the Garden and on the Cross, was, to His great pain, abandoned by His Heavenly Father, as far as the feeling of comfort was concerned; and, bearing the cross with Him, with all your heart say, "Thy Will be done." By doing so, your patience and prayer will raise the flame of your heart's sacrifice into the presence of God, leaving you truly devout; true devotion (as I have said to you) consisting in a lively and firm readiness of will to follow Christ with the cross on your shoulder, by whatever way He invites and calls us to Himself, to desire God for God, and at times to leave God for God.
And if by this, and not by devotional feelings, many persons (and especially women), who aim at a spiritual life, would measure their progress, they would not be deceived by themselves nor by the devil, nor would they uselessly, or rather ungratefully, complain of so much good which the Lord has done them; but they would strive with greater earnestness to serve His Divine Majesty, Who disposes and permits all things for His Glory, and our good.
And here, again, do women deceive themselves, who guard themselves with fear and prudence from every occasion of sin; but when at times they are molested by horrible, filthy, and fearful thoughts, and also sometimes by most loathsome visions, they are confounded,
