The everlasting God has in His wisdom
forseen from eternity that cross He now presents to you
as a gift from His inmost heart.
This cross He now sends you,
He has considered with His all-knowing eyes,
understood with His divine mind,
tested with His wise justice,
warmed with loving arms,
and weighed with His own hands,
to see that it be not one inch too large
and not one ounce 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. Franics de Sales