her many a real sacrifice. One day, just as she had placed a
beautiful artificial rose at the foot of the statue, the Mother
called her. Soeur Thérèse, surmising that it was to bid her remove
the rose, was anxious to spare her any humiliation. She therefore
took the flower to the good Sister, and, forestalling all
observations, said: "Look, Mother, how well nature is imitated
nowadays: would you not think this rose had been freshly gathered
from the garden?"

* * * * * *

"There are moments," she told us, "when we are so miserable
within, that there is nothing for it but to get away from
ourselves. At those times God does not oblige us to remain at
home. He even permits our own company to become distasteful to us
in order that we may leave it. Now I know no other means of exit
save through the doorway of charitable works, on a visit to Jesus
and Mary."

* * * * * *

"When I picture the Holy Family, the thought that does me most
good is --the simplicity of their home-life. Our Lady and St.
Joseph were well aware that Jesus was God, while at the same time
great wonders were hidden from them, and--like us--they lived by
faith. You have heard those words of the Gospel: 'They understood
not the word that He spoke unto them';[15] and those others no
less mysterious: 'His Father and Mother were wondering at those
things which were spoken concerning Him.'[16] They seemed to be
learning something new, for this word 'wondering' implies a