St. John Vianney on Suffering

A Catholic Life has an enlightening post on suffering. Here are a few quotes from the author of the peice, St. John Vianney.

Whether we will or not, we must suffer. There are some who suffer like the good thief, and others like the bad thief. They both suffered equally. But one knew how to make his sufferings meritorious, he accepted them in the spirit of reparation, and turning towards Jesus crucified, he received from His mouth these beautiful words: "This day thou shalt be with Me in Paradise. " The other, on the contrary, cried out, uttered imprecations and blasphemies, and expired in the most frightful despair.

Our greatest cross is the fear of crosses.

All this will soon be over.

The good God does not require of us the martyrdom of the body; He requires only the martyrdom of the heart, and of the will.