Praying for Suffering

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AllyO

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Hi everyone,

I was hoping somebody could help me with a question. I was wondering if it sinful to pray for suffering? I know it is a good thing to offer up any suffering we receive, but I was wondering if it is a bad thing to pray for suffering? I came across an article that suggested that it is presumptuous.

Thanks for your help,

AllyO
 
Something (whatever it is) can only be sinful if you have sinful intent while doing it.

Your intent is obviously not to sin (quite the opposite). So it’s not sinful.

That doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. It’s like looking for trouble. Sometimes you don’t get the results you were hoping for.

I would suggest a different approach.
 
DavidFilmer said:
Something (whatever it is) can only be sinful if you have sinful intent while doing it.

Your intent is obviously not to sin (quite the opposite). So it’s not sinful.

That doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. It’s like looking for trouble. Sometimes you don’t get the results you were hoping for.

I would suggest a different approach.
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Thank you for your response =)
 
Let the Good Lord decide what your suffering should be, as He knows what is best for us.
 
I agree with the others: it’s not a good idea, and yes, I could see it being presumptuous for most of us. In the Saints, perhaps, it’s a different story. But such advanced cooperation with grace really is something that should be marveled at, and I’m not sure that we could ever really directly emulate it in a healthy manner.

(It kind of reminds me of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta asking her spiritual director to be bound to every internal movement of the Holy Spirit under pain of mortal sin. If I asked that of my Confessor, there’s no way it would ever be permitted. He’d think I was nuts. I presume there’s at least a good chance the same would apply to you, OP, minus the nuts part.)

On the other hand, I think it would be perfectly good to ask God to give us the grace to be able to be more pleasing to Him in the sufferings we do undergo. And likewise, when we find faults in ourselves, to undertake small mortifications of them.🙂
 
AllyO said:
Hi everyone,

I was hoping somebody could help me with a question. I was wondering if it sinful to pray for suffering? I know it is a good thing to offer up any suffering we receive, but I was wondering if it is a bad thing to pray for suffering? I came across an article that suggested that it is presumptuous.

Thanks for your help,

AllyO
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Enough suffering will come your way without your having to request it. Pray for love and fidelity to God’s will. That will see you through any suffering you are called upon to endure.
 
Most of us especially as we age, have more suffering than we can bear easily… I am asking what you think is of value or worth in any way with suffering? It impedes work for others, interfere with eg prayer and if you take pain meds does both even more. I am abed much of the time and thankful I can knit and make rosaries…But honestly? Do you see any virtue in being in pain?
 
Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply. I really appreciate the advice I have been given. It has really helped with my understanding on the whole matter.

God bless,

AllyO
 
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