How can we make sacrifices for people and how much does it help?

[Mr.Phoenix]

At Fatima we were told this and in St. Faustina’s diary but other than fasting and cold showers I cannot think of what else we can do. If I am hanging a picture and accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer and offer that up can my sore thumb really help to convert someone? What if I do a lot of exercise and the aching muscles can that help?

 

[Vico]

At Fatima we were told this and in St. Faustina’s diary but other than fasting and cold showers I cannot think of what else we can do. If I am hanging a picture and accidentally hit my thumb with a hammer and offer that up can my sore thumb really help to convert someone? What if I do a lot of exercise and the aching muscles can that help?

2 Tim. 2

8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David—that is my gospel, 9 for which I suffer hardship, even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, so that they may also obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 11 The saying is sure:
If we have died with him, we will also live with him;
12
if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he will also deny us;
13
if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.

 

[Stephen_says]

Sure! I wouldn’t hit my thumb on purpose, but any suffering endured with joy, untied to Christ’s suffering on the cross, can be used for salvific purposes. Fasting, cold showers, hair shirts, enduring illness and things like that can all be used.

 

[PuerAzaelis]

IMHO deliberate pain or discomfort is besides the point - ordinary life is difficult enough and indeed its difficulties can be offered up as my own cross.

 

[Mr.Phoenix]

Is a sacrifice the same thing as a penance? Not talking about confession penance but when we are told to do penance.

 

[Daniel27]

I think the point of penance is that we voluntarily do it, were as we (probably) shouldn’t seek out suffering. But, for example, when we sacrifice eating meat on days like ash Wednesday and Good Friday and the Fridays during Lent, part of the reason as to why we do that is as penance for our sins (among other reasons).

 

[Daniel27]

We accept, not via knowledge, but by faith, that no prayer or sacrifice of ours or anyone’s is wasted but that it is part of a treasury of merit that dealt with, outside of our awareness.

That’s a really nice way to think of it