n apostle among my companions, telling them my
thoughts on the Infinite Mercy of God."

"But how could you have hidden your innocence from your Confessor?"

"I would have told him that while still in the world I made a
general confession, and that it was forbidden me to repeat it."

* * * * * *

"Oh! When I think of all I have to acquire!"

"Or rather to lose! It is Jesus Who takes upon Himself to fill
your soul according as you rid it of imperfections. I see clearly
that you are mistaking the road, and that you will never arrive at
the end of your journey. You want to climb the mountain, whereas
God wishes you to descend it. He is awaiting you in the fruitful
valley of humility."

* * * * * *

"To me it seems that humility is truth. I do not know whether I am
humble, but I do know that I see the truth in all things."

* * * * * *

"Indeed you are a Saint!"

"No, I am not a Saint. I have never wrought the works of a Saint.
_I am but a tiny soul whom Almighty God has loaded with His
favours._

"The truth of what I say will be made known to you in Heaven."

"But have you not always been faithful to those favours?"

"Yes, _from the age of three I have never refused our Good God
anything._ Still I cannot glorify myself. See how this evening the
tree-tops are gilded by the setting sun. So likewise my soul
appears to you all shining and golden because it is exposed to the
rays of Love. But should the Divine Sun no longer shine thereon,
it would instantly be sunk in gloom."

"We too would like to become all golden--what must we do?"

"You must practise the little virtues. This is sometimes
difficult, but God never refuses the first grace--courage for
self-conquest; and if the soul correspond to that grace, she at
once finds herself in God's sunlight. The praise given to Judith
has always struck me: 'Thou hast done manfully, and thy heart has
been strengthened.'[4] In the onset we must act with courage. By
this means the heart gains strength, and victory follows victory."

* * * * * *

In conformity with the Rule, Soeur Therese never raised her eyes
in the refectory, and, as I found great difficulty in this
observance, she composed for me the following prayer. It reveals
her exceeding humility, because in it she asked a grace of which I
alone stood in need:

"O Jesus, in honour and in imitation of the example Thou gavest in
the house of Herod, Thy two little Spous