Tough ladies for tough times

No one with an iota of religious faith would disagree:  things are tough in America right now.  From the Huffington Post "jokingly" referring to Catholics as cannibals and pedophiles,  to the President and his minions trying to get us to foot the bill for other people's elective choices regarding birth control and sterilization, to having to defend our beliefs to every atheist the press decides is its darling this week.....well, it's clearly tough times.

What to do?  Rejoice!  I know, seems a little odd, but I have it on good authority (Jesus) that this type of stuff is good for us:  Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you [falsely] because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven. Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you. - Mt. 5:10-12

Also, we have a bunch of friends on our side, and I'm talking friends in high places:  the saints.  Thought for a couple of days I'd remind all of us how our brothers and sisters in Christ have handles tough times.

Today, St. Teresa of Avila:  But if, for the love of God, we hated all this, and embraced the cross, and set about His service in earnest, Satan would fly away before such realities, as from the plague. He is the friend of lies, and a lie himself. He will have nothing to do with those who walk in the truth.