orrespondence in
the subject, I felt it suspended in its source. That gave me some pain.
I should be, as it were, displeased with those persons; but when there
was no resistance, but a full acquiescence, this divine virtue had its
full effect. Healing virtue has so much power over things inanimate,
yet the least thing in man either restrains it, or stops it entirely.

There was a good nun much afflicted and under a violent temptation. She
went to declare her case to a sister whom she thought very spiritual,
and in a condition capable of assisting her. But far from finding
succor, she was very much discouraged and cast down. The other despised
and repulsed her, and treating her with contempt and rigor, she said,
"Don't come near me, since you are that way." This poor girl, in a
frightful distress, came to me thinking herself undone on account of
what the sister had said to her. I consoled her and our Lord relieved
her immediately. But I could not forbear telling her that assuredly the
other would be punished, and would fall into a state worse than hers.
The sister who had used her in such a manner came also to me, highly
pleased with herself in what she had done, saying, she abhorred such
tempted creatures. As for herself, she was proof against such sorts of
temptations, and that she never had a bad thought. I said to her, "My
sister, from the friendship I have for you I wish you the pain of her
who spoke to you, and even one still more violent."

She answered haughtily, "If you were to ask it from God for me, and I
ask of Him the contrary, I believe I shall be heard at least as soon as
you."

I answered with great firmness, "If it be only my own interests which I
ask, I shall not be heard; but if it be those of God only, and yours
too, I shall be heard sooner than you are aware." That very night she
fell into so violent a temptation that one equal to it has seldom been
known. It was then she had ample occasion to acknowledge her own
weakness, and what she would be without grace. She conceived at first a
violent hatred for me, saying that I was the cause of her pain. But it
served her, as the clay did to enlighten him who had been born blind.
She soon saw very well what had brought on her so terrible a state.

I fell sick even to extremity. This sickness proved a means to cover
the great mysteries which it pleased God to operate in me. Scarce ever
was a disorder more extraordinary, or of longer continuance in its
exc