Offering up Suffering

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Phil_M

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Lately I’ve become confused at the meaning of this whole idea. I just read the Diary of St. Faustina, and found it extremely inspirational, and felt very motivated to offer my sufferings in union with Christ’s for the salvation of souls. However, I also am unsure about the compatibility of this with Scripture and Church teaching, having read various interpretations on the meanings and uses of suffering.

I understand St. Faustina can clearly be seen as a “chosen soul” for such a task, given the visions she experienced, and the instructions she received. Must I be “chosen” as well, or can any Christian participate in such activity for the sake of others? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
 
Lately I’ve become confused at the meaning of this whole idea. I just read the Diary of St. Faustina, and found it extremely inspirational, and felt very motivated to offer my sufferings in union with Christ’s for the salvation of souls. However, I also am unsure about the compatibility of this with Scripture and Church teaching, having read various interpretations on the meanings and uses of suffering.

I understand St. Faustina can clearly be seen as a “chosen soul” for such a task, given the visions she experienced, and the instructions she received. Must I be “chosen” as well, or can any Christian participate in such activity for the sake of others? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
 
St. Faustina diary #67:
You are not living for yourself but for souls, and other souls will profit from your sufferings. Your prolonged suffering will give them the light and strength to accept My will.

Colossians 1:24
Now I rejoiced in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of His body, which is the church.

2 Timothy 2:12
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he will also deny us.

Matthew 16:24
Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me

1 Corinthians 10:16
Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?

There is an article here on offering our suffering:
fisheaters.com/offeringitup.html
 
Phil_M said:
Lately I’ve become confused at the meaning of this whole idea. I just read the Diary of St. Faustina, and found it extremely inspirational, and felt very motivated to offer my sufferings in union with Christ’s for the salvation of souls. However, I also am unsure about the compatibility of this with Scripture and Church teaching, having read various interpretations on the meanings and uses of suffering.

I understand St. Faustina can clearly be seen as a “chosen soul” for such a task, given the visions she experienced, and the instructions she received. Must I be “chosen” as well, or can any Christian participate in such activity for the sake of others? Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks.
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We can all offer up our suffering.

Col. 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church- Is there something lacking in Christ’s sufferings? Of course not. But because Jesus loves us so much, He allows us to participate in His redemptive suffering by leaving room in His mystical body for our own suffering. Our suffering, united with our Lord’s suffering, furthers the work of His redemption.

Eph. 3:13 So I ask you not to lose heart over my afflictions for you; this is your glory

There are other verses talking about suffering in general at
scripturecatholic.com/suffering.html

You might also want to look at Intercessory Prayer scripturecatholic.com/saints.html#saints-II

Peace,

Ryan 🙂
 
To offer up one’s sufferings is very compatible with Scripture and Church teaching. We are all called to imitate Our Lord. He is our example that sufferings can and should be offered for the salvation of souls.

Nita
 
Well, suffering fo Christ just means picking up your cross and bering it even when it feels too heavy. You can evangelize by your example and that means more than words.
 
I was always taught that we can offer up all of our experiences to God: our joys, sadness, sufferings, tribulations, triumphs, etc. In this way we can always remain in a prayerful attitude. For example, even though I may hate my job doing paperwork, if I offer it up to God it becomes something of a sacrifice. Does that make sense? Sorry if I didn’t explain it adequately…
 
