Great Patience

To a young monk who began with great zeal for spiritual struggles, this temptation would occur: as soon as he began to pray, he would be seized by chills, a severe headache, and a fever.

– I am sick and it is not out of the question that I may die, he said to himself. So let me do my best to finish my prayer so that I will be ready when my Lord calls me.

With these thoughts he tortured himself and finished his daily Mass.

But after his prayer, everything passed. He felt great. He would get sick again as the time for prayer approached.

He too suddenly thought of death, he tortured himself and did not neglect his duties.

And God, seeing his great patience, quickly delivered him from the torturous temptation.