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are things that creep in through every crevice), let the first sign
of your fidelity to God be that of abandoning them altogether.
As to me, worldly vanities do try to creep in, too, but the
thought of death has impressed itself on me so strongly that all
thought of worldly vanity is driven away. Ah! Heaven is
beautiful beyond all telling. It is worth every effort we can make
to deserve it. What will it matter if we are unknown, looked
down upon, forsaken or ill-treated in this world, where we have
so little time to dwell? Let us be concerned with appearing
beautiful in God’s sight and becoming great in Heaven; as for
the world, let us put it underfoot, let us show it how little we
care for it: in short, let us live of God and in God.

By the way, I was not very happy with your replies. Your
way of answering leaves me in doubt. I don’t accept the
excuses you bring: neither lack of time, because I don’t think it
will take you so much time to write a few lines, nor the
incapacity you say you have, because I don’t think that is true
at all. Write to me only what God in His goodness grants you
to write, no more.
I think it is rather due to a certain lack of confidence in
me; in other words, you prefer to keep your affairs to yourself.
If that is the case, I don’t blame you at all for not answering my
questions, because you are not obliged to give me an account
of what you do. What I am asking is that you explain yourself
clearly so that I may know how to proceed in future.

With regard to my coming to those parts, I cannot say when

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