The Price of Sacrifice

The Choice to Holiness

By Juan Rodriguez

Rose offered her very being for souls on earth and in purgatory, so that God would bring them to His heavenly Glory. Rose never tired herself in doing penance, or even mortifying herself to the extreme. Deep down inside, her faith in Jesus intensified, because she believed that she would be uniting her pains with the pains of Jesus on the Cross.

But one day, these pains, sacrifices, and fasting caused her great discomfort. She dreaded to even lie in her bed of broken glass and stone, for just a moment of comfort. The temptation to be in a bed made with the finest silks and fluffiest of cushions made her dream of peace. Suddenly, she woke from this dream of desire that she forced herself to lay in this bed.

Through her tears, she looked to the small shrine she built for our Lord. She stared at the Crucifix and began to cry, as His agony became hers. She whispered to Jesus, "Save me Lord from this world of empty promises". But from the moment she whispered these words”. A soft voice lifted her soul, as she gasped in great ecstasy.

"My daughter, know that I am with you in this pain. For such a great love you bear for souls in need in this world and in purgatory, I give you my strength. Know this my child, that my Cross will not crush you, but sustain you to the very end. What you do this night for my children who are lost, and those who suffer in great pains of purgatory will gain the very Mercy I pour forth for them through your prayers and sacrifices."

Rose looked with tears of joy at the unfamiliar faces the Lord presented to her. She has never seen these people before as they were lifted by great rays of light pouring out from the heavens to bring them into His glory. She was overjoyed by this vision. It gave her the strength and confidence to continue because she saw that her work was not in vain but in His Honor and Glory.

That night, Rose rested as though she was on a cloud. The Lord comforted her for being faithful. Although Rose received consolation, she would never fail in saying "Lord, increase my suffering, and with them increase Your love in my heart."

_________________________________ Writing of St. Rose of Lima “Our Lord and Savior lifted up his voice and said with incomparable majesty: "Let all men know that grace comes after tribulation. Let them know that without the burden of afflictions it is impossible to reach the height of grace. Let them know that the gifts of grace increase as the struggles increase. Let men take care not to stray and be deceived. This is the only true stairway to paradise, and without the cross they can find no road to climb to heaven. “When I heard these words, a strong force came upon me and seemed to place me in the middle of a street, so that I might say in a loud voice to people of every age, sex and status: "Hear, O people; hear, O nations. I am warning you about the commandment of Christ by using words that came from his own lips: We cannot obtain grace unless we suffer afflictions. We must heap trouble upon trouble to attain a deep anticipation in the divine nature, the glory of the sons of God and perfect happiness of soul. "If only mortals would learn how great it is to possess divine grace, how beautiful, how noble, how precious. How many riches it hides within itself, how many joys and delights! No one would complain about his cross or about troubles that may happen to him, if he would come to know the scales on which they are weighed when they are distributed to men." Saint Rose of Lima

Prayer to Saint Rose of Lima Glorious St. Rose of Lima, you who knew what it was to love Jesus with such a fine a generous heart. You, whom since infancy, despised the world’s vanities in order to embrace His Cross. You who loved with unfailing devotion our Heavenly Mother and professed a great tender dedication to the destitute, serving then the same way Jesus did. Teach us to imitate your greatest virtues, so that we, following your example, could enjoy your glorious protection in Heaven. For Our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever… Amen.