Daily Devotion

“We have some labors and sorrows to bear, but they are everywhere; besides we must gain heaven by the sweat of our brow. If we should have to suffer martyrdom, it would be a great grace for the good God to bestow upon us. It is a thing to desire, not to fear; so, my dear parents, have no other solicitude for me than to pray for my salvation and that I may contribute to the salvation of others.”

Jean-Gabriel Perboyre · Letter of Jean-Gabriel Perboyre to his father, China, August 22, 1837, in Life of Blessed John Gabriel Perboyre (trans. from the French; Baltimore: John Murphy & Co., 1894), pp. 191–192

Scripture

Romans 14:7-8 For none of us lives for himself alone, nor does anyone die for himself alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.

Reflection

The true value of life lies not in its length or worldly gains and losses, but in why we live and what we dedicate ourselves to. Father Jean-Gabriel Perboyre (Dong Wenxue) fulfilled his vow of giving his life to the Lord, reminding us that faith is not an adornment in times of prosperity, but a complete transfer of sovereignty over our lives. When we turn our attention away from our own safety and gains, no longer living for ourselves, but dedicating our daily breaths, work, and love to the Lord, life transcends temporary suffering and finds the deepest peace and meaning in eternity.