Page 9 - INTRODUCTION_SPIRITUAL EXERCISES 1826

Some readers may not be quite happy about publishing
certain defects the Servant of God noted down about herself,
defects that sound exaggerated, as will be noted where they
appear. However, apart from the fact that, to be true to history,
biographers should faithfully record everything that she left in
writing, we rather believe that this very thing can be edifying
to all. In fact, when we realize that even Saints have been
subject to the common lot of human frailty, we will not consider
it so arduous to follow in their footsteps along the steep and
narrow path of perfection. As the shaded parts in a picture,
their defects make their virtues stand out in a more luminous
manner because these are seen as the fruit of the assaults of
a rebellious nature constantly overcome.

This, it seems to us, has been, in fact, the most striking
feature of the holiness of M. Bartolomea: the prodigious
energy and constancy with which she kept up the struggle day

by day against her natural defects so as to let divine grace
prevail in every area of her short lifespan. Her minute daily
examinations of conscience are an evident proof of that. But,
God willing, we shall give ample evidence of this in the
biography that we have already got ready for the Press.

And so, we do hope that the printing of this third volume
of her writings will, indeed, make the figure of the Venerable
Servant of God shine out more brightly as well as encourage
readers to follow the path traced out by her.

VIII