Patience
Thoughts on the Patient Endurance of Sorrows and Sufferings
WHY WE SUFFER
"Star from star in glory differs." It may be that we
To bright glory are predestined in a high degree.
Some Saints by heroic virtues, glory did acquire
As to far surpass in splendor the Angelic Choirs.
Lucifer's lost place in Heaven, doth Saint Francis hold;
Or, at least, a saintly Brother this to him foretold.
Well we know, the Queen of Angels ranks all else above,
Nor can any love e'er rival her sweet Mother love.
Left to our initiative we might ne'er attain
That most wondrous place in Heaven, God would have us gain.
So He sends us trials, crosses. 'Twas His portion here;
Portion too, of His Blest Mother, whom He loved so dear.
Some great saints have longed for sufferings, to resemble Him
Whose grand life was one great suffering for the love of them.
And if Jesus had not suffered, could we ever see
His Five Wounds in radiant splendor through eternity?
May these Wounds through life e'er help us suffer patiently
And one day with Him inherit Crown of Victory.
E'en from sin, the greatest evil, He's drawn wondrous good,
Shown His boundless love by suffering; gives Himself as Food;
Adds rare jewels to our coronet, gives eternal bliss
For each moment of our sufferings sanctified by His.
Sufferings with our Lord's united, are the coins that buy
Glory, wealth, unheard-of treasures in His Courts on High.
-Rose Desmond O'Reilly, Kingsbridge, Ont.
In such a world, so thorny, and where none
Finds happiness unblighted, or, if found,
Without some thistly sorrow at his side,
It seems the part of wisdom, and no sin
Against the law of love, to measure lots
With less distinguished than ourselves, that thus
We may with patience bear our moderate ills,
And sympathize with others suffering more.
-Cowper.
_________
Compiled and Edited by
Rev. F. X. Lasance
Author of "My Prayerbook," etc.
Benziger Brothers
Printers to the Holy Apostolic See
1937
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