Suffering

 

SUFFERING

Do not waste your suffering

“Christ suffered for you leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:21)

 

1. CHRIST SUFFERED FOR YOU:

    See Gospel Passion Narratives:

    Matthew chapters 26-27

    Mark chapters 14-15

    Luke chapters 22-23

    John chapters 18-19

“Meditate carefully on Him who endured such opposition from sinners against Himself that you do not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:3)

 

2. Christ suffered for you leaving you an example THAT YOU SHOULD FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS.

Jesus said: if any man would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23)

·       And so [the apostles] left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the Name of Jesus. (Acts 5:41)

·       Through many tribulations we must enter the Kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22)

·       It is the Spirit himself who bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God and, if children, then heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, PROVIDED WE SUFFER WITH HIM, in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:16-17)

·       You are never tested beyond your strength. (1 Corinthians 10:13)

·       We have a share in Christ’s many sufferings. (2 Corinthians 1:5)

·       “We carry about continually in our bodies the dying state of Jesus, so that the living power of Jesus may be manifested in our bodies too.” (2 Corinthians 4:10)

·       I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

·       Although he was crucified through weakness, yet he lives by the power of God; the weakness of God is stronger than men. We suffer persecution; but are not forsaken. We are cast down; but we perish not. Always bearing about in our bodies the modification of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me (2 Corinthians 13:4; 1 Corinthians 1:25; 2 Corinthians 4:9-10; 12:9)

·       “In this mortal frame of mind, I help to pay off the debt which the afflictions of Christ still leave to be paid, for the sake of his body, the Church. (Colossians 1:24)

·       Bear the burden of one another’s failings; then you will be fulfilling the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

·       “Take your share of suffering for the sake of the Gospel in the strength that comes from God”… (2 Timothy 1: 8b)

·       “Anyone who tries to live in devotion to Christ is certain to be attacked.” (2 Timothy 3:12)

·       Meditate carefully on Him that endured such opposition from sinners against Himself that you do not grow weary and lose heart. In the fight against sin, you have not yet had to keep fighting to the point of death. Have you forgotten that encouraging text in which you are addressed as sons? My sons, when the Lord corrects you do not treat it lightly, but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all the those that he acknowledges as his sons… God does it (punishes us) for our own good, so that we may share his own holiness. Of course any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later in those in whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. (Hebrews 12:3-13)

·       “My brothers, you will always have your trials but when they come, try to treat them as a happy privilege; you understand that your faith is only put to the test to make you patient.” (James 1:2)

·       “There is some merit in putting up with the pains of unearned punishment if it is done for the sake of God”. The merit in the sight of God is in bearing its patiently when you are punished after doing your duty… (1 Peter 2:19-20)

·       “And if it is the will of God that you should suffer, it is better to suffer for doing right than for doing wrong.” (1 Peter 3:17)

·       “My dear people, if you can have some share in the suffering of Christ, be glad because you will enjoy a much greater gladness when his glory is revealed. It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ, because it means that you love the spirit of glory, the spirit of God resting on you.” (1 Peter 4:13)

·       We should be glad to suffer for Christ because (i) we share in the Lord’s work of redemption; (ii) Our reward will be all the greater in heaven: “Happy are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad for your reward will be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you. (Matthew 5:11)

 

Appendix 1.

§  “I have put you in the fire like silver, I have tested you in the furnace of distress.” (Isaiah 48:9,10)

§  “Take all that shall be brought upon you and in your sorrow endure, and in your humiliation keep patience. For gold and silver are tried in the fire but acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation.” (Ecclesiasticus 2:4)

§  “What” is lacking of the suffering of Christ I fill up in my flesh for his body, which is the Church. (Colossians 1:24) This is a formidable mystery and one which we shall never meditate on long enough: the salvation of a great number of souls depends on the prayers, mortifications and apostolic endeavours of the other members of the mystical body. [Pius ⅩⅠⅠ]

§  Be praised my Lord, through those who pardon give for love of you, and bear infirmity and tribulations:

Blessed they who suffer it in peace,

for of you, Most High, they shall be crowned. (St Francis. Canticle of the Sun)

§  Christ’s cross was their [early Franciscans] book and they studied it day and night. (St Bonaventure)

§  Let all religions therefore spread throughout the whole world the good news of Christ by the integrity of their faith, their love for God and neighbour, their devotion to the Cross and their hope of future glory. (Vatican 2, Perfectae Caritatis 25)

When life knocks you to your knees – well that’s the best position in which to pray isn’t it? (Ethel Barrymore)

 

Appendix 2.

