“Always remember to love your neighbor; always prefer the one who tries your patience, who test your virtue, because with her you can always merit: suffering is Love; the Law is Love.”
Bl Mary of Jesus Crucified
During my 3rd year in the seminary, I told my spiritual director that I would be giving up all dessert for Lent. He smiled and said, “That’s fine, but I think it would be much harder for you to pick the one seminarian who you find to be difficult and focus on being extra kind to him.” He was right. We all have people in our lives who because of their temperament, personality, history or quirks cause us to suffer…this is where we can truly grow in our love for Christ and in our sincere love for others. Christ wants to love them through us!