How the Lord Saves Sinners

The following is from St. Peter Damian. The Catholic Church celebrates his feast day on February 21st. 

My dearly beloved brother, as you are beset with the biting lash and encompassed by blows of heavenly chastisement, let no desolation depress your spirits, no murmur or complaint escape your lips, no lament or sadness overwhelm you, or faintheartedness cause you to become impatient. On the contrary, always let your face reflect your serenity, let joy be in your heart, and thanksgiving be poised, ready on your tongue. Praiseworthy indeed is the providence of God, who for a moment afflicts his own so that he might protect them from everlasting pain. He oppresses one that he might lift him up, amputates that he might heal, and casts one down that he might exalt him once again…. Therefore, do not envy the happiness that evil men enjoy in this life, but rather be sorry for them…. Be glad that you must undergo hardships, and with all your being rejoice in the Lord…. You will later be rewarded as you take away with you a hoard of precious gold, as Paul promised when he said: This momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison (2 Cor 4:17). Carefully examine these words of the apostle and diligently meditate on them…and be confident that whatever is short-lived will quickly pass away.

Nor should you fail to notice, moreover, how aptly and exactly God’s words agree with one another so that after speaking of afflictions that are temporary and light to bear, he at once adds that they will yield an eternal weight of glory. And so, you should think about and compare these correlatives with each other: suffering and glory, temporary and eternal, light and weighty. Rejoice, therefore, and be glad that the suffering you endure is short-lived, and the glory that awaits you is eternal. Everything that you bear is light, all that you look for is weighty. Rejoice, I say, since in exchange for affliction you will receive glory; for what is light, something weighty; and for the temporary, an eternity will be yours.

Consequently, amid hardships and trouble, always lift up your eyes to him who, after your afflictions, is prepared to cherish you within the sweetness of his embrace, who after storms and tribulations, will set you among the delights of heavenly peace, and will wipe away the tears from your eyes with the cloth of everlasting consolation…. With these and other texts of Holy Scripture, my dear friend, reinforce your spirit with patience, and happily look forward to the joy that will follow sadness. May hope encourage you in joyful expectations, and an ardent love inflame you.