Lesson 5 - SALVIFICI DOLORIS
- Define the vocation of suffering in your life or in someone you admire.
- Which statement in Part VI of this document had the biggest impact on you? Why?
- How has the Blessed Mother assisted you in your Gospel of suffering?
6 Responses to “Lesson 5 - SALVIFICI DOLORIS”
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March 18th, 2006 at 2:34 pm
1. My vocation to suffering came after my son died. I felt I was carrying my cross alone and I asked God, “Why?”! I didn’t want anything to do with God if this is what happens to me! Then I could hear the voice of Jesus saying that he was sorry it happened and I knew I wasn’t alone. Jesus helped to carry my cross and as the years passed I was able to carry more of the load myself. I eventually was able to help others carry their crosses.
2. I found the statement, “It is suffering, more than anything else, which clears the way for the
grace which transforms human souls.” had the biggest impact on me. I know that I felt closer to Jesus after my son’s death and I know it made my faith stronger so the words, “grace which transforms human souls” are real …it was grace and I was transformed. I wouldn’t have freely accepted this cross then but now I know that each sacrifice in suffering I will face comes with grace to transform my soul and draw me closer to Christ.
3. I know that Mary understood my pain because she suffered as she watched her son die a painful death and held him after he died. She was an example to me because I didn’t feel that I would have been able to face what she endured. I felt that we shared in our suffering just as now I see how I share in the suffering of Christ.
July 15th, 2008 at 2:47 am
1. When I was in high school, I tried to witness for the Lord. Later in university, I was ridiculed for this. My methods of evangelizing may have not been the best, but I did spread the Gospel.
2. The biggest impact is that through suffering, we as Christians can imitate Christ when Christ suffered on this earth.
3. I hope that she prays for me so that I can have the victory over sin and trials and tribulations.
September 17th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
1. I learned a great deal about myself through the observation of a friend who was diagnosed with cancer. She faced her illness with dignity. She showed by her example that she had found God in the midst of her pain. John 15: vs 18-21 tells us “Be of good cheer”. My friend met each day with a smile. I admired her outlook on death and suffering. She taught me by her example how to help others carry their cross. It was through her death that I learned compassion and was therefore better able to help others with their suffering. I felt that God placed her in my path to better prepare me for what was ahead. Through her vocation of suffering I was stronger and better able to deal with my mother’s illness and death.
2. Although I had underlined many statements, the very last line of this document had the biggest impact on me: “Suffering is anything but useless.” I realized from reading this document that suffering can be turned into joy and we can rejoice in our suffering. In the past I never thought of suffering as bringing me closer to the Kingdom of God. These readings made an enormous impact on my life. I now welcome my suffering and I am able to reach out to others and share in their sufferings.
3. I find great comfort in reciting the rosary. It helps me to slow down and as I recite the prayers I get the sense that the Blessed Mother is close to me. I suppose I feel that the Blessed Mother is more understanding of my suffering because she is a woman. She has suffered much pain and I get the feeling that she understands my suffering. She is the best human example of how to find God in the midst of pain. Look at the trust she had for God when she was informed that she would be the mother of Jesus.
December 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
1. I have a dear friend who has been stricken with MS. It happened very suddenly and left her almost unable to get around. Because of MS she has had many other health challenges. She had to give up her job as an elementary school PE teacher. That nearly broke her heart. From that time on she has shown only a good attitude, no self pity and has still found a very meaningful life. She visits the local nursing home on crutches and visits the lonely forgotten people. They just love her. She seems to have accepted her life being turned upside down and her faith has deepened greatly. She is an inspiration!
2. “Suffering is, in itself, an experience of evil. But Christ has made suffering the firmest basis of the definitive good, namely the good of eternal salvation. By his suffering on the Cross, Christ reached the very roots of evil, of sin and death.”
This portion really made me stop and think - suffering is, in itself, an experience of evil. I’m still not sure I understand this but it is something to really think about.
3. The Blessed Mother has been a very large part of my spiritual journey. I turn to her and ask her to help me understand the most painful situations in life, especially when involving my children. I know that no mother has ever suffered more and I have experienced her gentleness, love and protection. She brings me great comfort.
October 2nd, 2009 at 5:58 am
!. I witnessed the vocation of suffering when my mum passed on during my study tour in Va, USA. Before I did my last paper, I received a phone call form from back home that my beloved mum had gone to rest. This affected so much that I spent the rest of the crying. I asked “why at this time Lord” when I am finalizing my study leave. I felt betrayed by the the same God I pray to. The whole thing affected me to the point of having my teste rescheduled. One evening I heard a voice within me telling me your mum has gone to abeeter place than living in this sinful world. This is the time I realized I wasnot alone in my sorrow. I thought Jesus had sent the Holy Spirit through that voice to comfort me.
2. I was touched by the statement “Suffering is anything but useless.” As Christians we should immitate Christ’s suffering here on earth and we rejoice in our suffering for suffering brings us closer to Christ and to the Kingdom of God. but since suffering is in itselfan experience of evil, we should be joyous because we do not go through these hardships alone. GOD does not abandon us.
3. To go through the Gospel of Suffering our dear Blessed Mother came to Fatuma to show us that she’s still with us even though she was assumed into heaven. She also taught us how to pray and recite the holy rosary. She comforts me most when I recite the Sorrowful Mysteries and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy which help me on my spiritual journey. Blessed Mother Mary understands my sufferings and pain because she suffered mental agony as she watched her son die a painful death on the Cross. She watches me during my suffering as we are all parts of the Body of Christ.
May 28th, 2010 at 11:05 pm
1 Suffering makes us visible to others. When we respond to hurt with love - it always always brings people closer to Jesus. when we respond to persecution with forgivemess - it always brings people closer to Jesus. When we respond to pain with joy - it always brings people closer to Jesus. My vocation of suffering is to hold on to the example that Jesus gave, and offer up my little sufferings. [This is a grace from God - to believe in my adoption into the body of Christ].
2 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church”(78). And in another Letter he asks his readers: “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?”(79). In suffering everything is stripped away and we are left with what values, and belief we hold on to - to get through darkest times.
as Christians we also grow in hope - a chinese missionary summed it up nicely when she thought the children she was marching across China would surely die. She said ” I am not Moses” and the child beside her said ” Yes, but God is still God” and they survived. Faith and hope mature through suffering.
3 Mary always intercedes on my behalf - she reveals the treasure of the suffering. Just like a mum who makes you pick up the lemons and then shows you how to make it lemonade. She is my anchor of hope.