Twelfth Letter

If we were well accustomed to the exercise of the presence of GOD, all bodily diseases would be much alleviated thereby. GOD often permits that we should suffer a little to purify our souls and oblige us to continue with Him.

If we were well accustomed to practicing the presence of GOD, all physical illnesses would be greatly eased. GOD often allows us to suffer a little to purify our souls and compel us to remain with him.

Take courage: offer Him your pains incessantly: pray to Him for strength to endure them. Above all, get a habit of entertaining yourself often with GOD, and forget Him the least you can. Adore Him in your infirmities, offer yourself to Him from time to time, and in the height of your sufferings, beseech Him humbly and affectionately (as a child his father) to make you conformable to His holy-will. I shall endeavor to assist you with my poor prayers.

Take courage. Continually offer God your pain. Pray to him for strength to endure it. Above all, make a habit of spending time with God often, and forget him as little as possible. Worship him in your weakness, and offer yourself to him from time to time. When your suffering is greatest, ask him humbly and lovingly, as a child asks a father, to help you conform to his holy will. I will try to help you with my poor prayers.

GOD has many ways of drawing us to Himself. He sometimes hides Himself from us, but faith alone, which will not fail us in time of need, ought to be our support, and the foundation of our confidence, which must be all in GOD.

God has many ways of drawing us to himself. Sometimes he hides himself from us. But faith alone should support us and be the foundation of our confidence. Faith will not fail us in times of need, and our confidence must be entirely in God.

I know not how GOD will dispose of me. I am always happy. All the world suffer; and I, who deserve the severest discipline, feel joys so continual and so great that I can scarce contain them.

I don't know what God will do with me. I am always happy. Everyone in the world suffers. Yet I, who deserve the harshest discipline, feel such constant and great joy that I can hardly contain it.

I would willingly ask of GOD a part of your sufferings, but that I know my weakness, which is so great, that if He left me one moment to myself I should be the most wretched man alive. And yet I know not how He can leave me alone, because faith gives me as strong a conviction as sense can do, that He never forsakes us until we have first forsaken Him. Let us fear to leave Him. Let us be always with Him. Let us live and die in His presence. Do you pray for me, as I for you.

I would gladly ask God to give me a share of your suffering, but I know how weak I am. If he left me to myself for one moment, I would be the most miserable man alive. And yet I do not see how he could leave me alone. Faith convinces me as strongly as my senses could that he never abandons us until we first abandon him. Let us fear leaving him. Let us always stay with him. Let us live and die in his presence. Please pray for me, as I pray for you.

I am, Yours, &c.

Yours, etc.