March 17: Saint Patrick

Hominis est animam praeparare. Prov. 16
It is a man's duty to prepare his soul for all circumstances by his resignation to the Will of God.
Inclinare potius, ut melius erigaris et ne prohibeas frangi quod distortum est, ut possit melius solidari. S. Bernard. Ser. Ss. Pet. et Paul.
Submit yourself to the Will of God; it is the only way to build yourself up in a well-ordered way. This submission which makes you voluntarily suffer the most violent of offenses will purge you, illumine you, and perfect you. Oh, the excellent preparation of the heart.

Example: Saint Patrick was torn from the breast of his parents and taken to Ireland by rogues. The child of a noble family was pressed into service as a swineherd. When he was able to return to his native land, Patrick had the good fortune to come under the tutelage of Saint Germain, Bishop of Auxerre. God, who destined Patrick to convert the Irish, put His plan on his heart through a variety of signs. Concurrently, he seemed to have received letters from Ireland that helped him discern to udertake this journey and to spread the light of the Gospel. As Patrick set out on his mission, Pope Celestine consecrated him as a bishop, and an anchorite gave him a staff which she said she received directly from the hands of Jesus Christ as a gift to him. Patrick's preaching was very well received until he spoke of the agonies of Hell, in which his audience did not wish to believe. To persuade them, he opened a great chasm with his staff right there where he was preaching. Immediately they all heard voice which confirmed Patrick's claim. This place has been named the Purgatory of Saint Patrick ever since. After having spread the liberty of Children of God to the Irish, Patrick was freed from the bondage of his flesh at the age of 122 years old.

Practice: Sometimes we see our children suffer, my dear Lover of God, or other people who we tenderly cherish. We see them taken into captivity like Saint Patrick, and we are terribly hurt as his parents were. Nonetheless, all of this is bearable if we resign ourselves to the Will of God. Then nothing is able to snatch away our days of joy.