To another who was bewailing her want of courage:
“You complain of what should cause you the greatest happiness. Where
would be your merit if you must fight only when you felt the courage?
What matters it if you have none, provided that you act as if you
had! If you feel too slothful to pick up a bit of thread, and that
nevertheless you do it for the love of Jesus, you have more merit than
if in a moment of fervour you were to accomplish something of far
greater importance. So instead of being sorrowful, rejoice to see that
in letting you feel your weakness the good Master provides you with an
opportunity of gaining for Him a greater number of souls.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
Being questioned as to her mode of sanctifying the repasts, Thérèse
made answer:
“In the refectory we have but one only thing to do: to accomplish this
so lowly act with thoughts uplifted. I declare to you that often it is
in the refectory the sweetest aspirations of love come to me. Sometimes
I am impelled to dwell on the thought that if our Divine Lord were
in my place, with the fare set before Him as served to me, He would
certainly partake of it.... It is very probable that during His life on
earth He tasted of the like food: _He ate bread, fruits, etc._...
“Here are my simple little rubrics:
“I picture myself at Nazareth in the house of Holy Family. If I am
served with, for instance, salad, cold fish, wine or anything of
strong flavour, I offer it to St. Joseph. To the Blessed Virgin I give
the hot portions, well-ripened fruits, etc.; and the feast-day fare,
particularly corn-flour, rice, preserves, these I offer to the Child
Jesus. Lastly, when a bad dinner is brought me I say gaily to myself:
‘Today, my dear little child, all that is for you.’”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
One fast-day when the Mother Prioress had ordered some special little
thing by way of alleviation for Sœur Thérèse, a Sister relates that
she surprised her in the act of seasoning this too palatable fare with
wormwood.
Another time she saw her slowly drinking some particularly disagreeable
physic, and exclaimed: “But be quick, drink that off at one draught!”
“Oh no!” was the reply, “must I not take advantage of the trifling
opportunities I meet with, to mortify myself a little, since it is
forbidden me to look for greater?”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
An extremely interesting letter had been read one day at the recreation
in the absence of Thérèse who later showed a desire to read it. Some
time afterwards when returning the letter, she was begged to say what
she thought regarding something which should especially have delighted
her. She appeared embarrassed and then replied:
“The good God has asked of me this sacrifice because of the eagerness
that I manifested the other day; I have not read it....”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
She told the novices: “At recreation more than elsewhere will you find
occasions for the exercise of virtue. If you would reap great benefit,
never go to it with any thought of your own recreation, but thinking
of the recreation of others; practise therein total detachment from
yourself. If, for instance, you are relating to one of the Sisters
a story which seems to you interesting, and that she interrupts it
to tell you something else, even though this may not at all interest
you, listen to her as if it did, and do not try to return to your
first subject. By so acting, you will go from the recreation room with
great interior peace, and endued with fresh vigour in the practice of
virtue, all because you have not sought to gratify yourself but to give
pleasure to others. If one only knew what is gained by renouncing self
in all things!...”
“You know it well; you have always acted thus?”
“Yes, I have forgotten self, I have tried not to seek myself in
anything.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
[Illustration]
OBEDIENCE
As I had self-love as well as the love of what is right it was
sufficient but once to tell me: “Such a thing should not be done,” and
I would have no desire to do it again.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. I
From what anxieties do we not free ourselves by making the vow of
obedience! How happy are single-minded religious. Their sole guide
being the will of Superiors, they are ever secure of going the right
way without fear of error, should it even appear to them certain that
the Superiors are mistaken. But when one ceases to consult the sure
compass, the soul forthwith loses her way in arid paths where the
waters of grace soon fail her.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
During her illness the Infirmarian had recommended Sœur Thérèse to take
a little walk in the garden every day for a quarter of an hour. For
her, this advice was a command. One afternoon, a Sister seeing her walk
with much difficulty said to her: “You would do far better to rest; in
such circumstances walking can do you no good, you exhaust yourself,
that is all.”
“It is true,” replied this child of Obedience, “but do you know what
gives me strength?... Well! _I walk for a Missionary._ I think how some
one of them far away, yonder, is perhaps exhausted in his apostolic
journeyings, and to lessen his fatigue I offer mine to the good God.”
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII
[Illustration]
POVERTY
After I was clothed with the holy Habit abundant lights on religious
perfection were granted me, chiefly regarding the vow of poverty.
During my postulate I was pleased to have for my use, anything that was
nice, and to find at my hand whatever was necessary. Jesus bore with
this patiently, for He does not like to disclose all to the soul at
once. He ordinarily gives His light little by little.
After Compline one evening I looked in vain for our lantern on the
shelves appointed for them; it was the time of great silence, not
possible therefore to ask for it back. I rightly supposed that a Sister
believing she took her own had carried away ours; but must I spend a
whole hour in the dark in consequence of this mistake? And just that
evening I had intended doing much work. Without the interior light of
grace I should assuredly have bewailed my loss, but with that light,
instead of experiencing vexation I was happy in thinking that poverty
consists in being deprived not only of things desirable, but of those
also that are indispensable. And in the exterior darkness I found my
soul illumined with divine light.
