Your Cross

The Everlasting God has in His wisdom
Foreseen from eternity the cross.
That He now presents to you
As a gift from His inmost heart.
This cross he sends you,
He has considered with His all-knowing eyes
Understood with His divine mind,
Tested with His wise justice,
Warmed with his loving arms.
And weighed with his own hands
To see that it be not one inch too large,
And not once too heavy for you.
He has blessed it with His Holy Name.
Anointed it with his grace
Perfumed it with His consolation.
Taken one last glance at you
And your courage.
And then sent it to you from Heaven.
A special greeting from God to you,
An alms of the all-merciful love of God.

St Francis de Sales.