Fourteenth Letter

To the Same.

To the Same Person.

I render thanks to our LORD for having relieved you a little, according to your desire. I have been often near expiring, but I never was so much satisfied as then. Accordingly, I did not pray for any relief, but I prayed for strength to suffer with courage, humility and love. Ah, how sweet it is to suffer with GOD! However great the sufferings may be, receive them with love. It is paradise to suffer and be with Him; so that if in this life we would enjoy the peace of paradise we must accustom ourselves to a familiar, humble, affectionate conversation with Him. We must hinder our spirits wandering from Him upon any occasion. We must make our heart a spiritual temple, wherein to adore Him incessantly. We must watch continually over ourselves, that we may not do, nor say, nor think anything that may displease Him. When our minds are thus employed about GOD, suffering will become full of unction and consolation.

I thank our Lord for giving you some relief, as you wished. I have often been close to death, but I have never been more content than at those times. So I did not pray for relief. Instead, I prayed for strength to suffer with courage, humility, and love. Ah, how sweet it is to suffer with God! However great your suffering may be, receive it with love. To suffer and be with God is paradise. So, if we want to enjoy the peace of paradise in this life, we must make a habit of speaking with him, openly, humbly, and lovingly. We must never let our minds wander from him, whatever the occasion. We must make our hearts into spiritual temples where we can worship him continually. We must watch ourselves constantly, so that we do not do, say, or think anything that might displease him. When our minds are occupied with God in this way, suffering will be filled with spiritual comfort and consolation.

I know that to arrive at this state the beginning is very difficult, for we must act purely in faith. But though it is difficult, we know also that we can do all things with the grace of GOD, which He never refuses to them who ask it earnestly. Knock, persevere in knocking, and I answer for it that He will open to you in His due time, and grant you all at once what He has deferred during many years. Adieu! Pray to Him for me, as I pray to Him for you. I hope to see Him quickly.

I know that reaching this state is very difficult at first, because we must act purely in faith. But though it is difficult, we know we can do all things with God's grace. He never refuses it to those who ask earnestly. Knock and keep knocking. I assure you that he will open the door to you in his own time. He will grant you all at once what he has withheld for many years. Goodbye! Pray to him for me, as I pray to him for you. I hope to see him soon.

I am, Yours, &c.

Yours, etc.