If You Bear The Cross

Nothing Is Sweeter Than Love, Nothing More Courageous, Nothing Higher, Nothing Wider, Nothing More Pleasant, Nothing Fuller Nor Better In Heaven And Earth; Because Love Is Born Of God, And Cannot Rest But In God, Above All Created Things.

My God, Sweetness Beyond Words, Make Bitter All The Carnal Comfort That Draws Me From Love Of The Eternal And Lures Me To Its Evil Self By The Sight Of Some Delightful Good In The Present. Let It Not Overcome Me, My God. Let Not Flesh And Blood Conquer Me. Let Not The World And Its Brief Glory Deceive Me, Nor The Devil Trip Me By His Craftiness. Give Me Courage To Resist, Patience To Endure, And Constancy To Persevere. Give Me The Soothing Unction Of Your Spirit Rather Than All The Consolations Of The World, And In Place Of Carnal Love, Infuse Into Me The Love Of Your Name.

The More The Flesh Is Wasted By Affliction, So Much More Is The Spirit Strengthened By Inward Grace.

A Wise And Good Man Will Turn Examples Of All Sorts To His Own Advantage. The Good He Will Make His Patterns, And Strive To Equal Or Excel Them. The Bad He Will By All Means Avoid.

Many Deceive Themselves, Imagining They'll Find Happiness In Change.