‘V ~ Special Practices of Uniformity.’ - Saint Alphonsus Liguori - 'UNIFORMITY WITH GOD’S WILL' - …
[Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori – XVII-XVIII Century AD; Marianella, Kingdom of Naples/Pagani, Kingdom of Naples; (aged 90); Bishop; spiritual writer, composer, musician, artist, poet, lawyer, scholastic philosopher, and theologian; Founder; Doctor of the Church]
“Chapter V ~ Special Practices of Uniformity
Let us now take up in a practical way the consideration of those matters in which we should unite ourselves to God’s will.
1. In external matters. In times of great heat, cold or rain; in times of famine, epidemics and similar occasions we should refrain from expressions like these: “What unbearable heat!” “What piercing cold!” “What a tragedy!” In these instances we should avoid expressions indicating opposition to God’s will. We should want things to be just as they are, because it is God who thus disposes them. An incident in point would be this one: Late one night St. Francis Borgia arrived unexpectedly at a Jesuit house, in a snowstorm. He knocked and knocked on the door …More
"But where it is a case of real suffering, we have the example of our Lord, who, at the approach of his bitter passion, made known his state of soul to his disciples, saying: “My soul is sorrowful even unto death” and besought his eternal Father to deliver him from it: “Father, if it be possible, let this chalice pass from me.” But our Lord likewise taught us what we should do when we have made such a petition, when he added: “Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”
"Sickness is the acid test of spirituality, because it discloses whether our virtue is real or sham. If the soul is not agitated, does not break out in lamentations, is not feverishly restless in seeking a cure, but instead is submissive to the doctors and to superiors, is serene and tranquil, completely resigned to God’s will, it is a sign that that soul is well-grounded in virtue."