pecting to win sympathy, I told my trouble to Soeur Therese, and
great was my surprise when she put me the question: "Do you think
you love our Mother very much?" "Certainly! otherwise I should be
indifferent if others were preferred to me."

"Well, I shall prove that you are absolutely mistaken, and that it
is not our Mother that you love, but yourself. When we really love
others, we rejoice at their happiness, and we make every sacrifice
to procure it. Therefore if you had this true, disinterested
affection, and loved our Mother for her own sake, you would be
glad to see her find pleasure even at your expense; and since you
think she has less satisfaction in talking with you than with
another Sister, you ought not to grieve at being apparently
neglected."

* * * * * *

I was distressed at my many distractions during prayers: "I also
have many," she said, "but as soon as I am aware of them, I pray
for those people the thought of whom is diverting my attention,
and in this way they reap benefit from my distractions. . . . I
accept all for the love of God, even the wildest fancies that
cross my mind."

* * * * * *

I was regretting a pin which I had been asked for, and which I had
found most useful. "How rich you are," said Therese, "you will
never be happy!"

* * * * * *

The grotto of the Holy Child was in her charge, and, knowing that
one of our Mothers greatly disliked perfumes, she never put any
sweet-smelling flowers there, not even a tiny violet. This cost
her many a real sacrifice. One day, just as she had placed a
beautiful artificial rose at the foot of the statue, the Mother
called her. Soeur Therese, surmising that it was to bid her remove
the rose, was anxious to spare her any humiliation. She therefore
took the flower to the good Sister, and, forestalling all
observations, said: "Look, Mother, how well nature is imitated
nowadays: would you not think this rose had been freshly gathered
from the garden?"

* * * * * *

"There are moments," she told us, "when we are so miserable
within, that there is nothing for it but to get away from
ourselves. At those times God does not oblige us to remain at
home. He even permits our own company to become distasteful to us
in order that we may leave it. Now I know no other means of exit
save through the doorway of charitable works, on a visit to Jesus
and Mary."

* * * * * *

"When I picture the Holy Fam