. . .when it seemed that wickedness had triumphed and virtue had gone down in defeat, came the sudden and ever-glorious victory in the resurrection to immortality and fadeless life and glory, to be followed shortly by the triumphal return to the heavenly kingdom and the prepared and awaiting regal seat at the right hand of the eternal Father.
A similar bright prospect, after troublous life, is in store for us also if we are faithful and persevering followers of Our Leader and Master. But we must not expect an easy way to a share in His glory. That would be unreasonable and contrary to all human experience even in the natural order. Our lot will hardly be as painful and difficult as was our Lord’s, but it will have to be trying and severe in order to deserve the eternal weight of glory and perfect satisfaction of soul and body which God wants us to have and which He has prepared for us. The cross and the road to Calvary are still the only way to salvation. There is no other way. It will do no good, but will rather lead to confusion to oppose this truth and try to reason it out by asking the why and the wherefore of it all. It is simply according to the divine plan, and we have to submit to it or perish. Hence the warning words of Our Lord: “If anyone will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke IX. 2 3).
We must keep this warning before our minds in our frequent trials and sufferings. Heaven will be worth it all, and far in excess of it all, if we can only wait for it and with God’s help attain to it.
Charles J. Callan, OP and John F. McConnell, MM
Spiritual Riches of the Rosary
