The everlasting God has in His wisdom
foreseen from eternity the cross that
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 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.

-- Francis de Sales (1567-1622)

photo taken in Santa Fe, New Mexico