Understanding suffering
The Luke 11:9 series: Understanding Suffering
Human beings intuitively loathe the idea of suffering, seeking all sorts of analgesics, including painkillers and opioids, to dull the pain. We use all kinds of euphemisms when a loved one dies, 'Gone to the great unknown, Gone to a better place, Gone home to God, Breathed his/her last, Went to sleep, Went to meet his/her maker' etc, to soften the pain.
Inevitably, the question arises: Why is there suffering (or evil)? This question about the cause, the reason, and ultimately the meaning and purpose of suffering has perplexed philosophers since the dawn of time.
Catholic Catechism on Suffering
Christians believe that Redemption was accomplished through the suffering, passion and death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. This is the very essence of Christian soteriology (aka the theology of salvation)
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved." [John 3:6-17]
"By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.” (CCC 1505).
Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” [Mark 10-42-45]
Christ identified very closely with the world of human suffering. He went about preaching and practising good deeds primarily to those who were suffering and seeking help. He healed the sick, consoled the widows, fed the hungry, and freed people from deafness, blindness, leprosy and other physical disabilities, and three times he restored the dead to life.
Christians believe all humans are made in the image of an all-loving God with differing talents and free will in an abundant world. Add to that the randomness of life where we constantly make choices, the consequences of which impact not just oneself but others. Wilfully making wrong choices is consequential as it separates us from God and causes us to fall into sin.
Through it all, is the mystery of suffering which befalls the innocent and the sinful, and is tied closely to salvation. While all who love family and friends wish they get to Heaven, it is really up to each human to conform to the ways of God.
As the Prophet Isiah said, 'Seek the Lord while He may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, And the unrighteous man his thoughts; Let him return to the Lord, And He will have mercy on him; And to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. “For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it. [Isiah 55:6-11]
Story of Job
The Story of Job, in the Old Testament, explores the question of suffering. Job, a pious happy just and successful man, who, without any fault of his own, is tried by innumerable unthinkable sufferings. Through the shenanigans of the devil in quick succession, he loses his possessions, his sons and daughters, and finally, he is afflicted by a grave sickness. In this horrible situation, three old acquaintances come to his house to try to convince Job that his suffering must be divine punishment for his sins pointing to a punitive God, but Job never loses faith in God and his steadfast faith is rewarded tenfold.
Suffering allowed Job to reconnect with God, and instead of forsaking God, amid his misery, it made him acknowledge the many blessings bestowed on him. For us too, suffering can give us pause to repent for our hard-heartedness toward God, forgoing our arrogant self-sufficiency and turning back to the ways of God.
Redemptive suffering
So if there is someone you love who isn't devout, you can pray for them and offer your sufferings as redemptive prayers for their soul. And that is a beautiful gift.
The best example of redemptive suffering for all of us, is the life of the most Blessed Virgin Mary, born Immaculate (Ineffabilis Deus c. 1854, says Mary was born without the stain of Original Sin) she steadfastly stood by her Son even through his passion, death and burial. So holy was she, that this beloved handmaid of the Lord was incorruptible by the devil, yet she was subjected to immense suffering, not the least watching her innocent Son die a horrendous death - and she offered it all up to God earning the singular distinction of being taken up body and soul into Heaven. (Munificentissimus Deus c. 1950, says on account of her holiness, Mother Mary while yet incorrupt, while not yet deceived by the deadly snares of the most treacherous serpent; on the contrary, ever increased her original gift, and not only never lent an ear to the serpent, but by divinely given power she utterly destroyed the force and dominion of the evil one.)
The small, hidden acts of sacrifice done out of love for another, who you value, are where true spiritual transformation occurs, as they demand humility and attention to the needs of others. Let us examine redemptive suffering more closely.
Catholic Teaching of Redemptive Suffering
Given that human suffering is inevitable, we can, and should, use it to our advantage. But how?
In the mystery of redemptive suffering, we take our suffering and join it to the cross and offer it up as salvific reparation for sins, our own and of others.
