Why does the Church focus so much on suffering?

[returninghome31]

And I had no idea about the warning before Vatican II that it could be dangerous to read the Bible. Very interesting!

 

[returninghome31]

@casilda I’ve been looking into the Melkite church and really liking it so far. There’s one right by me and feeling more drawn in that direction for a number of reasons. I agree about the joy and beauty of the ancient rites. May I ask if you’re now attending a Melkite church? There are different Eastern traditions, no? Thanks!

 

[returninghome31]

@MrsAngelala Thanks so much for sharing this! I appreciate it and will check it out.

 

[returninghome31]

Yes, I know that is the teaching and I understand it. I just intended my remark to convey understanding to OP that there are some aspects that I don’t believe, either. It is a struggle when you see a faith that is so good on some levels but then teach something that you find astoundingly preposterous (no disrespect intended, of course). It is a real problem. Because you would like to believe, but on an intellectual level…well…you just can’t.

I completely agree about wanting to believe certain things but just not being able to. So true. Thank you!

 

[Casilda]

I have attended a Ruthenian Byzantine Catholic parish, but I officially transferred into the Syriac Maronite Church of Antioch.

 

[returninghome31]

A good thing in the sense that suffering people can feel more welcome in a Church such as the Catholic Church rather than they would for example in somewhere like Hillsong.

The Catholic Church doesn’t place importance on material success,image,good looks etc or tell people that they aren’t healed because they aren’t displaying enough faith.

Agreed! You make excellent points. And you pose excellent though-provoking questions as well. Thank you.

 

[returninghome31]

Fascinating! I will look into these traditions as well. Thank you for sharing.

 

[Crocus]

Thank you for the link. I especially liked:

“You can have all the money in the world, but you can’t buy suffering insurance.”

Every one of us can expect to experience suffering in our lives. Jesus came to show us how to go through that suffering, with Him.

 

[Seeksadvice]

I recently attended a funeral for a friend of mine. It was at a Lutheran church about 4 hours away. That was a miserable and joy-less service. Left the thing with a severe case of hopelessness. Just saying that non-Catholic doesn’t always mean more joy. I’ve been at Lutheran funerals before, and while no funeral is ever on the top 10 list of fun things to do, this one was particularly joyless. And, this is coming from a guy who isn’t known for happiness, joy, etc.

 

[guanophore]

And I had no idea about the warning before Vatican II that it could be dangerous to read the Bible. Very interesting!

It turns out to be a valid warning. When the Bible got into print, and spread around Europe, it immediately began to be misunderstood and created divisions and a whole new swath of heresies.

What the Church needed was more public bible study, not suppression of the Scriptures. Catholics are still paddling far behind our Protestant brethren in mastering the Scriptures.

 

[Sarcelle]

Some of the stories of the Saints made me think that Catholicism was a religion for masochists.

However I had the chance to talk to a priest and he mentioned that the Church believes that suffering can be redeemed. That some good can come out of suffering which is inevitable in life. No one can escape it. Which is why we are advised to hand over our suffering to God, so He can redeem it and bring forth good as only He can.

To me this redemption of suffering is an example of good victorious over evil.

 

[Jump4Joy]

Lol. I felt that way about certain saints. I don’t think their penances should be emulated. Their extreme austerity can be difficult to understand or admire.

 

[resolute]

Christ didn’t suffer so that we wouldn’t have to, he suffered to show us how. And then he told each of us to pick up our crosses.

So eloquently said!

 

[returninghome31]

You make a very good point. Never thought of it that way.

 

[returninghome31]

Not much to be honest, but I will do my part to learn more about redemptive suffering. Thank you very much for your thoughts on this! Your explanation helps a lot in terms of my putting things in perspective.

 

[returninghome31]

I LOVE Father Mike! I always watch his videos. Thanks for sharing

 

[PJM]

As I make my way back to Catholicism, I’m faced with an issue that plagued me many years ago when I initially chose to walk away. Why does the Catholic church focus so much on suffering?

HERE’S WHY

Isaiah 43: 7& 21 “. [7] And every one that calleth upon my name, I have created him for my glory, I have formed him, and made him. & [21] This people have I formed for myself, they shall shew forth my praise”

What this teaches in summary is that LIFE is thee GOD TEST

God can be accurately defined as ALL GOOD THING PERFECTED;

God can will ONLY Good things but permits evil and suffering for 2 reasons

1. God is Glorified and WE are Sanctified {receive grace} when we choose to do good over the evil & when we choose to ACCEPT the suffering and offer it up for ourselves or others
2. When we CHOOSE the evil over the Good OR only complain about the SUFFERING; God is still Glorified for having given US the CHANCE to choose the good; BUT in choosing NOT to; we loose out on the grace opportunity.

So suffering is a GRACE opportunity and emulates what Jesus Himself MODELED for us :

Lk 14:27 And whosoever doth not carry his cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Phil 2:8 He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even to the death of the cross.

Mt 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.

Mt 5:16 For I tell you, that unless your justice abound more than that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven

Lk 9:23And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me

SPACE is restricted here or I would go into greater depth;

Pray very much,
Easter Blessings,
PJM

 

[Francis]

@returninghome31

Actually now a days no body speaks of Heaven,hell,death or purgatory any more, but rather of politics,social justice,and crimes.Yes but the Catholic Church does not forget for preach to it’s children the facts of life,sufferings is a mystery, which we cannot understand,but when we offer our little little,joys sufferings our sins ,our weaknesses,shortcomings,our failures,even the most least or insignificant things of our day to day life,in union/ unite the life death and sufferings,of Jesus on the cross and in union through the Immaculate Heart of Mother Mary her life and sufferings and offer it to the Heavenly Father is becomes a great redemptive value for you ,family community, the Church,Romans 5:1-5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we[c] boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

The souls in purgatory are cleansed by the prayers and sufferings you accept,for the love of Jesus,it has a global effect, eg if one soul repents on earth ,there is rejoicing in Heaven,and also the souls in Purgatory await the mercy and the merits of the Church that in holy hope,and there is also effects in hell satan is enraged for the loss of a soul. 2 Maccabees 12:44 For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. 45 But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, so that they might be delivered from their sin.

Philippians 1:29 For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well

 

[Francis]

1 Peter 4:12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory,[e] which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you.[f] 15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. 16 Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. 17 For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? 18 And

“If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?”

19 Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God’s will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.

Hebrews 2:10 It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

 

[guanophore]

Yes you are right in your understanding. The catholic Church does dwell on accepting suffering as a holy thing

But I don’t think that is because the church wants to “dwell”, per se, but that human existence is so rife with suffering that it is necessary to shepherd the faithful in this matter.