L E T T E R S

656my coming absolutely impossible, as it does also my participation in the festivitiesthere on the day after tomorrow.When I wrote to you before that I was going to delay my return to Paris, Iintended to leave this place within a day or two after Adolph’s 899 arrival, and to goto Solesmes, to the Benedictines, in order to catch up on all of the more importantoutstanding correspondence. Later, for various reasons, I decided to send out themost important ones while I was still here. Having explained this matter to myconfessor with all of the considerations and circumstances involved, I am boundsacramentally to fulfill this resolution here before I leave. There is no way that Ican do this before the 13 th ; therefore, my dearest friend, neither can I leave to bewith you on that day.You will not believe how sad this makes me, not to be able to satisfy yourwish on the occasion of this unique and holy celebration. But if our hearts aresaddened by my inability to come, we can both turn this to our advantage: first, byaccepting this sadness willingly as coming from or permitted by the will of God;then by offering Him this sadness in the intention of our dearest celebrant.Further, as for me here: from morning till night, the whole day of June13 th , without interruption, keeping this in mind as a day of celebration for you,Mary, and your dear sister Constance 900 , I will be able to offer my humble, ferventand sincere prayers, though they are surely of little value, to God for yourintentions. Here my prayer will be more constant and more intense. Thus,throughout the whole day, I will be able to join with you in spirit better and moreclosely. Therefore, do not be offended! Do not be irritated with me!My reasons: the first, my incapacity, and the second, my inability, aresuch, naturally, that it would not be proper to repeat them to anyone. I ask you todo this for me, though it is surely unnecessary for me to ask. If anyone asks youwhy I did not come, you will answer briefly: I wrote to you that I cannot come,and that there are serious reasons for this.899 The arrival of Adolph Zaleski to make a retreat.900 Constance, nee Wesslow, Wielogłowska, Valerian’s wife.