Letter of Ann Butler

Mother of Alban Butler, author of Lives of the Saints

At the age of eight, Alban Butler lost his father and mother. The latter, just before she died, wrote to him and his two brothers, the following beautiful letter.

MY DEAR CHILDREN,

Since it pleases almighty God to take me out of this world, as no doubt wisely foreseeing I am no longer a useful parent to you, (for no person ought to be thought necessary in this world, when God thinks proper to take them out;) so I hope you will offer the loss of me with a resignation suitable to the religion you are of, and offer yourselves. He who makes you orphans so young, without a parent to take care of you, will take you into his protection and fatherly care, if you do love and serve him who is the author of all goodness. Above all things, prepare yourselves while you are young to offer patiently what afflictions he shall think proper to lay upon you, for it is by this that he trieth his best servants. In the first place, give him thanks for your education in the true faith, (which many thousands want,) and then I beg of you earnestly to petition his direction what state of life you will undertake, whether be for religion, or to get your livings in the world. No doubt but you may be saved either way, if you do your duty to God and your neighbor, and yourselves. And I beg of you to make constant resolutions rather to die a thousand times, if possible, than quit your faith; and always have in your thoughts what you would think of, were you as nigh death as I now think myself. There is no preparation for a good death but a good life. Do not omit your prayers, and to make an act of contrition and examen of conscience every night, and frequent the blessed sacraments of the church. I am so weak I can say no more to you, but I pray God bless and direct you, and your friends to take care of you. Lastly, I beg of you never to forget to pray for your poor father and mother when they are not capable of helping themselves; so I take leave of you, hoping to meet you in heaven, to be happy for all eternity.

Your affectionate mother,
ANN BUTLER

Commentary by Charles Reed

"Prepare yourselves while you are young to offer patiently what afflections he shall think proper to lay upon you, for it is by this, that he trieth his best servants."

To be a victim soul means to offer patiently the afflictions that God sends you, united to the afflictions of Christ, for the salvation of your soul, and the salvation of the soul(s) of your neighbor(s). This offering is so easy, that a child can do it.

"Give him thanks for your education in the true faith (which many thousands want)."

Our Lady revealed to Mary of Agreda that one of the worst sins of humanity is ingratitude. There are millions who never offer even one act of thanksgiving to God during their entire life. Victim souls offer reparation for his monstrous ingratitude, by making frequent acts and prayers of thanksgiving. Semper et ubique gratias agere. Always and everywhere to give thanks. (Canon of Mass).

Please offer yourself as a victim. You will thereby make yourself (and another precious, immortal soul), happy, holy and blessed, for all eternity, in the glory and splendor of Paradise, in saecula saeculorum, for the ages of the ages. Amen.

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Writings of Charles Reed -

Essays in Reflections
Essays not in Reflections
Novel. Mount Zion Revisited.
Anthologies
Translations

Note about Mount Zion Revisited

The character named Little Bear in ch. 13, is based on three persons, in order to condense much informtion into a small space. The face of one of them bore no resemblance to the face of a bear. (He is now deceased, probably in Paradise with his mother). The other two, still living, have the face of a teddy bear. This is not an exaggeration.

Mt. Zion is a narration of a shipwreck that was not total. Just as Robinson Crusoe and Man Friday came of their shipwreck alive and kicking, so these precious little souls came out of the crucible of sorrow, shining like gold (Job 19), and at least two of them are now praising God forever, in the heavenly Zion.

And the redeemed of the Lord will come into Zion with praise.
Sorrow and mourning will flee away,
And everlasting joy shall be upon their heads.

Isaiah 35

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Similarity with other novels.

Brideshead Revisited, by E. Waugh.  The effects of grace, on a group of characters.

Robinson Crusoe, by Defoe.  What to do when a shipwreck happens, and everything disintegrates, falls apart, and you are faced with a chaotic situation.

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