I have shown you, dearest daughter,

that in this life guilt is not atoned for

by any suffering simply as suffering,

but rather by suffering borne with desire,

love, and contrition of heart. 

The value is not in the suffering

but in the soul's desire.  Likewise, neither desire

nor any other virtue has

 the value or life except through my

only-begotten Son, Christ crucified,

since the soul has drawn love from him

and in virtue follows his footsteps. 

In this way and in no other

is suffering of value.

​

The Dialogue, page 29