From Céline to her sisters Agnes of Jesus, Marie of the Sacred Heart, and Thérèse - March 9, 1889
From Céline to her sisters Agnes of Jesus, Marie of the Sacred Heart, and Thérèse. (Fragments.)
March 9, 1889
The other day, Papa said to the doctor: "I had always been accustomed to commanding, and I see myself reduced to obeying; I never had any humiliations in my life, and I needed one." The doctor answered: "Well, then, this one can count!". . .
I feel more and more that my duty is to remain here; yes, it is better to suffer and not abandon dear little Father. At least, here, if we can do nothing for him, we can run at the least call; even for yourselves, this must be a kind of assurance to know that we are here.
Dear little sisters (I'm talking also to my little Thérèse even though I am writing her specially), oh! how bitter life is! What I cannot understand is that I'm not able to accustom myself to realizing where Papa is; it seems like a dream, a nightmare to me ....
Well, certainly, we can tell ourselves that God can turn everything to good; He never gives us anything above our strength, and the moment Papa seemed to be carrying too heavy a load, God lightened it for him, removing from him the bitterness of his sorrow.
Yes, God willed it so; it is He who has arranged this matter, all by Himself. We would have acted in vain and only disturbed ourselves, poor little atoms. All would have taken place just the same.
Certainly, this trial was needed for Papa in order to crown his sanctity ....
(March 9, 1889)
© Washington Province of Discalced Carmelite Friars, Inc