"Embrace, therefore, with great affection every opportunity of advancing towards perfection and sanctity, especially such as are attended with any difficulty. Every effort of that nature is of singular efficacy for forming, in a short time, virtuous habits in the soul."

~ Dom Lawrence Scupoli, The Spiritual Combat

For some reason, this quote reminds me of working out and exercising! Isn't it true that exercise gurus encourage us to take every opportunity to get up and move, especially when it's hard? And don't they tell us that if we keep making small efforts consistently, that we will become stronger, healthier, and even thinner? :)

Let us use these same principles in the spiritual life, because St. Paul says: "Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain."

1 Corinthians, 9:24

On a personal note, could you please remember my grandfather, Stephen F. Boucher, Jr. in your prayers today? He would have turned 100 today. Here is a picture of him about 99 years ago with his siblings (he's the baby).