Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. Mark 8:34-35
“When the Lord tells us in the Gospel that anyone who wants to be a follower must renounce himself, the injunction seems harsh; we think he is imposing a burden on us. But an order is no burden when it is given by one who helps in carrying it out.”
Caesarius of Arles (470-543) in Sermon 159.1.4. ACCS.M.113.