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 why do  we  not  ask  what  Jesus  Christ  or  his  holy  mother will think  of  our  conduct? My spouse,  says  our  Lord, it a  garden  enclosed.  To  be  the  true  spouse  of  Jesus,  the heart of  a  religious  must  be  an  enclosed  garden,  excluding every  affection  that  is  not  for  God. Remember that to  cherish  in  the  soul  any  strange  affection  is,  perhaps, of  all  the  defects  of  nuns  the  most  displeasing  to God. He requires  the  full  and  undivided  possession  of the  heart  of  his  spouse. Even men  cannot  bear  with any division  in  the  affections  of  their  spouses. In conclusion, I  exhort  you  to  endeavor  to  love  God  as  if  he and  you  were  the  only  beings  in  existence.

But before  finishing,  I  cannot  omit  to  blame  the  folly of certain  religious  who  become  fond  of  animals,  such as cats  and  dogs. These they  wish  to  have  always  with them at  table,  and  even  in  bed. They often  carry  them in their  arms,  kiss  them,  and  say  even  affectionate  words to them. If these  animals  become  sick  they  are  greatly afflicted; if  they  die  they  are  inconsolable,  and  are  an annoyance  to  those  who  may  have  been  the  cause  of the  death. If such  an  affection  is  unreasonable  even  in a  person  of  the  world,  how  much  more  is  it  unreasonable in  a  spouse  of  Jesus  Christ!

My Jesus,  I  already  understand  Thee. Thou dost  desire  my whole  heart  and  all  my  love;  and  I  desire  to  consecrate  my whole  soul  and  all  my  affections  to  Thee. After all  the  insults which I  have  offered  to  Thy  majesty,  I  deserve  to  be  abandoned by Thee. But I  feel  that  Thou  dost  still  call  me  to  Thy  love. Thou shall,  thou  sayest,  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  thy  whole heart.  I  desire,  O  my  God,  to  obey,  and  henceforth  to  love Thee only. Oh that  I  were  wholly  consumed  for  Thee,  O  my Jesus,  who  hast  been  entirely  consumed  for  my  salvation! For my sake  Thou  hast  given  all  Thy  blood;  for  my  redemption