house_.[11] It seems to me that this candle represents the Charity which ought to enlighten and make joyful, not only those who are dearest to me, but _all who are in the house_.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

There is no artist who does not like his work praised, and the Divine Artist of souls is pleased when we do not stop at the exterior, but penetrating even to the inmost sanctuary which He has chosen for His dwelling, we admire its beauty.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

I ought to seek the company of those Sisters who according to nature please me least. I ought to fulfil in their regard the office of the Good Samaritan. A word, a kindly smile, will often suffice to gladden a wounded and sorrowful heart.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X

Oh! what peace inundates the soul when she rises above natural sentiment. No joy can compare with that known to one who is truly poor in spirit. If he ask with detachment for some necessary thing, and it is not only refused him, but an attempt made besides to deprive him of what he already has, he follows the counsel of our Lord: “_And if a man will contend with thee in judgment and take away thy coat, let go thy cloak also unto him._”[12]

To yield up our cloak means, I think, to renounce our last rights, to consider oneself as the servant, the slave of others. When we have abandoned our mantle it is easier to walk, to run; therefore Jesus adds: “_And whosoever will force thee one mile, go with him other two._”[13]

It is not enough that I should give to whosoever may ask of me, I must forestall their desires, and show that I feel much gratified, much honoured in rendering service; and if they take a thing that I use, I must seem as though glad to be _relieved_ of it.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

If it is hard to give to whoever asks, it is still harder to let what belongs to us be taken, without asking it back, or rather, I ought to say it _seems_ hard; for _the yoke of the Lord is sweet and light_:[14] when we accept it we feel its sweetness immediately.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

When Charity is deeply rooted in the soul it shows itself exteriorly: there is so gracious a way of refusing what we cannot give, that the refusal pleases as much as the gift.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX

To want to persuade our Sisters that they are in the wrong, even when it is perfectly true, is hardly fair, as we are not responsible for their guidance. We must not be _Justices of the peace_, but only _angels of peace_.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

Jesus wills that we give alms to Him as to one poor and needy. He puts Himself as it were at our mercy; He will take nothing but what we give Him from our heart, and the very least trifle is precious in His sight. He stretches forth His Hand, this sweet Saviour, to receive of us a little love, so that in the radiant day of Judgment He may be able to address to us those ineffable words: “_Come, ye blessed of My Father; for I was hungry, and you gave Me to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me to drink; I was a stranger, and you took Me in; sick and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me._”[15]