Page 24 - LETTER 1831_1833
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pleased  with  the  idea  that  she  should  join  some  Convent
               immediately.  If,  when  she  comes  back  to  town,  she  has  the
               same yearning, I beg you for charity’s sake to let her go gladly,
               lest you should leave her with a nagging pain in her heart. It
               will be a sign that we are not worthy to have such a great joy.
               If we make her wait against her will, for a long time, maybe,
               and  then  put  her  in  a  new  sort  of  Retreat  where  there  will
               certainly be great obstacles to overcome, I would also fear that
               she may not find the joy, quiet and sense of security that she
               desires and longs for so ardently.
               If  the  Lord  wants  her in  the  new  Institute,  he  will lessen  her
               great eagerness to go at once, and little by little he will draw
               her to the holy Institute. But I am just talking foolishly. May the
               Lord let you know what He wills in this matter. I would be only
               too happy if she were to be one of the first stones of such a
               holy Edifice.
                     The Lord has restored my former peace of mind: it is a

               pure  token  of  his  great  mercy,  and  I  thank  him  with  all  my
               heart, because a single day of dejection weighs more heavily
               on me than a hundred pains and aches. May He grant me the
               grace to love Him immensely and serve Him faithfully, for that
               is all I seek.
                     I  earnestly  recommend  my  poor  School  to  you.  For
               charity’s sake help me with your advice and warning that I may
               not  go  against  God’s  designs.  Keep  shaking  me  out  of  my
               laziness,  put me  right  when  I  am  thoughtless,  instruct  me in
               my ignorance, be a support to me, the weakest instrument of
               God’s designs. On the one hand the School is a very heavy



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