Nevertheless, all our peace, while we are in this mortal life, rests more in the humble endurance of troubles and of things that are irksome to us than in not feeling them at all.
(p. 80)
My son, says our Lord, I descended from heaven and for your help I have taken your miseries, not compelled to do so by necessity, but by My charity, so that you should learn with Me to have patience and not to refuse to bear the miseries and the wretchedness of this life, as I have done for you.
(p. 130)
Paraphrased: Do not say, "I won't tolerate such an affront from this person. I have been greatly wronged and unjustly accused by him. But I am willing to endure the wrongs inflicted upon me by this other person whom I love or esteem more highly." Such an attitude is not good at all. When oppressed, true patience does not consider what wrongs it will bear, and from which persons.
He is not truly patient who will endure only as much as he pleases and from whom he pleases. A truly patient person bears all, and it matters not whether he is wronged by someone whose social standing is superior, inferior, or equal to his own. Nor is he concerned whether the person who wronged him be a holy man or evil. But whenever any adversity or wrong befalls him, whatever it be, no matter from whom it comes or how often it comes, he takes all faithfully from the hand of God.
(p. 132)
(God's reply:)
My son, so it ought to be with you. If you will walk with Me you must be as ready to suffer as to rejoice, and as gladly to be needy and poor as to be wealthy and rich.
(p. 129)
When a man comes to that point of perfection in which he seeks his consolation in no created thing, then God begins first to taste sweet to him, and then will such a man be content with anything that comes to him, whether he like it or not.
(p. 72)
In what ... does true perfection stand?
It stands in a man offering all his heart wholly to God, not seeking himself or his own will, either in great things or in small, in time or in eternity, but abiding always unchanged and always yielding to God equal thanks for things pleasing and displeasing, wieghing them all in one same balance, as in His love.
(p. 143)
In (Jesus) and for Him, enemies and friends alike are to be loved...
(p. 86)
The love of friend ought always to be referred to Me, and he is to be loved for Me, no matter how good or profitable he seems to you in this life. Without Me, friendship is worth nothing and cannot long endure; nor is that love true and clean that is not knit by Me.
(p. 164)
Love ... alone makes heavy burdens light and bears in equal balance things pleasing and displeasing. Love bears a heavy burden and does not feel it, and love makes bitter things tasteful and sweet.
(p. 110)
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