l those
comparisons of palaces, and thrones, and shining stones, and enemies on
the border. They in no way satisfy me. But I am a woman, and I can find
out no better words for you women. Think and say of my words what you
please. The thing that I have spoken to you is the truth.

ON THE LOVE OF GOD

The true proficiency of the soul consists not so much in deep thinking or
eloquent speaking or beautiful writing as in much and warm loving. Now
if you ask me in what way this much and warm love may be acquired, I
answer,--By resolving to do the will of God, and by watching to do His
will as often as occasion offers. Those who truly love God love all good
wherever they find it. They seek all good to all men. They encourage
all good in all men. They commend all good, they always unite themselves
with all good, they always acknowledge and defend all good. They have no
quarrels. They bear no envy. O Lord, give me more and more of this
blessed love. Grant me grace not to quit this underworld life till I no
longer desire anything, nor am capable of loving anything, save Thee
alone. Grant that I may use this word 'love' with regard to Thee alone,
since there is no solidity for my love to rest on save in Thee. The soul
has her own ways of understanding, and of finding in herself, by certain
signs and great conjectures, whether she really loves His Divine Majesty
or no. Her love is full of high impulses, and longings to see and to be
with and to be like God. All else tires and wearies out the soul. The
best of created things disappoint and torment the soul. God alone
satisfies the soul, till it is impossible to dissemble or mistake such a
love. When once I came to see the great beauty of our Lord, it turned
all other comeliness to corruption to me. My heart could rest on nothing
and on no one but Himself. When anything else would enter my heart I had
only to turn my eyes for a moment in upon that Supreme Beauty that was
engraven within me. So that it is now impossible that any created thing
can so possess my soul as not to be instantly expelled, and my mind and
heart set free by a little effort to recover the remembrance of the
goodness and the beauty of our Lord. Good God! What a difference there
is between the love of the Creator and the love of the creature! May His
Divine Majesty vouchsafe to let us see and taste and understand something
of this before He takes us out of this prison-house life, fo