WHEN I read certain treatises where perfection is set forth as encompassed by a thousand obstacles, my poor little head grows weary very quickly. I close the learned book which puzzles my brains and dries up my heart, and in its stead I open the Holy Scriptures. Then all appears clear, luminous . . . one single word discloses to my soul infinite horizons, perfection seems easy. I see that it is sufficient to recognize our nothingness, and to leave oneself like a child, in the arms of the good God. Let great souls and sublime intellects enjoy the beautiful books which I cannot understand, still less put in practice; I rejoice in being little, since _"children only and those who resemble them will be admitted to the Heavenly banquet."_ [1] It is well that the Kingdom of Heaven contains many mansions, for if there were none other than those of which the description and the way seem incomprehensible to me, I should never be able to enter therein. VI LETTER TO HER MISSIONARY "BROTHERS" [1] _Cf._ Matt., xix, 14. MY patrons in Heaven and my chosen favourites are those who have stolen it--like the Holy Innocents and the Good Thief. The great Saints have earned it by their works; as for me, I will imitate the thieves, I will have it by ruse, a ruse of Love which will open its gates to me and to poor sinners. The Holy Ghost encourages me, saying in the Book of Proverbs: _"O little one, come, learn subtlety of me."_ [2] COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES [2] _Cf._ Prov., i, 4. OUR Lord replied to the mother of the sons of Zebedee: _"To sit on My right and on My left hand is for them for whom it is prepared by My Father."_ [3] I imagine that those places of choice, refused to great Saints, to Martyrs, will be the portion of little children. Did not David predict it when he said that _the little Benjamin will preside amidst the assemblies_ (of the saints)? [4] COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES [3] _Cf._ Matt., xx, 23. [4] _Cf._ Ps., lxvii, 29. "IF you could begin your religious life over again" asked a novice, "what would you do?" "It seems to me that I would do as I have done." "You do not then feel like the hermit who used to say: 'Even though I had lived long years in penance yet I should fear damnation while there still remained to me one quarter of an hour, one breath of life.' "No, I cannot share that fear, I am too little to be damned, little children are not damned." "You always seek to be like the little ones--but tell us what we must do to possess the spirit of childhood? What does it exactly mean--to remain little?