members, the most essential, the most noble of all the organs would not be wanting to her; I understood that the Church has a heart and that this heart is burning with love; that it is love alone which makes the members work, that if love were to die away apostles would no longer preach the Gospel, martyrs would refuse to shed their blood. I understood that love comprises all vocations, that love is everything, that it embraces all times and all places because it is eternal!
HIST. D'UNE AME, CH. XI
O my Well-Beloved! I understand
to what combats Thou hast destined
me; it is not on the battle field that I
shall fight . . . I am prisoner of Thy
Love; freely have I riveted the chain
which unites me to Thee and separates
me for ever from the world. My sword
is Love; with it I shall chase the stranger from the kingdom, I shall make Thee to be proclaimed King in the souls of men.
HIST. D'UNE AME, APPENDIX