“The sacrifice of missionaries should be shared and accompanied by the sacrifices of all the faithful. I therefore urge those engaged in the pastoral care of the sick to teach them about the efficacy of their suffering, and to encourage them to offer their sufferings to God for missionaries. By making such an offering, the sick themselves become missionaries…” Pope John Paul Ⅱ (Redemptoris Missio 78)

 

“Suffering is never meaningless if you bear it with the word ‘yes Father’, God will use it to create something wonderful, he will transform you and your surroundings.” (Mother Basileas Schlink, Lutheran nun)

Pray even if you feel nothing. See nothing. For when you are dry, empty, sick, or weak, at such a time is your prayer most pleasing to God, even though you may find little joy in it. This is true of all believing prayer. (Dame Julian of Norwich)

Like the man born blind touch me, O Jesus, like the paralysed man heal me, O Jesus, like the Canaanite woman heal me, O Jesus, like Mary of Bethany, speak to me of yourself, O Jesus, like Peter who denied you, gaze on me, O Jesus, like Magdalen, pardon me, O Jesus. Like Zaccheus, call me and entered my home, O Jesus, like the daughter of Jarius raise me, O Jesus, like the woman at the well, change me, O Jesus, like John the beloved disciple, draw me close, O Jesus, say to me as to the repentant thief: “Today you will be with me in Paradise.” (From a Russian Orthodox prayer)

Lord Jesus, you know what pain is like. You know the torture of the scourge upon your back, the sting of the thorns upon your brow, the agony of the nails in your hands. You know what I’m going through just now. Help me to bear my pain gallantly, cheerfully and patiently. And help me to remember that I will never be tried above what I am able to bear, and that you are with me, even in this valley of the deep dark shadow.

In Ev’ry Pang That Rends The Heart, //The Man Of Sorrows had a part, //He sympathises with our grief, //And to the sufferer sends relief. (William Barclay)

If He has let you suffer it is because he sees some good in it which you do not yet understand. Your peace of mind is in your trust in God, who cannot let you down. (Pope John ⅩⅩⅠⅠⅠ)

May Jesus Christ, the King of Glory, help us to make the right use of all the suffering that comes to us, and offer to Him the incense of a patient and trusting heart, for His name’s sake. Amen (John Tauler)

“If God has chosen you to have pain – thank your aspirins, go to the doctor, take your treatments – but if it persists, it’s a gift. It’s a gift from God to help save souls. There are millions and millions of souls to be saved today – even among priests and religious, lay people, abortionists, doctors who have lost the reality that they are there to heal and not kill – there’s so much there to suffer for. After everything has been done medically and you have prayed, then I would pray to bear. I would pray for the grace to give generously. I would pray to live only in the present moment. Don’t think of how much pain you had, or that you are going to have it again tomorrow, but only this moment. And be generous with it. I know that’s a hard saying.” (Mother Angelica of EWTN)

Prayer of Offering Up Suffering

 

Heavenly Father,  

In union with Jesus Christ, my Lord, who offered Himself on the Cross for the salvation of the world,  

I offer You the pains, trials, frustrations, and sufferings of this day — both great and small.

 

United to His Sacred Heart and to His sacrifice on Calvary,  

I desire to “complete what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ for the sake of His Body, which is the Church,” as St. Paul teaches. (Colossians1:24)  

 

May this offering, joined to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,  

have redemptive value for souls: for the conversion of sinners,  

for the holy souls in Purgatory, for my family,  

and for the intentions I hold in my heart.

 

I do not waste this suffering. I give it to You with love.  

Through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and in union with St. Joseph,  

make it a participation in Christ’s own work of redemption.  

Let me bear it patiently, without complaint, trusting that You, who judge justly, bring good even from what is unjust and painful.

 

Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine.  

Amen.

 

How to use it:  

 

1. Morning offering:

    Pray it when you wake, so all that day’s sufferings are pre-emptively given.  

 

2. In the moment:

When pain, insult, or delay hits, whisper: “Jesus, I offer this to You for    souls.”  

 

3. At Mass:

   At the Offertory, mentally place your sufferings on the paten with the

   bread — that’s the “Mystical Body” part Pius XII emphasized.  

 

The theology behind it, as you quoted Pius XII:

 Your suffering doesn’t add anything to Christ’s sacrifice objectively — His was perfect and infinite. But subjectively, He wills to let His members “fill up” or apply that redemption by sharing in it. So united to Him, your pain becomes intercessory.  

 

 

Don’t waste it. Offer it up.