Do not be disheartened, my friend, on account of your slow progress. A
long martyrdom is sometimes necessary, in order to purify our souls
from the concealed faults of self-love--faults interwoven in our
nature, and strengthened by long indulgence. As you cannot control at
once the agitations of nature, arm yourself with patience, to
accomplish the task little by little; not in the way of direct effort,
but rather by ceasing from effort, remaining quiet, permitting neither
gestures nor words to betray your feelings.
Could we enter into the highest state of grace, as we enter into a
room, it might be easily accomplished. But alas! the door is straight,
and there are many deaths to pass; in a word, death to self. It is
this long martyrdom, or dying of the old man of sin, which causes all
the pains of the interior life. It is rare to find persons, who are
willing to die entirely to self, and therefore few reach the highest
state of grace.
Have good courage. It is a great work to draw a large ship from her
moorings, but when she is in the waters, how easily she rolls! What
happiness, when by perseverance, you have triumphed over nature, to
find yourself in the abundant waters of grace! I pray God to put his
own hand to the work. He will.
In Him, devotedly yours.