Suffering Well

Response

I can hear in that phrase a deep longing for relief and for the peace of Heaven. That longing is not wrong in itself - the saints often sighed for their true home with God. But remember that we do not remain here by accident. God has placed us in this life for a purpose, and He keeps us here until the work He intends for us is complete. Not shorter, not longer, but exactly as long as He wills. And that work is not only for our own sanctification, but for the salvation of souls. Our sufferings, united to Christ's, can become a powerful instrument of grace for others.

Every day, even the difficult ones, is an opportunity to unite our sufferings to Christ, to Our Lady of Sorrows, to the saints, to participate in His redemption of souls - "fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church." -- Colossians 1:24. The saints remind us that wishing to flee from our crosses can deprive us of the very graces God desires to give through them. Suffering accepted with love becomes a powerful prayer, and God never wastes it.

May God give the fortitude, peace, and the grace to persevere. And may Our Sorrowful Mother keep us close to Her Immaculate Heart, where every sorrow is transformed into something fruitful for Heaven.

Response

Objection: It seems better not to remain in this life, for here we suffer many trials, and the Apostle says that to depart and be with Christ is far better. Therefore one may rightly desire not to tarry here any longer.

On the contrary, the Psalm says: "I have put my trust in thee, O Lord" (Ps 30:15), and the Lord teaches that not a hair of our head falls without the Father's will. Therefore the duration of our earthly life is governed by divine providence.

I answer that, it is lawful and holy to desire the vision of God and the eternal rest of Heaven. Yet this desire must be ordered by charity and obedience to the divine will. For God assigns to each person a time in this world in which he may grow in virtue, merit grace, and cooperate in the salvation of souls by bearing the cross with Christ. To desire to flee from this appointed time out of weariness or impatience is contrary to the perfection of charity, which accepts from God both consolations and trials. Thus, while we may long for Heaven, we must also willingly remain here as long as God wills, uniting our sufferings to Christ and trusting that He uses them for our sanctification and for the good of others.

Reply to the Objection: The Apostle's desire to depart and be with Christ was not born of despair, but of perfect charity. At the same time, he submitted himself to God's will, saying that to remain in the flesh was necessary for the sake of the faithful. Therefore, we may imitate his holy longing, but must also imitate his readiness to remain and suffer for the good of souls until God calls us from this life.

Matthew 16:24 If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Romans 8:17 ...if we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified with him.

2 Corinthians 4:16-17 ...the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For that which is at present momentary and light of our tribulation, worketh for us above measure exceedingly an eternal weight of glory.

Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church:

1 Peter 4:13 ...if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

James 1:2-3 ...when you shall fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth, he chastiseth; and he scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 Persevere under discipline. God dealeth with you as with his sons; for what son is there, whom the father doth not correct?

These passages show that suffering is not abandonment, but a means by which God sanctifies us and unites us to Christ.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen once wrote that "Suffering is not wasted when it is united to Christ." Saint John Vianney teaches the same truth with striking clarity: there are two ways to suffer - to suffer with love, like the good thief, or to suffer without love, like the bad thief. One turns toward Christ and finds Paradise; the other curses his cross and dies in despair.

Saint John Vianney reminds us that crosses are unavoidable: "Whether we will or not, we must suffer." But he also teaches that the Christian who embraces the cross finds sweetness in it, because suffering accepted with love purifies the soul, detaches it from the world, and unites it to Christ. He says that the greatest cross is the fear of crosses, and that the soul who goes to meet the cross - like Saint Andrew greeting his own - discovers courage, peace, and joy.

This is precisely the interior disposition required to live the Seven Spiritual Works of Mercy:

These works demand a heart shaped by suffering.
We comfort the sorrowful because we have known sorrow.
We bear wrongs patiently because we have carried crosses.
We counsel the doubtful because we have walked through darkness.
We forgive injuries because we have learned mercy through pain.
We pray for the living and the dead because suffering has taught us hope.

Saint John Vianney says that crosses are "the ladder to Heaven," and that the Christian who suffers with Christ becomes like Christ. He teaches that suffering transforms bitterness into sweetness, like thorns burned into ash, and that a day lived on the cross becomes a few hourw walking with some resemblance to Jesus Christ.

When we remain in this life as long as God wills, we become instruments of His mercy. Our suffering becomes a source of grace for others, and our endurance becomes a living witness to Christ's love. In this way, even our trials become spiritual works of mercy, offered for the good of souls and the Greater Glory of God.

Q. 118. Why did God make us?
"God made us to show forth His goodness and to share with us His everlasting happiness in Heaven."

Q. 119. What must we do to gain the happiness of Heaven?
"To gain the happiness of Heaven we must know, love, and serve God in this world." Q. 126. Why does God permit us to suffer?
"God permits us to suffer to test our patienceand to help us gain merit for Heaven."

Q. 132. What is meant by the ‘cross' we must take up?
"The cross means the trials and sufferings God sends us."

Q. 133. How are we to bear our sufferings?
"We are to bear our sufferings patiently, in union with Christ."



These teachings affirm that suffering is part of God's providence,
that we must bear it patiently,
and that our endurance becomes a means of performing the Spiritual Works of Mercy for the salvation of souls.