Hi
Suffering for our salvation and the salvation of souls is a concept that comes from Christ himself. He suffered and died for us. As members of his mystical body we are to live out the pattern of his life in our own little and imperfect way. Each one of Christs disciples is a reflection of Christ to a more or lesser degree. Christ was the victim soul par excellence. God has turned an evil thing like suffering into something good if we use it right by offering it up. Since the beginning christians have known the value of suffering. The church was built on the blood of the martyrs. Their sacrifices conquered Rome eventually, and beyond.
Many souls have seen the great value of suffering to purify themselves and help others and have gone beyond offering up suffering and doing some penance to the point of asking God for suffering. These are victim souls and they most closely resemble Christ. i don’t recommend anyone offering themselves as a victim without consulting a good priest first though. With God, all things work unto good. Even suffering.
All catholics should mortify themselves a bit. Our lady asked us all to pray the rosary and offer up sacrifices at Fatima. The children became victim souls there too. Offering up sacrifices and suffering is very biblical and has been the constant practise of christians since the beginning. A good idea is to have half a dozen set sacrifices we can make each day. little ones. And offer these up along with any other sufferings that come our way. often the day brings enough opportunities to offer up sacrifices without looking for them too. look for these and don’t complain - offer them up. I’ll try to do this. I certainly need more mortification in my life.
 
We should often read the Beatitudes Matt 5: 1 - 12
Blest are those who are persecuted…
This will give you more peace that it is in the world of the spirit that we should think.
Godbless
 
Does it always seem that Our Lord gives us the strength, endurance, faith etc. right when it is needed not before?It seems to me this is why our lamps should always have enough oil, to see the help before we cave in to dispair?I don’t know.I cannot believe the level of trial I’m enduring right now and for the last couple of years. His grace is certainly holding me up.Itis His mercy that allows me to thank and praise Him evryday. His great kindness inviting me to share in His sufferings?I am not worthy of his freindship but He loves me nontheless.I thank Him for His opportunities to make reparation for sins.Thank You Jesus!
Take heart ask for the light of His nearness, ask Him to heal our damaged hearts,minds and strength.
 
Offering up all fleshly suffering.

It is the leaning away from the flesh that leads the soul towards Jesus and the Heart of the Father. We call it “suffering” but in the soul that leans to the Father lead by the spirit of God it is not that at all that humans call suffering.
For the spirit in the soul of the one who is little and sees no other place for them other than to, as you say, suffer it is really “self denial” of the flesh, suffering is when the flesh cannot sustain the ways of the world if it be accidental or loss, or other. And so the suffering becomes the fuel that enables the soul to become strong.
It is the express wish of the soul in littleness to seek out any and all chance to develop Godly relationships. It is in taking the pain that is thrust against our humanness by those who donot wish to relate Godly to others who will try to cause pain on those who give their self to God.

To yearn to be fed by the spirit of God guides the soul the only way it knows, to allow God Himself to feed the soul who cannot see any place for themself in this world.

Unless the soul is leading all actions and people to the Father through Jesus the King and through the power of the Holy Spirit,
that soul sees no reason for existance at all, and will give up it’s existance to allow God to guide His wishes for the greatest number of people to come to God.

All to God forever.
Godbless
 
Col. 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church-

This is the point. We are the body of Christ with Christ as our head. Our suffering IS His Suffering. His suffering IS ours. We share the suffering of ALL the members of Christ for the Glory of God and the Salvation of Souls. Saint Faustina, the children at Fatima, and many (if not all) saints have lived with this understanding.
 
bcuster said:
Col. 1:24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church-

This is the point. We are the body of Christ with Christ as our head. Our suffering IS His Suffering. His suffering IS ours. We share the suffering of ALL the members of Christ for the Glory of God and the Salvation of Souls. Saint Faustina, the children at Fatima, and many (if not all) saints have lived with this understanding.
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Did they call it suffering as the general population would see it
Maybe not since their mind soul heart was on the spirit of God’s will being done.
or did they rellish on the chance to suffer thus not as such seeing it only as suffering but more so seeing it as the chance to become more in the spirit and so take in this fuel for the spirit of God in themself to become more in tune with Jesus while He was on this earth.
Is this the spirit of God in them, is being asked of us?

Godbless
 
From St. Faustina’s diary, a note on suffering:

“Oh, if only the suffering soul knew how much God loves it, it would die of joy and excess of happiness! Some day, we will know the value of suffering, but then we will no longer be able to suffer. The present moment is ours.” (963)
 
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