6-8 November 2025
This month’s triduum concludes on the feast of St Elizabeth of the Trinity, the wonderful Carmelite of Dijon who lived from 1880 to 1906. In a letter written 120 years ago this month to a lady by the name of Madame Angles, she speaks to us of the secret to peace of soul and true communion with God.
‘I believe the secret of peace and happiness is to forget oneself, to become unoccupied with oneself. This does not consist of no longer feeling the physical or moral miseries; the saints themselves went through such crucifying states. Only, they did not live on that level; at every moment they left these things; whenever they felt moved by them, they were not surprised, for they knew of “what clay we are made” (cf. Ps. 102:13), as the psalmist sings; but he adds straight away: “With the help of God I will be spotless, and I will keep myself from the wickedness there is in me” (cf. Ps 17:24). …
‘It seems to me that the Good God is asking you for unlimited abandonment and confidence in these painful hours in which you feel this awful emptiness. Think that then He is digging in your soul deeper capacities to receive Him, a capacity that is, in a way, infinite like Himself. Try then to be, in your will, full of joy under the hand that crucifies you; I would even say, look at each suffering, each trial as a “proof of love”, that comes to you directly from the Good God, to unite you to Him.’
Later in the letter, after explaining how to make efforts to not think of self, she insists that by looking at ourselves we will get nowhere. Our constant attention should be on Christ:
‘Little by little, the soul gets used to living in His sweet presence, she understands that she bears in herself a little Heaven where the God of love has settled Himself. Then it’s as it were a divine atmosphere in which she breathes, … her soul dwells beyond the clouds and the veils, in the One who is Unchanging. Do not say that it is not for you, that you are too miserable, for that is on the contrary an extra reason for going to the One who saves. It is not by looking at this misery that we will be purified, but by looking at the One who is all purity and holiness. … In the most painful hours, think that the Divine Artist, in order to make his work more beautiful, uses scissors, and remain in peace under that Hand that is working on you. … Isn’t that consoling?…’
In this way St Elizabeth gives us one of the most fundamental approaches to being truly pleasing to God and giving Him much glory while working efficaciously for the salvation of souls: turn the gaze of our heart to Him, gently but surely and consistently, and in that loving gaze we will find all purity and sanctity.
May the saint help us to live this every day of our lives!