ly! Our hearts are made for this alone. Sometimes
I endeavour to find some other word for love; but in a land of
exile "words which have a beginning and an end"[3] are quite
unable to render adequately the emotions of the soul, and so we
must keep to the one simple word--LOVE.

But on whom shall our poor hearts lavish this love, and who will
be worthy of this treasure? Is there anyone who will understand it
and--above all--is there anyone who will be able to repay? Marie,
Jesus alone understands love: He alone can give back all--yea,
infinitely more than the utmost we can give.
_____________________________

[1] The allusion is to the scruples from which Marie suffered.
Having read this letter--which is a strong plea for Frequent
Communion--Pope Pius X declared it "most opportune." Therese was
but fifteen when she wrote it. [Ed.]

[2] 2 Cor. 11:5.

[3] St. Augustine.

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LETTER TO HER COUSIN, JEANNE GUERIN (MADAME LA NEELE)

August, 1895.

It is a very great sacrifice that God has asked of you, my dear
Jeanne, in calling your little Marie to the Carmel; but remember
that He has promised a hundredfold to anyone who for His Love hath
left father or mother or _sister._[1] Now, for love of Jesus, you
have not hesitated to part with a sister dearer to you than words
can say, and therefore He is bound to keep His promise. I know
that these words are generally applied to those who enter the
religious life, but my heart tells me they were spoken, too, for
those whose generosity is such that they will sacrifice to God
even the loved ones they hold dearer than life itself.
_____________________________

[1] Mark 10:30.

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LETTERS TO HER BROTHER MISSIONARIES

I

1895.

Our Divine Lord asks no sacrifice beyond our strength. At times,
it is true, He makes us taste to the full the bitterness of the
chalice He puts to our lips. And when He demands the sacrifice of
all that is dearest on earth, it is impossible without a very
special grace not to cry out as He did during His Agony in the
Garden: "My Father, let this chalice pass from me!" But we must
hasten to add: "Yet not as I will, but as Thou wilt."[1] It is so
consoling to think that Jesus, "the Strong God,"[2] has felt all
our weaknesses and shuddered at the sight of the bitter
chalice--that very chalice He had so ardently desired.

Your lot is indeed a beautiful one, since Our Lord has chosen