Part 8

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_ [14] _and the whole house was filled with the fragrance thereof._ [15]

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

[14] _Cf_. Marc., xiii, 3. [15] _Cf_. John, xii, 3.

"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."

"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_.") [16]

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

[16] _Cf_. Gen., ii, 17.

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.

And this permission being refused:

"Very well," she resumed, "I know that at this moment the good God so much desires _a little bunch of grapes_ which no one wishes to present to Him, that He will certainly be forced to come and steal it . . . I ask nothing, for that would be to depart from my way of abandonment, I merely beg the Blessed Virgin Mary to recall to her Jesus the title of _Thief_ which He gives Himself in the holy Gospel, so that He may not forget to come to _steal_ me away."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

"WILL the Divine Thief be coming very soon to steal His little bunch of grapes?" some one asked.

"I see Him afar off, and I take good care not to cry out 'Stop Thief!!!' On the contrary I call Him saying: 'This way! this way!'"

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

THE Chaplain asked me: "Are you resigned to die?" I said: "Ah! Father, I find it would be for living that I should need resignation, but as regards dying, I feel only joy."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XII

"YOU will be placed amid the Seraphim in Heaven," a novice said.

"If that should happen, I shall not imitate them; they cover themselves with their wings at the sight of God. I shall take good care not to cover myself with my wings!"

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

"UNDER what name should we pray to you when you are in Heaven?" they asked her. She answered humbly: "You will call me 'little Thérèse.' ('_petite Thérèse_.')"

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

"YOU will look upon us from the heights of heaven, will you not?"

"No, I shall come down."

COUNSELS AND REMINISCENCES

"AFTER my death I shall let fall a shower of roses."

HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XIII

PRAYER FOR THE BEATIFICATION OF THE SERVANT OF GOD

[Transcriber's Note: Sister Thérèse was beatified on April 29, 1923.]

O JESUS, who, to put our pride to confusion didst will to become a little child, and who later pronounced that solemn decree: "_Unless ye become as little children ye shall not enter the Kingdom of Heaven_," deign to listen to our humble prayer in regard to her who lived perfectly that life of spiritual childhood, and who has so well recalled to us the way.

O little Babe of Bethlehem, by the ineffable charms of Thy Divine Infancy, O adorable Face of Jesus, by the humiliations of Thy Passion, we implore, that if it be for the glory of God and for the sanctification of souls, the halo of the Blessed may soon irradiate the pure brow of Thy childlike spouse, Thérèse of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face.

O God, who didst inflame with Thy Spirit of Love the soul of Thy Servant, Thérèse of the Child Jesus, grant that we also may love Thee and may make Thee greatly loved.

[_Adapted from a prayer of Sœur Thérèse_.]

100 days' indulgence. CARD. BOURNE, _Arch. of Westminster._ August 1, 1912.