Page:Life and life-work of Mother Theodore Guerin Foundress.djvu/52

40 Blessed Virgin; there they both remained for a long time unable to express their feelings except by sobs and tears. Madame Guérin thenceforward endeavored by every possible kindness to atone for her past unjustifiable opposition. This was a new sorrow and temptation to the tender heart of her daughter; for, although vocation is a powerful grace, it does not remove from the heart its natural affections; on the contrary, it intensifies them by purifying them in the love of God. Leaving father, mother, friends, and all, is a sacrifice which those only can fully understand who have experienced its pangs. It seems to be the price asked by the heavenly Bridegroom for the inestimable gift bestowed upon His favored ones — a religious vocation. Happy as Mademoiselle Guérin was over her mother's change of sentiment, the separation now to take place was singularly painful. The withdrawal of the grace of sensible fervor and courage at a time it would seem most needed, showed that this heroic soul was treated as the greatest saints of God often are: stript of every consolation, they more perfectly resemble Jesus Christ, their divine Model.

The details of Madame Guérin's singular and sudden change of mind have not been handed down to us; her daughter knew all, but she modestly refrained from disclosing more than that it was brought about in a supernatural way. It is supposed that Madame Guerin had been vouchsafed a visit from an angel; for once, in later years, being in a very perplexed situation, Mother Theodore made the remark that she would confide the case to her guardian angel, as on one occasion he had spoken to her mother for her.