A Question on Suffering and "offering it up"

[Beggar]

This question may be in the wrong forum. If so, forgive me, and please move it. It’s only my second thread, and I’m still learning.

I have a chronic condition that causes some pain on a regular basis, and often prevents me from normal daily chores as it affects my ability to grip things. Some days I am pain free; most days I have some pain, and on occasion, it is utterly debilitating. However, lest you think I am looking for sympathy, I hasten to assure you I am not. I live life full blast, and on those days where there is great pain, I just live at full blast a little less full-blasty

It has been suggested that, on those days that there is pain, that I offer it up in conjunction with my prayers (the Rosary, and currently a Divine Mercy Chaplet Novena). I am not Catholic, so I don’t have a good idea as to what is happening when it’s suggested that I ‘offer it up’. It was not suggested by clergy but by a dear friend who is instrumental in my life, both temporal and spiritual.

How does one offer it up, and what is the benefit of such an action? I appreciate any information, or help, or clarification. Thanks in advance!

In Prayer-
Beggar

 

[Didi]

Welcome to the forums!

This is a big issue that many people deal with, but not an easy one to explain.

The idea of offering up comes from scripture, one of the more famous passages being Colossians 1:24: “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, the church.”

Jesus offered everything for us. It was through His passion (his suffering) that he took on the punishment we should have had for our own sins. Because we follow Jesus, we are to imitate Him in all things, including offering our suffering for the good of others.

Since Jesus is the Head of the Church, and we are the body, we have to join in His suffering.

We do this simply by offering our pains, frustrations, anxieties, worries, etc. to God for the good of another. We can offer it for someone specific, a particular situation, for the salvation of souls, for whatever we wish. Often I just offering my suffering for whoever is in most need of God’s mercy and grace at the time I’m suffering.

I have been dealing with chronic illness issues for seven years. It has helped me a lot to know that my pain isn’t wasted. It helped me to go through the Bible with my concordance and look up verses on suffering, cross, pain. Our Lord has much to say on the subject! I picked some of my favorites and printed them out and posted them on my fridge so I can look at them whenever I need the reminder. Romans Chapter 8 has some of my favorites, including: “…we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” (verses 17-18)

Here, also, is one of my favorite prayers:

O my Lord Jesus Christ, I lift up my heart to You in my suffering and ask for Your comforting help. I know that you would withhold the thorns of this life if I could attain eternal life without them. And so I commend myself to Your loving mercy, accepting this suffering in Your Name. Grant me the grace to bear it and to offer it in union with Your sufferings. Regardless of the suffering that may come my way, let me trust You always, for You are my Lord, my God and my All. Amen.

God bless you, and may your selfless offering of pain for others bring you closer to Our Savior, Jesus Christ!

 

[Didi]

Here are more bible verses:

Phil. 1:29
For to you has been given the privilege not only of trusting Him but also of suffering for Him.

1 Tim. 4:10
…We work hard and suffer much in order that people will believe…

2 Tim. 2:12-13
And if we think that our present service for Him is hard, just remember that some day we are going to sit with Him and rule with Him. But if we give up when we suffer, and turn against Christ, then He must turn against us. Even when we are too weak to have any faith left, He remains faithful to us and will help us, for He cannot disown us who are part of Himself, and He will always carry out His promises to us.

1 Peter 4:12-13, 19
Don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you. Instead, be really glad - because these trials will make you partners with Christ in His sufferings, and afterwards you will have the wonderful joy of sharing His glory in that coming day when it will be displayed.

Matt. 10:38
If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine.

Heb. 12: 6, 11-13
For when He punishes you, it proves that He loves you. Being punished isn’t enjoyable while it is happening – it hurts! But afterwards we can see the result, a quiet growth in grace and character. So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs, and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves, but become strong.

And wisdom from others who suffered much:

Our Lord must love you much to give you so great a part in His suffering. – Mother Teresa

It is precisely when I suffer that my joy is greater.-- St. Faustina

 

[Alma]

First of all let me congratulate you for praying the Rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet, you’re on the right track my friend!!!

Then, I would like to try to clear a common misunderstanding. Some people think when a Catholic tells them to offer their sufferings to God, that He is some kind of deity that rejoices on people’s pain, as if He was thirsty of blood and suffering. Not so!!!
Let me try to explain how I understand this:
Suffering is one thing that can make us terribly selfish. When we are in pain it is very easy to turn our look into ourselves and spend the time worrying or complaining.:dts:
But when in the midst of our sufferings we forget about ourselves and turn our attention to God and to others, and offer with love whatever we are going through, for whatever intention we have or maybe only out of love for God, then we are really loving, we are really overcoming our natural selfishness and making the best of our situation because we are helping others and showing God our love and gratefulness for everything He does and or allows in our life.

