Chapter VIII The Virtue of Patience The Virgin’s Patience, eighth among her virtues mentioned in the Gospel, which you should possess and cultivate in three ways, in imitation of the Virgin. The Virgin Mary was always most patient, and out of her patience, in order to please God, she thought, spoke and acted as follows: She endured patiently the persecution of Herod and of the Jews; she searched for her Son sorrowfully for three days, and when she joyfully discovered him, with a maternal voice she said, “Son, why have you done this to us? You see that your father and I have been searching for you in sorrow” [cf. Lk 2:48]. According to the example and in imitation of the Virgin, devoted souls, in order to please Christ, should desire to endure something for the name of their Spouse [cf. Acts 5:41], they should rejoice when they suffer persecution unjustly because the Lord Jesus said: “By patient endurance you will save your lives” and the Apostle [Paul] says: “If only we suffer with Him we shall also reign with Him” [cf. Rom 8:17; cf. 2 Tim 2:12]. Therefore, souls who endure evil in this world for Christ will receive honor in Heaven from Christ. In order to possess this virtue of patience more perfectly, devoted souls should console themselves if it happens that God does not answer their pleas quickly or if he is not immediately found by them. Yet, they should persevere in patience seeking Jesus for three days, namely: by contrition, Confession, and satisfaction. And finally, in affectionate complaints, they should have familiar conversation with and pose questions to Christ, as the loved one would speak to his Lover; since there are many people who do not find Jesus, because they do not look for him for three days, but only for two days, inasmuch as they do not make a good and valid Confession, hiding or passing over in silence some sins. Let them therefore realize: There is no better way for a soul to be so special a friend of Jesus than to joyfully bear injuries because of him. The Rule of Imitation of the Ten Evangelical Virtues 317
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==