XIII. The maternal love and affection of this sweetest Mother towards me are already so evident and clear that there is not even the slightest fear, doubt, or suspicion of any deception or trickery of nature. She takes me under her maternal guidance and direction, just as a teacher guides and directs the hand of a girl when she teaches her to write. This girl does not move her hand when writing; rather, the teacher guides and directs the hand, and the girl lets her hand be moved and guided by the teacher. In this way, I, too, under the obedience, guidance, and direction of this sweetest Mother, constantly set my eyes upon her, so that she may know and fulfill what is most dear to her and what pleases her the most. She also kindly reveals herself to me and lets me know her will regarding what I should do or omit.
It would be almost impossible for me to act otherwise, because I always have her before my eyes or in the vision of my soul; she so lovingly, so maternally draws me, smiles at me, leads me, directs me, and instructs me on the spiritual path and in the exercise of various virtues, so that I continually enjoy her presence, just as I do the presence of God. However, this vision or intellectual conception of a loving Mother does not cause any coarseness, multiplicity, or any damage to the immediacy in the spirit, but occurs, on the contrary, with very calm simplicity.
