If you carry the cross willingly,
it will carry and lead you to the desired goal
where indeed there shall be no more suffering.

 
'The Imitation of Christ; Thomas a Kempis, 15th century

You have less to suffer in following the Cross
than in serving the world and its pleasures.

 
St. John Vianney, 19th century

The indispensible source of energy and renewal,
when frailty and weakness increase,
is the encounter with the living Christ.

 
Bl. John Paul II, 20th century

Lord,
you use sorrow to teach,
and wound us to heal,
and kill us lest we die to you.

 
St. Augustine, 5th century

Suffer patiently for a while,
your winter will soon be over
and the spring that succeeds will blossom eternally.

 
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 19th century

Even chastisements come to us, not to crush us,
but to make us mend our ways and save our souls.

 
St. Alphonsus Liguori, 18th century

It was necessary that the Son, in whom we all are,
should feel separated from the Father.
He had to experience being forsaken by God,
so that we might never be forsaken again.

 
Chiara Lubich; foundress, Focolare; 20th century

Trials help us detach ourselves from the earth;
they make us look higher than this world.

 
St. Therese of Lisieux, 20th century