Help me understand this St Josemaria quotation

[Sliw]

Don’t say: ‘That person gets on my nerves.’ Think: ‘That person sanctifies me.’

What is actually being talked about here?

Was he referring to offering our sufferings to God or something else?

 

[TheDoctor]

What is actually being talked about here?

Was he referring to offering our sufferings to God or something else?

Without context it is hard to know for certain. He may be referring to offering our struggle and pain with this person to God.

The way I take it though is that this person is providing us with an opportunity to push past our negative actions and love them as Jesus would, thereby becoming more like Him.

Personal example: I prayed for years for patience. God led me to teach PREP. With junior high kids who “got on my nerves”. What they taught me was to have the patience to look past their actions to see the causes and they gave me the chance to share the faith and become a better man.

P.S. - PREP starts in 6 weeks - can’t wait.

 

[robwar]

What is actually being talked about here?

Was he referring to offering our sufferings to God or something else?

It is a view point and attitude towards others. Instead of seeing others as a bother, problem or irritant, to see problems with others as an opportunity to grow in holiness, love and patient. It is rising above the problem and using that problem to change ourselves for the better.

 

[chimo]

What is actually being talked about here?

Was he referring to offering our sufferings to God or something else?

You are never going to get “sanctified” unless you go through much “testing”. The proof of anyone’s struggle is to go through “the fire”. St. Maria Faustina had written that “it is no great thing to love God in prosperity and thank Him when all goes well”. The saint went on saying that it is those times when all is not well that one actually reveals this sanctity within (or lack of it). This saint had many hurdles to go through and can be the patron saint for those who need to struggle to obtain their sanctification. Jesus said if you only love those who love you what credit is that to you? Seems Jesus is talking about the same as St. Josemaria in the quotation which you have chosen. There was a man who every time this woman would appear would get very upset. He told this to an Eastern Orthodox priest monk and surprisingly the monk priest told him that this woman was sent by God to help reveal to him what he needs to change within. There is something else lurking in you says the priest and this woman is used by God to help show to you your greatest weakness: this rage which slumbers in you at times but lies hidden until she, the hand of God discloses it. Another time there was this man who got into bursts of anger all the time and finally had enough of it and went before the statue of the Lord to be free of this anger. And with full of hope he was set free and the first person he met was a brother who never aroused his anger but for the first time was offensive and unpleasant to him. So Philip burst out in anger and complained to the Lord and asked Him have I not asked you to free my from my anger? And the Lord answered “Yes Philip and now I am multiplying these occasions for you to learn.” (taken from Preparing for Confession, Light and Life Pub.)

 

[mikeghiorso]

I once complained to my spiritual director (Fr. Bob Gavin) that “some people just rubbed me the wrong way.” He laughed and said: “That’s just God using them to sand down your rough edges.” Perhaps this is the same idea.

 

[Sliw]

Thanks

 

[Boy_Wonder]

St. Josemaria Escriva was big on mortification. He also taught that the laity must sanctify our daily lives by using every circumstance we encounter to do God’s will and to subdue our own will.

When we allow others to “get on our nerves”, we give free rein to our own will and our own preferences. By seeing difficult or unpleasant people as a path to holiness, we mortify our will and preferences and grow in holiness and virtue.

This doesn’t mean we should allow ourselves to be mistreated or abused. It means that ALL instances of our life should be directed towards God and using all things, good and bad, as a way to grow in holiness.

 

[HelenRose]

Without context it is hard to know for certain. He may be referring to offering our struggle and pain with this person to God.

The way I take it though is that this person is providing us with an opportunity to push past our negative actions and love them as Jesus would, thereby becoming more like Him.

Personal example: I prayed for years for patience. God led me to teach PREP. With junior high kids who “got on my nerves”. What they taught me was to have the patience to look past their actions to see the causes and they gave me the chance to share the faith and become a better man.

P.S. - PREP starts in 6 weeks - can’t wait.

I have heard that story as: I prayed for patience and God sent me my brother-in-law to live with us.

I guess we can all relate to the idea that some people just get on our nerves and we must realize that God is answering our prayers to be better people.

(p.s. I avoid praying for patience)