Trials And Blessings

Beatus vir qui suffert tentationem, quoniam cum probatus fuerit, accipiet coronam vitae, quam repromisit Deus diligentibus se. Huic simile est illud in Apocalypsi: Esto fidelis usque ad mortem, et dabo tibi coronam vitae, quam repromisit, inquit, Deus diligentibus se. Aperte admonens quia tanto amplius gaudere in tentationibus oportet, quanto certius claret Deum his quos diligit majus saepe tentationum pondus imponere, ut scilicet per tentationum exercitium probentur in fide perfecti; cum autem probati sint veraciter esse fideles, hoc est perfecti et integri, in nullo deficientes, jure accipiant promissam vitae aeternae coronam. Sanctus Beda, Super Divi Jacobi Epistolam, Caput I Source: Migne PL 93.13d

Blessed the man who suffers trials, for when he is proved he shall receive the crown of life which God promised to those who love Him. 1 This is similar to what is found in the Apocalypse, 'Be faithful even to death and I shall give to you a crown of life, that which God has promised to the those who love Him.' 2 Openly warning that one ought to rejoice so much the more in trials, as it shines more clearly that God often imposes a greater weight of temptations upon those whom He loves, so that through the exertions of trials they are proved to be of perfect faith, and when they have been proved they are truly faithful, that is perfect and unflawed, lacking in nothing, rightly they receive the promised crown of eternal life. Saint Bede, Commentary on the Letter of Saint James, Chapter 1 1 James 1.12 2 Apoc 2.10