“The word “cross” means suffering, pain and adversity. “To take up one’s cross” means to accept without complaint everything that can happen in life, unpleasant, painful, sad, difficult and oppressive. In other words, to bear every laughter, contempt, tiredness, pain and annoyance of others; to bear every poverty, misfortune, illness, without considering oneself offended. And if, when you carry your cross according to the will of God, a proud thought suggests to you that you are not weak like others, but that you are firm, pious and better, eradicate such thoughts as much as possible because they ruin all your virtues.“