Quote of the day, 16 October: St. Elizabeth of the Trinity

My darling little Mama,

Our Mother had me taste the chocolates, which I found very good; the pistachio flavor is a nice little change for me, but I’m suffering so much from my stomach that everything makes me a little sick; in any case, this still goes down, and I would be grateful if you’d send me some. Our Mother wants me to take eight of them a day; well, I’ll try to take what I can.

Thanks for the Kalougas, which are better than anything else for my stomach; I’ll be happy to have some, made by my darling little Mama whom I love more and more.

Yesterday I spent the evening in the little tribune, and I attended the concert. Our Mother spoiled me, she opened the grille for me and I had the joy of seeing you; I was wholly united with you. Oh, if you knew, when I compared myself to Guite, I felt my happiness more than ever. 

I was suffering a lot, I was thinking that soon perhaps earth would no longer be for me, for truly my poor body is very sick, and I said to myself: “You are the happy one.” I spent a heavenly evening like that, overwhelmed by my happiness.

Darling Mama, yes, renew your sacrifice; that is so pleasing to God, and you draw down for me graces of strength for suffering, which I love more and more and which my Master does not spare me.

A Dieu, let us be united during these three days, thanks for the sweets, I love you and kiss you. I am exceedingly happy to have you for a mother.

Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity

Letter 325 to her mother
14 October 1906

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Notes: Saint Elizabeth’s biographer and editor of the collected works, Conrad de Meester, O.C.D., indicates that the “concert” which Elizabeth said she attended on Saturday evening 13 October was, in reality, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament in the monastery chapel. Two fine musicians offered their musical assistance on feast days; Elizabeth’s sister, Guite, and her husband, Georges. As the last paragraph indicates, the Carmel of Dijon observed a public Triduum in honor of Saint Teresa of Avila. The prioress opened the interior, veiled frame of the grille from the tribune or balcony on the nuns’ side of the chapel so that Elizabeth could spend private time in adoration of Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. And from that vantage point, she could catch a glimpse of her mother and hear the beautiful music offered by Guite and Georges.

Elizabeth of the Trinity, S 2003, The Complete Works of Elizabeth of the Trinity volume 2: Letters from Carmel, translated from the French by Nash, A, ICS Publications, Washington DC.