From the writings of Rose of Saint Mary, Saint of Lima

[According to the Vatican archives quoted in Rosa de Santa Maria by Cayetano Bruno, S.D.B., this vision revealed the Lord Jesus weighing out greater and lesser tasks, and then greater and lesser graces. The Saint saw herself receive a big task, then more grace than she could contain.]

Let us know the love of Christ which surpasses all knowledge.

The Savior raised his voice and with incomparable majesty said: Let everyone learn that grace follows tribulation. Know that without the weight of afflictions one does not reach the height of grace. Understand that, according to the increase of trials, the measure of charisms also grows. Let nobody fool themselves: this is the only true ladder of paradise, and outside the cross there is no path by which one can rise to heaven!

Having heard these words, there came over me a powerful impulse to plant myself in the middle of the square and shout with great cries, telling all people, of whatever age, sex, state of life or condition they might be:

Hear ye, hear ye, all kinds of people: on behalf of Christ and with words taken from his own mouth, I advise you: One does not acquire grace without suffering afflictions; toil and more toil is needed to obtain an intimate share of the divine nature, the glory of the children of God and perfect beauty of the soul.

This same catalyst impetuously urged me to preach the beauty of divine grace; it anguished me and made me sweat with longing. It seemed to me that my soul could no longer stay in the jail of my body, but had to break open the prison and, free and alone, with more agility, then had to go about the world, crying out:

Oh, if mortals only knew what a great thing grace is, how beautiful, how noble, how precious, what riches it conceals, what treasures, what joys and delights! Undoubtedly they would employ all of their diligence, zeal and wakefulness in seeking out hardships and afflictions; they would all wander the world in search of troubles, sicknesses and torments, instead of adventures, to obtain the priceless treasure of grace. This is the ultimate material and goal of constancy in suffering. Nobody would complain about the cross or about the work dealt to them if they knew the scales where they are weighed to be distributed among men.