d peace. Willingly do I consent to
remain through all my religious life in this gloomy passage into
which He has led me. I desire only that my darkness may obtain
light for sinners. I am content, nay, full of joy, to be without
all consolation. I should be ashamed if my love were like that of
those earthly brides who are ever looking for gifts from their
bridegrooms, or seeking to catch the loving smile which fills them
with delight.

Therese, the little Spouse of Jesus, loves Him for Himself; she
only looks on the Face of her Beloved to catch a glimpse of the
Tears which delight her with their secret charm. She longs to wipe
away those Tears, or to gather them up like priceless diamonds
with which to adorn her bridal dress. _Jesus!_ . . . _Oh! I would
so love Him! Love Him as He has never yet been loved!_ . . .

At all cost I must win the palm of St. Agnes; if it cannot be mine
through blood, I must win it by Love.

V

1891.

Love can take the place of a long life. Jesus does not consider
time, for He is Eternal. He only looks at the love. My little
Mother, beg Him to bestow it upon me in full measure. I do not
desire that thrill of love which I can feel; if Jesus feel its
thrill, then that is enough for me. It is so sweet to love Him, to
make Him loved. Ask Him to take me to Him on my profession-day, if
by living on I should ever offend Him, because I wish to bear
unsullied to Heaven the white robe of my second Baptism.[1] Now
Jesus can grant me the grace never to offend Him more, or rather
never to commit any faults but those which do not offend Him or
give Him pain; faults which serve but to humble me and strengthen
my love. There is no one to lean on apart from Jesus. He alone
faileth not, and it is exceeding joy to think that He can never
change.

VI

1891.

MY DEAREST LITTLE MOTHER,--Your letter has done me such good. The
sentence: "Let us refrain from saying a word which could raise us
in the eyes of others," has indeed enlightened my soul. Yes, we
must keep all for Jesus with jealous care. It is so good to work
for Him alone. How it fills the heart with joy, and lends wings to
the soul! Ask of Jesus that Therese--His _grain of sand_--may save
Him a multitude of souls in a short space of time, so that she may
the sooner behold His Adorable Face.

VII

1892.

Here is the dream of this "grain of sand": Love Jesus alone, and
naught else beside! The grain of sand is so small that if it
wish