Ms C 26v

[26v°] that they must be able to say what they think, the good and the bad. This is all the easier with me because they don’t owe me the respect one renders a Novice Mistress. I cannot say that Jesus makes me [5] walk the way of humiliations exteriorly. He is content to humble me in the depths of my soul; in the eyes of creatures I succeed in everything. I travel the road of honors insofar as this is possible in religion. I understand that it is not for my sake but for that of others that I must walk [10] this road that appears so dangerous. In fact, if I were to pass in the eyes of the community for a religious filled with faults, incapable, without understanding or judgment, it would be impossible for you, Mother, to have me help you. This is why God has cast a veil over all my interior and [15] exterior faults. At times, this veil draws upon me certain compliments from the novices; I feel that they don’t do this through flattery but that it is the expression of their naive sentiments. Truly, this does not inspire vanity in me, for there is always present to my mind the remembrance of what I am. However, sometimes there [20] comes to me a great desire to hear something else besides praises. You know, dear Mother, that I prefer vinegar to sugar; my soul, too, is tired of too sweet a nourishment, and Jesus permits someone to serve it a good little salad,

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