of tears under the snow-white semblance of the Host, and this, to
nourish me with Thine own substance! O Jesus! forgive me if I tell
Thee that Thy Love reacheth even unto folly. And in face of this
folly, what wilt Thou, but that my heart leap up to Thee? How
could my trust have any limits?
I know that the Saints have made themselves as fools for Thy sake;
being 'eagles,' they have done great things. I am too little for
great things, and my folly it is to hope that Thy Love accepts me
as victim; my folly it is to count on the aid of Angels and
Saints, in order that I may fly unto Thee with thine own wings, O
my Divine Eagle! For as long a time as Thou willest I shall
remain--my eyes fixed upon Thee. I long to be allured by Thy
Divine Eyes; I would become Love's prey. I have the hope that Thou
wilt one day swoop down upon me, and, bearing me away to the
Source of all Love, Thou wilt plunge me at last into that glowing
abyss, that I may become for ever its happy Victim.
O Jesus! would that I could tell all _little souls_ of Thine
ineffable condescension! I feel that if by any possibility Thou
couldst find one weaker than my own, Thou wouldst take delight in
loading her with still greater favours, provided that she
abandoned herself with entire confidence to Thine Infinite Mercy.
But, O my Spouse, why these desires of mine to make known the
secrets of Thy Love? Is it not Thyself alone Who hast taught them
to me, and canst Thou not unveil them to others? Yea! I know it,
and this I implore Thee! . . .
I ENTREAT THEE TO LET THY DIVINE EYES REST UPON A VAST NUMBER OF
LITTLE SOULS, I ENTREAT THEE TO CHOOSE, IN THIS WORLD, A LEGION OF
LITTLE VICTIMS OF THY LOVE.
_____________________________
[1] Cant. 1:3.
[2] Cf. John 17.
[3] Luke 15:31.
[4] John 6:44.
[5] Ps. 49[50]:9-14.
[6] John 4:7.
[7] Cf. Luke 2:19.
[8] Tob. 12:7.
[9] The Venerable Mother Anne of Jesus--in the world, Anne of
Lobera--was born in Spain in 1545. She entered the Carmelite
Order in 1570, in the first convent of St. Joseph of Avila, and
shortly afterwards became the counsellor and coadjutor of St.
Teresa, who called her, "her daughter and her crown." St. John of
the Cross, who was her spiritual director for fourteen years,
described her as "a seraph incarnate," and her prudence and
sanctity were held in such esteem that the most learned men
consulted her in their doubts, and accepted her answers as
oracles. She was always fait
|