I have a feeling that I am expressing the desires and the thoughts of many men. Very soon, those who are here will be going to sleep; I shall continue my writing, but with the secret certitude of not being alone in the task, of carrying with me their tacit assent. I feel that I have been entrusted with a sort of mandate. I have no library, no documents. But do we need books in order to converse together of the things that form the very substance of our existence? Does it not suffice to consult our souls? Do we need any other guarantee than our devout desire in order to lift an open hand and make, for all those who await it in their solitude, the sign of concord and of hope? CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I THE HOPE OF HAPPINESS 3 II POVERTY AND RICHES 21 III THE POSSESSION OF OTHERS 33 IV ON DISCOVERING THE WORLD 69 V THE LYRICS OF LIFE 94 VI SORROW AND RENUNCIATION 110 VII THE SHELTER OF LIFE 126 VIII THE CHOICE OF THE GRACES 146 IX APOSTLESHIP 160 X ON THE REIGN OF THE HEART 178 THE HEART’S DOMAIN THE HEART’S DOMAIN I THE HOPE OF HAPPINESS I It was necessary for me to pass middle age in order to become convinced that happiness was the object of my life, as it is the object of all humanity, as it is the object of the whole world of living things. At first sight, that statement seems self-evident. And yet many a time have I questioned my friends, my relatives, my chance companions on this subject and I have received the most contradictory replies. Many seemed taken unawares and, overwhelmed with their various burdens, would not trouble to seek an object: they were in pursuit of happiness without naming it. Others, excited by the play of argument, acknowledged as the object of life all sorts of states or manners of being which are nothing but steps toward happiness, means good or bad of seeking it, such as movement, stoical indifference, or prayer. Others confused the end with the object and named death. Still others, maddened by their misery, gave it as their bitter conclusion that unhappiness is the actual destiny of man, and these confused the obstacle with the aim. Finally, there were some who gave to happiness names dictated by their aspirations, their culture, their accustomed manner of using words, and called it God, or eternal life, or the salvation of the soul.