it
for you, and has first touched with His own Lips the cup which He
holds out to yours. A Saint has said: "The greatest honour God can
bestow upon a soul is not to give to it great things, but to ask
of it great things." Jesus treats you as a privileged child. It is
His wish you should begin your mission even now,[3] and save souls
through the Cross. Was it not by suffering and death that He
ransomed the world? I know that you aspire to the happiness of
laying down your life for Him; but the martyrdom of the heart is
not less fruitful than the shedding of blood, and this martyrdom
is already yours. Have I not, then, good reason to say that your
lot is a beautiful one--worthy an apostle of Christ?

II

1896.

Let us work together for the salvation of souls! We have but the
one day of this life to save them, and so give to Our Lord a proof
of our love. To-morrow will be Eternity, then Jesus will reward
you a hundredfold for the sweet joys you have given up for Him. He
knows the extent of your sacrifice. He knows that the sufferings
of those you hold dear increase your own; but He has suffered this
same martyrdom for our salvation. He, too, left His Mother; He
beheld that sinless Virgin standing at the foot of the Cross, her
heart pierced through with a sword of sorrow, and I hope he will
console your own dear mother. . . . I beg Him most earnestly to do
so.

Ah! If the Divine Master would permit those you are about to leave
for His Love but one glimpse of the glory in store, and the vast
retinue of souls that will escort you to Heaven, already they
would be repaid for the great sacrifice that is at hand.

III

February 24, 1896.

Please say this little prayer for me each day; it sums up all my
desires:

"Merciful Father, in the name of Thy sweet Jesus, of the Blessed
Virgin, and all the Saints, I beg Thee to consume my sister with
Thy spirit of love, and to grant her the grace to make Thee
greatly loved."

If Our Lord takes me soon to Himself, I ask you still to continue
this prayer, because my longing will be the same in Heaven as upon
earth: _to love Jesus and to make Him loved._

IV

. . . . . . .

All I desire is God's Holy Will, and if in Heaven I could no
longer work for His glory, I should prefer exile to Home.

V

June 21, 1897

You may well sing of the Mercies of God! They shine forth in you
with splendour. You love St. Augustine and St. Mary Magdalen,
those souls to