Page:Stalphonsuspraye00ligu.djvu/89

 sent the  affliction  before  Him;  to  come  in  and  say " Behold,  O  Lord,  for  I  am  in  distress"  (Lam.  i.  20). He will  not  fail  to  comfort  thee,  or  at  least  to  give thee strength  to  suffer  that  grief  with  patience;  and it shall  turn  out  a  greater  good  to  thee  than  if  He had  altogether  freed  thee  from  it. Tell Him  all  the thoughts of  fear or  of  sadness  that  torment  thee;  and say to  Him:  My  God,  in  Thee  are  all  my  hopes;  I offer  to  Thee  this  affliction,  and  resign  myself  to  Thy will; but  do  Thou  take  pity  on  me, — either  deliver me out  of  it,  or  give  me  strength  to  bear  it. And He will  truly  keep  with  thee  that  promise  made  in the  Gospel  to  all  those  who  are  in  trouble,  to  console and comfort  them  as  often  as  they  have  recourse  to Him:  "  Come  to  Me,  all  you  that  labor  and  are  burdened, and  I  will  refresh  you"  (Matt.  xi.  28).

He will  not  be  displeased,  that  in  thy  desolations thou shouldst  go  to  thy  friends  to  find  some  relief; but He  wills  thee  chiefly  to  have  recourse  to  Himself. At all  events,  therefore,  after  thou  hast  applied to creatures,  and  they  have  been  unable  to  comfort thy heart,  have  recourse  to  thy  Creator,  and  say  to Him:  Lord,  men  have  only  words  for  me;  "my friends  are  full  of  words:"  they  cannot  comfort  me, nor do  I  any  more  desire  to  be  comforted  by  them; Thou art  all  my  hope,  all  my  love. From Thee  only will I  receive  comfort;  and  let  my  comfort  be,  on this  occasion,  to  do  what  pleaseth  Thee. Behold me ready  to  endure  this  grief  through  my  whole  life, through all  eternity,  if  such  be  Thy  good  pleasure. Only do  Thou  help  me.

Fear not  that  He  will  be  offended  if  thou  dost sometimes gently  complain,  and  say  to  Him,  "  Why, O  Lord,  hast  Thou  retired  afar  off?" (Ps. ix.  1.) Thou knowest,  Lord,  that  I  love  Thee,  and  desire nothing but  Thy  love;  in  pity  help  me,  and  forsake me not. And when  the  desolation  lasts  long,  and troubles thee  exceedingly,  unite  thy  voice,  to  that  of