Comparing the view of death and suffering between Catholic and Protestants.

[Mannyfit75]

I like to know the different point of view of death and suffering from a Protestant prespective.

I know Catholic for the most should embrace suffering because to suffering means to bear our cross, and that death brings us to the next life. If a Catholic lives his faith during his life timeline and die in the state of grace, he will gain heaven.

I have read some spiritual books of the Saints like St. Faustina and several others. I noticed that these saints had faults, repented, and have a deep loving relationship with the Lord.

St. Faustina love for Jesus is explicit in her Daily

Daily 2:

**O My God

When I look into the future, I am frightened, but why I plunge into the future? Only the present moment is precious to me, as the future may never enter my soul at all. It is no longer in my power, to change, correct, or add to the past; For neither sages nor prophets could do that, and so what the past has embraced I must entrust to God.

O present moment, you belong to me, whole and entire, I desire to use you as best I can, And although I am weak and small, You grant me the grace of Your omnipotence. And so, trusting in Your mercy, I walk through life like a little child, offering each day this heart burning with love for Your greater glory.**

And here is another,

O my Jesus, because of my trust in You, I weave thousands of garlands, and I know that they will all blossom. And I know they will all blossom When God’s sun will shine on them. O great and Divine Sacrament That veils my God! Jesus, be with me each moment, And no fear will enter my heart.

 

[AgnosTheist]

I know Catholic for the most should embrace suffering because to suffering means to bear our cross, and that death brings us to the next life.

Does that mean Catholics should avoid seeking medical treatment when they are ill? EMBRACE SUFFERING! EMBRACE SICKNESS! Afterall sickness is the will of God. Medicine is unnatural.

 

[Stephen_C]

Does that mean Catholics should avoid seeking medical treatment when they are ill? EMBRACE SUFFERING! EMBRACE SICKNESS! Afterall sickness is the will of God. Medicine is unnatural.

 

[Rightlydivide]

I have never noticed a difference in my observations. Theory aside.

 

[Mannyfit75]

Does that mean Catholics should avoid seeking medical treatment when they are ill? EMBRACE SUFFERING! EMBRACE SICKNESS! Afterall sickness is the will of God. Medicine is unnatural.

No. That is not what I am implying. Any suffering we have, we should accept as our cross. For Jesus said, “If you wish to follow me, you must take up your cross.”

This suffering could be physical, mental, etc. If an illness can be treated it should be treated and be cure, if medically possible. Ultimately, God decides when the person dies. Since God is the author of life. Only he can give and take it away.

 

[AgnosTheist]

No. That is not what I am implying. Any suffering we have, we should accept as our cross. For Jesus said, “If you wish to follow me, you must take up your cross.”

This suffering could be physical, mental, etc. If an illness can be treated it should be treated and be cure, if medically possible. Ultimately, God decides when the person dies. Since God is the author of life. Only he can give and take it away.

So what kind of suffering do you have in mind? Examples?

 

[ralphinal]

I have never noticed a difference in my observations. Theory aside.

Rightly, let me get your take on this. How does your church teach Col 1:24? This is one verse that Catholics use in their understanding of suffering: that my suffering can be used to help others by joining it to the suffering of Christ. I have noticed in my limited world that many non-Catholic Christians never discuss this verse and have no understanding of “offering up” their suffering to help others.

 

[rpp]

I have never noticed a difference in my observations. Theory aside.

I am not certain what “theory aside” means.

Catholics believe in “redemptive suffering”. That means that when suffering is endured and offered to God as a personal sacrifice, it can help purity the person. It is this purification that is crucial and to the glory of God. This is part and parcel of the theology that we need to be purified before we can stand before God. Purification via some type of suffering is the purpose of Purgatory.

As most Protestants reject the concept of Purgatory and, therefore, “redemptive suffereing”, Protestants are stuck with a rather lame, “it just God’s will, I guess.” outlook.

Thus Protestants can never fully and satisfactorily answer the age-old question, “Why do good people suffer?” To Catholic the answer is simple, to make them more pure and more immediately acceptable to God.

 

[Mannyfit75]

So what kind of suffering do you have in mind? Examples?

Daily trails, temptation, some illness, and if possible die for the faith like martyr. Like St. Cecilia who was starve to death for not denying her faith.

 

[rpp]

Daily trails, temptation, some illness, and if possible die for the faith like martyr. Like St. Cecilia who was starve to death for not denying her faith.

I would also add serious illnesses like cancer, ALS, cerebral palsy, etc. Now, accepting suffering and offering this suffering to God does not mean we do not seek medical treatment. Often times the medical treatment itself can is great trial, like chemotherapy. Offering our suffering to God means that we try to use it to help purify our lives and focus more closely on God.

 

[AgnosTheist]

Daily trails, temptation, some illness, and if possible die for the faith like martyr. Like St. Cecilia who was starve to death for not denying her faith.

I think “bearing the cross” means loving God with all your heart & loving your neighbors as yourself… and every little obligation & restriction that goes with those two commandments. like the difficult feat of clearing your mind from dirty thoughts, and being extra nice to a person that you would rather hate.