Laurence of the Resurrection (1614–1691)
My dearest Mother! (1)
I thank the Lord that He has granted you relief, as you wished. I have been close to death several times, yet I have never felt so joyful. I did not ask for relief, but for the strength to suffer bravely, humbly, and with love. Courage, my dearest Mother! Oh, how beautiful it is to suffer in union with God! No matter how great the suffering may be, accept it out of love: to suffer and be with Him is like being in paradise.
For if we wish to rejoice in peace in paradise after this life, we must accustom ourselves to an intimate, humble, and loving communion with Him. We must not allow our spirit to stray from Him for any reason. We must make a spiritual temple in our heart for Him, where we will continually worship Him without ceasing. We must watch over ourselves and not grow weary, so that we do not do, say, or think anything that might displease Him. When we are thus occupied with God, even suffering is sweet for us, full of delight and comfort.
I know that the beginning – before one reaches this state – is quite difficult, because one can only move forward in faith. However, we also know that with the Lord's grace we can accomplish everything, and He does not withhold it from those who urgently ask for it. Knock on His door, do not cease knocking, and I tell you that when you do not grow weary, He will open to you when the time comes, and all at once give you everything He has delayed for years. Take care, pray for me as I pray for you. I hope to see Him soon. In our Lord, I am entirely yours.
(1) Letter from January 22, 1691; to the same gravely ill nun to whom the previous two letters were addressed; shortly before the death of Brother Lawrence († February 12, 1691).
Excerpted from the book: Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, Collected Works
Editor: Sr. Ancilla Karl OCD and Fr. Antonio Sagardoy OCD
Publisher: CERF Paris, 1991
Translated by: Norbert Žuška, O.Carm.
