Remember the sick poor who find themselves without anyone to complain to. After all, being poor and also cared for will get you nowhere. ... Learn to suffer a little for the love of God, without everyone needing to know about it right away! Especially since this lamenting is of no use, because the given evil will not be soothed regardless. In all that I have said, I do not mean serious illnesses, but rather those small ailments that can be overcome. Believe me, daughters, that once we begin to conquer these little bodies, they will trouble us much less. If we do not make a permanent decision to accept death and lack of health, we will never achieve anything. Therefore, strive not to fear it and fully surrender to God, come what may. What does it matter if we die? How many times has the body mocked us: shall we not occasionally mock it in return? And believe that this decision is more important than we can imagine; for if we do it more often, with the Lord's grace we will become its mistress. Thus, to conquer such an enemy is a great thing for mastering the battle of this life. May the Lord grant it, as only He can.
(St. Teresa of Jesus, The Way of Perfection, 11,3–5)
