In The World You Will Have Tribulations....
People who change their way of life and begin to think about spiritual progress also begin to suffer from the tongues of detractors. Whoever has not yet suffered this trial has not yet made progress, and whoever is not ready to suffer it does not even endeavor to progress.
– St. Augustine
posted by Russ Rentler, M.D. | 8:26 PM
1 Comments:
What a comfort reading this from my beloved "big bro" Saint Augustine! I'm comforted to know that indeed I have made a step of progress on this steep, rugged, and difficult path.
I'm not tooting my own horn, or patting myself on the back, far from it. It's just encouraging to know that the beginnings of suffering for my faith are now quite evident. It's far from a martyr's suffering since there's no shedding of blood, but yet my heart hurts intensely at times, just for my own family and friends who've preferred to "lay low" or not even talk to me anymore since turning into such an "intense Catholic."
It's a real, genuine hurt, but along with my hot flashes and aches and pains I'm encountering in this 50th decade, I'm learning how to "offer it up" to Jesus, for the salvation of souls. The little sufferings, when offered with a sincere heart, burning for love of Thee, my Lord, are worth every pain in my heart, my mind, my soul.
Thanks for posting, TJ. And thanks St. Augustine, for your faith that still shines and speaks so profoundly to us after all these years!
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