- In all that you read from this document and the instructor’s commentary, what did you find most helpful?
- What did you find most challenging? Why?
- Recall a time when you followed Christ into suffering. How do you know it was Christ you followed? Was the experience salvific for anyone?
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February 26th, 2006 at 12:44 pm
These lessons helped me to fit together the pieces of the puzzle of my life and see the whole picture. Many years ago my first born son died when he was 4 from pneumonia. It was 3 days after Christmas on the Feast of Holy Innocents. I suffered for months and kept asking why…I was angry! Then one day in the Spring I was sitting on the patio asking God why when a little girl, who used to play with my son, was walking down the road. She looked at me but it seemed like she didn’t know what to say…like adults when someone is suffering. She started running up the street but turned back to say she was sorry that Brian died. At that moment the sun came out from behind a cloud and I could hear God saying “I’m sorry Brian died”! I had been ready to turn away from God but this drew me closer. We do have solidarity in suffering with Christ…he shares our sorrow. I also found comfort in the Feast of Holy Innocents since there is solidarity of suffering in the World.
February 28th, 2006 at 7:13 am
God bless you for sharing that part of your life’s story.
Currently I am visitng the sick and I pray all who suffer will come to see thier suffering and losses fit perfectly into the mysteries of the Kindom of God and through such times we are invited to draw closer to the Lord. This is such a beautiful Truth that we are given. Iit does enable us to endure, knowing that Jeus is with us every step and He longs to carry our sorrow and suffering and to draw us closer into union with Him.
I am sorry that you lost a child. Mary, Jesus’ Mother, knows your pain and shares it with you. I believe she holds all mothers who have lost children very close to her heart.
February 27th, 2007 at 12:30 pm
What I found most helpful were the analogies to labor and the reflection on the two thieves with Jesus between them. I liked reflecting on the good thief, how he showed humility by accepting his cross. I’m enjoying studying this encyclical with comments; it helps me to prepare for confession. I like the positive focus: suffering produces perseverance, perseverance produces character, and having the character to stand strong against any opposition, we have hope. That’s interesting, how that leads to “hope.” And to seek Christ more profoundly, well, this positive view on suffering almost makes one wish for more suffering! One can understand why Paul said, “Now I rejoice in my suffering for your sake.” I especially liked the emphasis on suffering for others rather than focusing on how awful the suffering is for me.
October 3rd, 2007 at 8:19 pm
It is good to know WHY we should Rejoice in our suffering, knowing that there is a “reason for every season under the sun..” I come to understand the reason in our suffering in any way or dimension and mainly to find peace in Acceptance. We humans have a very hard time to let go and surrender there is when the “imperative of faith” come along and makes us udertand that our pain will produce blessings.
In my personal experience during and after my divorce like anyone else in that situation we experience difficult times, but is then when the Lord gets closer to us but we don’t understand and don’t listen.
I agree with Terry it’s never easy and I like her tips: Nurture yourself, meditate on how your pain connects to Jesus… we all have a lot of catch up to do with our Faith. I’m glad I’m taking this course it reasures to me that spiritual maturity does not grow much in an easy life.
November 9th, 2007 at 1:09 am
Hi, I’m revisiting this study, 9 months later. ‘Still feel the same way I did when I first wrote. But now, there’s an application… using the analogy of labor.birth, human suffering evokes compassion… in its own way it intimidates…
No kidding! I’m in a situation now where I’m losing a friendship, and it’s difficult. It is intimidating and can take away a restful night. I like Terry’s suggestions to nurture yourself, give yourself breaks, meditate on how your pain connects you to Jesus…. today in Eucharistic Adoration, I mentally made a cross with my friend’s name on it and gave it to Jesus. And then I prayed very slowly the, “Our Father.” I don’t know how to make the situation better, or what to expect. I expect the worst, but then that’s not good, either. The “Our Father” prayer seemed appropriate, to ask for “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” This section has given me a peace. The pain is still there, but there’s peace in handing this over to Jesus. By praying the Our Father, it’s also good to stop the expectations, the wishful thinking, and wanting the person’s approval, or to control the situation. It;s not my will, my kingdom, but thy will, thy kingdom come. God’s ways are much better than anything I can dream up!
July 1st, 2008 at 1:57 am
1. Suffering to me is the crucifying of our flesh and be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. Suffering brings character and leads to purifying of our souls and spirits. Suffering is not something that our flesh enjoys. It is like a test that we are given. Are we going to obey God no matter what cost is? Suffering to me means commiting our whole bodies, souls, and spirits to God and living the way God wants us to live by.
July 1st, 2008 at 2:03 am
2. The most challenging thing is to have self-discipline to obey God when it hurts. It’s easy to be a Christian when things are going well and easy. It’s hard to obey God when there is persecution by other people or circumstances.
3. I was in a church that was big on witnessing to other people to win their souls to Christ. One year I witnessed to about 25 people in one school year. Many of the students did not want anything to do with me. Even the Christians did not like me. The persecution got really bad, and I stopped going to school for a while. I followed Christ even though it was not easy. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit that helped me go back to school and regain a sense of stability.
August 1st, 2008 at 10:16 pm
There are just too many things I can say to each question. But one point that really struck me was:
“Think of a person you love the least. That’s how much you love God. Egads what a statement! But in the parable of separating the sheep from the goats in Matthew 25, Jesus tells us that whatever we do to the least, we do to him.”
