AN EASY WAY TO BECOME A SAINT

by
Fr. Paul O'Sullivan, O.P. [E.D.M.] With Eccles. Appr., 1949, Portugal
TAN BOOKS AND PUBLISHERS

Chapter 13
THOUGHTS ON PATIENCE

Everyone can be patient, no matter how excitable he may be by temperament. Some of the Saints who were most notable for their sweetness were naturally excitable, nervous and bad-tempered, as for instance, St. Francis de Sales.

How to be patient. Let us see how patient people are happy. One goes to purchase things in a shop where the owner is patient and affable, but we avoid a shop where the clerks are irascible. Among those whom we know, the best loved are those who are kind and patient.

When visiting the sick, we notice how those who are patient suffer relatively little. The impatient ones intensify their pains a thousand times.

Walking in a crowded street, if we observe the passersby, we see some that are hasty, disagreeable, rude; whereas others are calm and dignified.

This should serve as a daily lesson for us, a daily reminder.

Doctors tell us that impatient and excitable people suffer very much from heart troubles and brain troubles and shorten their lives considerably, even by many years.

Everyone who wishes to be happy, to be loved, to have a long life, should make every effort to be calm and patient and should ask God fervently in all his prayers to make him patient.

Our Lord tells us, "Learn of Me to be meek and humble of heart; and you shall find peace to your souls."

Each day let us try anew to be patient, and still more patient. If we live with disagreeable people, who offend and even insult us, we must take no notice of them. Let us only think of ourselves.

Three rules: Never speak when you are angry. Never lift your voice. Never say a disagreeable word. In the home an impatient person is a devil. He is unhappy himself; he makes others unhappy; he commits countless sins.

A patient person is an angel, is loved by everyone, is happy himself and is loved by God.

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