This 16th century man was married and had two children, but his business began to fail, and his daughter and wife passed away. It was then that he began to consider what God had prepared for him. He was 40-years-old when his son died, and despite his pain, Alphonsus began to pray and ask for the gift of trust. He asked to be admitted to the Jesuits, where they told him he had to study. The children would laugh when they saw that he was so old and still in school. He was finally accepted as a Jesuit brother and sent to be the doorkeeper at the Jesuit school. From there, he gave advice to the poor and his fame of holiness spread. In spite of the great tragedies he lived, St. Alphonsus maintained his hope and joy.

How do you react to the difficulties and pain that life brings? Where do you place your hope?