Do not cry, this cross that seems to separate, unites you to my HEART!
A LETTER FROM SAINT JOHN OF AVILA:
"Dear brothers and sisters, I pray God may open your eyes and let you see what hidden treasures he bestows on us in the trials from which the world thinks only to flee. Shame turns into honor when we seek God's glory. Present affliction becomes the source of heavenly glory. To those who suffer wounds in fighting his battles God opens his arms in loving, tender friendship. That is why he {Christ} tells us that if we want to join him, we shall travel the way he took. It is surely not right that the Son of God should go his way on the path of shame while the sons of men walk the way of worldly honor: "The disciple is not above his teacher, nor the servant greater than his master."
"We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials." ~Saint Teresa of Avila
From The Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, #153:
"One day, I saw two roads. One was broad, covered with sand and flowers, full of joy, music and all sorts of pleasures. People walked along it, dancing and enjoying themselves. They reached the end of the road without realizing it. And at the end of the road there was a horrible precipice; that is, the abyss of hell. The souls fell blindly into it; as they walked, so they fell. And there numbers were so great that it was impossible to count them. And I saw the other road, or rather, a path, for it was narrow and strewn with thorns and rocks; and the people who walked along it had tears in their eyes, and all kinds of suffering befell them. Some fell down upon the rocks, but stood up immediately and went on. At the end of the road there was a magnificent garden filled with all sorts of happiness, and all these souls entered there. At the very first instant they forgot all their sufferings."
Courage Dear One!! The suffering of today is short, while the reward of tomorrow will be eternal!
"Your tears were collected by the angels and were placed in a golden chalice, and you will find them when you present yourself before God." ~Saint Padre Pio
"The brightest ornaments in the crown of the blessed in heaven are the sufferings which they have borne patiently on earth." ~Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
"And I saw a river over which every soul must pass to reach the kingdom of heaven and the name of that river was suffering. And then I saw a boat which carries souls across the river and the name of that boat was love." ~Saint John Of The Cross
Do not weep as those who have no hope, because the HEART OF JESUS is the anchor of your hope!
The Christian is never alone, in Thy sufferings Christ is walking with Thee and when Thou is at Thy weakest He carries Thee!
INSPIRATIONAL SCRIPTURES FOR THOSE WHO SUFFER:
"Do not fear: I am with you; do not be anxious: I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." Isaiah 41:10
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted, he saves those whose spirit is crushed." Psalms 34:19
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13
MAY GOD CONSOLE YOU AND GIVE YOU HOPE EVERLASTING!
