Saint Bellarmine - God Using Fire In Our Pursuit Of Holiness

Are you serious about your Pursuit of Holiness. When truly desiring perfection with Christ, sometimes we can be surprised what tools God uses and how. Here is what Saint Robert Bellarmine had to say on suffering as it relates to our pursuit of holiness.

You have doubtless seen blacksmiths pour a little water on the fire when they wished to heat the iron more rapidly. The water does not put the fire out, as we might expect, but by what the philosophers call antiperistasis, makes it burn better than ever. The fire of charity with which you love God extends to many things besides Him, to wife, children, property, reputation and so its flame is not not very strong nor eager. What, then does the All-wise Artificer do, who fashioned the heavens and the earth? He pours the water of tribulation on the fire, taking away from you the things you love, but only that your charity may contract its forces and burn to Him, the Love of loves, more vehemently.

- St. Robert Bellarmine

Strong stuff. Are you ready for the Refiner's fire as a form of prayer?