I was seized at this time with a genuine love for what was ugliest and
least convenient, thus I was delighted when I saw the pretty little jug
carried off from our cell, and received in its stead a large one, all
chipped.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VII
A novice expressed regret for having lent a pin which was very
serviceable to her:
“Oh! how rich you are,” replied Thérèse, “you cannot be happy.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
“_Make haste and come down: for this day I must abide in thy
house._”[51] Jesus tells us to come down; where, then, must we go?...
At an earlier time the Jews asked Him: “_Master, where dwellest
Thou?_”[52] And He said: “_The foxes have holes, and the birds of the
air nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head._”[53]
Behold whereunto we must descend if we would serve as dwellings for
Jesus: we must be so poor that we have not where to lay our head.
XIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
FOOTNOTES:
[51] Luke, xix, 5.
[52] John, i, 38.
[53] Luke, ix, 58.
[Illustration]
CONFIDENCE
What offends Jesus, what wounds Him to the Heart, is want of confidence.
I LETTER TO HER COUSIN MARIE GUÉRIN
Believing that I was born for glory, and seeking the means to attain
to it, it was revealed to me interiorly that my glory would never be
visible to mortal eyes but would consist in becoming a saint. This
desire might well seem presumptuously bold, considering how imperfect
I was, and how imperfect I am still after so many years in religion;
and yet I feel ever the same audacious confidence of becoming a great
saint. I count not on my merits, having none; but I trust in Him who
is Virtue and Holiness itself. He alone it is who satisfied with my
feeble efforts will raise me up even unto Himself, will clothe me with
His merits and make me a saint.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IV
Ours is an age of inventions: nowadays, with the rich a lift saves the
trouble of climbing the stairs. And I, fain would I too find a _lift_
to bear me up unto God, for I am too little to climb the rugged steps
of perfection.
Then I turned to the Holy Scriptures, seeking from them an indication
of this _lift_, the object of my desires; and I read these words which
have issued from the very mouth of the Eternal Wisdom: “_Whosoever is
a_ VERY LITTLE ONE, _let him come to me_.”[54] Then I drew nigh unto
God divining truly that I had discovered what I sought: wishing however
to know what He would do with the _very little one_, I continued my
research and here is what I found: “_You shall be carried at the breast
and upon the knees; as one whom the mother caresseth so will I comfort
you_.”[55]
Ah, never came words more sweet, more tender, to gladden my soul.
Thine arms then, O Jesus, are the _lift_ which must raise me up even
unto Heaven! For this I need not grow, on the contrary I must remain
little, I must ever tend to become yet more little. O my God, Thou hast
gone beyond my expectations, and I--I will sing Thy mercies! _Thou
hast taught me, O God from my youth: and till now I have declared Thy
wondrous works. And unto old age and grey hairs_[56] will I proclaim
them.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX
Since it has been given to me too, to understand the love of the Heart
of Jesus, I own that it has chased all fear from mine! The remembrance
of my faults humiliates me, and urges me never to depend upon my
own strength which is nothing but weakness: still more does this
remembrance speak to me of mercy and of love. When, with all filial
confidence we cast our faults into the devouring furnace of love, how
should they not be totally consumed?
V LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY “BROTHERS”
Though we must needs be pure indeed to appear in the presence of the
God of all Holiness, yet I know too that He is infinitely just; and
this justice which affrights so many souls is the ground of my joy
and my confidence. Justice not merely exercises severity towards the
offender; it moreover recognizes a right intention, and awards to
virtue its recompense. I hope as much from the Justice of the good God
as from His Mercy; it is because He is just, that “_He is compassionate
and merciful, long-suffering and plenteous in mercy. For He knoweth our
frame. He remembereth that we are but dust. As a father hath compassion
on His children, so hath the Lord compassion on us!_”[57]...
Listening to these beautiful and consoling words of the Royal Prophet,
how can we doubt but that the good God will open the portals of His
Kingdom to His children who have loved Him even unto sacrificing all
for Him, who have not only left their kindred and their country, for
the sake of making Him known and loved, but, still further, desire to
give their life for Him?... Most truly has Jesus said that there is no
greater love than this! How then could He suffer Himself to be outdone
in generosity? How could He purify in the flames of Purgatory souls
consumed by the fire of Divine Love?...
That is what I think of the justice of the good God; my way is all
confidence and love, I do not understand those souls who fear so tender
a Friend.
