It may seem from this account that, in my village, nobody showed me any love or tenderness. But this is not so. There was a dear chosen portion of the Lord’s flock, who showed me singular affection. These were the little children. They ran up to me bubbling over with joy, and when they knew I was pasturing my sheep in the neighborhood of our little village, whole groups of them used to come and spend the day with me. My mother used to say: “I don’t know what attraction you have for children! They run after you as if they were going to a feast!” As for myself, I did not feel at ease in the midst of such merriment, and for that reason I tried to keep out of their way.
The same thing happened to me with my companions in Vilar, and I would almost venture to say that it is happening to me now with my Sisters in religion. A few years ago, I was told by my Mother Mistress, who is now Rev. Mother Provincial: “You have such an influence over the Sisters that if you want to you can do them a great deal of good.” And quite recently, Rev. Mother Superior in Pontevedra said to me: “To a certain degree, you are responsible to Our Lord for the state of fervor or negligence in observance, on the part of the other Sisters, because their fervor is increased or diminished at recreation; whatever the others see you doing at that time, they do as well. Certain topics you brought up at recreation helped other Sisters to understand the Rule better, and made them resolve to observe it more faithfully.” Why is this? I don’t know. Perhaps it is a talent which the Lord has given me, and for which He will hold me to account. Would that I knew how to trade with it, that I might restore it to Him a thousand fold.