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Mary, who kept all God's words in her heart, in the fullness of grace granted her, understood the great value of suffering. While the apostles fled,she went out to meet the Saviour on the way to Calvary and stood beneath the cross, in order to share His grief and shame to the end. And she carried Him to the grave, firmly trusting that He would rise.

Life is only a dream: soon we shall awaken. And what joy! The greater our sufferings, the more limitless our glory. Do not let us waste the trials Jesus sends.

Those who practice prayer should have a special affection for him (St. Joseph) always. I do not know how anyone can think of the Queen of the Angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Child Jesus, without giving thanks to Saint Joseph for the way he helped them. If anyone cannot find a master to teach him how to pray, let him take this glorious saint as his master and he will not go astray.

What more do we desire from such a good friend ( the Lord) at our side, who will not abandon us in our labors and tribulations, as friends in the world do. Blessed is the one who truly loves him and keeps him near.

Take heart, Jesus hears even the last echo of our pain.

When it seems to you that the little bark of your soul is about to break, throw out into the sea of tribulation the anchor of hope and have confidence in the divine help. Have no fear that the most merciful God will allow himself to be surpassed by your confidence; He loves our souls so much that He gives much more than we ask of Him.

When evening comes and a backward glance shows us that we have not finished even a minimum part of the work that we had planned and that much remains incomplete, when so many things provoke shame and sorrow, then let us take everything as it is and place it in the hands of God, entrusting it to Him. In this way we will be able to repose in Him, truly rest and to begin the new day as if it were a new life.

Just as the Lamb had to be killed to be raised upon the throne of glory, so the path to glory leads through suffering and the cross for everyone chosen to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. All who want to be married to the Lamb must allow themselves to be fastened to the cross with him. Everyone marked by the blood of the Lamb is called to this, and that means all the baptized. But not everyone understands the call and follows it.

Then, when the hour of humiliation comes, when one is brought to nothing, she will remember that short sentence, ‘But Jesus made no further answer’, and she too will be silent, keeping all her strength — that strength we draw from silence — for the Lord. When she is abandoned, forsaken, in anguish — anguish such as that which drew from Our Lord the great cry, ‘Why hast Thou forsaken me? (Mk. 15:34) — she will remember that prayer, ‘That they may have my joy fulfilled in them’ (Jn.17:13) and draining to the dregs the chalice prepared by the Father, she will find a heavenly sweetness in its bitterness.

Suffering makes us good; it makes us indulgent towards others, because suffering brings us nearer to the good Lord.

The more interior the suffering is and the less apparent to the eyes of creatures, the more it rejoices You, O my God!

In seeing You (Mary) so pure, so tender, and so compassionate, who would not be encouraged to unburden his intimate sufferings to you? Who would not ask you to be his star on this stormy see? Who is there who would not cry in your arms without instantly receiving your immaculate kisses of love and comfort?