XVIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE Jesus needs neither books nor Doctors of Divinity in order to instruct souls; He, the Doctor of Doctors, He teaches without noise of words. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VIII As Text there is a verse which I utter unwillingly each day. It is this: _“Inclinavi cor meum ad faciendas justificationes tuas in æternum, propter retributionem_.” (I have inclined my heart to do Thy justifications for ever, because of the reward.)[106] Interiorly, I hasten to say: “O my Jesus, Thou knowest well that it is not for the reward I serve Thee, but solely because I love Thee, and for the sake of saving souls.” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES In Heaven only shall we see the absolute truth concerning all things. On earth, even in the Holy Scripture, there is a certain obscurity: it grieves me to see differences in the translations; had I been a Priest I would have learned Hebrew, so that I might be able to read the Word of God in that human language in which He deigned to express it. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES We are not yet in our Fatherland, and temptation must purify us as gold is purified by the action of fire. XVIII LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE It is best not to expose oneself to the combat when defeat is certain. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX God is often satisfied with our desire of labouring for His glory. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. IX A soul in the state of grace has nothing to fear from the demons, who are cowards, capable of flight before the gaze of a child. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. I _To the pure all is pure_,[107] the simple and upright soul sees not evil in anything, since evil exists in impure hearts only and not in material objects. HIST. D’UNE AME, CH. VI The good God has told us that in the Last Day He “_will wipe away all tears from our eyes_,”[108] and without doubt, the more tears to be dried, the greater will be the consolation. III LETTER TO SR. MARIE DU SACRÉ-CŒUR The Spouse in the Canticles, not having been able in repose to find her Beloved, arose, she says and went about the city to seek Him, but in vain ... she could not find Him save beyond the ramparts. It is not the will of Jesus that we should find His adorable Presence without effort. He hides Himself, He envelopes Himself with darkness.... It was not thus He acted in regard to the multitudes, for we read in the Gospels that the people were in admiration when He spoke.