I. It is strange to see how passionate is this tender-

ness ! What tears, what penances, and prayers it costs ! How urgent is the care to recommend its object to the intercession of all who have power with God ! what constant longing for the progress of its friend, and what disquiet if this be wanting ! If the loved one seemed to be advancing and then falls back, the friend who is devoted to her knows no peace in life, and neither eats nor sleeps unhaunted by constant anxiety and dread lest the soul it loves so well should be lost, and they two parted for ever ! Such people care, nothing for the death of the body — they will not attach themselves to what a breath can deprive us of, beyond our powers of resistance. As I said, there is no thought of self in this affection ; its only wish and care is to see its favourite enriched with divine graces. This is love indeed, not like a miserable earthly affection, even though the latter be not faulty — for from an unlawful ^ Valladolid edition, ch. viii. ; Escorial, ch. xi.
CHAP. VII.]
SPIRITUAL LOVE.
47
attachment, may God defend us ! We need not tire ourselves with inveighing against what is a perfect hell, the least of whose ills is beyond exaggeration. We must never mention such a love, sisters, nor remember that it exists, nor must we ever hear it named, either in jest or earnest, nor suffer it to be discussed in our presence. It is utterly worthless, and the very mention of it may harm us. But I am speaking of the lawful affection we feel for one another, such as is felt between relations and friends. Our one anxiety is that they may not die ; if their heads ache, our souls ache too ; if they suffer, we lose all patience, and it is the same in other matters. It is not so with spiritual love, for, though through human weakness those who feel it grieve at their neighbour’s trouble for the moment, yet reason resumes its sway ; they reflect whether this cross is good for their friend’s soul, and whether it increases her virtue ; they watch how she bears it ; begging God to give her patience, that she may merit by her trials. If they see she is resigned, they are no longer disturbed, but feel happy and consoled.^ Though they would rather suffer the pain themselves than let her bear it, if their merit and benefit could all be transferred to her, yet they feel neither distress nor disturbance.
2 St, Teresa always looked cheerful, however much the trials of her friends may have grieved her {Fuente, vol. vi. 310, n. 9). Deposition of Mary of St. Francis.
48 THE WAY OF PERFECTION. [cHAP. VII.
2. This affection seems exactly like that borne for us by the good Lover, Jesus : this is why it is so beneficial, for it embraces all the suffering for itself, that others, without suffering, may reap the reward. Even if such souls do not actually perform this, still they strive to lead their friends aright, more by actions than by words. I say, “ If they do not actually perform this ” ; that is, when the thing itself is impossible, for they strive in- cessantly to labour for, and to benefit, the one they love. Such an affection is a great blessing to its object, for either the friendship must come to an end, or the lover will obtain grace from our Lord that the beloved may travel on the same road as herself, as did St. Monica for St. Augustine. Such a soul will never deal falsely with those it loves, nor allow them to err while believing it can hinder them by reproof, which it will never neglect to give them, because of its ardent desire to see them rich in virtue. What artifices does it not use in order to gain this end, although it cares for no earthly thing ! It cannot resist doing this, nor can it flatter its friends, nor dissemble their faults. Either they must amend, or their mutual bond must come to an end, for this soul cannot otherwise endure it, nor ought it to do so, for there can be nothing but war between persons with such different aims. Though such a one may be indifferent to every one else, and take no heed whether they serve God or not, looking
CHAP. VII.] SPIRITUAL LOVE. 49
only to herself, yet she cannot act thus with her friends ; no fault in them is hidden from her ; she sees the smallest mote. I call this indeed a heavy cross to bear. Happy the souls thus loved, and blest the day on which they found, such a friend !
3. O my God ! of Thy mercy grant that many may feel such love for me. I would far rather win this, O Lord, than the liking of all the kings and princes of the earth, and rightly so, for such affection labours with all its might to make us such that we may spurn the world under our feet, and may hold beneath our sway all that it contains. If you ever meet persons of this kind, sisters, the Mother Prioress should make every effort to bring you together. Love them as much as you will, there are not many such souls, but our Lord always wishes their perfection to be known : people will tell you that there is no need of such help — God is enough. The company of God’s friends is a good way of keeping near Him : it is of the greatest advantage, as I know from experience ; for, after God Himself, I owe it to such persons that I am not in hell. I was most anxious that they should intercede for me with God, and used to beg them to do so. But let us return to our subject.
