Flora Cantábrica

Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus and patience.English166.23.

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Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus and patience

Let us listen to her: «How is it possible that God, loving us infinitely, takes pleasure in making us suffer?» And he adds without hesitation: «No; God cannot rejoice in our pain, but it is necessary for us. He allows it, then, as if in spite of himself.

. During his last illness they had left within his reach a glass that contained a red medicine, transparent and pleasing to the eye: “Do you see this glass? -said-; anyone would say that it contains a delicious liquor. Actually, nothing more bitter. It is the image of my life. In the eyes of others it has always covered the most laughing colors; It seemed to them that I drank an exquisite liquor, but it was bitterness».

The Holy Carmelite also knew internal difficulties and sorrows, dryness, darkness, temptations. Her aridity was from her Novitiate until her last days the habitual atmosphere of her soul. Her faith in her Love helped her suffer and accept everything. Likewise, Teresa always welcomed with submission and even with a smile on her lips all the big and small trials of her life; family sorrows, her father’s illness, her own illness.

Joyful acceptance of suffering. Joy in pain was the hallmark of Teresa’s patience.

To suffer from it, one must feel sadness and bitterness, discouragement and one’s own impotence. In the acceptance of all these feelings the virtue of patience is exercised.

«If you want to feel the attraction of suffering, the joy in pain, look only for your own comfort, because when you love something, the pain disappears». And elsewhere: «There is only one thing that makes me happy: to suffer for Jesus, and this unfelt joy surpasses all joy»

«I made an effort – says Teresa – to smile in the face of suffering, so that the Lord, seeing the expression on my face, would not suspect my suffering».