VI LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY “BROTHERS”
That joy to think that God is just, that is to say, that He takes our
weakness into consideration, that He thoroughly knows the frailty of
our nature. Of what then, should I be afraid? Must not the good and
infinitely just God, who with such tender mercy deigns to pardon the
Prodigal Son, must He not be just towards me too--_who am always with
Him_?[58]
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VIII
I want to make you understand by a very simple comparison how much
Jesus loves souls, even the imperfect, who trust in Him. Suppose the
father of two wayward and disobedient children, coming to punish them,
sees one tremble and draw away from him in terror; while the other,
on the contrary, throwing himself into his arms, says he is sorry,
promises to be good henceforward and begs for a kiss as punishment. Do
you think the delighted father will withstand the filial confidence of
this child? He knows nevertheless that his son will fall again many a
time into the same faults, but he is disposed to pardon him always, if
always there be an appeal to his heart.
I say nothing of the other child: you must understand that his father
cannot love him as much or treat him with the same indulgence.
VIII LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY “BROTHERS”
Truly the Heart of Jesus is more grieved by the thousand little
imperfections of His friends than by even grave faults of His enemies.
But it seems to me that it is only when His own chosen ones make a
habit of these infidelities, and do not ask His pardon, that He can
say: “_These wounds which you see in the midst of My Hands: with these
was I wounded in the house of them that loved Me._”[59]
For those who love Him and who come after each little fault and throw
themselves into His arms, begging His forgiveness, the Heart of Jesus
thrills with joy. He says to His Angels what the father of the prodigal
son said to His servants: “_Put a ring on his finger and let us
rejoice._”[60] Oh! the goodness and the merciful love of the Heart
of Jesus, how little is it known! True it is, that to share in these
treasures we must humble ourselves, must acknowledge our nothingness,
and that is what many souls are unwilling to do.
VII LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY “BROTHERS”
Our dreams, our desires of perfection are not vain imaginations,
since Jesus Himself has given us this commandment, He said: “_Be you,
therefore, perfect, as also your Heavenly Father is perfect._”[61]
II LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
Truly I am far from being a saint. I ought not to rejoice at the
aridity of my soul, but attribute it to the scantiness of my fervour
and fidelity. I ought to grieve because I fall asleep very often during
my prayer and my thanksgiving. Well, I do not grieve! I reflect that
little children when they sleep are as pleasing to their parents as
when they are awake; that in order to perform operations, doctors put
their patients to sleep; in fine, that _the Lord knoweth our frame, He
remembereth that we are but dust_.[62]
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VIII
I have no fear of the last combats, nor of the physical suffering how
great soever it may be. The good God has always come to my assistance,
He has helped me and led me by the hand from my earliest years.... I
count on Him ... my sufferings may reach their furthest limits, but I
am sure that He will never abandon me.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII
It is confidence, and confidence alone, that must lead us to Love....
Does not fear lead us rather to think of the rigid justice by which
sinners are warned? But that is not the justice that Jesus will show to
those who love Him.
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
[Illustration: THE SERVANT OF GOD
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.
[Illustration]
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]
XVII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
I had offered myself to the Child Jesus to be _His little plaything_. I
had told Him not to use me like a costly toy which children are pleased
to look at without daring to touch; but as He would a little ball of no
value, that He might throw to the ground, toss about, pierce, leave in
a corner, or else press to His Heart if so it pleased Him. In a word
_I wanted to amuse the little Jesus, and to give myself up to all His
childlike fancies_.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VI
My heart is entirely filled with the will of Jesus; therefore when
anything over and above falls to its share, this does not penetrate to
its depths; it is a mere nothing which easily glides by, as oil on the
surface of limpid water. Ah! if my heart were not filled up beforehand,
had it to be filled by the sentiments of joy or of sadness which so
quickly succeed each other, bitter indeed would be this flood-tide of
pain; but these rapid alternations do no more than ruffle the surface
of my soul, and I remain ever in a profound peace that nothing can
disturb.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII
I am not always faithful, but I am never discouraged; I leave myself
wholly in the arms of our Divine Lord; He teaches me to _draw profit
from all--both good and ill that He finds in me_.[69] He teaches me
to speculate in the Bank of Love, or rather it is He who acts for me
without telling me how He goes to work, that is His affair and not
mine; my part is complete surrender, reserving nothing to myself, not
even the gratification of knowing how my credit stands with the Bank.
XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE
A sister told Sœur Thérèse of the strange phenomena produced by
magnetism on persons who really wish to yield up their will to the
mesmerizer. These details appeared to interest her keenly and on the
morrow she said to the Sister:
“Your conversation yesterday did me so much good. Oh! how I wish to be
magnetized by our Lord. It was my first thought on awakening. With what
delight have I delivered my will up to Him. Yes, I want Him to make
Himself master of my faculties in such sort that my actions shall no
longer be human or personal, but wholly divine, inspired and directed
by the Spirit of Love.”
COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES
You are quite wrong to think of sorrows that the future may bring;
it is, as it were, intermeddling with Divine Providence. We who run
in the way of Love must never torment ourselves about anything. If I
did not suffer minute by minute, it would be impossible for me to be
patient; but I see only the present moment, I forget the past and I
take good care not to anticipate the future. If we grow disheartened,
if sometimes we despair, it is because we have been dwelling on the
past or the future.
HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII