PREFACE

From afar, all the stars look alike. Our eyes are so weak that these worlds, hidden by distance, are for us merely points of gold which, during summer nights, tremble in the black azure with the same flickering. But, if it were permitted to approach, if it were possible to look closer, we would perceive with unknown wonder original: "admirations inconnues" unknown differences. We would see that the distance which separates the suns establishes between them singular relationships and contrasts. We would see that the hand of the Creator has sown different seeds in his fields, and that his feet have not left the same trace everywhere in the dust that his voice brought forth from nothingness original: "néant"; this refers to the theological concept of creatio ex nihilo, or creation out of nothing.

From afar, all the elect: a theological term referring to those chosen by God for salvation or sainthood look alike, and common opinion original: "l'opinion vulgaire"; refers to the unrefined or general public view believes it can lump them together in the same indifference. Ignorance, which is always so certain of itself, believes that the life of the elect is a monotonous thing; that to be among the elect, one must be cast in a certain mold, and that this mold, always the