The King of Arragon, Alphonsus the Great, was asked one day whom he considered to be the happiest man in the world. The king replied, "He who abandons himself to the will of God, and who receives all things, be they joys, or sorrows, as from His hands."

St. Alphonsus Liguori tells the story of a Father John Taulerus, who had prayed for many years that God would send someone to instruct him in the true spiritual life. One day, he heard a voice telling him to go a certain church, and there he would find what he asked for.

On reaching the church, Fr. Taulerus sees at the gate a beggar, barefooted and dressed in rags. The good priest greeted him, saying, "Good day, my friend."

"Sir," the beggar kindly replied, "I do not remember ever having a bad day,"

"God grant you a happy life," smiled the priest.

But the man answers, "But I have never been unhappy."

Seeing the priest’s polite yet confused look, the poor man went on to say, "Listen, my Father, it is not without reason that I’ve told you that I have never had a bad day. This is because when I suffer hunger, I praise God. When it snows or rains, I bless Him. If I am treated with contempt, or rejected by anyone, or if I experience misfortunes of any kind, I always give glory to God for it.

"I also said that I have never been unhappy, and this is true - because it is my habit to desire, without exception, all that God desires. So, in all that happens to me, whether it is pleasant or painful, I receive it from His hands joyfully, certain that it is what is best for me - and herein lies my happiness."

"And if it should ever happen," Fr. Taulerus then asked, "that God willed you to be damned, what would you say then?"

"If God were to will this," replied the beggar, "I would, with all humility and love, lock myself so fast in my Lord's embrace, and hold Him so tight, that if it were to be God’s will to cast me into hell, He would be obliged to come along with me. In this way, it would then be sweeter for me to be in hell with Him, than to possess all the enjoyments of Heaven without Him.''

"Where was it that you found God?" inquired the priest.

"I found him when I left creatures," was the reply.

"Who are you?"

The poor man answered, "I am a king."

"And where is your kingdom?"

"It is within my soul, where I keep everything in order. The passions are subjected to the reason, and the reason to God."

With admiration, Fr. Taulerus asked this poor beggar, "What is it that has led you to so high a degree of perfection?"

"It has been silence," he said, "keeping silence with man, in order to talk with God. And also my union with God; for it is being with Him that I have found, and still do find, all my peace."

Such it was that the poor man had become perfectly at peace, no matter what happened to him, through his union with God, and his desire to do always God’s Will. He certainly was, in his poverty, wealthier than the richest man who will ever live; and in his sufferings, happier than all who experience the pleasures of this world.

St. Alphonsus Liguori assures us that if we imitate this holy beggar’s example we will certainly become a Saint; and we will also enjoy, even in this world, a perpetual peace.