“My child, you are quite ready to appear before God because you have always understood the virtue of humility.” Then of herself she gave this beautiful testimony: “Yes, I feel it, my soul has never sought but the truth ... yes, I have understood humility of heart!” HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII FOOTNOTES: [27] John, xviii, 36. [28] _Imit._, I, ii, 3. [29] Is., liii, 3. [30] Matt., vi, 3. [31] II Cor., xi, 5. [32] John, xiii, 8. [33] Kings, xvi, 10. [34] Mark, vii, 28. [35] Luke, i, 49. [36] _Cf._ Jer., x, 23. [37] _Cf._ Ps., xciii, 18. [38] John, xxi, 5 [39] Luke, v, 5. [40] Ecclus., xi, 12, 13, 22, 23, 24. [41] Ps., cxl, 5. [42] Cant., 1, 2. [43] John, iii, 8. [Illustration] DETACHMENT If the impossible were possible and that God Himself did not see my good actions, I would not grieve about it. I love Him so much that I should like to be able to give Him pleasure without His knowing that it was I.... Knowing and seeing it, He is, in a way, bound to repay me.... I would not give Him the trouble. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES The glory of Jesus ... that is my whole ambition; my own I abandon to Him; and if He seem to forget me, well, He is at liberty to do so since I am mine no more, but His. He will more quickly tire of making me wait, than I, of waiting! VII LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS There is no stay, no support to seek out of Jesus. He alone changeth not. What happiness to think that He can never change! V LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS The sole happiness upon earth consists in hiding oneself and remaining in total ignorance of created things. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VIII Far from dazzling me all the titles of nobility appear to me but empty vanity. I have understood those words of the _Imitation_: “_Be not solicitous for the shadow of a great name_.”[44] I have understood that true greatness is found not in the name but in the soul. The Prophet tells us that _the Lord God shall call His servants by_ ANOTHER NAME;[45] and we read in St. John: “_To him that overcometh, I will give ... a white counter, and in the counter a new name written, which no man knoweth but he that receiveth._”[46] It is in Heaven, therefore, that we shall know our titles of nobility. Then _shall each one receive from God the praise that he merits_,[47] and he who upon earth will have made choice of being the poorest and the most unknown for love of our Lord, he will be the first, the noblest and the richest. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VI I thank my Jesus for making me walk in darkness; in it I am wrapped in profound peace. Willingly I consent to stay, during the whole of my religious life, in this sombre tunnel into which He has made me enter; I desire only that my darkness may win light for sinners.