Suffering

[BernadetteM]

Hopefully someone can answer a question that I have regarding the suffering that some people must go through in life.

Why does God allow certain people and their families to suffer constantly? No matter the prayers that go out to the Lord year after year the suffering continues.

I understand the Catholic view on suffering, that you offer it up to God, but a person can only take suffering so much before it affects their faith.

Yes some times people cause their own suffering from consequeces of decisions they have made, but many people have had no choice in the events in their lives.

How do you all handle what has happened to you and your families and what continues to happen?

We are God’s children and I know He is a loving God, but don’t understand why some must suffer so much and others, even unbelievers seem to go through life with very little turmoil.

Thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[CentralFLJames]

This is the price of sin - everyone suffers because of sin. Each time a person sins it harms every other person on the planet in some way and further degrades humanity.

God can break hearts of stone of even the most hard of heart through the suffering of innocents - especially one that is close to one of these poor suffering souls. It did me. That small deep down desire that all humans no matter how sinful have in them is God’s acatual grace calling us to repent and turn our hearts to Him. Sometimes God can compel a selfish and self-centered person to find empathy through other’s sufferings and let that grace work in us.

I have seen individual’s lives change overnight in seeing an innocent loved one or a person whom they respected gracefully accept their suffering and even die courageously and without bitterness.

I used to laugh when people told me that “its a blessing to be called to suffer”. No more. I have seen it and what it can do to change people who are close to those who suffer. It is truly a blessing to be found worthy of suffering for the glory of God since this often means one is given the grace to in turn touch others through another’s suffering and repent and bring yet more to God.

Also, the saints tell us its much better to suffer here and now rather than in purgatory where suffering is even more intense since these souls all know God is real and can hear Him and want to be with Him. The separation causes intense spiritual suffering. So souls that suffer here likely go straight to heaven in doing their penance and purgation here and now for temporal debts. That suffering also gains them a greater glory and honor in heaven when it brings others to God. God will never make a person suffer so great that they will lose their faith - but He will push one to their limits to perfect them to be what He called them to be.

James

 

[apromisemade]

Ah yes, the neverending question about why God allows good people to suffer beyond what they could ever deserve. Whenever that question starts to get me down I just remind myself of a quote from Dr. Martin Luther Kings “I Have a Dream” speech as he addressed a mass of people who had certainly suffered in horrific ways for their peaceful pursuit of equality and freedom.

“…we must keep with the faith…that unearned suffering is redemptive…”

 

[BernadetteM]

This is the price of sin - everyone suffers because of sin. Each time a person sins it harms every other person on the planet in some way and further degrades humanity.

God can break hearts of stone of even the most hard of heart through the suffering of innocents - especially one that is close to one of these poor suffering souls. It did me. That small deep down desire that all humans no matter how sinful have in them is God’s acatual grace calling us to repent and turn our hearts to Him. Sometimes God can compel a selfish and self-centered person to find empathy through other’s sufferings and let that grace work in us.

I have seen individual’s lives change overnight in seeing an innocent loved one or a person whom they respected gracefully accept their suffering and even die courageously and without bitterness.

I used to laugh when people told me that “its a blessing to be called to suffer”. No more. I have seen it and what it can do to change people who are close to those who suffer. It is truly a blessing to be found worthy of suffering for the glory of God since this often means one is given the grace to in turn touch others through another’s suffering and repent and bring yet more to God.

Also, the saints tell us its much better to suffer here and now rather than in purgatory where suffering is even more intense since these souls all know God is real and can hear Him and want to be with Him. The separation causes intense spiritual suffering. So souls that suffer here likely go straight to heaven in doing their penance and purgation here and now for temporal debts. That suffering also gains them a greater glory and honor in heaven when it brings others to God. God will never make a person suffer so great that they will lose their faith - but He will push one to their limits to perfect them to be what He called them to be.

James

Yes I understand that through suffering it can give us empathy towards others. I found myself with much more understanding of people who have mental illness. I recognize it when someone does something that appears to be so strange to the “normal” person. I also understand when someone has a chronic illness that is not apparent because it is internal suffering. There are people close in my life who have no empathy for others and it is sad that they have no understanding of what others go through.

My faith is still steady, but there are times when I can’t help but ask why. To be honest out of 4 children all suffer from something medical. It takes so much strength for me to deal with all these problems. Maybe we don’t suffer so much in Purgatory, but I always wonder about my past sins and future ones. I pray that the Lord will be merciful to me. I do try to care about others besides myself and my family. There are many people who do care, but also I find much coldness in this world. My faith is what gets me through the difficult times but I never let my children think that God is not faithful.

Thank you for your heartfelt response.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

 

[KyivAndrew]

Yes I understand that through suffering it can give us empathy towards others. I found myself with much more understanding of people who have mental illness. I recognize it when someone does something that appears to be so strange to the “normal” person. I also understand when someone has a chronic illness that is not apparent because it is internal suffering. There are people close in my life who have no empathy for others and it is sad that they have no understanding of what others go through.

My faith is still steady, but there are times when I can’t help but ask why. To be honest out of 4 children all suffer from something medical. It takes so much strength for me to deal with all these problems. Maybe we don’t suffer so much in Purgatory, but I always wonder about my past sins and future ones. I pray that the Lord will be merciful to me. I do try to care about others besides myself and my family. There are many people who do care, but also I find much coldness in this world. My faith is what gets me through the difficult times but I never let my children think that God is not faithful.

Thank you for your heartfelt response.

Yours in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary

Bernadette

Hi Bernadette, we recently wrestled with this question on the philosophy forum: how to explain the meaning of suffering? There is a variety of views there expressed, including my own, so maybe worth a look for you. Maybe it will help…if not we can continue this thread I guess. God Bless, Andrew.
forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=332346