Do Not Waste Your Suffering

“Don’t waste your suffering.” St. John Paul II

I was not much of a reader when I was young. It changed as I moved through university and into adulthood. Recently, I have been reading a book by the late, Fr. Lorenzo Albacete, “Cry of the Heart.” I had met him personally on several occasions and I was saddened when I had heard he died. He was always a forthright person which was always impressive since sometimes there is a lack of sincerity with people. I have been told by others around me that their suffering is so difficult to endure. Albacete’s book does not use clichés or try to give an antidote to suffering; instead, it brings us back to Christ. There is no one else for us. He related some examples which struck me, and you can read for yourselves. I began to think about those around me who suffer or when I suffer. It is not in vain. One thing that is important to remember that we need to be accompanied, and the reality is in our society today, many suffer in silence.

“You will be consoled according to the greatness of your sorrow and affliction; the greater the suffering, the greater will be the reward.” St. Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi

It is small consolation to tell someone that we suffer in this life to be rewarded in the next. This is when our faith needs to step in. I think of the examples of many saints. St. Sebastian comes to mind since they attempted to kill him by arrows. When he did not die, he tried to convert his murderers. He was worried about the souls of his assassins. St. Sebastian continued to live for Christ right until the end. St. John Vianney had his own struggles. I have been to Ars in France. It is such a simple place.  St. John had many intellectual limitations yet he continued to serve our Lord with faith. He could not see his own relevance and lived his life feeling he was never good enough. He continued and never retreated into self-pity.

“God has not forgotten the man to whom He sends suffering and trials, but in this way is proving His closeness to him.” St. John Chrysostom

Suffering can be physical, emotional, intellectual and even spiritual. Yes, we are allowed to suffer, and it is not something that we simply endure and just pray it away. We need to throw our entire trust in the Lord. He really is our salvation in the next life but our hope in this one. We can ask why we are allowed to suffer but there is no textbook definition. There is not recipe to alleviate suffering. We do not simply take a Tylenol, and it is gone. We are never alone though we might feel that way. This is when God sends us that gift of faith. It really is something amazing.

 “When it is all over you will not regret having suffered; rather you will regret having suffered so little, and suffered that little so badly.” St. Sebastian Valfre

"A sacrifice to be real must cost, must hurt, and must empty ourselves. Give yourselves fully to God. He will use you to accomplish great things on condition that you believe much more in His love than in your weakness.” Mother Teresa