human
Wonderful visionary, wonderful painter, cried Durtal,
gpt
Let me die in shame with Jesus on the Cross,
human
Ah, yes; I will take the 'Dolorous Passion!'
gpt
Take the Gospels also, said the abbé, who came in meanwhile;
human
It will be equally useful, and truly in accordance with the atmosphere of La Trappe, to be able to read in the abbey itself the works of Saint Bernard, but they consist of unmanageable folios, and the abridgments and extracts in volumes of a more convenient form are so ill-chosen, that I have never had the courage to buy them.
gpt
They have Saint Bernard at La Trappe, and will lend you the volumes if you ask them; but where are you from the spiritual point of view? How are you getting on?
human
I am melancholy, badly prepared and resigned. I cannot tell if weariness has come from my turning always on the same round, like a circus horse, but at this moment I am not suffering. I am persuaded that this change of place is necessary, and that it would be useless to hesitate. All the same, he said, after a silence,
gpt
I will admit, said the abbé, laughing,
human
Rather, if any one were a mere bridge in this matter, answered Durtal,
gpt
That is true, said the abbé, with a smile;
human
Thank Him in getting rid of your nature as soon as possible, and leaving the house of your conscience empty for Him. The more you die to yourself the better will He live in you. Prayer is the most powerful ascetic means by which you can renounce yourself, empty yourself and render yourself humble in this matter; pray therefore without ceasing at La Trappe. Implore our Lady especially, for like myrrh which consumes the proud flesh of wounds, she heals the ulcers of the soul; I on my side will pray for you as best I can; you can thus in your weakness lean, so as not to fall, on that firm and protecting pillar of prayer of which Saint Teresa speaks. Once again, a safe journey to you; we shall meet soon again, my son, good-bye.
gpt
It is most tiresome, he thought,