“_Make haste and come down: for this day I must abide in thy house._”[51] Jesus tells us to come down; where, then, must we go?... At an earlier time the Jews asked Him: “_Master, where dwellest Thou?_”[52] And He said: “_The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head._”[53] Behold whereunto we must descend if we would serve as dwellings for Jesus: we must be so poor that we have not where to lay our head. XIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE FOOTNOTES: [51] Luke, xix, 5. [52] John, i, 38. [53] Luke, ix, 58. [Illustration] CONFIDENCE What offends Jesus, what wounds Him to the Heart, is want of confidence. I LETTER TO HER COUSIN MARIE GUÉRIN Believing that I was born for glory, and seeking the means to attain to it, it was revealed to me interiorly that my glory would never be visible to mortal eyes but would consist in becoming a saint. This desire might well seem presumptuously bold, considering how imperfect I was, and how imperfect I am still after so many years in religion; and yet I feel ever the same audacious confidence of becoming a great saint. I count not on my merits, having none; but I trust in Him who is Virtue and Holiness itself. He alone it is who satisfied with my feeble efforts will raise me up even unto Himself, will clothe me with His merits and make me a saint. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IV Ours is an age of inventions: nowadays, with the rich a lift saves the trouble of climbing the stairs. And I, fain would I too find a _lift_ to bear me up unto God, for I am too little to climb the rugged steps of perfection. Then I turned to the Holy Scriptures, seeking from them an indication of this _lift_, the object of my desires; and I read these words which have issued from the very mouth of the Eternal Wisdom: “_Whosoever is a_ VERY LITTLE ONE, _let him come to me_.”[54] Then I drew nigh unto God divining truly that I had discovered what I sought: wishing however to know what He would do with the _very little one_, I continued my research and here is what I found: “_You shall be carried at the breast and upon the knees; as one whom the mother caresseth so will I comfort you_.”[55] Ah, never came words more sweet, more tender, to gladden my soul. Thine arms then, O Jesus, are the _lift_ which must raise me up even unto Heaven! For this I need not grow, on the contrary I must remain little, I must ever tend to become yet more little. O my God, Thou hast gone beyond my expectations, and I--I will sing Thy mercies! _Thou hast taught me, O God from my youth: and till now I have declared Thy wondrous works. And unto old age and grey hairs_[56] will I proclaim them. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX