+JMJ
"It is much easier to see the redemptive role of pain and suffering in God's plan if you are not actually undergoing pain and suffering.. . If you look upon sacrifice and suffering only through the eyes of reason alone, your tendency will be to avoid as much of it as you can, for pain itself is never pleasant. But if you can learn to see the role of pain and suffering in relation to God's redemptive plan for the universe and each individual soul, your attitude must change. You don't shun it when it comes upon you, but bear it in the measure grace is given you."
(Father Walter J. Ciszek)
One of the greatest treasures of the Church is the inexhaustible store of wisdom—emanating from the Holy Spirit, liberally dispersed among the saints. It is not difficult to discover insights that apply to any difficulty nor learn of a holy one whose circumstances mirror one's own. And yet, as is stated in the Imitation of Christ, no store of knowledge is beneficial unless it is put to use:
"It is better to feel contrition for your sins than to know how to define it. What good is it to know the entire Bible by heart and to learn the sayings of the all philosophers if you live without the grace and the Love of God?"
The saints became holy because they practiced heroic virtue in the midst of trying circumstances. They were patient when most justified anger; poor when most rationalized wealth; tempered when most called for liberality; humble when most clung to their pride; merciful when most demanded severity.
Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. The Truth Itself becomes incarnate in all his actions. If one is to imitate Him, he must remove himself from the abstract world of lovely sayings, and beautiful images, and actualize the Truth in the words he has heard and read. Otherwise, he can expect to hear from his Master the same rebuke that was given to the disciples:"Do you not yet understand?"
