Lisieux December 16, 1887
Mr Vicar General,
I have just written to Monsignor, Papa and my Uncle allowed me to. I always await with confidence the yes of the Child Jesus. Monsieur l'Abbé, there are only eight days left until Christmas! But the more time goes by, the more I hope, maybe it's temerity but nevertheless it seems to me that it is Jesus who speaks in me.
All the distractions of the Journey to Rome could not banish for a single instant from my mind the ardent desire to unite myself to Jesus. Ah! why call me so loud if it's to make me languish away from him?
Monsieur l'Abbé, I hope you have pleaded my cause to Monseigneur as you promised me. If Jesus consoled me in my trials it is through you, and if I enter Carmel at Christmas I know that it is to you that I will owe it. But I am not ungrateful and all my life I will remember it.
I humbly ask you, Mr. Vicar General, to kindly bless
Your most respectful and grateful
little servant Therese Martin
