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 least pleasure  in  the  sentiments  that  have  been  expressed to you,  or  that  you  have  paid  any  attention  to  them. And if  afterwards  the  same  person  calls  you  to  the grate, refuse  absolutely  to  go  there;  for  if  after  his  letter you  consent  to  speak  to  him,  it  will  be  all  over  with you. You must  know,  besides,  that  you  will  be  an  accomplice of  the  same  disorder  if  you  have  less  fear  to displease  God  than  to  displease  one  of  your  sisters  by daring  to  encourage  her  in  her  unlawful  attachment. In this  case  you  would  have  to  expect  an  exemplary chastisement, such  as  was  inflicted  upon  a  religious who was  sacristan. To please  one  of  her  sisters  she took upon  herself  the  care  of  having  a  letter  forwarded to  a  person  with  whom  her  companion  kept  up an  improper  correspondence. But when  she  gave  the letter to  the  porter,  the  latter,  being  in  a  hurry,  closed the revolving  turn  of  the  sacristy  with  such  violence that her  hand  was  caught  and  entirely  torn  off. She died a  few  days  after,  in  consequence  of  this  accident.

With religious  and  ecclesiastics  who  visit  you,  not  for the purpose  of  speaking  of  God,  nor  for  your  spiritual good, but  for  the  pleasure  of  your  society,  you  should be reserved. I would  recommend  you  to  speak  with your confessor  only  in  the  tribunal  of  penance. I advise you  to  abstain  as  much  as  possible  from  all  correspondence with  him  by  little  presents,  or  by  any  similar means; and  if  you  have  to  speak  to  him,  do  so  at  the turn and  not  at  the  grate. It is  of  importance  that  you use great  reserve  in  regard  to  your  directors,  because the confidence  that  you  have  to  repose  in  them  by  revealing to  them  the  secrets  of  your  conscience  is  always accompanied  by  a  certain  sympathy,  which,  if  it  is not  moderated,  may  degenerate  into  a  fire  of  hell. This is the  reason  why  I  counsel  you  to  abstain  as  much  as possible  from  having  any  worldly  business  with  your confessor; do  not  make  him  presents;  do  not  undertake