While still a young child, Saint Seraphim became very sick. Our Most Holy Mother of God appeared to him in a dream promising she would visit and heal him. Not long after, there was a Church procession with the Kursk Root Icon of the Sign passing by his home. Saint Seraphim’s mother carried her son outside, he venerated the Holy Icon, and became well.
“If the Lord allows sicknesses to test people, then He’ll also give the strength of patience. If people bear their illness with patience and gratitude to God they’re Crowned as Martyrs and strivers. Just as wax doesn’t become soft unless it’s heated enough to bear a stamp, so the Soul can’t accept the stamp of Virtue unless it’s been tried with labours and sicknesses.”
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