4. This is the kind of affection I wish we all possessed.®
® Life, ch. vii. 32-37 ; ch. xvi. 12 ; ch. xxx. 6. Castle, M. ii. ch. i. 12.
4
[chap. vii.
56 THE WAY OF PERFECTION.
Although in the beginning our love may be defective, yet our Lord will perfect it. Let us consider the way to obtain perfect love. Although at first we mingle some tenderness with it, no harm will be done, as long as it does not amount to particular friendship. It is necessary at times to show some tenderness in our love, ^ and even to feel it ; we must sympathise with many of our sisters’ trials and weaknesses, insignificant as they may be.® Sometimes a trifling matter gives as much pain to one person as a heavy cross would cause another. Sensitive natures feel very keenly slight troubles which others would laugh at. If you are stronger-minded, still, pity your neighbours, and do not be astonished at them. Perhaps the devil has taken more trouble to wound their feelings thus than he has to grieve you by severe trials and crosses. It may be that our Lord spares us these sufferings to give us trials of other kinds, when perhaps what seems, and is, indeed, a heavy cross to us, will appear but a light one to our sisters.
^ Castle, M. v. ch. iii. ii.
® “ No one was in the company of this glorious Mother without receiving some consolation. All found solace from her in their crosses ; she felt a deep compassion for the trials of the weak, whom she upheld by her words and prayers, when she could do no more for them ” (Statement made by Father Peter of the Purification : Relaciones historicas de los siglos xvi. y xvii. publicadas par la Sociedad de Bibliofilos espanoies, vol. xxxii. p. 305. Madrid, 1896).
CHAP. VII.] INDULGENCE FOR OTHERS. 5l
5. We must not judge others by ourselves in such cases, nor compare ourselves to them at a time when, perhaps, through no effort of our own, our Lord has given us greater fortitude ; rather let us estimate our- selves by our weakest moments. There is need for this if we would know how to condole with our neigh- bours’ griefs. Especially is this necessary for more courageous souls, who, as they long for crosses, make little of their troubles. These should remember what they used to feel while they were still weak, and should reflect that, if they have improved, it is not their own doing. Otherwise, the devil may gradually cool our charity for others, and lead us into mistaking an error for perfection. Constant care and vigilance are needed : Satan never sleeps, and is always especially wide awake when he watches more perfect souls ; then his tempta- tions are more subtle than ever, for he dare use no others ; and unless we are very cautious, the mischief is done before we know it.
6. In short,' we must always watch and pray,® for prayer is the surest way to discover the devil’s snares, and make him reveal himself. Be cordial with your sisters when they take their needful recreation,^ and
® St. Luke xxi. 36 ; “ Vigilate itaque omni tempore.”
’ Const. 27, 28. Life, ch. xiii. i. Sister Frances of Jesus says : ” Our holy Mother was so fond of giving pleasure to
the nuns that one night, when she had retired, to her cell at recreation time, on my asking her : ‘ Isn’t your Reverence
52
THE WAY OF PERFECTION. [CHAP. VII,
stay with them the whole of the appointed time, al- though it may not suit your taste.® I intended saying much of the other kind of love, but on second thoughts,
I do not think that it can flourish here, considering what life we lead ; therefore I leave the subject alone, hoping that, with the help of God, there will be no danger of there being any less supernatural affection among those in this house, although the sisters may not always be quite perfect. It is right for the nuns to compassionate one another’s needs, but beware lest this pity should be indiscreet, or contrary to obedience. Let no one know if the orders given by the Prioress seem harsh to you, unless you humbly say so to her yourself, otherwise you will do much harm. Make sure when it is right for you to sympathise with and to pity your sisters ; you must always feel sorry for any conspicuous fault you see in one of them ; charity is proved and tested in such a case by keeping patience, and by not being shocked.^ Others bear thus with your faults, both those of which you are conscious, and the many more of which you are ignorant. Pray constantly to
coming to us ? ’ (we had been told that she would be absent), she answered laughingly : ‘ Do you wish it, daughter ? Well, let us go together,’ and she came and was very merry ” {Fuente, vol. vi. 290, n. 5).
