Dear mom,
I'm afraid that you are really becoming obsessed with this religion-thing. The book about St. Francis achieved just the opposite I was hoping for... I have neither time nor feel like to get into any discussions on the topic but this time I do have to tell you how disappointed I am by your letters. I always happen to find something in them that is baloney. First of all: All and everything is all right! Are you whining about a night following a day? About a storm following a beautiful sunny weather? Are you complaining that there are ugly, nasty things in the world? Why are you so discontent with people? There will never be only good people in the world had there been ten Jesus Christs - because what you call "ugly" was, after all, given to us by the Creator. And it is meant to be like that! The entire world is based on one simple but rather marvellous principle: plus and minus, the good and the bad. That is the balance. So why should it be taken away from people? There have always been and always will be extremes that sometimes allow evil to win, for a while at least.. What remains to be done is to look for the good with an open mind and eyes and to become stronger through our struggle with the evil. To enjoy simple and small things, to live with a smile as long as we can. Yes, the evil dominates the world these days but one should first look inside and fight it in oneself before pointing fingers at others. St. Francis was a crazy man but he had his wise ways of dealing with life. He did not oppose this principle. He sang, he laughed, he was grateful for the beauty around us as well as for the pain. Well, I am not sure whether I was able to tell you what I had on my mind. Don't feel guilty however; if everyone was like you we would all go to Heaven. You have it (the Heaven) guaranteed even if you "sin" by doubting and being depressed. Remember that "whatever the Creator is doing he must be doing for the right reason," so do not attempt to carry all the world's problems on your shoulders.
Kisses, your Vitulka

Letter to mother, Spring 1938. Czech original: The Kapralova Estate. © English translation: Karla Hartl, 2000. We wish to thank the Kapralova Estate for making this correspondence available.