and why should we not imitate our Spouse? What a
favour from Jesus, and how He must love us to send us so great a
sorrow! Eternity itself will not be long enough to bless Him for
it. He heaps his favours upon us as upon the greatest Saints.
What, then, are His loving designs for our souls? That is a secret
which will only be revealed to us in our Heavenly Home, on the day
when "the Lord shall wipe away all our tears."[3]

Now we have nothing more to hope for on earth--"the cool evenings
are passed"[4]--for us suffering alone remains! Ours is an
enviable lot, and the Seraphim in Heaven are jealous of our
happiness.

The other day I came across this striking passage: "To be resigned
and to be united to the will of God are not the same; there is the
same difference between them as that which exists between union
and unity; in union there are still two, in unity there is but
one."[5] Yes, let us be one with God even in this life; and for
this we should be more than resigned, we should embrace the Cross
with joy.

IV

February 28, 1889.

MY DEAR LITTLE SISTER,--Jesus is "a Spouse of blood."[6] He wishes
for Himself all the blood of our hearts. You are right--it costs
us dear to give Him what He asks. But what a joy that it does
cost! It is happiness to bear our crosses, and to feel our
weakness in doing so.

Celine, far from complaining to Our Lord of this cross which He
sends us, I cannot fathom the Infinite Love which had led Him to
treat us in this way. Our dear Father must indeed be loved by God
to have so much suffering given to him. I know that by humiliation
alone can Saints be made, and I also know that our trial is a mine
of gold for us to turn to account. I, who am but a little grain of
sand, wish to set to work, though I have neither courage nor
strength. Now this very want of power will make my task easier,
for I wish to work for love. Our martyrdom is beginning . . . Let
us go forth to suffer together, dear sister, and let us offer our
sufferings to Jesus for the salvation of souls.

V

March 12, 1899.

. . . I must forget this world. Here everything wearies me--I find
only one joy, that of suffering, and this joy, which is not one of
sense, is above all joy. Life is passing, and eternity is drawing
near. Soon we shall live the very life of God. After we have been
filled at the source of all bitterness, our thirst will be
quenched at the very Fountain of all sweetness.

"The figure of this