List of points

Let us drink to the last drop the chalice of pain in this poor present life. What does it matter to suffer for ten years, twenty, fifty… if afterwards there is heaven for ever, for ever… for ever?

And, above all — rather than because of the reward, propter retributionem — what does suffering matter if we suffer to console, to please God our Lord, in a spirit of reparation, united to him on his Cross; in a word: if we suffer for Love?…

That Christ you see is not Jesus. It is only the pitiful image that your blurred eyes are able to form… — Purify yourself. Clarify your sight with humility and penance. Then… the pure light of Love will not be denied you. And you will have perfect vision. The image you see will be really his: his!

How afraid people are of atonement! If all that they do for appearance's sake, to please the world, were done with purified intention for God… what saints many would be!

Motives for penance? — Atonement, reparation, petition, thanksgiving: means to progress: for you, for me, for others, for your family, for your country, for the Church… And a thousand motives more.

Don't worry if you become annoyed when you do those little things he asks of you. Eventually you will smile…

Have you never seen how reluctantly a little child gives his father — who is only teasing him, — the sweet which he has in his hand? But he gives it: love has conquered.

One pinprick. And another. And another. Suffer them! Don't you see you are so small that in your life — in your way — you can only offer him those little crosses?

Besides, just think: one pinprick and another, one cross on top of another,… what a huge pile!

When all is said and done, child, you have learned to do one really big thing: to Love.