During her temptations against faith she wrote: “I strive to work by faith though bereft of its consolations. I have made more acts of Faith in this last year than during all the rest of my life. “On each fresh occasion of combat, when the enemy desires to challenge me, I conduct myself valiantly: knowing that to fight a duel is an unworthy act, I turn my back upon the adversary without ever looking him in the face; then I run to my Jesus and tell Him I am ready to shed every drop of blood in testimony of my belief that there is a Heaven, I tell Him I am glad to be unable to contemplate, while on earth, with the eyes of the soul, the beautiful Heaven that awaits me so He will deign to open it for eternity to poor unbelievers.” HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX He whose Heart ever watcheth, taught me, that while for a soul whose faith equals but a tiny grain of mustard seed, he works miracles, in order that this faith which is so weak may be fortified; yet for His intimate friends, for His Mother, He did not work miracles until He had put their faith to the test. Did He not let Lazarus die though Martha and Mary had sent to tell Him that he was sick? At the marriage at Cana, the Blessed Virgin having asked Him to come to the assistance of the Master of the house, did He not reply that His hour was not yet come? But after the trial, what a recompense! Water changed to wine, Lazarus restored to life.... HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VI A sister said to her that beautiful Angels clothed in white robes, and of joyous and resplendent countenance, would bear away her soul to Heaven. She replied: “These imaginations do not help me: I can draw no sustenance except from the Truth. God and the Angels are pure Spirits, no one can see them as they really are, with corporal eyes. That is why I have never desired extraordinary favours. I would rather await the Eternal Vision.” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES “I have asked God to send me a beautiful dream to console me when you are gone,” said a novice. “Ah! that is a thing I should never do--ask for consolation!... Since you wish to be like me you well know that I say: Oh! fear not, Lord, that I shall waken Thee: I await in peace th’ eternal shore.... “It is so sweet to serve the good God in the dark night of trial; we have this life only in which to live by faith.” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES FOOTNOTES: [21] Luke, ii, 50. [22] Luke, ii, 33. [Illustration] HOPE Time is but a shadow, a dream; already God sees us in glory and takes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul! I understand then why He lets us suffer.... VIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE