Chapter I
Love is Patient

Chapter I
Love is Patient

by Saint Alphonsus Liguori

Our true home, where God has prepared rest for us in everlasting joy, is Paradise. We have only a little while to remain in this world, but in this brief time we have many sufferings to endure. All men and women are subject to sufferings; be they saints or sinners, each one must carry his or her Cross. Those who carry it patiently are saved; those who carry it with impatience are lost.

Saint Augustine observes that by the test of suffering, the chaff in the Church of God is separated from the wheat; those who humbly accept trials and tribulations, resigning themselves to the will of God, are wheat for Paradise; those who act out of pride, forsaking God, are chaff for Hell.

On Judgment Day, we will be examined on how our life conformed to the life of Jesus Christ. Our eternal happiness rests in the balance. This is why the Eternal Word came to earth; to teach us by His example to carry patiently the Cross that God sends. Jesus suffered to teach us how to suffer. Truly, in words of Isaiah (53:3), He was "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with infirmity".

Now, in the same way as God has treated His beloved Son, so He treats everyone whom He loves: "For whom the Lord loveth, He chastiseth" - Hebrews 12:6. For this reason, too, He said to Saint Teresa: "Know that the souls closest to My Father are those to whom He sends the greatest sufferings". So the saint said she would not exchange her troubles for all the treasures of the world.

Those who love God in suffering increase their reward in Heaven. Saint Vincent de Paul even said that it was a great misfortune to be free from suffering in this life. And he added that an individual or a community that does not suffer and is always applauded by the world is not far from a fall.

Patient Endurance

Saints with Palms - from the Van Eyck Ghent Altarpiece (Click to enlarge)

"In your patience you shall possess your souls" - Luke 21:19. Nothing is more pleasing to God than the sight of souls bearing their Crosses patiently. Love also makes the lover more like the person loved. Saint Francis de Sales said: "The saints suffer constantly for Jesus; and this is the way we too shall become saints". A person who loves Jesus Christ wants to be treated like Jesus Christ: poor, persecuted, and rejected. Saint John (in Revelation 7:9) saw all the saints clothed in white with palms in their hands. The palm is the symbol of martyrs, and yet all the saints did not suffer martyrdom. Why, then, do all the saints bear palms in their hands? Saint Gregory replies that "all the saints have been martyrs either of the sword or of patience". "We have been martyrs without the sword", he adds, "if we keep patience".

Those who love Jesus Christ gain merit by loving and by suffering. Here is what Our Lord revealed to Saint Teresa on the subject:

"My child, merit comes not from the enjoyment of life; rather it is gained by suffering and by loving. Look at My life, overflowing with afflictions. Know, My child, that the more My Father loves you, the more suffering He sends you; this is the trademark of His love. Look at My wounds; your suffering will never be so extensive. It is absurd to think that My Father favors with His Friendship those who are strangers to suffering".

Saint Paul writes: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us" - Romans 8:18. How readily, then, we should embrace our Crosses when we know  that the temporal sufferings of this life will win for us eternal joy! We cannot gain the prize without merit; and no merit is to be had without patience. So the person who strives with the greatest patience will have the greatest reward.

Some people try to acquire as many temporal goods as they can; but with regard to eternal goods, they say: "It is enough if we get a little corner of Heaven". Such is not the attitude of the saints; temporal goods are their last concern. In fact, they strip themselves of all worldly things. But they strive to attain as many eternal goods as they possibly can. Which group is acting more wisely and prudently?

Source of Peace

Even in our present life, those who suffer with the greatest patience certainly experience the greatest peace. In fact, according to Saint Teresa, those who embrace the Crosses that God sends them, do not even feel them. Peace can never be found by those who lead disordered lives, but only by those who live in union with God and with His Holy Will.

We must convince ourselves that true peace of heart in this world cannot be found unless we endure and lovingly embrace suffering. The vocation of the saints on Earth is to suffer and to love; the vocation of the saints in Heaven is to enjoy and to love.

It is not merely by suffering, but by choosing to suffer for the love of Jesus Christ, that we show the surest proof of loving Him. And in the words of Saint Teresa, "What greater treasure can be ours than to have some sign that we are pleasing Almighty God?"

Many people become alarmed at the mere mention of Crosses and humiliations. Nevertheless, there are many others who are willing to suffer, and would feel uneasy if they were unable to suffer in this world. We all should listen to the words of Jesus Christ Who tells us that if we wish to follow Him, we must deny ourselves, take up our Cross each day, and follow in His steps (Luke 9:23). But we must do this of our own free will, and with humility, patience and love.

Those who truly love God have no other purpose in life than to be entirely united with Him. It therefore follows that they must be resolved not to seek pleasure, but to suffer in all things. They must eagerly embrace voluntary mortifications, and even more eagerly accept involuntary ones, since these are more pleasing to Almighty God.

God is pleased with those who mortify themselves because of courage which it requires. But He is even more pleased with those who have the courage to bear patiently and gladly the Crosses that come from His divine hand.

We should, therefore, beg God to make us worthy of His love, for if we love Him completely, all material goods will seem like smoke.

Prayer

Dear and beloved Jesus, my Treasure. I beg You to make me worthy of Your love. I love You more than anything else. I repent of ever having offended You and of having driven You from my soul by sin. I love You now, more than myself. I love You with my whole heart, Infinite Good.

I love You, I love You, I love You. I want only to love You completely. My only fear is that in some tragic way I may be deprived of Your love.

My most loving Redeemer, help me to realize what a great good You really are. My God, never allow me to forget Your goodness. I have offended You enough; never let me leave You again. I want to spend the rest of my life loving You and pleasing You.

My Jesus, my love, lend me Your aid. Help a sinner who desires to love You and to be completely Yours.

Mary, my hope, your Son listens to you. Pray to Him for me, that I may obtain the grace of loving Him perfectly.

Amen