Quod in aduersis Deus laudandus est et amandus et de iocunditate et humilitate bonorum

Quod in aduersis Deus laudandus est et amandus et de iocunditate et humilitate bonorum

If earthly honor is destroyed by disgrace, and worldly glory ends in confusion, it's clear beyond doubt that disgrace is better than honor, confusion better than greatness, and sorrow better than praise; because through these things, many often fall into vain glory, but if one patiently endures them, they are taught humility in this life and will not suffer punishment in the future, for God will not shame the just twice, and they will be crowned more gloriously; because the patience of the poor will not perish at the end. To attain holiness, these things are essential: first, never think, speak, or act in ways that displease God; then, think, speak, and act in ways that please Him. Do this according to knowledge so that you don't fall into scandal, nor pretend to be overly holy, because it's foolish to always want to appear holy in front of others, and cruel to show yourself as evil when you are good. Some things, when considered in themselves, are neither good nor bad, because in pure nature there is neither merit nor demerit; and such things neither displease God if they happen, nor please Him if they do not happen. To that royal hall where we will delight in the fullness of sweetness with the angels of God and all the saints, we must be tested here by flatterers and detractors, by smooth talkers and those who bite, by those who praise and those who slander, so that we may be found in all patience, humility, and love, adhering to the precepts and counsel of Christ, examined from every side, as it is written: "Like gold in the furnace, he has tested them; he found them worthy of himself."^✦ So let us pass through both good times and bad, through fire and water, until we reach the refreshment of eternal life. So remember, in every hardship, scarcity, and poverty, don't ever complain or say something foolish or perverse; instead, give thanks in all things, for you will be raised more gloriously to the kingdom of the saints because of what you endure willingly in this world. O my soul, in all that happens, delight in devotion; praise the Lord, and in praising, you will sense sweetness and taste the honeyed joy. I will praise the Lord during my life, whether I face tribulation or prosperity, whether I receive disgrace or honor; I will sing to my God as long as I live. If I rest in Jesus, I rejoice; even if I endure persecution, I do not forget the love of God. It's enough for me to love my God and to reach Him; I can't do anything else, nor do I see myself inclined to anything other than loving Christ. I still haven't reached the kind of love for God that my ancestors attained, who also did many other good things; because of this, I feel deeply ashamed and confused within myself. So, Lord, expand my heart so that it may be more capable of receiving your love. The more capable someone is, the more love they can embrace and understand, and the less they care about worldly matters, but with discernment, so that it may be said of them according to the wise saying: "I have labored a little, and found much rest; for after a few years in this life, the just man finds the rest of eternity." In this exile, a lover of God doesn’t show himself to be overly sad or deeply troubled, but instead possesses joy with maturity. Some people reject laughter, while others praise it. Laughter that comes from lightness and vanity of mind is to be rejected; however, laughter that arises from a clear conscience and spiritual joy is commendable, and it exists only among the righteous, being called joy in the love of God. So if we are cheerful and joyful, the wicked call us frivolous; if we are sad, they call us hypocrites. Indeed, someone can hardly recognize the good in another that they do not find in themselves, and the fault they see in others is often one they themselves possess. This is a presumptuous act; if someone does not follow the life of Christ, they think they are deviating and being deceived, and this happens because they have abandoned humility. The steps of humility include keeping your eyes downcast, not being lofty in speech, not exceeding limits, willingly listening to those who are better and wiser, preferring to hear wisdom from others rather than from yourself, not anticipating the time to speak, not withdrawing from common life, preferring others to yourself, recognizing your own weaknesses, and considering yourself worse than everyone else. If I had wanted to come among people, I would have wished to sit last in rank and be the least in opinion, so that all my glory would be in Christ Jesus, and I wouldn't regard the praise or blame of others, but would continually strive toward God with devotion. Many who spoke with me were like scorpions, who flattered with their heads while striking with their tails; from whose wicked lips and deceitful tongues God will free my soul, placing it in the joy of tranquility. But where did such madness come from in the minds of men, that no one wants to be criticized, no one wants to be reproached, but everyone instead seeks to be praised, rejoicing in honors, laughing at favors, even those who bear the name of a more holy life? To me, they seem either beyond the measure of the holy or almost senseless, even though they are called wise and learned. Who, truly of sound mind, would abandon themselves unexamined and find joy in the empty words of others? But if he carefully examines himself and considers what he is like in his knowledge and actions, he can then discern whether he deserves praise or blame. So when he sees himself guilty in many ways and worthy of praise in only a few, he shouldn't take on the honor or favor he doesn't deserve with joy, unless he were to err in his mind like a madman. If, however, someone, reflecting deeply on themselves, finds that they are burning with the fervor and sweetness of divine love inestimably, and that they are emerging into a contemplative life, standing firmly in this, and also recalling that they have either not committed serious sins or, if they have, they believe through true repentance that these have been erased, then they certainly should not grieve over human honor, for they have deserved a greater reward, namely, the companionship of angels. A person who is truly disposed this way wouldn't be more pleased to sit with a king than with a poor person, because they don't look at wealth and status, but at the life and merits of each individual. Nothing is considered more significant than shining like gold, being surrounded by a great army, proceeding in purple, or rejoicing in a robe, but rather a pure and sweet conscience is what truly matters in all our actions and pleasures.