Suffer and offer up those trifling injuries, those petty inconveniences, that daily befall you. This toothache, this headache, this cold, this contempt, or that scorn. All these small sacrifices, being accepted and embraced with love, are highly pleasing to the Divine Goodness, who for a single cup of cold water has promised a sea of perfect bliss for His faithful.
–Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
I realized that to become a saint one must suffer a great deal, always seek what is best, and forget oneself.
–Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (1873-1897)
If someone said to you, “I would like to become rich; what must I do?” you would answer him, “You must labor.” Well, in order to get to Heaven, we must suffer.
–Saint John Vianney (1786-1859)
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, which is more delightful by far than anything our earthly efforts might produce. If we have any sense, we shall yearn for these open arms of God.
–Saint John of Ávila (1500-1569)
For my heart is always with Him, day and night it thinks unceasingly of its heavenly and divine Friend, to whom it wants to prove its affection. Also within it arises this desire: not to die, but to suffer long, to suffer for God, to give Him its life while praying for poor sinners.
–Saint Elizabeth of the Trinity (1880-1906)
As far as I am concerned, the greatest suffering is to feel alone, unwanted, unloved. The greatest suffering is also having no one, forgetting what an intimate, truly human relationship is, not knowing what it means to be loved, not having a family or friends.
–Saint Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997)
