Friday, June 6, 2008

Joy in Suffering


“Those who love God are always happy, because their whole happiness is to fulfil, even in adversity, the Will of God. Afflictions do not mar their serenity, because by accepting misfortune, they know they give pleasure to their beloved Lord. Indeed, what can be more satisfactory to a person than to experience the fulfilment of all his desires? This is the happy lot of the man who wills only what God wills, because everything that happens, save sin, happens through the Will of God. This is the beautiful freedom of the sons of God, and it is worth vastly more than all the rank and distinction of blood and birth, more than all the kingdoms in the world.”

Saint Alphonsus de Ligouri wrote these words in his beautiful treatise on Conformity to the Will of God.

Lord vouchsafe to me the graces I need to bear my sufferings with joy not impatience. I enjoin everything to Christ's suffering upon the cross in payment of the debts of the souls in purgatory. Amen+

No comments: