‘Complain as little as possible of your wrongs, for as a general rule you may be sure that complaining is sin; the rather that self-love always magnifies our injuries: above all, do not complain to people who are easily angered and excited. If it is needful to complain to some one, either as seeking a remedy for your injury, or in order to soothe your mind, let it be to some calm, gentle spirit, greatly filled with the Love of God; for otherwise, instead of relieving your heart, your confidants will only provoke it to still greater disturbance; instead of taking out the thorn which pricks you, they will drive it further into your foot.’
St. Francis de Sales
‘Let us go to the foot of the Cross, and there complain – if we have the courage.’
St. Madeleine Sophie Barat
‘You will not dispute nor show your repugnance and aversion, for meekness makes us bear everything without complaining.’
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
‘Repose on the naked cross, and make no other complaint than this infantine cry: “My Father, my Father, Thy will be done!” and then be silent.’
St. Paul of the Cross
‘To labor, to suffer, to be silent, to complain not, to bear no resentment - these are the maxims of the saints, the maxims of a high perfection.’
St. Paul of the Cross
‘O the supreme folly of those who resist the divine will! In God’s providence, no one can escape hardship: “Who resisteth his will?” (Rom 9:19) A person, who rails at God in adversity, suffers without merit; moreover by his lack of resignation he adds to his punishment in the next life and experiences greater disquietude of mind in this life: “Who resisteth him and hath had peace?” (Job 9:4) The screaming rage of the sick man in his pain, the whining complaints of the poor man in his destitution – what will they avail these people, except increase their unhappiness and bring them no relief? “Little man,” says St. Augustine, “grow up. What are you seeking in your search for happiness? Seek the one good that embraces all others.” Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next.’
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
A good portion of the threads here contain complaints of all sorts.