® Escorial edition, chap. xii. Of the great advantage of de- taching ourselves from all interior and exterior things.
® Castle, M. iii. ch. ii. 19 ; M. i. ch. ii. 20, 21.
CHAP. VII.] GOOD EXAMPLE. 53
God for your sister, and endeavour to practise per- fectly the virtue contrary to her fault. Force yourself to do this, for you may thus teach her by deed, what by words, or even by punishment, she could never attain to : whereas the sight of this virtue in another would make a great impression on her. This is good advice : do not forget it.
7. Oh what an excellent and sincere love does that nun show, who sacrifices her own interests to that of her sisters ; who makes great progress in all the virtues and in the perfect observance of the Rule ! There is more true friendship in this than in all the tender speeches that can be uttered, and which are not, and must not, be used in this house ; such as, “ My life, my soul, my darling ! ” and other expressions people use to one another. Keep endearing words for your Spouse ; you will often be alone with Him, and will need them all, since His Majesty permits their use. However much you may repeat them to Him, they will not make you sentimental, and there is no need to address them to any one else. Such expressions are very womanish, and I do not wish you to be so, nor appear so in any way, but rather, valiant and manly. If you do your best, God will make you so strong that men will wonder at you. How easy this is to His Majesty, Who created us out of nothing !
Castle, M. vii. ch. iv. 22.
54 the way of perfection. [chap. VII.
8. It is a great sign of love to relieve others of their labour in the offices of the convent,” and to take it on ourselves, also, to rejoice and to thank God for our sisters’ spiritual progress as if it were our own.” All these things (omitting the great good they bring with them), greatly conduce to peace and concord among the nuns, as by God’s grace we have learnt by ex- perience. May His Majesty be pleased to increase this good feeling ; it would be terrible were it otherwise, and insufferable for so small a number to disagree with one another — God forbid it ! But all the good that has been established here by the grace of God must be destroyed, or such a misfortune can never occur. If one of you should take offence at some hastily spoken words, let her at once atone for it, and pray fervently on the subject, as also against any habitual fault, or grudge, or particular friendship, or desire of precedency, or regard for honour.” My blood seems to freeze in my veins while I write this, at the thought that such a thing may be felt by any nun, for it is the special bane of convents. If it should really occur, give yourselves up for lost : know that you have driven your Spouse from the house, and that, in a way, you have forced Him to seek some other home, since you have turned
Life, ch, xxxi. 27. The Saint used to fold up the mantles of the nuns of the Incarnation.
12 Life, ch. xxxiv. 9 sqq. concerning Fr. Garcia de Toledo.
13 Castle, M. v. ch. iii. ii.
CHAP. VII.] OBSTACLES TO CHARITY. 55
Him out of His own^Cry for aid to His Majesty, for. if your frequent confessions and communions do not prevent such ills, take heed lest there be some Judas among you. Let the Prioress be most watchful on this point ; let her prevent all chance of its occurring, and stop it from the very first, for here lies all the mis- chief and its remedy. If gentleness will not suffice, let her inflict severe punishment. Should any of the nuns be found to be seditious, let her be sent to some other convent — God will provide her dowry. Drive away this pestilence, cut off the branches as best you can, or, if this is not enough, pull up the roots. If this cannot be done it were far better that such a person were im- prisoned than that the whole community should be infected with such an incurable plague. What a terrible evil it is ! God deliver us from a convent where this enters ! I would rather it caught fire and burnt us all alive. But as I intend speaking more of this later on, on account of its great importance, I will only say I would rather the sisters should love one another tenderly, with a demonstrative affection, if it be for all alike, although not with the perfect love I have described, than that they should disagree. May our Lord, being Who He is, never permit this. Amen.
56
THE WAY OF PERFECTION. [CHAP. VIII.