“To be Silent, to Adore, and to be Happy”
1. When Rosmini was seriously ill and in danger of death he was visited by his admirer and friend, Manzoni, who found him in so serious a condition that he could only breathe with difficulty. In his shaking hands he clutched a crucifix. “Are you suffering much?” Manzoni asked as he bent over him. The sick man gazed at his friend and a wan smile passed over his face. Then the great writer asked him to give him some advice by which he would remember him. Rosmini looked at his crucifix and whispered: “Be silent, adore, and be happy.”
To be silent: It is very difficult for a man to remain silent when he is suffering great physical pain or when he is slandered, envied or misunderstood. On such occasions one’s blood begins to boil and bitter remarks come easily to the tongue. But what good does it do? It may be some relief to our feelings, but usually it will only make matters worse by aggravating our trouble. Let us be silent and offer our sufferings to Jesus, Who suffered for us more than we could ever suffer. Let us atone for our sins by silently offering our sorrows and disappointments to God. Any other gift which we give to God is nothing more than restitution for all He has given us; but when we offer our sufferings, we give Him something which is truly our own, because it is we ourselves who suffer. Suffering endured without complaint is a most acceptable gift to God, Who grants us in return peace and resignation.
2. To Adore: What are we in the sight of God but poor, weak creatures? How can we rebel against those sufferings with which the Lord in His infinite wisdom allows us to be afflicted? Since it is God Who sends them, it can only mean that He wishes us to profit spiritually from them in the same way as we benefit physically from unpleasant medicine. We gladly recognize, therefore, the mysterious designs of Divine Providence in all the circumstances of our lives, happy and unhappy. Like the holy patriarch Job we should say: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord!” (Job 1:21) We should repeat, too, with Jesus in Gethsemane: “Not my will but thine be done.” (Luke 22:42) Like the Saints, we should thank God for all His designs in our regard.
3. To be Happy: When the Apostles had been persecuted and threatened with death we read that “they departed rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus.” (Acts 5:41) The Saints were also happy to suffer for Christ. St. Teresa used to say “Either to suffer or to die,” while St. Maria Maddalena de’ Pazzi wished “to suffer and not to die.”
There were others whose love for Jesus was so great that they prayed for suffering because they considered it an affliction not to be carrying a cross. It is difficult for human nature to desire and to pray for suffering; but when a man really loves God more than himself and more than created things, nothing is too difficult. If we have not reached such a high level of generosity, however, let us at least resolve to be fully resigned in our acceptance of any trials which He may wish to send us.
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