Untitled - Saints' Books

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For
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382 Material for Instructions. [PART n.
compared with the eternal glory which awaits us: The
sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory to come, that shall be revealed in us? The transitory
pains of this life shall merit for us eternal beatitude: For
that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation,
worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of
glory? Hence Philo the Jew has written: The pleas
ures which we give the body to the detriment of the
soul are thefts of the glory of heaven, which we com
mit against
ourselves." On the other hand, St. John
Chrysostom says that when God gives us an occasion of
than if he gave us
suffering, he bestows a greater grace
power to restore life to the dead. 4 He assigns the rea
son, saying: the miracles I am a debtor to God,
and by suffering with patience I have Christ as my
debtor." The saints are the living stones that com
pose the heavenly Jerusalem: As living stones built up, a
spiritual house! But these must be first polished by the
chisel of mortification, as is
sung by the Church:
Many a blow and biting sculpture
Polished well those stones elect,
In their places now compacted
By the heavenly Architect.
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7
" 1
Non sunt condignse passiones hujus temporis ad futuram gloriam
quae revelabitur innobis." Rom. viii. 18.
8 Id enim "
quod in prsesenti est momentaneum et leve tribulationis
nostrse, supra modum in sublimitate seternum gloria pondus operatur
in nobis." 2 Car. iv. 17.
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4
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Oblectamenta praesentis vitae, quid sunt, nisi furta vitse futurae?"
Quando Deus dat alicui ut mortuos resuscitet, minus dat, quam
cum dat occasionem patiendi."
b
Pro miraculis enim, debitor sum Deo; ut pro patientia, debitorem
habes Christum." In Phil. horn. 4.
6 "
Pet. ii. 5.
Tamquam lapides vivi superaxlificamini, domus spiritualis."
i
7
"Scalpri salubris ictibus,
Et tunsione plurima,
Fabri polita malleo,
Hanc saxa molem construunt." Off. Dcdic. Eccl. Hymn.