Weak souls Jesus charmed by His divine utterances. He was trying to render them strong for the day of temptation and of trial; but small, truly, was the number of His faithful friends when _He was silent_[109] before His judges. Oh, what melody for my heart is that silence of the Divine Master. XV LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE I have read in the Holy Gospel that the Divine Shepherd leaves in the desert all His faithful flock, to go in haste after the sheep that is lost. How touching is this confidence. He is sure of them, they are captives of love--how could they break away? Even so does the well-beloved Shepherd of our souls rob us of the sense of His presence in order to give to sinners His consolations; or else, if He leads us to Mount Thabor it is for one moment ... the valleys are nearly always the place of pasture, _it is there He takes His repose at mid-day_.[110] XVI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE The sole crime with which Herod reproached our Lord was _folly_ ... and frankly, that charge was true. Yes, it was folly to come seeking the poor shallow hearts of mortals, therein to make His throne. He, the King of Glory Who sitteth above the Cherubim! Was not His happiness complete in the company of His Father and the Spirit of Love? Why come to earth to seek out sinners and to make of them His friends, His chosen companions? XX LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE _Mary, breaking the fragile vase poured out upon the Head of her Saviour a perfume of great price[111] and the whole house was filled with the fragrance thereof._[112] The Apostles murmured against Magdalene; and this it is which still happens with regard to us: some, even of the most fervent Christians think we (Carmelites) are exaggerated, that like Martha we ought to serve Jesus, instead of consecrating to Him the vases of our lives with the perfumes which are hidden within. And yet what matters it--the breaking of these vases--since our Lord is consoled, and the world in spite of itself is made sensible of the fragrance they exhale. And oh! how necessary are these perfumes to purify the unhealthy atmosphere that it breathes. XX LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE “One day when I was in tears,” relates a novice, “Sister Thérèse of the Child Jesus told me to acquire a habit of hiding my little troubles, adding that nothing renders community life more difficult than inequality of temperament. “You are quite right,” I answered, “I have thought so myself, and in future I shall never cry but when alone with the good God; to Him only shall I confide my trials, He will always understand and console me.”