Here is the great lesson: We must discover God’s will, and, recognising it, we must endeavour to do it joyfully, or at least courageously.
40.
The meek Saviour would have us meek, so that, though surrounded by the world and the flesh, we may live by the Spirit; that, amidst the vanities of earth, we may live in heaven; that, living among men, we may praise Him with the angels.
41.
The sight alone of our dear Jesus crucified can speedily soften all sorrows, which are but flowers compared with his thorns. And then our great rendezvous is an eternal heaven; and compared with the price of eternity, what are the things which end with time?
42.
Continue to unite yourself more and more with our Lord. Plunge your heart into the charity of his, and say always with your whole soul: “May I die and may Jesus live!” Our death will be a happy one if we have died daily.
43.
The repugnance you feel testifies no want of love; for it seems to me that, if we believed that being flayed God would love us more we would flay ourselves, not without repugnance, but in spite of the repugnance.