A little time on earth will make Heaven even more heavenly. Nothing makes rest sweeter than hard work. Our battered armor and scarred faces will make our victory in Heaven even more glorious when we are welcomed among those who have overcome the world. We wouldn’t fully share in Christ’s fellowship if

we didn’t spend some time here on earth because He, too, was baptized with suffering among men, and we must go through the same if we want to share His kingdom. Fellowship with Christ is so honorable that even the hardest suffering is a small price to pay for it.

In Venice, we saw a painting of St. Mark and other holy champions saving the city from the devil, who had planned to cause a great storm in the Adriatic Sea, flood the lagoons, and drown the inhabitants of "the Bride of the Sea." The painting was purely

legendary, but it still reflects a great truth—that through the prayers of the saints and God’s special care for them, cities and nations have often been saved.