L E T T E R S

348become ever, more zealous! This, as you know, is the beginning, the highest law,the mystery of perfection and happiness and life.Dear Joseph, pardon this catechizing; but I feel that we are one old soul intwo. bodies. It is no wonder then that I feel and suffer when you are suffering,when your feelings are roused, when you are disturbed. And that’s bad! You haveno excuse. Just turn your mind and heart to Christ. I will offer you a quotation;you like French quotations: ―Les plus precieusses des veritees que l’hommepuisse connaitre‖, according to one famous religious philosopher, ―sont desnatures a ne pouvoir etre comprimees que par les pleurs et le silence‖. DearJoseph, at this moment I feel this very strongly.I wish I could be with you today, to express to you what I feel, what Iadvise, what I ask of you; with tears in my eyes, to formulate for you the truth oflife, and to obtain for your soul through prayer, lasting peace, freedom, and thepatience of Christ. Yet, limitaions of space are no hindrance for the soul. Let ushelp each other by prayer and love.I remind you of the promises you made to me before your departure, whenleaving the church, at the grave of John Casimir.Adolph 232 is drowning. May God keep him from going under! He is aslave of the time, the place and the atmosphere of the incident that is choking him:He wants to lead his life guided by narrow views, narrow-minded people, andeven narrover passions 233 . He will be sorry! Profoundly disorganized, he does notsense the disorganization of our nature today, the root of all evil, and the need forradical, constant until the consumation of these times, and inner healing. Hestruggles and sweats, thrashing about on the mortal, decayed shell of human life,fearing to penetrate to the core, to the source of all good, for it springs forth andflows independently of him. Let him beware! He needs a very special grace. Letus pray for him especially.232 Adolf Zaleski (1810-1853), a brave revolutionary, and formidable spy in Galicia, a member ofthe Polish Democratic Society, who was converted by Bogdan Jański after a difficult struggle. Heestablished a closer relationship only toward the end of the existence of the House of Jański, whenhe decided to become a priest. Following upon Jański’s departure for Rome, he left, returned to theconspiracy, and died a tragic death in Poznań.233 I.e., the political conflicts among the emigrants, and the plans for a revolution.