nonsense, to believe that felicity consists in tears, and that the rich are unhappy.
3. The Son of God died on the cross that he might take possession of his glory; the saints have arrived at heaven only by the path of sufferings. Shall we, then, imagine that what the Son of God and the saints have so dearly purchased, shall be given to us for nothing? No; the cross is the distinctive mark and portion of the elect; a soul which suffers nothing, and is resolved to suffer nothing, bears the strongest character of a reprobate. We must, of necessity, suffer either in this world or in the next.
[Adore Christ crucified, and beg of him the grace to participate now in his suffering life, that you may be one day a partaker in his life of glory.]
Whoever doth not carry his cross is not worthy of me.” — Luke xiv.
"What a shame, to be a delicate member of a head crowned with thorns.” — St. Bernard.
TWENTY-THIRD DAY. — ON CONFORMITY TO THE WILL OF GOD.
1. The greatest happiness of a rational creature is, to will that which its Creator willeth. The saints are saints only because their will corresponds with the will of God. Whatever virtue we may possess, if we have not that of conformity to the Divine Will, we are not truly virtuous.
2. A soul that is not satisfied with the will of God seems to doubt, in some measure, of his authority. To desire that what he ordains and permits in this world should go on otherwise than it does, is to desire that God should not be master. Everything that happens to us happens by his order; and is it not just to acquiesce in whatever is ordained by infinite wisdom?
