The last day of a year of which the chief characteristic for me has been privation. God willed it tobe full enough of suffering, renunciation, sadness of every kind . . . But the blessed Master taught mestronger, deeper love, stripped of conscious happiness; and it is from the bottom of my heart that I offer him the year that is gone, and the one that is to come. I consecrate myself to him and accept all that he wants of me, through me, or for me; joy or sorrow, health or illness, poverty or riches, and also life or death . . . For myself, I ask one thing: let me love thee, without joy or comfort if need be, and use me for the spreading of thy spiritual kingdom in souls, Jesus my Savior.
– Elisabeth Leseur
