“Say, rather, _to lose_. Jesus, it is, who charges Himself with the care of filling your soul according as you free it from its imperfections. I plainly see that you are taking the wrong road, you will never arrive at the end of your journey. You wish to scale a mountain and the good God wants to make you descend: He is waiting for you low down in the fertile valley of humility.” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES “When I receive a reproof,” said another, “I would rather have deserved it than be wrongfully accused.” “As for me,” replied Thérèse, “I prefer being blamed unjustly, then I have no cause for self-reproach and I offer this unmerited blame to the good God with joy, then I humble myself at the thought that I should be quite capable of doing that of which I was accused.” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES When we are not understood, and are unfavourably judged, what good is there in defending ourselves? Let us leave it so and say nothing, it is so sweet to let ourselves be judged no matter how! It is not told in the Gospels that Saint Magdalen gave any explanation when blamed by her sister for sitting inactive at the feet of Jesus. She did not say: “Martha, if thou didst but know my happiness, if thou didst but hear the words I hear, thou too wouldst lay all else aside, to share my joy and my repose.” No, she chose rather to be silent.... O blessed silence which gives to the soul such peace! COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES In a moment of temptation and combat a novice received this note: “_The just man shall correct me in mercy and reprove me; but let not the oil of the sinner anoint my head._[41] I cannot be corrected or tried except by the just, inasmuch as all my Sisters are pleasing to God. It is less bitter to be reproved by a sinner than by the just; but _through compassion for sinners_, to obtain their conversion, I pray Thee, O my God, that I may be bruised by the just souls who are round about me. Again, I beg that the oil of praise, so sweet to nature, _anoint not my head_, that is to say, enervate not my mind, by making me believe that I possess virtues which I have only with difficulty practised several times. “O my Jesus! _Thy Name is as oil poured out_;[42] it is in this divine perfume that I wish to be wholly bathed, far away from the notice of creatures.” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES At the close of her life she was able to say: “I used so to rise above all things, that I drew strength from humiliations.” HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII “God has a special love for you,” remarked a young Sister, “since to you He entrusts other souls.”