As soon as I saw
that father, I was surprised to feel an interior grace, which I may
call communication; such as I had never had before with any person. It
seemed to me that an influence of grace came from him to me, through
the innermost of the soul; returned from me to him, in such a way that
he felt the same effect. Like a tide of grace it caused a flux and
reflux, flowing on into the divine and invisible ocean. This is a pure
and holy union, which God alone operates, and which has still
subsisted, and even increased. It is an union exempt from all weakness,
and from all self-interest. It causes those who are blessed with it to
rejoice in beholding themselves, as well as those beloved, laden with
crosses and afflictions--an union which has no need of the presence of
the body. At certain times absence makes not more absent, nor presence
more present; a union unknown to men, but such as are come to
experience it. It can never be experienced but between such souls as
are united to God. As I never before felt a union of this sort with any
one, it then appeared to me quite new. I had no doubt of its being from
God; so far from turning the mind from Him, it tended to draw it more
deeply into Him. It dissipated all my pains, and established me in the
most profound peace.

God gave him at first much openness of mind toward me. He related to me
the mercies God had shown him, and several extraordinary things, which
gave me at first some fear. I suspected some illusion, especially in
such things as flatter in regard to the future; little imagining that
God would make use of me to draw him from this state and bring him into
that naked faith. But the grace, which flowed from Him into my soul,
recovered me from that fear. I saw that it was joined with
extraordinary humility. Far from being elevated with the gifts which
God had liberally conferred upon him, or with his own profound
learning, no person could have a lower opinion of himself than he had.
He told me as to my daughter, it would be best for me to take her to
Tonon, where he thought she would be very well situated. As to myself,
after I had mentioned to him my dislike to the manner of life of the
New Catholics, he told me, that he did not think it would be my proper
place to be long with them. It would be best for me to stay there, free
from all engagements, till God, by the guidance of His Providence,
should make known to me how he would dispose of me, and draw my mind