Vigils Reading

A reading from

ST JOHN HENRY NEWMAN

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Let us prepare for suffering and disappointment, which befit us as

sinners, and which are necessary for us as saints. Let us not turn away from trial

when God brings it on us, or play the coward in the fight of faith… When

affliction overtakes you, remember to accept it as a means of improving your

hearts, and pray God for His grace that it may do so. Look disappointment in

the face. Take the Prophets for example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Behold, we count them happy who endure. Give not over your attempts to serve

God, though you see nothing come of them. Watch and pray, and obey your

conscience, though you cannot perceive your progress in holiness.

Go on, and you cannot but go forward; believe it, though you do not see it.

Do the duties of your calling, though they are distasteful to you. Educate your

children carefully in the good way, though you cannot tell how far God’s grace

has touched their hearts. Let your light shine before men, and praise God by a

consistent life, even though others do not seem to glorify their Father on

account of it, or to be benefited by your example… Persevere in the narrow way.

The Prophets went through sufferings to which ours are mere trifles; violence

and craft combined to turn them aside, but they kept right on, and are at rest.

Now, I know full well, that this whole subject is distasteful to many who

say we ought to be cheerful. “We are bid rejoice, why then do you bid us

mourn?” I bid you mourn in order that you may rejoice more perfectly.

“Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” “They that sow in

tears, shall reap in joy.” I bid you take up the cross of Christ, that you may wear

His crown. Give your hearts to Him, and you will for yourselves solve the

difficulty, how Christians can be sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. You will find

that lightness of heart and cheerfulness are quite consistent with that new and

heavenly character which He gives us, though to gain it in any good measure, we

must for a time be sorrowful, and ever after thoughtful.

But I give you fair warning, you must at first take His word on trust; and if

you do not, there is no help for it. He says, “Come to me and I will give you rest.”

You must begin on faith: you cannot see at first where He is leading you, and

how light will rise out of the darkness. You must begin by denying yourselves

your natural wishes, – a painful work; by refraining from sin, by rousing from

sloth, by preserving your tongue from insincere words, and your hands from

deceitful dealings, and your eyes from beholding vanity; by watching against the

first rising of anger, pride, impurity, obstinacy, jealousy; by learning to endure

the laugh of irreligious men for Christ’s sake; by forcing your minds to follow

seriously the words of prayer, though it be difficult to you, and by keeping before

you the thought of God all through the day. And the Lord shall guide you

continually, and satisfy your soul in drought; and you shall be like a watered

garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.