Adversity, John Chrysostom (347-407), Page: Quotes, Quote Author, Quote Topic, Suffering
I have his promise; I am surely not going to rely on my own strength! I have what he has written; that is my staff, my security, my peaceful harbor. Let the world be in upheaval. I hold to his promise and read his message; that is my protecting wall and garrison. What message? ‘Know that I am with you always, until the end of the world!‘ If Christ is with me, whom shall I fear? Though the waves and the sea and the anger of princes are roused against me, they are less to me than a spider’s web.
–Saint John Chrysostom (347-407)
Humility, Page: Quotes, Quote Topic, Suffering
Together with the grace of suffering, spiritual tempests bring the grace of humility, a new, deep humility that hollows out in the soul a void so immense that God fits into it.
–Luis M. Martinez (1881-1956)
Love, Page: Quotes, Quote Topic, Suffering
We are to love God, then, because he loved us first. [1 Jn 4:19] The Passion on Calvary is a supreme declaration of love. It was to redeem us that you suffered so much, O Jesus. The least of your acts has infinite worth, since it is one of God’s acts, and would have been more than ample enough to redeem a thousand worlds, to redeem all possible worlds. But you suffered so much because you wanted to make us holy, to bear our burdens and to draw us into loving you freely. Loving is the most powerful way to attract love, loving is the most powerful way to make oneself loved. It is impossible for us to love him and not imitate him, to love him and not want to be the way he was, do what he did, suffer and die in torment because he suffered and died in torment. It is impossible to love him and want to be crowned with roses when he was crowned with thorns. We must love him as he has loved us.
–Blessed Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916)
Adversity, Augustine (354-430), Page: Quotes, Quote Author, Quote Topic, Suffering
Because we cannot endure perpetually the hardships of life, we seek rest in some earthly thing. It may be our house, our family, our children, a little farm, an orchard, or a book we have published. God allows us to suffer tribulations even in these innocent delights in order that we may love only life eternal. Otherwise, as travelers going to their country, we might choose the inn – this world – instead of our true home: eternal life.
–Saint Augustine (354-430)
Cross, Page: Quotes, Quote Topic, Suffering
Jesus, the Sinless, was crucified for you; and will you not be crucified for Him who was crucified for you? You are not bestowing a favor, for you have first received; but you are returning a favor, repaying your debt to Him who was crucified for you in Golgotha.
–Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 313-386)
Cross (your), Page: Quotes, Quote Topic, Suffering
You will be consoled according to the greatness of your sorrow and affliction; the greater the suffering, the greater will be the reward.
–Saint Mary Magdalen de Pazzi (1566-1607)
