XVII. TO A NUN.

+ Pax Mont-Cesar, Louvain. II [uly 1906.My dear child,

I should like to write you a long letter, but that is impossible atpresent, as I am overwhelmed with work. I have read your littleautobiography with great interest, and quite understand your soul.I shall try to say in a few words what Our Lord inspires to write,reserving for my visit next month what remains to be said.

It is evident that Our Lord has destined your soul to a very closeunion with Hirn; and that thus uni ted with Hirn, you were to havebeen His instrument for doing much for souls. There are in youexcellent natural qualities, which, being elevated and supernatural-ized by grace, would render you capable of very high sanctity. Butyou are a "child of impression"; and having taken the habit of allow-ing yourself to be guided and led by your impressions, there are inyour life most astonishing contrasts. You must begin at the foun-dation of your soul, and try to accustom yourself to follow reason en-lightened by faith, and no longer be the slave of your impressions.What distinguishes man from the animal is, that the animal, havingno higher principle of action than sense, follows his impressionsalone; whereas man has a spiritual principle which he should alonefollow, using his senses, his impressions; but without being sweptalong by them. If you could once succeed in that, all that is good,and unselfish, and noble in you, would come into play; Jesus wouldbecome the absolute Master of your heart, and you would do greatthings for Hirn.

There is a book I am most anxious you should read and study.It will help you greatly to follow the direction I am giving you. I en-close the name and editor. You must read and weigh every word, forit is profound; but very specially suited for you. It is a very greatgrace for you to have such a prudent and holy Superioress. I havevery great confidence in her; and am delighted God gives you thegrace to be so open and simple with her. As I said, I hope to see youon my way to [... ], or on my way back, following the circumstances.Till then, I shall pray for you with all my heart.

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Please give my respects to the Community, and believe me yourtruly devoted father in J.c.

Dom Columba Marmion, O.S.B.

P. S. You cannot have too much confidence in the holy sacraments.They are the triumph of the merits of Jesus, and of God's mercy.Both are infinite. Provided you receive them with a sincere intentionto return to God, they always produce their effects, Le nom du livreest: La vie lnterieure simplifiee et ramenee a son fondement, par leR. P. Tissot. Derniere edition, chez Amat, Paris, ou chez Brunet,5, rue Saint-Aubert, Arras.

XVIII. TO A SUPERIORESS

FlVE LETTERS

1.

+ Pax Mont-Cesar, Louvain. 2 April 1906.My dear Rev. Mother,

Let me first thank you again for your great kindness and extremegenerosity. I have seidom been so happy as during the days I spentat [... ]. It was like being at home. I now daily place all your dearchildren, and your intentions, in my heart when going to choir andthe altar.

I saw His Grace, the Archbishop, yesterday. He begs me to treata very delicate and confidential matter with you. He has alwaystaken a great interest in poor F. Tyrrell, S.J.,1 and his large, loving

1 George Tyrrell (1861-1909), whose expulsion from the [esuits had occurred thisyear. An Irish Anglican convert to Catholicism in 1879, and a Stonyhurst Jesuit frorn1880, he came to deny the validity of Revelation as "a direct communication fromGod to man" (Catholic Encyclopedia), and in general espoused Modernist principles.His attack on Leo XIII's decree Lamentabili and encyclical Pascendi Gregis in 1907resulted in his "virtual excommunication," although rnany Catholics befriended hirnin charity, and "Cardinal Bourne courageously refused to condernn [hirn], as heconsidered he was suffering frorn disease" (Leslie, op, cit., p. 188); and, upon becorningsuddenly fatally ill, he received the last sacrarnents frorn a Southwark priest and absolu-tion frorn his dear friend Abbe Brernond. Concerning relations between Mercier andTyrrell, see Thibaut, op, cit., pp. 286-90. (MEE)

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