"Jesus today has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few of them carry His cross. He has many friends who ask for consolation, but few who pray for affliction. He has many companions to share His meals, but few to share His abstinence... We all want to rejoice with Him, but few of us are willing to suffer anything for His sake. Many follow Jesus up to the breaking of bread, but few go on to the drinking of the chalice of His passion. Many admire His miracles, but few follow in the ignominy of His cross.
Those who love Jesus for Jesus' sake and not for any reason of their own, praise Him in every affliction and anguish of heart just as they do in moments of great consolation."
"Carrying His own cross Jesus preceded you, and on the cross He died for you so that you too might bear your cross and long to die on it, if you die with Him you shall also live with Him... No man's heart can experience what Christ endured in His passion except the man who suffers as He did. The cross is, therefore, always in readiness for you and everywhere awaits you. Wherever you choose to run you will not escape it because you always take yourself with you..."
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