“Shed tears before the good God!” she replied with vivacity, “take care you do no such thing. Still less, by far, before Him than before creatures ought you to exhibit signs of sadness. He has but our monasteries, this dear Master, to rejoice His Heart; He comes amongst us to find a little repose, to forget the continual lamentations of His friends in the world who for the most part, instead of recognizing the value of the Cross, meet it with repining and with tears; and would you behave like the generality of people?... Frankly that is not disinterested love--disinterested love is _for us to console Jesus, not for Him to console us_. “He is, I know, so kind of heart that if you weep He will dry your tears; but afterwards He will go away quite sorrowful, not being able to find in you the repose He sought. Jesus loves the joyous heart, He loves the ever smiling soul. When will you learn to _hide_ your troubles from Him, or to tell Him in gladsome tones that you are happy to suffer for His sake?” COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES The soul is reflected in the countenance: like to a little child always content, your countenance should be invariably calm and serene. When you are alone be still the same, because you are ever in the Angels’ sight. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES Our Divine Lord wishes to have His court here below as on High, He desires angel-martyrs, angel-apostles. XI LETTER TO HER SISTER CÉLINE A sister, greatly grieved at seeing her so ill often exclaimed: “Oh, how sad is life!” But Sœur Thérèse would at once correct her, saying: “Life is not sad, but on the contrary most joyful. If you said ‘How sad is our exile,’ I should understand you. It is erroneous to give the name, ‘_life_,’ to that which must end. Only to the things of Heaven, to that which shall never know death, should the true name of ‘_life_’ be given; and in this signification life is not sad but joyful--joyous exceedingly!...” Her own gaiety was delightful to witness. For several days she had been much better and the novices said to her: “We do not yet know of what malady you will die....” “But I shall die _of death_! Did not God tell Adam of what he would die, saying to him: Thou shalt die of death?” (In the French: “_Tu mourras de mort._”)[113] COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES It is not Death that will come to fetch me, it is the good God. Death is no phantom, no horrible spectre, as represented in pictures. In the Catechism it is stated that _death is the separation of soul and body_, that is all! Well, I am not afraid of a separation which will unite me to the good God for ever. COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES One day she said to the Mother Prioress: “Mother, I beseech you, give me permission to die.... Let me offer my life for ...” mentioning the intention.