That is such a teling statement. I have practiced to love those who have hurt me beyond what I can express, especially those involved in separating me from my son, who were in control of him at the time of his suicide. But what stirred me was that even more came to mind, those to whom I was mostly indifferent or who merely annoyed. I had not worked so hard with them, so my love was pallid.To intensify our love for those with whom we just don’t connect that much, or who just annoy. That is a new challenge.
What is most difficult for me now is that my health is so poor that I can only attend the sacraments intermittently. I seldom get out of this senior/disabled building.
Re: #3, there are so many times. I suppose one that showed the most obvious fruit for others is connected to my time in prolife rescue. My last “rescue” was in Cherry Hill, NJ, and landed our group in a quite insalubrious jail in Camden Cty. We decided not to be in cooperation with the court which had been presented every evidence for the unborn by medical experts, and rejected it. We would remain unrepresented by attorney and silent in our own defense as Jesus was silent, and as the innocent unborn who have no voice. It became much bigger than we had expected. The men left by complying with the judge in order to go to see the Pope in Denver. That is how Jesus led them. One lady was too ill to remain. Our leader, Jane Doe A or “Corrie ten Boom” (rescue name) or Debbie, now Sr Marie Regina, our leader and I stayed. They figured out who she was after 10 months and just let her out. I had already known from God I would be there longer and alone, so it didn’t throw me as it might have otherwise. My stay was for 14 months. But the 4 babies that we know were saved were just the tip of the iceberg. We hadn’t sought publicity, but another prolife leader, once necks were locked to chassis of cars called for us, to ensure said necks rmained on said bodies. However we continued to be sought over and over again by the media, even the NYTimes. So we spoke only if we could speak for the babies, and they let us, over and over. We also wound up speaking for the inmates. The conditions were so bad, for the US anyway. Who knows how many how many contemplating abortion were touched? Who knows how many became more aware of the plight of these suffering women. What life is there for a girl put out to prostitute as a child for the mother’s drug habit, who then takes drugs for her pain, and has to pay for them and… We tried to bring Jesus to them. Many really respected us, and I only hope hearts were turned to Jesus. And that time was part of the decision making time for Debbie’s vocation. I knew she was called, as I had that certainty from Jesus. She of course had to work it through. The last I heard from a NY prolifer, she is a sister of great spiritual beauty and effectiveness. I’m nothing much now, but then even a dustrag is useful, so I can only have faith that I am in some way of use or being prepared to be. Actually, I would definitely prefer a less famous arena. I am not a leader as Sr Marie Regina is.
I am touched by the others’ stories here. I am not sure if I know anything useful to add.
September 5th, 2008 at 11:59 pm
1.To me, the most helpful statement in this lesson was discovering that joy can come from suffering. I must admit that I never viewed suffering as being a joyous situation. After completing Lesson 1, I came away with many insights, one of them being that we should rejoice in suffering because it brings us to salvation.
As I read on, my thoughts were similar to Maime (Feb. 27, 2007). I had the sense that I haven’t faced enough suffering, therefore I cannot experience resurrection, hence I began to wish for more suffering!
2.I believe it is a real challenge to “trust” in God and let Him handle your suffering. Most of the time whenever evil comes my way, I tend to blame God and become angry with Him. These readings have made me aware that I must give my sufferings to God and trust that He will make it easier for me to handle various situations.
3.Initially as I approached these readings,my opinion was that suffering was always physical. It was quite an insight to discover that there is more to suffering than physical abuse.
My suffering stems from a husband who instigates arguments, and continuously becomes angry at me when my opinion differs from his. I also suffer for the sake of loving others as he demands my complete attention and becomes agitated when I show love to others.
As I read Lesson 1 I began to look at my suffering differently. For all the times that I have prayed that this person would transform (and he has not) I did not realize that God wants me to suffer this type of abuse for my salvation.
November 10th, 2008 at 10:33 am
1. I really appreciated the idea that evil is the absence of goodness. When goodness lacks, evil fills in the void. I appreciate when a positive attitude is taken rather than the shamefull or guiltridden. Hope that makes sense.
2. The most challenging for me was to think about that I love God only as much as I love the person I love the least. I have a hard time forgiving injury and there are a few (thankfully th list is short) people who I just find difficult to love at all. This is a great challenge to me. Maybe this train of thought will help me to overcome my lack of love for them. The sad thing is, I know that they are like they are because they are suffering in their own lives, but somehow I can’t seem to forgive them anyway. This will be my challenge.
3. The time of suffering that comes to mind was that about 15 years ago an entire group of my Catholic community experienced a very deep conversion together. We experienced some very amazing things and our faith grew very rapidly. The priest who was the catalist for all of this was one of the most influential people in my life. My husband was then transferred in his job and I felt exiled! I had to leave this safe nurturing environment. The parish I moved to had a priest who I did not see eye to eye with. I suffered much in that I missed my other community and many hurtful things were said to me in my new home by my new pastor. I must admit though that I brought it on myself by being prideful. I began to pray, “Holy Spirit, enlighten which ever one of us is wrong.” It was a very painful time for me. Funny though, that priest didn’t learn anything, but I sure did. I learned humility, obediance, and prayer. I learned how to love on a deeper level. I learned how to accept suffering and lonliness. Was it salvific for me, certainly. The best news is the end of the story. I moved and that priest moved also. He is now in the parish where I grew up. When I visit my parents he is always so welcoming and I am happy to see him and enjoy his friendship.