March 24: Saint Simon, Martyr

Bonum est praestolari cum silentio salutare Dei. Lam. jer. 4.
It is good to await the salvation of God with silence and humility, conforming to His Holy Will.
Sit tibi Jesus semperia corde, et nunquam imago Crucifixi ab animo tuo recedat: Hic timi sit eibus et postus, dulcedo, et consolatio tua. S. Ber. in form. vit.
May Jesus be ever in your heart, and may the image of the Crucifix never leave your spirit. May Christ Crucified be your meat, your drink, your sweetness, and your consolation.

Example: Saint Simon of Trent is a powerful witness to what we're saying. He was only 29 months old when, paitently awaiting God's salvation, he endured martyrdom in resignation to His will. Three Jews -- Moses, Samuel, and Tobit -- kidnapped him from his home and brought him to that of Samuel. He found himself in the midst of a large congregation of Jews who first of all dried the young child's tears by cuddling him and giving him gifts that would appeal to a boy his age. Then, they stripped him naked and strangled him in such a way that his cries were muted. Moses then began to cut away a chunk of Simon's cheeks with a pair of scissors, followed by the rest of the Jews who did likewise with the rest of the boy's body parts. They spread him out in the form of a cross, stuck him with needles, and shredded his flesh with knives. They collected his blood in a large chalice. Finally, after an hour of this inhumanity, our little Simon flew up to Heaven. He was only a 29-month-old child. He does not lose his crown of martyrdom because he does not detest his fate. In fact, he is totally submitted the orders of God.

Practice: Lover of God, the most acute illnesses, the most painful wounds, an ardent fever, a migraine, gout, kidney pain, and even kidney stones: Are these comparable to the torments of this poor child? He patiently awaited God's salvation, resigning himself to His Will. Don't be mistaken, you are already much to old to betray your impatience in complaining of your aches and pains. Oh how miserable you are to have just the smallest taste of true conformity to God's Holy Will. By your own fault, you deprive yourself of the pleasure of days of joy.