CHAPTER XXXV. We must be Faithful in Things Great and Small.

THE Bridegroom of the Canticles says that the Bride has ravished His
heart with “one of her eyes, one lock of her hair.” [155] In all the
human body no part is nobler either in mechanism or activity than the
eye, none more unimportant than the hair. And so the Divine Bridegroom
makes us to know that He accepts not only the great works of devout
people, but every poor and lowly offering too; and that they who would
serve Him acceptably must give heed not only to lofty and important
matters, but to things mean and little, since by both alike we may win
His Heart and Love.

Be ready then, my child, to bear great afflictions for your Lord, even
to martyrdom itself; resolve to give up to Him all that you hold most
precious, if He should require it of you;–father, mother, husband,
wife, or child; the light of your eyes; your very life; for all such
offering your heart should be ready. But so long as God’s Providence
does not send you these great and heavy afflictions; so long as He does
not ask your eyes, at least give Him your hair. I mean, take patiently
the petty annoyances, the trifling discomforts, the unimportant losses
which come upon all of us daily; for by means of these little matters,
lovingly and freely accepted, you will give Him your whole heart, and
win His. I mean the acts of daily forbearance, the headache, or
toothache, or heavy cold; the tiresome peculiarities of husband or
wife, the broken glass, the loss of a ring, a handkerchief, a glove;
the sneer of a neighbour, the effort of going to bed early in order to
rise early for prayer or Communion, the little shyness some people feel
in openly performing religious duties; and be sure that all of these
sufferings, small as they are, if accepted lovingly, are most pleasing
to God’s Goodness, Which has promised a whole ocean of happiness to His
children in return for one cup of cold water. And, moreover, inasmuch
as these occasions are for ever arising, they give us a fertile field
for gathering in spiritual riches, if only we will use them rightly.

When I read in the Life of S. Catherine of Sienna of her ecstasies and
visions, her wise sayings and teaching, I do not doubt but that she
“ravished” her Bridegroom’s heart with this eye of contemplation; but I
must own that I behold her with no less delight in her father’s
kitchen, kindling the fire, turning the spit, baking the bread, cooking
the dinner, and doing all the most menial offices in a loving spirit
which looked through all things straight to God. Nor do I prize the
lowly meditations she was wont to make while so humbly employed less
than the ecstasies with which she was favoured at other times, probably
as a reward for this very humility and lowliness. Her meditations would
take the shape of imagining that all she prepared for her father was
prepared for Our Lord, as by Martha; her mother was a symbol to her of
Our Lady, her brothers of the Apostles, and thus she mentally
ministered to all the Heavenly Courts, fulfilling her humble
ministrations with an exceeding sweetness, because she saw God’s Will
in each. Let this example, my daughter, teach you how important it is
to dedicate all we do, however trifling, to His service. And to this
end I earnestly counsel you to imitate that “virtuous woman” whom King
Solomon lauds, [156] who “layeth her hands” to all that is good and
noble, and yet at the same time to the spindle and distaff. Do you seek
the higher things, such as prayer and meditation, the Sacraments
leading souls to God and kindling good thoughts in them, in a word, by
all manner of good works according to your vocation; but meanwhile do
not neglect your spindle and distaff. I mean, cultivate those lowly
virtues which spring like flowers round the foot of the Cross, such as
ministering to the poor and sick, family cares, and the duties arising
therefrom, and practical diligence and activity; and amid all these
things cultivate such spiritual thoughts as S. Catherine intermingled
with her work.

Great occasions for serving God come seldom, but little ones surround
us daily; and our Lord Himself has told us that “he that is faithful in
that which is least is faithful also in much.” [157] If you do all in
God’s Name, all you do will be well done, whether you eat, drink or
sleep, whether you amuse yourself or turn the spit, so long as you do
all wisely, you will gain greatly as in God’s Sight, doing all because
He would have you do it.
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[155] Cant. iv. 9. In the English version this passage stands as “one
chain of her neck;” but in the Vulgate it is “uno crine colli tui.”

[156] Prov. xxxi. Those who desire a helpful book will find one in Mgr.
Landriot’s “Femme Forte,” a series of lectures on this chapter of Holy
Scripture, which, as well as his “Femme Picuse” is largely imbued with
the spirit of S. Francis de Sales, who is frequently quoted in both.

[157] S. Luke xvi. 10.
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