Sixth Day. Of patience in sufferings

I. "In your patience po«isess ye your souls.'' Luke xxi. 19. The soul loses itself by impatience; whereas, when it submits without repining, it possesses itself in peace, and it also possesses God. To be impatient, is to desire what one has not; or not to be content with what one has. An impatient soul is a slave to passion, having cast off the re-

B2 straints of reason and faith: what weakness! what error is this! As long as we endure willingly an evil, it is not an evil; why then should we make it a real evil, by refusing to bear is willingly? The inward peace resides not in the senses, or inferior appetites, but in the will. It may be preserved amidst the bitterest sorrows, as long as the will continues firmly resigned. Tiie peace of this world consists not in an exemption from suffering, but in bearing it voluntarily.

II. To hear your murmurings and repinings, it would seem that you are the most innocent soul living; and that it is great injustice that you are not admitted into the terrestrial paradise. Remember how you have offended God, and you must acknowledge his righteous dealing with you. Confess to

SfA e ith Bay. Z5 him with the hiimility of the prodigal son, Father, [ have sinned against heaven and thee;' I know that I am inbebted to thy justice, but I have not courage to discharge the debt. If it were left to me, I should deceive, I should spare, I should betray myself. But thy merciful hand executes what I should never have had the courage to do; it corrects me in love. Grant also that I may endure with patience its salutary corrections. If a sinner has a just indignation against himself, the least he can do is to receive the penance which he has not the fortitude to choose.