s not trouble me--I would not enter Heaven
one moment sooner through my own will. The only real happiness on
earth is to strive always to think "how goodly is the chalice"[6]
that Jesus give us. Yours is indeed a goodly one, dear Leonie. If
you wish to be a Saint--and it will not be hard--keep only one end
in view: give pleasure to Jesus, and bind yourself more closely to
Him.

Good-bye, my dear sister, I should wish the thought of my entering
Heaven to fill you with joy, because I shall then be better able
to give you proof of my tender love. In the Heart of our Heavenly
Spouse we shall live His very life, and through eternity I shall
remain,

Your very little sister,

TERESA OF THE CHILD JESUS.
_____________________________

[1] Nearly all the letters written by Soeur Therese to her sister
Leonie are lost. These few have been recovered. It will be
remembered that Leonie entered the Convent of the Visitation at
Caen. See note, page 113.

[2] Cf. I Cor. 2:9.

[3] Heb. 13:14.

[4] Isa. 49:15.

[5] Cant. 4:9.

[6] Ps. 22[23]:5.

_____________________________

LETTERS TO HER COUSIN MARIE GUERIN

I

1888.

Before you confided in me,[1] I felt you were suffering, and my
heart was one with yours. Since you have the humility to ask
advice of your little Therese, this is what she thinks: you have
grieved me greatly by abstaining from Holy Communion, because you
have grieved Our Lord. The devil must be very cunning to deceive a
soul in this way. Do you not know, dear Marie, that by acting thus
you help him to accomplish his end? The treacherous creature knows
quite well that when a soul is striving to belong wholly to God he
cannot cause her to sin, so he merely tries to persuade her that
she has sinned. This is a considerable gain, but not enough to
satisfy his hatred, so he aims at something more, and tries to
shut out Jesus from a tabernacle which Jesus covets. Unable to
enter this sanctuary himself, he wishes that at least it remain
empty and without its God. Alas, what will become of that poor
little heart? When the devil has succeeded in keeping a soul from
Holy Communion he has gained all his ends . . . while Jesus
weeps! . . .

Remember, little Marie, that this sweet Jesus is there in the
Tabernacle expressly for you and you alone. Remember that He burns
with the desire to enter your heart. Do not listen to satan. Laugh
him to scorn, and go without fear to receive Jesus, the God of
peace an