How SUFFERING Changes You (Catholic Minute)

Welcome to Lent daily for the 5th Monday of Lent. Today's reflection is on how suffering impacts our life and faith.

"If He commends suffering to us, it is because suffering contains a great treasure. Suffering in itself is an evil and cannot be agreeable; if Jesus willed to embrace it in all its plenitude and if He offers it to us, inviting us to esteem and love it, it is only in view of a superior good which cannot be attained by any other means—the sublime good of the redemption and the sanctification of our souls."

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[Catholicspeaker]

Please consider joining our support team and helping us in our work:

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[elizabethbroncati]

After suffering from a series of unfortunate health events that landed me in a coma for month, I "woke" up with a grateful heart & then thought "10 steps." I just did 10 steps with Jesus, holding His Cross with him, to comfort him, help him, love him. I am so grateful for this insight, and for the ongoing struggle as I walk the path of recovery. Thank you Jesus.

[haroldsanchez]

Good morning my good friend I’m sending this to my 20-year-old grandson who is struggling trying to find a job. Please pray for him. A.G.
Thank you for encouraging and virtual videos. God bless you and your family.

[rosefelagito]

Please help me to be stronger in my faith and trust in You every time I am feeling down and suffering 🙏

[mivayang]

You two reflect it so well. My nephew just passed away last week and we are mourning for our loss.

[bdizzle]

Thank you for sharing. I carry the cross of addiction one day at a time. I'm grateful for it because it brings me closer to God. TYFLMS

[francescaf]

This is so true especially for those with chronic illnesses or disabilitys and life circumstances. Accepting it as a cross and to become stronger as a result, walking with Jesus like Simonn did.God bless and happy st. Patrick's day 🇮🇪☘️🕊️🙏

[pattisetlack]

Our Catholic faith teaches us to take up our crosses daily. Suffering is not looked at as a bad thing instead it is redemptive and does bring us closer to God. Fourteen years ago I was in a bad cycling accident coming home from work that resulted in being non weight bearing on one leg for 3 months. It was during this time that God led me to Venerable Fulton Sheen’s talks which brought me so close to our Catholic faith. My eyes and heart were literally open to everything our faith entailed. Therefore my suffering did not make me bitter but it made me better.

[avarillegersdorfer]

I'd like to share with you; as a child growing up, I believed Jesus would heal & make better everything. However my mother & grandmother would always say these words when referring to some plight of their own, "It's my cross to bear" esp if I asked them why they don't ask Jesus to help them.
I explained this to a dear Nun one day, and she said, "Oh Avarill, Jesus carried the cross for us, let us lighten His burden and carry our crosses."
I shall always remember these words and bless all the wonderful Nuns who have been part of my life.

[queeniedmi]

Thank you. I have seen one friends suffering well turn into an example of holiness to others in our church ... including myself. God is so good!

[jen]

Thank you for this message on suffering. Been heavy on me this past weekend. It’s amazing how God is sending me all the answers I’m seeking regarding suffering and to receive his grace to understand it all. 😁🙏🏼

[Miguel-lgrq]

In my opinion one of the best ways to make it more bearable, its offering it up for a cause. Also putting it at the foot of the Cross during Mass, taking it there in company of the "Mater Dolorosa". This is so easily to do at the Traditional Latin Mass (it almost seems it's made on purpose for this). I'm going through my own big cross at present. God bless 🙏

[rosee.mari.]

beautiful, thank you!! Love the book Divine Intimacy.

[elizanagrey]

Very true, suffering does change you. It either makes you bitter or better. But we can only become better with God's grace, and learn to embrace it. We should ask God to help us, because He allows some suffering in our life. If He allowed His only begotten Son to suffer, what about us?

[kathysimindinger]

Absolutely holy and wonderful messages. Thank you.

[peterpatterson]

Suffering is a Spiritual Blessing ! Thanks Ken and Jenelle God doesn't want us to Suffer but only those who embrace the Cross of Jesus with him Suffering becomes Redemptive ❤️🙏✝️💜📿 No better man to lay his Life down for his Friends 🙏

[gracedejong]

Uniteing our suffering with Jesus suffering produces much fruit and grace. For children to understand this may be a difficult lesson. However, let's not forget that Jesus heals. Let us pray for healing and the grace to suffer until the healing comes....in this life or the next. 🙏🔥❤️

[teresaromero]

Janelle, I think it’s only natural for moms to pray that our little children don’t suffer so much. It’s hard to see them go through whatever it is that they’re going through, whether it’s physical pain or emotional distress. I guess I’ll take this lesson as a homework assignment and rethink my prayers when my children are suffering. God bless you and yours 😊

[chrisbarker]

Thank you for this, a timely reminder. Some time ago, amidst great spiritual pain which always out classes my physical, I was moved to tears when internal thoughts said, "I will be your Simon of Cyrene" and frequently now I remember what the Father told St. Paul, "My grace is sufficient."

[keybailey]

A good friend of mine ( KBM) told me years ago if JESUS Died & suffered for US, WHO ARE WE to think that WE shouldn’t have to suffer or NOT carry our own cross? After hearing that and then many years later I experienced several devastating losses in my life and I understand what suffering is and although gut wrenching for me. I am ever so grateful for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! 😇 ❤ ❤