“Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife.” (Pope Saint Leo the Great).
The Saints have always had a lot to say about suffering and the temptation to try to avoid the suffering that God allows for us.
Saint Padre Pio, who experienced the stigmata during his lifetime, terrible temptations by the Evil One and who suffered the burden of being misunderstood and victimised by the Church during his life understood suffering well. And he did not shirk it. He did not shy away from suffering or try to avoid it. Rather, Saint Padre Pio understood suffering and knew that suffering was not only important – but it was FUNDAMENTAL – to salvation not only of his own soul but of the souls of others…
Saint Padre Pio said, “A soul can feel this insatiable thirst because it has not yet reached the end of its journey; it has not yet been fully immersed in the eternal fountain of his divine love, which will happen in the kingdom of glory. Therefore let us enjoy quenching our thirst in this fountain of living water, and let us always move forward on the paths of divine love. But, we also need to understand that our souls will not be fully satisfied here below. In fact, woe to us if, while we are still running our course, we believe one day that we are fully satisfied, because that would signal that we think we have reached our destination, and we would be deceived.” And in this, he understood the importance – the merit of suffering…
Importantly, suffering is the ultimate opportunity to embrace the Holy Will of God. When we accept the suffering that God has allowed into our lives, we are effectively trusting in God and allowing Him to do what must be done for our own redemption… Pope Saint Leo the Great said, “Virtue is nothing without the trial of temptation, for there is no conflict without an enemy, no victory without strife.”
And I sort of understand that today. Because it is the strife caused by suffering that merits life. It is the strife that cause us to survive…
Saint Paul of the Cross believed in that suffering and USED it as a tool for salvation. He wrote of suffering being a broom to sweep away the hidden imperfections of the soul… “Believe me, afflictions, fears, desolations, dryness, abandonment, temptations, and other persecutions make an excellent broom, which sweeps from your soul all the dust of hidden imperfections.”
For it is only when I can “Repose on the naked cross and make no other complaint than this infantine cry: ‘My Father, my Father, Your will be done!’ And then be silent.” (Saint Paul of the Cross) that I can ever hope to speak to my Beloved in a way that He would want me to…
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
Opmerkingen