“Our Teresa preferred love to all the other divine attributes; to her, love was seen in all the rest of God s perfections. I feel sure that she meant by this, that Love, if I may venture to say so, is more than a divine attribute: Love is God Himself, since Saint John said “God is love”. Therefore, if God and Love are one, it is not difficult to prove that we can expect nothing from God but gentleness, affection, mercy, devotion, kindness, and compassion; we may feel sure that we have naught to fear from His severity or His justice unless we commit the sin against the Holy Ghost which cannot be forgiven, and that sin is to despise and reject Love. The faithful children of God should never harbour a dread of divine chastisement and judgment, which are only meant for those who are His enemies.

            After all these beautiful thoughts, I am as weak and as miserable as possible; I lament about nothing and almost fall into despair about some trifle,  which convinces me that the light comes from above and that if the Saviour abandoned me for an instant I should sink into vice and be lost eternally. When I feel on the edge of the abyss and dread lest I should become dizzy, I say the prayer of Blessed Margaret-Mary: 

“O loving Heart! I put all my trust in Thee for I fear all from my weakness, but I hope all from Thy mercy! and after this act of confidence I am completely reassured.”

MOTHER ISABEL OF THE SACRED HEART Carmelite Nun of Lisieux. 1882-1914 Book written from a circular letter sent to Carmelite convents on her death. Authorised translation from the French, with an introduction by Dom Benedict Weld-Blundell, O.S.B. THE KINGSCOTE PRESS, 3 DYER S BUILDINGS, HOLBORN, LONDON, E.G. 1916.

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