St. Gregory the Great, commenting on Sirach 11:25 (“On the day of prosperity do not forget affliction, and on the day of affliction do not forget prosperity”), writes, “For if a man receives God’s gifts, but forgets his affliction, he can fall through his own excessive joy. On the other hand, when a man is bruised by the scourges, but is not at all consoled by the thought of the blessings he has been fortunate to receive, he is completely cast down.” Gregory concludes, “Thus both attitudes must be united so that the one may be supported by the other: the memory of the gift can temper the pain
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