Thus is Jesus pleased to lavish His gifts on some of His creatures, that through them He may draw to Himself other souls; but in His mercy He humiliates them interiorly, and gently constrains them to recognize their nothingness and His Omnipotence. These sentiments form in them, as it were, a kernel of grace, which Jesus hastens to develop for that blessed day when clothed with a beauty, immortal, imperishable, they shall without danger have place at the Celestial banquet. XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE The Apostles, without Jesus, laboured long--a whole night--without taking any fish; their toil was pleasing to Him but He wished to show that He alone can give anything. He asked only an act of humility: “_Children, have you any meat?_”[38] and St. Peter confesses his helplessness: “_Lord we have laboured all night and have taken nothing._”[39] It is enough! The Heart of Jesus is touched.... Perhaps if the Apostle had taken a few little fishes the Divine Master would not have worked a miracle; but he had _nothing_, and so through God’s power and goodness his nets were soon filled with great fishes. That is just our Lord’s way. He gives as God, but He _will_ have humility of heart. XVII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE To think ourselves imperfect, and others perfect--that is happiness. That creatures should recognize we are without virtue takes nothing from us, makes us no poorer; it is they who by this lose interior joy; for there is nothing sweeter than to think well of our neighbour. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES It is a great joy to me, not only when others find me imperfect, but above all when I feel that so I am: compliments, on the contrary, cause me nothing but displeasure. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES A novice confided to her that she made no progress and felt quite discouraged. “Till the age of fourteen,” said Thérèse, “I practised virtue without feeling its sweetness. I wished for suffering but had no thought of finding my joy therein; that is a grace which has been granted me later. My soul was like a beautiful tree whose blossoms no sooner opened than they fell. “Offer to the good God the sacrifice of never gathering the fruits of your labours. If He so will that during your whole life you feel a repugnance to suffer and to be humiliated, if He permit that all the flowers of your desires and of your good-will fall to earth without fruit, be not troubled. At the moment of your death He will know well how to bring to perfection, in the twinkling of an eye, beautiful fruits on the tree of your soul.