Quote of the day, 3 December: Céline Martin

My dear little Jeanne,

You can write to my uncle (he’s in Evreux) that the day really wasn’t bad. This morning, there was the same restlessness as yesterday—no shouting, but laughter for one or two hours, crying, clapping, and conversations as if I were in his room and he was responding to something I said. This afternoon a complete calm, even sleep, he said that of course, I had made him take something to make him sleep. He wanted to be alone. There were loud shouts and again he was having conversations with himself.

Dear little Sister, the Cross is heavy, but Jesus is there. He carried it for us—why shouldn’t we carry it for Him?

Our Lord told Blessed Margaret Mary [Alacoque] that the Cross is the most precious pledge of His love that He can give us in this life.

St. Francis Xavier said: The absence of the Cross is the absence of life!

How vile the earth seems to those who see it from Heaven!

Dearest little sister, life is short.

Our little boat is being rocked by a violent storm right now; furious waves are submerging it and threatening to swallow it whole. But the dear Captain—Jesus—will not let it sink. Soon—the port… Soon—joy, rest, happiness! …

Right now, we’re not giving Jesus pearls, but diamonds and jewels of every kind. It’s up to us to draw from the inexhaustible source—and that source is suffering, bitterness. This treasure is the Cross!

Your little sister who loves you,

Céline

Céline Martin

Family correspondence, 21 or 22 January 1889

Note: In February 1889, Saint Louis Martin was committed to the Bon Sauveur Mental Hospital in Caen, France. This challenging chapter in the saint’s life was preceded by difficult days and months for his family. Much like dementia patients today, St. Louis wandered away from home and disappeared, causing great concern. This letter from Céline Martin to her cousin Jeanne Guérin, asking her to contact her father—Saint Zélie’s brother, Isidore—provides a glimpse into the struggles Céline faced while caring for her saintly father during this trying time.

Translation from the French text is the blogger’s own work product and may not be reproduced without permission.

Featured image: Lost memories … is the title of this haunting photo by Czech photographer Tomas Vimmr in Prague. Vimmr excels in black-and-white street photography. Image credit: Tomas Vimmr / Flickr (Some rights reserved)

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