Perseverance, Patience

Jesus perseveres in His efforts to correct errors and convert the Pharisees who question Him - James Tissot, Brooklyn Museum.

Improve yourselves hour by hour, with patience, with firmness, heroically. And who says that becoming good is not painful? I even tell you: it is the hardest work. But Heaven is the reward and it is worth exhausting yourself in this effort.

In "The Gospel as it was revealed to me"

• Many are my Disciples and they will be more and more. But only a third of a half will know how to be so until the end. Persevere. That is the big word. For all good things. (Jesus)
• Repent, patience, constancy, heroism and then, oh sinners, I promise you that you will be your own liberators. Truly I tell you there is no Baptism that counts, nor any rite that serves, if there is no repentance and the will to renounce sin. In truth I tell you there is no sinner so great that he cannot make the Virtues that sin tore from his Heart be reborn through his tears of repentance.
• Be humble. You cannot reproach your Master for not being so. I give you the example. Act as I act. Be humble, gentle, patient. It is thus that one conquers the world, not by Violence and force.
• Improve yourselves hour by hour, with patience, with firmness, heroically. And who says that becoming good is not painful? I even tell you: it is the hardest work. But Heaven is the reward and it is worth exhausting yourself in this effort.
• Do you not know that every victory is certain when you conquer it through patient and prudent constant work?
• Be persevering. That is all I ask of you. Remember that God cannot yield to the spells of one of my Enemies.

In the other works of Maria Valtorta

The Notebooks of 1944

• Catechesis of January 2: Charity demands bearing even those who disturb us, and you must not shirk from it, nor be annoyed by it. Look at your Master. I give you a great lesson in patience. […] You see with what tranquility I wait and with what Goodwill I resume speaking to you at the right moment. Therefore learn to act the same way, without fear of losing anything, without irritation, without being disturbed in any way.