God gives the faithful the grace to participate in the salvation of souls by offering their suffering for healing the souls of many whose lives are bereft of the knowledge and love of God. In joining our sufferings with Christ, we express our gratitude to our Redeemer by agreeing to carry some of the burden ourselves alongside Him.
The result of redemptive suffering is to help cleanse our souls from the stain of our sin so that we may one day enter Heaven. That is how our suffering becomes redemptive. (CCC 306, 1993, 2001)
As St Paul says in his Letter to the Romans, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." [Romans 8:16-18]
Here's what some saints have to say
St Pope John Paul II (r. 1978-2005) said, “Those who share in the sufferings of Christ are also called, through their own sufferings, to share in his glory.”
The mystic St Faustina (c. 1905-1938) wrote this in her ’Diary of Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul’’ that Our Lord Jesus told her, “My child, you please Me most by suffering. In your physical as well as your mental sufferings, My daughter, do not seek sympathy from creatures. I want the fragrance of your suffering to be pure and unadulterated. I want you to detach yourself, not only from creatures but also from yourself … The more you will come to love suffering, My daughter, the purer your love for Me will be.”
St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina (c 1887-1968), who shared so much in the sufferings of Christ, that he received the rare grace of the stigmata, said, “The Christian's motto is the Cross. You will recognize God's love by this sign, by the sufferings He sends you.’
St Mother Teresa of Calcutta said, “Pain and suffering have come into your life, but remember pain, sorrow, and suffering are but the kiss of Jesus — a sign that you have come so close to Him that He can kiss you.”
In ‘The Last Conversations and Confidences of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus’, St. Thérèse of Lisieux (c. 1873-1897) wrote, “One must suffer in order to know [God]! I really feel now that what I’ve said and written is true about everything ... It’s true that I wanted to suffer much for God’s sake, and it’s true that I still desire this ... All I wrote about my desires for suffering.”
St. Josemaria Escriva (c. 1902-1975) said, “Those who pray and suffer, leaving action for others, will not shine here on earth; but what a radiant crown they will wear in the kingdom of life! Blessed be the "apostolate of suffering"!
Examples of Redemptive Suffering
It is important to consciously recognize that God is asking to be with you in your suffering and you agree by saying yes to Him. It is vital not to fall into the sin of pride and think we are doing it by our own brute strength. We must acknowledge that this can only be done by the grace of God. Temptations borne of ego and pride come from Satan and we are no match for him without our God and his outpouring of grace over us. We should remain humble and stay close to God in prayer throughout the practice of redemptive suffering.
This can be done in the morning, offering your day's works and trials to God, or it can be done at the start of a specifically unpleasant or difficult task, for example, doing your homework or chores. These things can be offered up for a specific intention, like a friend or family member in need of prayers, or something more general like the salvation of souls.
Fasting and abstinence are often chosen during Lent but you can take a cold shower once a week and offer the discomfort up, or you can choose not to take medication if you have a headache.
Perhaps you could change your thermostat by a couple of degrees in either direction or give up your favourite treat like a television show and spend the time in prayer. You can fast from social media or the news and use that time to praise God.
Think of where you struggle with seeking comfort and relief or find yourself dependent on certain things and try to detach yourself from them if even just a bit. In doing so, you will reap great fruit as you think less about your gratification and more about the satisfaction you will receive eternally in Heaven.
Self-mutilation is an evil and not to confused with redemptive suffering.
References
- St. Pope John Paul II. (1984, February 10). Salvifici Doloris. Retrieved October 20, 2024, from https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/apost_letters/1984/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris.html
- Angelica, M. (2017, June 2). What is Redemptive Suffering? Catholic Exchange. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://catholicexchange.com/what-is-redemptive-suffering/
- Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Phoenix, AZ. (2019, March 3). Redemptive Suffering & Fasting. http://www.corpuschristiphx.org.
- Smith, S. (2024, January 5). Top 10 Saint Quotes on Redemptive Suffering for Comfort During Tough Times. The Scott Smith Blog. Retrieved October 20, 2024, from https://www.thescottsmithblog.com/2021/01/top-10-saint-quotes-on-redemptive.html
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