The feast of Saint Peter Damian is celebrated today. He is a doctor of the Church and a great ecclesial reformer of his time. On one occasion he wrote a letter in which he indicates what to do when you have many problems and suffering.
In the letter, published by the website of holy hearts.org of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and Mary, the saint writes to someone who feels embittered by all the sufferings that afflict him and encourages him first to meditate on a quote from the book of Ecclesiastic that says:
“My son, when you approach the fear of God, prepare yourself for trials; keep your heart strong, be brave”.
Saint Peter Damian specifies that for Christians any adversity is not a punishment, but a paternal correction.
Referring to Job, from the Old Testament, who suffered many misfortunes but never denied the Lord, the saint indicates that God’s chosen ones see their trials as a consolation because, in these momentary sufferings, they advance on the road to heaven.
Then the saint encourages us not to get depressed in these circumstances and asks to avoid gossip, lamentations, sadness, and reluctance.
Instead, it indicates that one should have a serene face, and a happy mind and give thanks because the Lord allows these temporary afflictions to free his own from eternal punishment.
San Pedro Damián concludes his letter by remembering that after sadness comes happiness and joy.
“May hope raise that joy for you, may charity ignite your fervor. In this way, your mind, well sated, will be able to forget the external sufferings and will progress in the possession of the goods that it contemplates inside, ” the saint pointed out.