I have no fear of the last combats, nor of the physical suffering how great soever it may be. The good God has always come to my assistance, He has helped me and led me by the hand from my earliest years.... I count on Him ... my sufferings may reach their furthest limits, but I am sure that He will never abandon me. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XII It is confidence, and confidence alone, that must lead us to Love.... Does not fear lead us rather to think of the rigid justice by which sinners are warned? But that is not the justice that Jesus will show to those who love Him. VI LETTER TO SŒUR MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR O Jesus, suffer me to tell Thee that Thy Love reacheth even unto folly.... What wilt Thou, in face of this folly, but that my heart dart upwards to Thee--how can my confidence have any bounds? HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI It is not because I have been shielded from mortal sin that I lift up my heart to God in trust and love. I feel that even if there lay upon my conscience all the crimes one could commit I should lose nothing of my confidence. Broken-hearted with compunction I would go and throw myself into the arms of my Saviour. I know that He cherished the Prodigal Son, I have heard His words to Mary Magdalene, to the adultress, to the Samaritan woman. No one could frighten me, for I know what to believe concerning His Mercy and His Love. I know that in one moment all that multitude of sins would disappear--as a drop of water cast into a red-hot furnace. It is related in the Lives of the Fathers of the Desert that one of them converted a public sinner whose misdeeds scandalized the whole country. Touched by grace this sinful woman was following the saint into the desert, there to do rigorous penance, when, on the first night of her journey, before she had even reached the place of her retreat, the bonds of life were broken by the impetuosity of her loving contrition. The holy hermit at the same moment saw her soul borne by Angels into the Bosom of God. That is truly a striking instance of what I want to express, but one cannot put these things into words.... HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI Happy indeed am I to die and go to Heaven, but when I think on those words of our Lord: “_Behold, I come quickly, and My reward is with Me, to render to every man according to his works_,”[63] I reflect that He will be very much embarrassed as regards me: I have no works.... Well, He will render to me ACCORDING TO HIS OWN WORKS! COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES [Illustration: THE SERVANT OF GOD THÉRÈSE OF THE CHILD JESUS (_The Little Flower of Jesus_)]