Fix your eyes on the Crucified, on Christ hanging poor and naked upon the Cross.  Stand with St. John, with the Magdalene and the glorious Virgin at the foot of the Cross.  What must they have suffered!  What threats, what malicious words, what shocks, what insults!  Yet, terrible as these sufferings must have been, they would not have noticed them in the presence of pain so much greater.

O Lord, did not the painful death that You were to die present itself to You as something grievous and terrible?  No, (My Bride,) because My great love and My desire that souls be saved transcend these pains beyond all comparison.  Believe me, daughter, it is to those whom My Father loves most dearly that He sends the greatest trials; for love and trials go together.  How can I better show you My love than in willing for you what I willed for Myself?  Behold these wounds: your pains will never be as great as those they caused Me.  Keep very carefully in mind that the servant is not greater than the Lord.  This is the path of truth.

So you see, daughters, when He sees a soul who loves Him greatly, He knows that soul can suffer much for Him, whereas one who loves Him little will suffer little.  Love is the measure of our ability to bear crosses, whether great or small.  This love is a similitude and copy of that which was borne for us by the good Lover, Jesus.  Oh, precious love, forever imitating the Captain of Love, Jesus, our Good.

Do you know when we really become spiritual?  It is when we become the slaves of God and are branded with His sign, which is the sign of the Cross, in token that we have given Him our freedom.  Oh, the great delight of suffering in doing the will of God!

O Lord of my soul and my Good, Jesus Christ Crucified!  How great is the love You have for men!  How much Your love now means to us!  Enkindled, indeed, is my devotion, O my King, when I reflect that we must imitate You in our lives.

(Learn more about the life and legacy of St. Teresa of Jesus, Our Holy Mother.)