Chapter VIII: Letter to Mère Agnès De Jésus

FOOTNOTES:

[23] I Cor., ii, 9. _Cf._ Is., lxiv, 4.

[24] I Cor., vii, 31.

[25] _Cf._ Ps. cxxxvi, 2.

[26] _Cf._ Ps., cxxxvi, 1, 4.

HUMILITY

It appears to me that humility is the truth. I know not whether I am humble, but I know that I see the truth in all things.

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

I have understood what true glory is. He whose _Kingdom is not of this world_[27] showed me that the only enviable royalty consists in loving _to be unknown and esteemed as nothing_,[28] and finding our joy in contempt of self. I wished that like the Face of Jesus, mine might be _as it were hidden and despised_.[29] _That none upon earth might esteem me._ I thirsted to suffer and to be forgotten.

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VII

Jesus made me understand that the true, the only glory is that which will last for ever; that to attain to it we need not perform wonderful deeds, but rather, those hidden from the eyes of others and from self, so that _the left hand knoweth not what the right hand doth_.[30]

HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IV

Thérèse is weak, very weak; of this she has new and salutary experience every day. But Jesus takes pleasure in teaching her how to _glory in her infirmities_.[31] It is a great grace this, for herein is found peace and tranquillity. When we see ourselves so miserable, we wish no longer to look at self but only on the Well-Beloved.