quality the good as the bad, the sweet as the bitter,
and bend their whole attention to a labor of greater importance;
namely, the mortification of the mind and self-will. They should begin
by dropping all the activity of self, which can never be done without
the most profound prayer; no more than the death of the senses can be
perfected without profound recollection joined to mortification.
Indeed, recollection is the chief means whereby we attain to a conquest
of the senses. It detaches and separates us from them, and sweetly saps
the very cause from whence they derive their influence over us.

The more Thou didst augment my love, and my patience, O my Lord, the
less respite had I from the most oppressive crosses; but love rendered
them easy to bear.

O ye poor souls, who exhaust yourselves with needless vexation, if you
would but seek God in your hearts, there would be a speedy end to all
your troubles. The increase of crosses would proportionately increase
your delight.

Love, at the beginning, athirst for mortification impelled me to seek
and invent various kinds. It is surprising, that as soon as the
bitterness of any new mode of mortification was exhausted, another kind
was pointed to me, and I was inwardly led to pursue it. Divine love so
enlightened my heart, and so scrutinized into its secret springs, that
the smallest defects became exposed. If I was about to speak, something
wrong was instantly pointed to me, and I was compelled to silence. If I
kept silence, faults were presently discovered--in every action there
was something defective--in my mortifications, my penances, my
alms-giving, my retirement, I was faulty. When I walked, I observed
there was something wrong; if I spoke any way in my own favor, I saw
pride. If I said within myself, alas, I will speak no more, here was
self. If I was cheerful and open, I was condemned. Pure love always
found matter for reproof in me, and was jealous that nothing should
escape unnoticed. It was not that I was particularly attentive over
myself, for it was even with constraint that I could look at all at
myself. My attention toward God, by an attachment of my will to His,
was without intermission. I waited continually upon Him, and He watched
incessantly over me, and He so led me by His providence, that I forgot
all things. I knew not how to communicate what I felt to anyone. I was
so lost to myself, that I could scarcely go about self-examination.
When I attempted