Letters 5 and 6 of Saint-Curan

From letter 5

After the schism, there is not a greater sin than scandal in religious matters. Kindheartedness having its origin in God prevents scandals and schisms. We should remember that order in the church is established by God and by the Holy Spirit and that no one can bring into it any change except the same Holy Spirit that instituted it.

Translated from the French by Daniel McNeill

                                                           From letter 6

When temptation and weakness caused by sickness mix themselves together, our own fault has always its place in our distress. We should have been vigilant and fought against something repugnant taking birth in ourselves. Our slackening gives a place to our enemy to torment us. We must always remember that everything at the beginning depends on our great attention and it is then at the beginning of our distress that we must turn our attention to God and cry out to him for help. But suffering caused by physical weakness is not in itself a mortal wound especially if we say as our lord said that our enemy will find nothing of himself in us and if we say bravely with Saint Paul  that nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our lord. Our suffering and our spiritual distress will never equal that of Saint Paul who had the fire of hell in his head when he said that he would love God always in spite of his continual persecution by the world, the flesh and devils acting together. It is enough that our hearts like his, among so many spiritual troubles, be free of all guilt and any consentment to evil.

Translated from the French by Daniel McNeill

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