I am a _very little_ soul who can offer only _very little_ things to the good God; yet, it often happens that these little sacrifices which give such peace to the heart, escape me; but that does not discourage me, I bear with having a little less peace and I try to be more watchful another time. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. X Veiled in the white Host, O my Well-Beloved, how meek and humble of heart dost Thou show Thyself to me! Thou couldst not stoop lower to teach me humility, and I, to respond to Thy Love, desire to put myself in the lowest place and share Thy humiliations, that I may _have part with Thee_[32] in the Kingdom of Heaven. I beseech Thee, my Jesus, to send me some humiliation every time that I shall attempt to put myself above others. HIST. D’UNE AME, APPENDIX What pleases the good God in my little soul is to see me love my littleness and my poverty, it is seeing the blind trust that I have in His Mercy. VI LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR To draw near to Jesus we must be so little.... Oh! how few souls aspire to be little and unknown.... XIV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE I am no longer surprised at anything, nor do I grieve at seeing that I am frailty itself; on the contrary I glory in it, and expect to discover new imperfections in myself each day. These lights concerning my nothingness do me more good, I affirm, than lights regarding faith. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX When we commit a fault we must not think it due to a physical cause, such as illness or the weather, we must attribute this fall to our imperfection, but without ever growing discouraged. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES Since Jesus has gone back to Heaven I can follow Him only by the path He has traced. Oh how luminous are His footprints--diffusing a divine sweetness.... I have but to glance at the holy Gospels and immediately I inhale the fragrance of the life of Jesus, and I know which side to take. Not to the first place do I run but to the last. I let the Pharisee go up, and full of confidence I repeat the humble prayer of the publican. Above all I copy the example of Magdalene; her amazing, or rather, her loving audacity, which so touched the Heart of Jesus, charms my own. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI With a simplicity that delights me my little Sisters, the novices, tell me of the interior combats I arouse in them, in what way they find me trying; they are no more embarrassed than if it were question of some one else, knowing that by acting thus, they greatly please me. Ah! truly it is more than a pleasure, it is a delicious feast which replenishes my soul with joy. How can a thing so disagreeable to nature give such happiness? Had I not experienced it I could not have believed it.