"Yes, but . . . seeing that I love them! . . . I love everything the good God sends me." HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII AGAIN, when some one said to her: "It is dreadful--all you are suffering." "No, it is not dreadful; could a little Victim of Love find anything dreadful that her Spouse sends her? He gives me at each moment what I can bear; not more; and the minute He increases my sufferings He also augments my fortitude. "Yet I could never ask for greater sufferings, for I am too little; they would be my own--my own choosing, then I should have to bear them by myself, and I have never been able to do anything all alone." HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII DURING her long and painful agony she exclaimed: "The chalice is full to the brim. Never could I have believed it possible to suffer so much . . . I can only find the explanation in my extreme longing to save souls . . . Oh! I would not suffer less." HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII THE DIRECTION OF SOULS OUR Lord allowed me the consolation of closely studying the souls of children. Considering these innocent souls I used to compare them to soft wax, upon which any impression may be stamped the bad, alas! like the good; and I understood those words of Jesus: "_But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones . . . it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea_." [1] Oh! how many souls might attain to a high degree of holiness if wisely guided from the very first. I well know that to accomplish His work of sanctification, God has need of no one, but just as He enables a skilful gardener to rear plants that are delicate and rare, granting him for this end all the knowledge necessary, while reserving to Himself the care of giving the increase, so, too, does He will to be aided in His divine culture of souls. HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. V [1] Matt., xviii, 6. AS soon as I penetrated into the sanctuary of souls I judged at the first glance that the task exceeded my powers, and very quickly placing myself in the arms of the good God I imitated the little child, who, seized with sudden fear, tries to hide its golden head on its father's shoulder, and I said: "Lord, Thou knowest it, I am myself too little to be capable of nurturing these Thy children; if Thou dost will to give to them, through me, what is suited to each one, fill Thou my little hand, and without leaving Thine arms, without even turning my head aside, I will distribute Thy treasures to the souls who come to me to seek sustenance. When they find it to their liking I shall know that it is not to me they owe it but to Thee; on the other hand if they complain, and find bitter what I offer them, my peace shall remain undisturbed, I will try to convince them that this nutriment comes from Thee, and I will carefully refrain from seeking any other for them."