March 2

I will be glad and rejoice in Thy mercy: for, Thou hast considered my trouble; Thou hast known my soul in adversities.—Ps. xxxi, 7.

As the harp strings only render

All their treasure of sweet sound,

All their music, glad or tender,

Firmly struck and tightly bound:

So the hearts of Christians owe

Each its deepest, sweetest strain,

To the pressure firm of woe,

And the tension-tight of pain.

Spices crushed their pungence yield,

Trodden scents their sweets respire;

Would you have its strength reveal'd

Cast the incense in the fire:

Thus the crush'd and broken frame

Oft doth sweetest graces yield;

And through suffering, toil, and shame,

From the martyr's keenest flame

Heavenly incense is distill'd.

ADAM OF ST. VICTOR.

A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor is a man perfected without trials.

CHINESE.

Thou art never at any time nearer to God than when under tribulation; which He permits for the purification and beautifying of thy soul.

M. MOLINOS.