CAPG's Blog 

Pray for their constancy, courage, and patience: and since God leads his most faithful servants through so difficult ways, ought you not to offer yourself with patience to go through those difficulties which he appoints for you? What are all your troubles, if compared with theirs? You would willingly come at length to the same crown; but you would have it at an easy rate. And what is this but the effect of self-love, a love of ease and quiet here, without a true sense or faith of that eternal rest that is come? And can this self-love ever bring you to the possession of Him, who requires self-denial as an indispensable condition in all those who pretend to follow Him? Consider then seriously to what you pretend; and if it be to heaven, remember that patience, humility, and submission to the will of God are the Gospel way to it. The time for practicing these, is in provocations, persecutions, troubles difficulties, disappointments, and distress. If in these circumstances you regard little what God requires, but indulge your own passions, is not this putting yourself out of the way of heaven, and neglecting those opportunities which He puts into your hands, and which, if well made use of, might be the purchase of it? Resolve now on a better method, on a method of suffering with humility and patience, as often as God shall call you to the trial. Trust in Him; and be confident that He who strengthened the martyrs will also be your helper, either in delivering you from your troubles, or giving you grace to go through them and leave it to Him to do what He knows best for you." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother