Day: October 3, 2022

St. Bernard says that when we look upon the afflictions of our Lord, we shall find our own lighter to bear. And in another place he says: “What can be other than sweet to thee when thou takest to thyself all the bitterness of the Lord.” St. Eleazar, being one day asked by his good wife, Delphina, how he bore so many injuries with a calm mind, replied: “When I see myself injured I think on the injuries of my crucified Saviour, and cease not to think of them until I am calmed.” “Sweet is the ignominy of the Cross to him who is not ungrateful to the Crucified,” says St. Bernard.

He who soweth sparingly shall also reap sparingly (2 Cor. ix. 6). They who are ungenerous with God well deserve that God should not be liberal with them. To such souls the Lord will give graces common to all, but will probably withhold His special assistance; and without this, as we have seen, they cannot persevere in the state of grace. God Himself revealed to Blessed Henry Suso that, for tepid souls who are content with leading a life exempt from mortal sin, and continue to commit many deliberate venial sins, it is very difficult to preserve themselves from mortal sins.