The True Patient Will Not Complain About His Pains

The truly patient man neither complains himself nor desires to be pitied by others. The virtue exercised in the bitterness of the basest and most abject tribulations is the most excellent of all virtues. When you fall ill, offer up all your griefs and pains and weaknesses as a sacrifice to our Lord,. beseech him to unite them with the torments he suffered for you. Ready your soul for death, if this pleases him, so that you may praise and enjoy him for all eternity. Just like bees live upon bitter food while they make their honey, so too we can never perform sweeter acts or better make the honey of excellent virtues than we can while eating the bread