There was once a monastery in the East that was greatly esteemed because of the holiness possessed by the monks who dwelt there. Out of all of them, however, Br. Palemon was particularly eminent, for he was rich in virtue. Nevertheless, he was not perfect, nor completely at home in his monastic life, for a particular aspect of it proved a struggle for him. Br. Palemon had been raised in a wealthy family, which, among other things, had brought him up among delicacies at meals. Although the monk let go of the finery of his family and willingly embraced much of the mortification required in his new life, try as he might, he could not expel his aversion to the black, sour bread of his monastery.

As with any struggle, the help of God was needed for the good brother’s efforts to be successful. God was very pleased with the monk’s virtuous life and had pity on his weakness and repugnance for the black bread. So, one night, Br. Palemon was given help in a way that he could never have asked for, or even imagined.

Our Good Savior appeared to him in a startling vision. He was carrying His Cross, as He did two thousand years ago, never taking a step without being assaulted in word and deed by the multitude of His enemies, spurred on by the uncontrollable fury of hell.

Br. Palemon hastened to his wounded King, intending to share the burden of the Cross and carry it with Him.

But Christ looked at the good monk and said lovingly: “How can you bear this heavy Cross when you find it so hard to eat the bread of the monastery?”

Having said this, Jesus gave Br. Palemon a black loaf, on which He had let fall some holy drops of His Blood, and bade the good brother to eat it.

The monk brought it to his mouth, willing to bear the sacrifice for the love of his Savior Who had suffered so horribly for him. However, when he ate it, he was surprised at the delicious flavor which Our Lord had mercifully given it. In all the years of his luxurious youth, he had never eaten any food so pleasing.

After the night of the vision, the monastery bread tasted as bitter as it ever had. However, its consumption, along with all of Br. Palemon’s other sacrifices, was made most easy at the thought of Christ’s torments, which he now had most vividly in his mind. These thoughts helped him to unite his sacrifices to Our Lord’s terrible torments, and helped him to patiently endure all sufferings.

Although we may not have the fortune of personally witnessing our dear Lord’s Passion, we can ask Him for the grace to remember it and truly think about it, especially when we suffer, so that, in gratitude to Him and uniting our sufferings and their merits to His, we will greatly console Him in this life and in the next.