es resolve to keep their
eyes cast down in the refectory. When that impious king scoffed at
Thee, O Infinite Beauty, no complaint came from Thy Lips. Thou
didst not even deign to fix on him Thy Adorable Eyes. He was not
worthy of the favour, but we who are Thy Spouses, we desire to
draw Thy Divine Gaze upon ourselves. As often as we refrain from
raising our eyes, we beg Thee to reward us by a glance of love,
and we even dare ask Thee not to refuse this sweet glance when we
fail in our self-control, for we will humble ourselves most
sincerely before Thee."

* * * * * *

I confided to her that I made no progress, and that consequently I
had lost heart.

"Up to the age of fourteen," she said, "I practised virtue without
tasting its sweetness. I desired suffering, but I did not think of
making it my joy; that grace was vouchsafed me later. My soul was
like a beautiful tree the flowers of which had scarcely opened
when they fell.

"Offer to God the sacrifice of never gathering any fruit. If He
will that throughout your whole life you should feel a repugnance
to suffering and humiliation--if He permit that all the flowers of
your desires and of your good will should fall to the ground
without any fruit appearing, do not worry. At the hour of death,
in the twinkling of an eye, He will cause fair fruits to ripen on
the tree of your soul.

"We read in the Book of Ecclesiasticus: 'There is an inactive man
that wanteth help, is very weak in ability, and full of poverty:
yet the Eye of God hath looked upon him for good, and hath lifted
him up from his low estate, and hath exalted his head: and many
have wondered at him, and have glorified God. . . . Trust in God,
and stay in thy place. For it is easy in the Eyes of God, on a
sudden, to make the poor man rich. The blessing of God maketh
haste to reward the just, and in a swift hour His blessing beareth
fruit.'"[5]

"But if I fall, I shall always be found imperfect; whereas you are
looked upon as holy."

"That is, perhaps, because I have never desired to be considered
so. . . . But that you should be found imperfect is just what is
best. Here is your harvest. To believe oneself imperfect and
others perfect--this is true happiness. Should earthly creatures
think you devoid of holiness, they rob you of nothing, and you are
none the poorer: it is they who lose. For is there anything more
sweet than the inward joy of thinking well of our neighbour?

"As for myself