Fourth Letter

I have taken this opportunity to communicate to you the sentiments of one of our society, concerning the admirable effects and continual assistances which he receives from the presence of GOD. Let you and me both profit by them.

I want to share the thoughts of a member of our community with you. He speaks of the wonderful effects and constant help he receives from the presence of God. Let us both benefit from his thoughts.

You must know his continual care has been, for about forty years past that he has spent in religion, to be always with GOD, and to do nothing, say nothing, and think nothing which may displease Him; and this without any other view than purely for the love of Him, and because he deserves infinitely more.

You should know that for about forty years of religious life, his constant concern has been to be always with GOD. He has tried to do, say, and think nothing that might displease him. His only purpose has been to act purely out of love for God, because God deserves infinitely more.

He is now so accustomed to that Divine Presence, that he receives from it continual succors upon all occasions. For about thirty years, his soul has been filled with joys so continual, and sometimes so great, that he is forced to use means to moderate them, and to hinder their appearing outwardly.

He is now so accustomed to the Divine Presence that he receives constant help from it on every occasion. For about thirty years, his soul has been filled with constant joy. Sometimes his joy is so great that he has to restrain it and keep it from showing outwardly.

If sometimes he is a little too much absent from that Divine Presence, GOD presently makes Himself to be felt in his soul to recall him, which often happens when he is most engaged in his outward business. He answers with exact fidelity to these inward drawings, either by an elevation of his heart towards GOD, or by a meek and fond regard to Him, or by such words as love forms upon these occasions, as for instance, My God, here I am all devoted to Thee: LORD, make me according to Thy heart. And then it seems to him (as in effect he feels it) that this GOD of love, satisfied with such few words, reposes again, and rests in the fund and centre of his soul. The experience of these things gives him such an assurance that GOD is always in the fund or bottom of his soul, that it renders him incapable of doubting it upon any account whatever.

If he sometimes strays a little too far from the Divine Presence, God immediately makes himself felt in his soul to draw him back. This often happens when he is most occupied with his daily work. He responds faithfully to these inward promptings. He either lifts his heart toward God, turns to him with a gentle and loving gaze, or speaks words that love inspires at such times. For example, he might say, My God, here I am, wholly devoted to you: Lord, make me what your heart desires. Then it seems to him that this God of love, satisfied with so few words, settles and rests again in the depths and center of his soul. Indeed, he feels that God does so. These experiences assure him that God is always in the depths of his soul. They make him unable to doubt it for any reason.

Judge by this what content and satisfaction he enjoys while he continually finds in himself so great a treasure. He is no longer in an anxious search after it, but has it open before him, and may take what he pleases of it.

From this, you can see how much contentment and satisfaction he enjoys. He continually finds such a great treasure within himself. He no longer searches anxiously for it. It lies open before him, and he can take from it whatever he pleases.

He complains much of our blindness, and cries often that we are to be pitied who content ourselves with so little. GOD, saith he, has infinite treasure to bestow, and we take up with a little sensible devotion, which passes in a moment. Blind as we are, we hinder GOD, and stop the current of His graces. But when He finds a soul penetrated with a lively faith, He pours into it His graces and favors plentifully: there they flow like a torrent, which, after being forcibly stopped against its ordinary course, when it has found a passage, spreads itself with impetuosity and abundance.

He often complains of our blindness and cries out that we are to be pitied for settling for so little. GOD, he says, has infinite treasures to give, but we settle for a little devotion we can feel, which passes in a moment. Blind as we are, we hinder GOD and stop the flow of his grace. But when he finds a soul filled with living faith, he pours his grace and favors into it abundantly. There they flow like a torrent that has been forced to stop its usual course. Once it finds a passage, it rushes out in great abundance.

Yes, we often stop this torrent by the little value we set upon it. But let us stop it no more; let us enter into ourselves and break down the bank which hinders it. Let us make way for grace; let us redeem the lost time, for perhaps we have but little left. Death follows us close; let us be well prepared for it: for we die but once; and a miscarriage there is irretrievable.

Yes, we often stop this torrent because we value it so little. But let us stop it no longer. Let us look within ourselves and break down the barrier that holds it back. Let us make way for grace and make up for lost time, for perhaps we have little time left. Death follows close behind us. Let us be well prepared for it, for we die only once. A mistake there can never be undone.

I say again, let us enter into ourselves. The time presses, there is no room for delay: our souls are at stake. I believe you have taken such effectual measures that you will not be surprised. I commend you for it; it is the one thing necessary. We must, nevertheless, always work at it, because not to advance in the spiritual life is to go back. But those who have the gale of the HOLY SPIRIT go forward even in sleep. If the vessel of our soul is still tossed with winds and storms, let us awake the LORD, who reposes in it, and He will quickly calm the sea.

I say again, let us look within ourselves. Time is pressing, and there is no room for delay. Our souls are at stake. I believe you have taken effective steps so that you will not be caught unprepared. I commend you for that. It is the one thing necessary. Nevertheless, we must keep working at it, because if we do not advance in the spiritual life, we fall back. But those carried by the wind of the Holy Spirit move forward even in their sleep. If the vessel of our soul is still tossed by winds and storms, let us wake the Lord, who rests within it. He will quickly calm the sea.

I have taken the liberty to impart to you these good sentiments, that you may compare them with your own. It will serve again to kindle and inflame them, if by misfortune (which GOD forbid, for it would be indeed a great misfortune) they should be, though never so little, cooled. Let us then both recall our first fervors. Let us profit by the example and the sentiments of this brother, who is little known of the world, but known of GOD, and extremely caressed by Him. I will pray for you; do you pray instantly for me, who am, in our LORD.

I have taken the liberty of sharing these good thoughts with you so that you may compare them with your own. This may rekindle your own thoughts if, by misfortune, they have cooled even a little. God forbid, for that would indeed be a great misfortune. So let us both recall our early devotion. Let us learn from the example and thoughts of this brother. He is little known to the world, but known to God and deeply loved by him. I will pray for you. Please pray earnestly for me, who am yours in our Lord.

Yours, &c.

Yours, etc.