Dear
Lady and especially loved in Our Lord Jesus Christ, as much and
as humbly as I can and may, I recommend myself always to your good
grace and in your devout prayers and supplications before Our Lord
Jesus Christ.
I beg you to strive ceaselessly to go from strength to strength
in his most perfect love, remaining continually, strong and virtuous
in his most holy and worthy service; for the kingdom is promised
to those who set out on this way, but it is to those who persevere
loyally that the crown will be given. And as long as we are alive
there will be many perils, especially from our enemies, the world
and the flesh, who day and night wage war on us in numberless ways.
Against these we must arm and defend ourselves, for it is needful
for us to conquer them if we do not want to be overcome ourselves,
and, as Saint Paul says, we cannot have the victory without a battle,
nor a crown without a victory.
We can do nothing by ourselves without the aid and grace of God.
We can neither do good nor resist our enemies. We need to turn to
our good and true Master, Our Lord Jesus Christ and to beg him to
equip us with his weapons so that we can the more surely overcome.
These weapons, among others with which he was armed in this poor
world, while bringing about and fulfilling the mystery of our redemption
in the face of these three adversaries were:
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against the world, true and
holy poverty from his birth until his death stripped naked on
the cross:
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against the flesh, pure,
holy and perfect chastity of heart and body, born and conceived
of a pure, virgin mother:
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against the Adversary, perfect
humility and true obedience right up to his death
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and all in perfect charity.
And whoever is thus armed
can go forward into battle with sure heart. In short, these are
the weapons with which he has wished to equip those men and women
whom by means of his grace he has wished to call into his service,
and who have wanted to follow him in the life of the Gospel and
the way of the Apostles.
And I beseech him in his infinite goodness always to watch over
and guard you completely, and so to enlighten you with his grace,
that you may serve him always and endlessly, and love him in the
way of life which is most pleasing to him, and fight for him loyally
under the banner of his Church. Thus you will be able to love him
everlastingly and reign in his glorious, heavenly palace, for ever
and ever. Amen.
Your unworthy handmaid
who prays for you,
Sister Colette
Letter to
Marie de J3oen of Ghent c. 1442
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