A letter from Padre Pio to his spiritual director where he describes the assaults of the devil

A letter from Padre Pio to his spiritual director where he describes the assaults of the devil:

“With repeated strokes of salutary chisel and with diligent cleaning of the floor, prepare the stones that will have to enter the composition of the eternal building. Love is known in pain, and you will feel this in your body ”.

“Listen to what I had to suffer a few nights ago from those unclean apostates. It was already late in the night, they began their assault with a frenzied noise, and although I saw nothing at first, I understood however by whom this strange noise was produced; and far from being frightened I prepared myself for the fight with a mocking smile on my lips towards them. Then they presented themselves to me in the most abominable forms and to make me bully they began to treat me in yellow gloves; but thank goodness, I groomed them well, treating them for what they are worth. And when they saw their efforts go up in smoke, they rushed at me, threw me to the ground, and knocked hard loudly, throwing pillows, books, chairs in the air, uttering desperate cries and uttering extremely dirty words.

Luckily the neighboring rooms and also under the room where I am are uninhabited. I complained about it to the little angel, and after having given me a nice sermon, he added: “Thank Jesus who treats you as chosen to follow him closely on the way to Calvary; I see, a soul entrusted to my care by Jesus, with joy and emotion of my interior this conduct of Jesus towards you. Do you think I would be so happy if I didn't see you so beat up? I, who much desire your advantage in holy charity, enjoy seeing you in this state more and more. Jesus allows these assaults on the devil, because his pity makes you dear to him and he wants you to resemble him in the anguish of the desert,
of the garden and the cross. You defend yourself, always keep away and despise the malignant insinuations and where your strength cannot reach do not afflict yourself, beloved of my heart, I am close to you “.

How much condescension, my father! What have I ever done to deserve so much exquisite kindness from my little angel? But I don't worry about it at all; is it not perhaps the Lord the master to give his graces to whom he wants and how he wants? I am the toy of the Child Jesus, as he often repeats to me, but what is worse, Jesus has chosen a toy of no value. I'm only sorry that this toy he has chosen stains his divine little hands. The thought tells me that someday he will throw me into a ditch so as not to joke about it. I will enjoy it, I deserve nothing but this ”.