It appears to me that for Victims of Love there will be no judgment, but rather, that the good God will hasten to recompense with eternal delights His own Love, which He will see burning in their hearts. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES At any cost I will cull the palm of Saint Agnes; if not by shedding my blood then it must be by Love.... IV LETTER TO MÈRE AGNÈS DE JÉSUS O my God, Thou knowest I have never desired but to love Thee alone. I seek no other glory. Thy Love has gone before me from my childhood, it has grown with my growth, and now it is an abyss the depths of which I cannot fathom. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI Love attracts love, mine rushes forth unto Thee, it would fain fill up the abyss which attracts it; but alas! it is not even as one drop of dew lost in the Ocean. To love Thee as Thou lovest me I must borrow Thy very love--then only, can I find rest. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI Just as a torrent sweeps along with it unto the depths of the sea whatsoever it encounters on its course, even so, my Jesus, does the soul which plunges into the boundless ocean of Thy Love draw after her all her treasures. Lord, Thou knowest that for me these treasures are the souls it has pleased Thee to unite to mine. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that the Church being a body composed of different members, the most essential, the most noble of all the organs would not be wanting to her; I understood that the Church has _a heart_ and that this heart is burning with love; that it is love alone which makes the members work, that if love were to die away apostles would no longer preach the Gospel, martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love is everything, that it embraces all times and all places because it is eternal! HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI O my Well-Beloved! I understand to what combats Thou hast destined me; it is not on the battle field that I shall fight.... I am prisoner of Thy Love; freely have I riveted the chain which unites me to Thee and separates me for ever from the world. My sword is LOVE; with it _I shall chase the stranger from the kingdom, I shall make Thee to be proclaimed King_ in the souls of men. HIST. D’UNE AME, APPENDIX _Love!_... that is what I ask.... I know but one thing now--_to love Thee_, O Jesus! Glorious deeds are not for me, I cannot preach the Gospel, shed my blood ... what does it matter? My brothers toil instead of me, and I, _the little child_, I keep quite close to the royal throne, _I love_ for those who fight. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. XI