A thought

[PaulAndrew83]

Something occurred to me when I was listening to gregorian chant. I am not that interested in revealing my entire train of thoughts but I was wondering what the average Catholic would say to this.

It is better to have suffered and overcome that to not have suffered at all. An alternative to loved and lost than to not have loved.

That is only half - it also made me think that this is part of our Human Dignity to have that opportunity.

Thoughts?

Paul

 

[Eileen_T]

Something occurred to me when I was listening to gregorian chant. I am not that interested in revealing my entire train of thoughts but I was wondering what the average Catholic would say to this.

It is better to have suffered and overcome that to not have suffered at all. An alternative to loved and lost than to not have loved.

That is only half - it also made me think that this is part of our Human Dignity to have that opportunity.

Thoughts?

Paul

Hi Paul,

As Friedrich Nietzsche said: “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.”

It is easy to be a Christian when everything is going well for us, much harder in the face of extreme adversity. We are all called, as Christians, to partake of the Cross of Christ, i.e., His Suffering.

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”

Jesus graciously allowed us the opportunity to participate in the redemption on mankind, even though He obviously could have done it all by Himself.

 

[Didi]

I think I would change it to: It is better to have suffered and offered that suffering than to never have suffered at all.

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

Something occurred to me when I was listening to gregorian chant. I am not that interested in revealing my entire train of thoughts but I was wondering what the average Catholic would say to this.

It is better to have suffered and overcome that to not have suffered at all. An alternative to loved and lost than to not have loved.

That is only half - it also made me think that this is part of our Human Dignity to have that opportunity.

Thoughts?

Paul

My dear friend

I see the greatest form of love as sacrificial love. I think God created a world of rebellious beings mysteriously so He could manifest the most perfect infinite sacrificial love for us, which is necessary for an infinitely perfect being. When we love we make ourselves vulnerable to being hurt. It’s the price we pay. If someone we don’t love rejects us we are not that hurt but when we really love someone we are severely hurt by their rejection. Jesus loved us infinitely and when we rejected Him His suffering was infinite. When Hs mother saw Him suffer thus Her suffering as a result of our rejection of Him was as great as a human could suffer- She underwent a spiritual martyrdom. A saint will suffer greatly if he offends God because he has hurt the one he loves the most. The more we love the greater our capacity to suffer. But we can also suffer to show our love. Our suffering can be a most sublime expression of love. Love and sacrifice go together. Hope my thoughts make sense.

God bless all:thumbsup:
John