208

Agnes Grazi (78)

Presentation

March 7, 1739

My Daughter in Jesus Crucified,

Nothing except sin can take us away from God. All the contradictions and persecution from men and demons cannot take an inch from the Highest Good. If we are faithful, these trials help to unite us more closely with His Divine Majesty. I would wish that you do not let your heart be moved an inch, and that you would not be upset by the events taking place. God is permitting them for your great good so that you may learn to deprive yourself more and more of every affection for earth and to die to all that is not God. I would have you behave with your relatives as if they were not such. Pray much for them, but stay apart. When there is need, speak briefly, treat them gently, and then withdraw. Do this constantly. As soon as you have taken your meal, take your leave and find your recreation with the angels or, better yet, with the King of Angels, but do not put yourself in formal prayer. Since there is no garden in which you can walk a bit, take your walk alone in your room, while the others remain talking at table, and Jesus will walk along with you in the garden of your heart. Therefore, you must be vigilant to keep it well pruned and clean and well ornamented with virtues, especially such gems as are dearest to Jesus, like true humility, from which comes annihilation and true self-contempt.

Above all, never justify yourself nor defend yourself, but suffer everything in silence. And as you ought not defend yourself, far less should you defend me. So do not speak of me, as if you did not know me. Speak of me only with God. Act in this way and you will be happy. Let us allow ourselves to be defended by God. If you cannot write to me, then do not write. You have your customary rules very clearly. If I can, I will come some day to the confessional before going on missions.

Oh! you just do not know the game of love God is playing in these happenings. Give thanks to God for what is happening. Nothing, I say once more, can take away Jesus, our Good. Death to all, to all. Rejoice to be deprived of everything in order to possess God. I am writing this letter after Matins and after a week of fierce storms, and I am still in the midst of them.

Do not leave off offering the Precious Blood of Jesus for me to the Eternal Father, that he may give me the grace to change my life and die a holy death.

Trust in God that your conduct is good, and in prayer follow the usual rules, and after a deep annihilation allow your soul to lose itself entirely in the Supreme Good, contemplating his infinite perfections as the Holy Spirit leads you. Imitate the holy angels either by breaking forth in excesses of loving praise or resting in a deep wonder at that Infinite Good — now in a high and loving wonderment, then in a sacred silence of love or complacency. To sum up, I repeat, you must make yourself smaller than an infant and remain in the divine bosom, in which, as in a mirror, the soul gazes in faith on the Infinite Greatness.

Above all, never cease to compassionate the sweet Jesus with the Sorrowful Heart of Mary Most Holy and to compassionate Mary Most Holy with the Sorrowful Heart of Jesus. In this way make a mixture of love and sorrow. These two most holy hearts are two furnaces of love, even one single furnace. Throw yourself into this loving furnace so that all the poisons of imperfection can be destroyed and that you may become a pure bread for the Table of the King of Glory. Above all, cry out to God for me as usual with a lively faith so that we may be heard. Jesus bless you and inflame you with love. Amen. Do not take the trouble to write me. That is not important. In time I will tell you everything.

Your least, unworthy servant,

Paul of the Holy Cross