Remember Jesus on the cross never thought about Himself but only about other around Him! When we offer our suffering for the good of someone else, we are trying to be like Him.

This is how I understand this ‘offer it up’ thing.

Hope it helped…



Alma

 

[Beggar]

Didi, those are two great posts. It will take a while for me to really digest the information, but I think I understand a bit more…in allowing the suffering to occur, one can begin to taste the suffering of Christ and of His Gifts of Passion to us. In acknowledging and joining the suffering, one becomes closer to, and more aware of, that which Christ suffered for us, unworthy as we are, and of the Love and Mercy that He shows for us.

Alma, there has not been a time where I thought “ew, yucky God…that adores suffering!” LOL, although I can see how it would be a misconception that would be held by some folks. And at no point have I turned from God, nor blamed Him, for the condition I have.

Rather, in understanding how it brings one closer, and that I can “donate” (if that’s the correct word/idea) the suffering for those who are most in need of His Mercy, and am more able to forget myself and turn outwards again, and not be selfish.

Thanks for your posts…I appreciate them a lot. I have so much to learn and begin to understand.

Best-
Beggar

 

[Hlafdige]

I think it was St. Therese who reminded us that any suffering whatsoever is „fair game“ for being offered up, even if it‘s in some sense your own fault (consequences of mistakes, shame and sorrow for sins).

One of the hardest aspects of suffering to deal with is the question of who wins what you have lost: the Evil One? the guy who punched you in the face and took your wallet? meaningless fate? an angry and vengeful deity? To „offer it up“, or at least to be in the habit of doing so in one‘s better moments, is to convert it into the currency of Christ‘s kingdom, that of love and sacrifice. It is yours to „spend“ in His economy for the conversion of sinners, the sustenance of the Church, or the relief of the Poor Souls; or to give to Our Lady for her war chest.

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

This is a subject I’ve been trying to understand.

Do you have to say any special words or is there a traditional prayer if you want to offer things up?

 

[DJgang]

This is a subject I’ve been trying to understand.

Do you have to say any special words or is there a traditional prayer if you want to offer things up?

No,not really to my knowledge. I see it as being mindful of your suffering.

My only example would be this…

when I was pregnant with #3, my previous child was only a few months old…then when he came along, I had two in diapers, one day I counted…I changed 29 diapers, I was so exhausted. I started offering up every dirty diaper for all the babies that would never have their diapers changed.

It got me through some of the darkest times in the my life (so far ) and I wasn’t even thinking about becoming Catholic at the time, my Catholic friend taught me how to offer it up.

HTH!

 

[Sailor_Kenshin]

Thanks for clarifying.

So if I drop a hammer on my foot (it happened yesterday, well, it wasn’t a hammer, but a space heater) if I think, “Ow! I’m offering this up for the holy souls in Purgatory,” I’m doing it right?

 

[DJgang]

Thanks for clarifying.

So if I drop a hammer on my foot (it happened yesterday, well, it wasn’t a hammer, but a space heater) if I think, “Ow! I’m offering this up for the holy souls in Purgatory,” I’m doing it right?

I would say that IF you can say THAT after dropping a hammer on your foot…you are a Saint!

 

[blessedstar]

I am very sorry you suffer from this condition. I’ll keep you in the Living Prayer of my life for this suffering you are enduring.

You sound like you have a very good friend. If I was you I’d ask your friend to talk to you more about what they mean by ‘offering it up’.

That phrase makes me smile and always has done (though there’s nothing wrong with that phrase); it’s the word ‘up’ that makes me smile. When we offer our sufferings to Jesus we unite whatever we are enduring to the single and eternal suffering and sacrifice of Jesus upon the Cross. Whatever we suffer in life is our cross. Jesus is so united to us when we suffer and the phrase ‘up’ seems to be off somewhere in the distance a long long way away, but Jesus is not far from us at all, He is closer to us than we can imagine, Jesus is with us and will remain with us if we desire that. So you simply say to Jesus that you give Him everything back and thank Him for everything and don’t worry which direction it has to go, because Jesus is intimately close to you especially when you suffer, He is neither up nor down nor side to side but is with you and upholds you so that you may carry your cross. (Note:Though Jesus is within He is also outside of you and is entirely other as well as being united to His Children).

Jesus loves you so much as to suffer with you in His image and likeness within you as you live and move and have your being in Him, so that whatever you endure you make up the parts that is lacking in the Cross, not that the sacrifice of Christ Jesus upon the Cross is lacking but that Christ Jesus desired to be so intimately united to His Children as to suffer with them in all things therefore making all things complete; when He said ‘It is finished’ upon the Cross He said that for all suffering for all ages united to Him (as all things must be gathered in Him) and encompassed all things within Him being the Alpha and the Omega. Jesus did not ever have the cancer, Jesus did not ever have a bad back etc, but He does in those who endure in Him.

THis is the extent of His Love, when we gaze upon the Cross we see our Lord Crucified, but we may also see suffering humanity and because of Jesus’ humanity and Divinity which are not seperated in life nor even in death and ressurrection, so too men, in their humanity, by taking up their cross and following Him may, in, by and through Him be united to His Divinity so as to become His Mystical Body.

You are not a Catholic yet and I’ll tell you many Catholics are not Catholic yet, don’t worry about that. Continue to seek the Truth as you are doing and you will become closer and closer to Jesus, He will ensure that because He loves you so very much, so very much that you cannot even imagine.

You are doing just fine, continue praying a great deal and persevere in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in prayer. Offer all of your life as a prayer to Jesus whether you are carrying the Cross or not, whether you are laughing or crying, offer it all back to Jesus. You offer everything to Jesus with thanks and gratitude and do it in your own way in your own words as you would talk to the very best of friends.

In the Living Prayer of my life.

 

[4loveofJesus]

May God’s peace, love and mercy be with you all!

It is a good thing when we can make our offering to God not only on the days that we have pain but on a daily basis, in union with the suffering of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross,

As we do this, it is very beneficial to offer not only all the pains, sorrows, difficulties of our daily lives but to offer, dedicate, consecrate everything to Him, all that we are, all that we have, all that we do, all that we gain, our entire being without reserve including our hearts, our wills, our miseries, so that we hold nothing back and surrender all to God.

As human creatures, we are finite and so is our offering. But
by uniting our suffering with the suffering of Our Good Lord Jesus on the Cross, it makes our suffering, our offering infinite in value for it is united with Jesus, Who is God Himself. And in making our offering through Our Blessed Mother Mary, she perfects and purifies it.

When I make the daily morning offering and ask for pardon and mercy, I always do it in behalf and for the whole humanity, poor souls in purgatory, the dying and the unborn 'till the end of times in that way a multitude of souls will gain from it not only in my lifetime but also the souls that will exist in the future.

Since God is eternal and is not limited by time and space, and since we are uniting/ offering everything to Him, He makes it possible for that to happen. It is like giving a gift that keeps on giving, a gift of infinite value. The amazing part is, you affect each and every souls throughout the world without leaving the place where you are at. It is done in such hidden way that they are not even aware of it. So, as you walk, drive, do groceries etc., do the ordinary work of your daily life for the greater love, honor, glory of God, He allows us to see and meet the many different faces, made in His very own image and likeness, which is of course only a drop in an ocean of souls that we are helping and are benefiting from our offertory prayers by God’s grace. Now that is awesome! It then becomes a humbling experience that only makes us more grateful to God for allowing us to participate in His Redemptive Suffering.

Since God is love, I usually start first by saying that we love Him. It is also very important to ask God for pardon for all the sins that we have committed including the sin of having the opportunity to do good but did not do it. To be truly be sorry for having offended God Who is All Good and deserving of all our love. When we humble ourselves before Him, it makes our offering pleasing to Him.

Usually, I do it first thing in the morning when I wake up before getting out of bed, so that every act that I do, every moment of the day, everything becomes an offering to God. I also have made the offering total, unceasing and irrevocable just in case the selfish side of me decides to pop up and not do so or some situations may arise that I may not be able to think of doing it .

So, my part of my daily offering goes somewhat like this:

O my Good God, how we love Thee!
In behalf and for the whole humanity, poor souls in Purgatory, the dying and the unborn 'till the end of times, pardon and mercy through the infinite merits of Your most Holy Wounds, all for Jesus through Mary in union with His suffering on the Cross. We make this offering total, irrevocable and unceasing.

God bless!
Blessed be Jesus and Mary!

 

[mommyof4]

This is a subject I’ve been trying to understand.

Do you have to say any special words or is there a traditional prayer if you want to offer things up?

There are some traditonal prayers to make a daily offering, (just google “daily offering,” and you will get several choices). If you don’t want to say a formal prayer, just pray everymorning that you wish to offer God all of your works, joys, sufferings, prayers to Him.

 

[Beggar]

I think it was St. Therese who reminded us that any suffering whatsoever is „fair game“ for being offered up, even if it‘s in some sense your own fault (consequences of mistakes, shame and sorrow for sins).

One of the hardest aspects of suffering to deal with is the question of who wins what you have lost: the Evil One? the guy who punched you in the face and took your wallet? meaningless fate? an angry and vengeful deity? To „offer it up“, or at least to be in the habit of doing so in one‘s better moments, is to convert it into the currency of Christ‘s kingdom, that of love and sacrifice. It is yours to „spend“ in His economy for the conversion of sinners, the sustenance of the Church, or the relief of the Poor Souls; or to give to Our Lady for her war chest.

Thanks for that. Even the littlest stuff, then, can make a difference? And so it is ‘donate-able’, as it were, can make that difference, too?

I guess what I’m trying to get at is that yes, my condition is not fun…and yes, it’s likely to get worse/more chronic/consistent. So as I face that, I’d like to be able to withstand it better, if I know it’s for a purpose, or, to use your phrase, converted into God’s currency for Him to spend as He sees fit.

Does that make any sort of sense? I get so lost in my thoughts sometimes.

In Prayer-
Beggar

 

[Beggar]

BlessedStar, thank you for all the time you’ve taken. This is a great site, and ever so helpful.

I am very sorry you suffer from this condition. I’ll keep you in the Living Prayer of my life for this suffering you are enduring.

You sound like you have a very good friend. If I was you I’d ask your friend to talk to you more about what they mean by ‘offering it up’.

I have, and he says the same sort of thing here - that when we experience pain or suffering, to give it up as an offering to those souls in connection with Christ’s suffering, and it benefits others.

I guess I’m not quite sure how it benefits others, though…

That phrase makes me smile and always has done (though there’s nothing wrong with that phrase); it’s the word ‘up’ that makes me smile. When we offer our sufferings to Jesus we unite whatever we are enduring to the single and eternal suffering and sacrifice of Jesus upon the Cross. Whatever we suffer in life is our cross. Jesus is so united to us when we suffer and the phrase ‘up’ seems to be off somewhere in the distance a long long way away, but Jesus is not far from us at all, He is closer to us than we can imagine, Jesus is with us and will remain with us if we desire that. So you simply say to Jesus that you give Him everything back and thank Him for everything and don’t worry which direction it has to go, because Jesus is intimately close to you especially when you suffer, He is neither up nor down nor side to side but is with you and upholds you so that you may carry your cross. (Note:Though Jesus is within He is also outside of you and is entirely other as well as being united to His Children).

I know exactly what you mean…and agree. Christ is within, around, and through everyone and everything…and there is no ‘up’ other than the phrasing of it. It does remind me of other things which we do as ‘up’, such as raising arms and so on…so maybe that’s where it comes from. Dunno, but it works for me, even though there is no need to ‘direct it’.

Jesus loves you so much as to suffer with you in His image and likeness within you as you live and move and have your being in Him, so that whatever you endure you make up the parts that is lacking in the Cross, not that the sacrifice of Christ Jesus upon the Cross is lacking but that Christ Jesus desired to be so intimately united to His Children as to suffer with them in all things therefore making all things complete; when He said ‘It is finished’ upon the Cross He said that for all suffering for all ages united to Him (as all things must be gathered in Him) and encompassed all things within Him being the Alpha and the Omega. Jesus did not ever have the cancer, Jesus did not ever have a bad back etc, but He does in those who endure in Him.

THis is the extent of His Love, when we gaze upon the Cross we see our Lord Crucified, but we may also see suffering humanity and because of Jesus’ humanity and Divinity which are not seperated in life nor even in death and ressurrection, so too men, in their humanity, by taking up their cross and following Him may, in, by and through Him be united to His Divinity so as to become His Mystical Body.

See, that’s the thing. My pain, as bad as it can/will get, will be nothing compared to what Christ endured, demonstrating His love for me and you. My pain will not ever come close, I don’t think, and I see it, when compared with Christ’s suffering, as paltry and insignificant, and almost not worth even offering it.

You are not a Catholic yet and I’ll tell you many Catholics are not Catholic yet, don’t worry about that. Continue to seek the Truth as you are doing and you will become closer and closer to Jesus, He will ensure that because He loves you so very much, so very much that you cannot even imagine.

You are doing just fine, continue praying a great deal and persevere in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in prayer. Offer all of your life as a prayer to Jesus whether you are carrying the Cross or not, whether you are laughing or crying, offer it all back to Jesus. You offer everything to Jesus with thanks and gratitude and do it in your own way in your own words as you would talk to the very best of friends.

I do my best to keep the connection open, as it were, through prayer and faith. And yes, I’ll continue to offer it all back to Jesus, and ask that He do what is best and most perfect with it.

In Prayer-
Beggar

 

[Didi]

Here’s another good prayer:

In every need, let me come to You with humble trust, saying, Jesus help me.

In all my doubts, perplexities and temptations, Jesus help me

In hours of loneliness, weariness and trials, Jesus help me.

In the failure of my plans and hopes; in disappointments, troubles and sorrows, Jesus help me.

When others fail me, and Your grace alone can assist me, Jesus help me.

When I throw myself on Your tender love as a Brother and Savior, Jesus help me.

When my heart is cast down by failure to see any good come from my efforts, Jesus help me.

When I feel impatient and my cross irritates me, Jesus help me.

When I am ill and my head and hands cannot work and I am lonely, Jesus help me.

Always, always, in spite of weakness, falls and shortcomings of every kind, Jesus Help me and never foresake me.

(From The Leaflet Missal Company)

 

[ricmat]

Beggar, what a coincidence. Your username reminded me of a prayer that I had copied down some time ago. Note the first line below. What follows below is the last diary entry of a Catholic nun in the middle ages who had many revelations, including many on suffering. She dictated the last portions of her diary to others as she was blind by that time.

Mechthild moves from noble birth on earth, to nobility in God’s kingdom:

How God Serves Humanity: A Prayer

Thus speaks a beggar woman in her prayer to God:

Lord, I thank You that since in Your love You have taken from me all earthly riches, You now clothe and feed me through the goodness of others, so that I no longer know those things that might clothe my heart in pride of possession.

Lord, I thank You that since You have taken my sight from me, You serve me through the eyes of others.

Lord, I thank You that since You have taken from me the strength of my hands, and the strength of my heart, You now serve me with the hands and hearts of others.

Lord, I pray for them. Reward them here on earth with your Divine Love so they may faithfully serve and please You with all virtues until they come to a happy end.

I pray for all those with pure hearts who gave up all for love of God.
They are all archbeggars and will be judged by Jesus our Redeemer on the Last Day.

Lord, all that I lament before You I pray You will change in me and in all sinners.

All that I ask I pray You to grant to me and all imperfect spiritual people for Your own glory.

Lord, Your praise shall never be silent in my heart, whatever I do or leave undone or suffer. Amen.

Mechthild of Magdeburg (1282AD)

 

[diligamus]

I am very sorry you suffer from this condition. I’ll keep you in the Living Prayer of my life for this suffering you are enduring.

You sound like you have a very good friend. If I was you I’d ask your friend to talk to you more about what they mean by ‘offering it up’.

That phrase makes me smile and always has done (though there’s nothing wrong with that phrase); it’s the word ‘up’ that makes me smile. When we offer our sufferings to Jesus we unite whatever we are enduring to the single and eternal suffering and sacrifice of Jesus upon the Cross. Whatever we suffer in life is our cross. Jesus is so united to us when we suffer and the phrase ‘up’ seems to be off somewhere in the distance a long long way away, but Jesus is not far from us at all, He is closer to us than we can imagine, Jesus is with us and will remain with us if we desire that. So you simply say to Jesus that you give Him everything back and thank Him for everything and don’t worry which direction it has to go, because Jesus is intimately close to you especially when you suffer, He is neither up nor down nor side to side but is with you and upholds you so that you may carry your cross. (Note:Though Jesus is within He is also outside of you and is entirely other as well as being united to His Children).

Jesus loves you so much as to suffer with you in His image and likeness within you as you live and move and have your being in Him, so that whatever you endure you make up the parts that is lacking in the Cross, not that the sacrifice of Christ Jesus upon the Cross is lacking but that Christ Jesus desired to be so intimately united to His Children as to suffer with them in all things therefore making all things complete; when He said ‘It is finished’ upon the Cross He said that for all suffering for all ages united to Him (as all things must be gathered in Him) and encompassed all things within Him being the Alpha and the Omega. Jesus did not ever have the cancer, Jesus did not ever have a bad back etc, but He does in those who endure in Him.

THis is the extent of His Love, when we gaze upon the Cross we see our Lord Crucified, but we may also see suffering humanity and because of Jesus’ humanity and Divinity which are not seperated in life nor even in death and ressurrection, so too men, in their humanity, by taking up their cross and following Him may, in, by and through Him be united to His Divinity so as to become His Mystical Body.

You are not a Catholic yet and I’ll tell you many Catholics are not Catholic yet, don’t worry about that. Continue to seek the Truth as you are doing and you will become closer and closer to Jesus, He will ensure that because He loves you so very much, so very much that you cannot even imagine.

You are doing just fine, continue praying a great deal and persevere in prayer and allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in prayer. Offer all of your life as a prayer to Jesus whether you are carrying the Cross or not, whether you are laughing or crying, offer it all back to Jesus. You offer everything to Jesus with thanks and gratitude and do it in your own way in your own words as you would talk to the very best of friends.

In the Living Prayer of my life.

Wow! Excellent answer blessedstar. Thanks for typing all that out. I hope the OP and many others find it useful too.

 

[littleone]

Thanks for clarifying.

So if I drop a hammer on my foot (it happened yesterday, well, it wasn’t a hammer, but a space heater) if I think, “Ow! I’m offering this up for the holy souls in Purgatory,” I’m doing it right?

Hi sailor from my way of thinking and relating to suffering, I think of that Jesus went through ALL for me he askes for us to follow Him and what other way is Love? There is non and for that reason I will follow Jesus. He gave all for the sins of the world and because He tells me I am able todo likewise if I keep my mind of Him then I can do the same. Jesus is LOVE God is Love I in that way can also be Love because God made me to His likeness. I can forgive others relentlesly, each time I am cast aside each time I make a mistake I ask for forgiveness of my transgressions. My mind therefore becomes in line more and more with the ways of Jesus.

God bless
littleone

 

[ANGELIC_PEACE]

This question may be in the wrong forum. If so, forgive me, and please move it. It’s only my second thread, and I’m still learning.

I have a chronic condition that causes some pain on a regular basis, and often prevents me from normal daily chores as it affects my ability to grip things. Some days I am pain free; most days I have some pain, and on occasion, it is utterly debilitating. However, lest you think I am looking for sympathy, I hasten to assure you I am not. I live life full blast, and on those days where there is great pain, I just live at full blast a little less full-blasty

It has been suggested that, on those days that there is pain, that I offer it up in conjunction with my prayers (the Rosary, and currently a Divine Mercy Chaplet Novena). I am not Catholic, so I don’t have a good idea as to what is happening when it’s suggested that I ‘offer it up’. It was not suggested by clergy but by a dear friend who is instrumental in my life, both temporal and spiritual.

How does one offer it up, and what is the benefit of such an action? I appreciate any information, or help, or clarification. Thanks in advance!

In Prayer-
Beggar

hi…

iquite a while agi i made up for myself a set prayer that i could use when ever i wanted to say prayers and offer them up…or like yourself when ever i wanted to offer up a pain or illness up…

if you want to offer up prayers for a particular intention (whatever you want to pray for…like the holy souls in purgatory, the dying, the church or something personal) you could say

lord jesus, through the immaculate heart of your mother mary, and also through her prayers and intercessions, i now pray and offer to you (name prayers) for (name the intentions)…then say the prayers you offered

and god in his mercy and goodness will apply your prayers to the intentions that you told him about…

now to offer sufferings and pains you could say

lord jesus, through the immaculate heart of your mother mary and also through her prayers and intercessions i offer to you all my pain, illness, poor health, sufferings that i already have and all those which you wish to send me (or whatever you want to offer) for (lintentions)

you can say it as soon as you feel unwell…or you can say it in the morning as a daily offering and where it says i offer you all my pain, illness, poor health, sufferings…you could add ‘of this day’ at the end of that sentance

you could offer your suffering in atonement and reparation for your sins and the sins of all mankind…for the dying , for the holy souls in purgatory, for priests, for the poor, for the homeless…and when you offer your sufferings up…you should suffer in silence with only god knowing your true suffering (unless you really are badly ill and need a doctor in which case don’t hesitate to call one)…it’s like we follow jesus spiritually to calvary and offering him our pains and suffering is a chance to take up our cross and follow him…and all the intentions for which you offer your suffering for will benefit in some way or another, god won’t be outdone in the generosity stakes

ANGELIC PEACE