“Oh! I am not like you: to see saints suffer never moves me to pity! I know they have the strength to endure, and they thus give great glory to God: but those who are not holy, who know not how to profit by their sufferings, oh! how I pity them; they do indeed arouse my compassion, and I would do all I could to comfort and help them.” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES Seeing her extreme weakness the doctor ordered some strengthening remedies; Sœur Thérèse was distressed at first on account of their high price: then she said to us: “I am no longer grieved about taking these costly remedies, for I have been reading that St. Gertrude rejoiced at the thought that all would be to the advantage of those who do us good, since our Lord has said: ‘_As long as you did it unto one of these My least brethren you did it unto Me._’”[18] She added: “I am convinced of the uselessness of medicine for the purpose of curing me, but I have made a compact with the good God, that He is to allow some poor Missionaries to profit by it, who have neither time nor means to take care of themselves.” HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII Remembering that _Charity covereth a multitude of sins_,[19] I draw from this fruitful mine opened to us by our Lord in His sacred Gospels. I search the depths of His adorable words and cry out with David: “_I have run in the way of Thy commandments when Thou didst enlarge my heart._”[20] And charity alone can enlarge my heart.... O Jesus! since this sweet flame consumes it I run with delight in the way of Thy new Commandment, and therein will I run until the blessed day when with Thy Virgin train I shall follow Thee through Thy boundless Realm singing Thy _New Canticle_ which must surely be _the Canticle of LOVE_. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX FOOTNOTES: [11] _Cf._ Matt., v, 15. [12] Matt., v, 40. [13] Matt., v, 41. [14] _Cf._ Matt., xi, 30. [15] Matt., xxv, 34-36. [16] Matt., xxv, 36. [17] Prov., xvi, 32. [18] Matt., xxv, 40. [19] Prov., x, 12. [20] Ps., cxviii, 32. [Illustration] FAITH What helps me most when I picture to myself the interior of the Holy Family is to think of a quite ordinary life. The Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph knew well that Jesus was God, but wondrous things were nevertheless hidden from them and like us they lived by faith. Have you not noticed what is said in the sacred text: “_And they understood not the word that He spoke unto them_,”[21] and these other words no less mysterious: “_His father and mother were wondering at those things which were spoken concerning Him?_”[22] Does not this imply that they heard of something new to them, for this wondering suggests a certain astonishment? COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES