REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING
What is suffering, if not pain? What is redemption, if not the act of making something right? In our lives, there is happiness and sadness. From birth to death, there is work and there is rest. In living, there is cause for joy and cause for suffering. That is the stuff of life. For all who fully embrace this life and the next, there is Redemptive Suffering.
Redemptive Suffering is the act of taking on the consequences of another's sin so that the other may receive God's Grace. Saint Pio wrote to his superior,
"For a long time, I have felt in myself a need to offer myself to the LORD as a victim for poor
sinners, and for the souls in Purgatory...imploring on Him to lay on me the punishments that
are prepared for sinners and for souls in Purgatory, so long as He converts and saves sinners." 2
By asking God to allow you to bear another's physical, emotional or spiritual blight, you come out of yourself to save another. This is what is meant in the verse, "No greater love has one than to lay down their life for another." Offering to take another's consequences of sin by offering our suffering in place of that sin, we "...complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body..." (Colossians 1:24). We become Christ for them. What sin prevents Christ from freely working in a person's life, Redemptive Suffering removes. This is what Christ accomplished on the Cross. You cannot "save" another person, but you can intercede for them - through your suffering united to Christ's suffering on the Cross. The consequences of sin are atoned, expiated. God can work in one person's life without the person asking God directly because another has interceded for them, and God honors that. God honors the intercession because the act of taking on suffering for the other was done freely.
Redemptive Suffering allows God to enter into one's life through another that is willing to take on the Darkness of another. In her call from Jesus, He told Mother Teresa:
"Come be My Light. In your immolation of Me, and your love for Me, they will see Me, know Me, want Me." 3
By embracing their Darkness, she was bringing them to the Light. He asks the same of us. Jesus, in His call to Mother Teresa of Calcutta to the slums of India, said to her,
"Will you refuse? When there was a question of your soul I did not think of myself, but
gave Myself freely for you on the Cross. And now, what about you? Will you refuse?" 3
Suffering is not only part of life, it is necessary.
"We do not want to accept the fact that suffering is necessary for our soul, that the
Cross must be our daily bread. Just as the body needs nourishment, so does the soul
need the Cross...to purify it and detach it from creatures. " Padre Pio 4
Suffering does not mean God has abandoned us.
"Remember what took place in the Heart of our Heavenly Mother at the foot of the Cross.
She was turned to stone before Her crucified Son, due to the excessive suffering, but
you cannot say she was abandoned. On the contrary, she was never loved more than at
the moment when she suffered and couldn't even cry." Padre Pio 5
Redemptive Suffering has many forms. The simplest form is the offering of one's suffering, actions of the day, prayers, work and joy's to God as stated in the Morning Offering Prayer:
"O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and
sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins,
the reunion of all Christians, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
Amen" 6
In this way, everything we do becomes holy. We become immersed in His life to the point where everything we do we examine, so we can offer it to God to help others.
"Here is a rule for everyday life: Do not do anything which you cannot offer to God."
St. Jean Marie Vianney 7
"The prayer of a righteous man has much power." James 5:16
Suffering is natural. It occurs in life along side joy and happiness. God is the Author of both (Eccl 7:13-14). It is meant for our purification. In this process, we trust God to allow whatever He chooses to bring into our lives. We do not need to create suffering.
"Our LORD sends the crosses: we do not have to invent them." Padre Pio
"And I saw that nothing truly happens by accident or luck, but everything by God's
wise providence...for matters that have been in God's foreseeing wisdom, since
before time began, befall us suddenly, all unawares; and so in our blindness and
ignorance we say that this is an accident to luck, but to our LORD it is not so."
St. Juliana of Norwich 8
"I accept whatever He gives - I give whatever He takes." Mother Teresa 3
As this happens, our suffering becomes meaningful. The focus of our pain moves from us to the one we offer it for. Often, a person doubts the love or faithfulness of God through their trials. When a suffering is offered, two spiritual graces occur: the suffering is placed into the Palm of God where satan cannot touch it to use it against the person (Is. 49:16); the offering allows God to bring His Grace to another. The person who offers the sacrifice is sanctified; the person for whom the sacrifice is offered is sanctified.
In a conversation between God and Saint Pio, the importance and meaning of suffering is discussed.
"Pio: Father, You love what I fear.
God: I do not love suffering itself.
Pio: I ask You for it. I desire it for the fruits it gives me. It saves souls. It frees souls
from Purgatory. Father, what is suffering?
God: Expiation. And, what is it for you?
Pio: My daily bread." 4
"She suffered intensely at seeing the suffering of those she loved, but she kept
highlighting the value and the meaning of human suffering as a means of
sharing in the Passion of Christ." Mother Teresa 3
Pio's wounds served as expiation for others. The expiation allowed God's Grace to work in others: healing, forgiveness, salvation. His suffering, for 50 years, was offered for whatever God purposed it for. An offering up of any pain -physical, emotional, or spiritual- was offered as expiation/atonement for another's sin.
"Every suffering they bear from any source...is of infinite worth, and so satisfies
the offense that deserved infinite penalty." Saint Catherine of Sienna 9
Christ has allowed mankind to share in His redemption through the act of suffering, that is, offering up our own pain to cover the sin of another.
Saint Pope John Paul II explains Redemptive Suffering and the saint's role in the salvation of each other:
"Does that mean that the Redemption achieved by Christ is not complete? No. It only means that the
Redemption, accomplished through satisfactory love, remains always open to all love expressed in
human suffering. In this dimension - the dimension of love - the Redemption which has already been
completely accomplished is, in a certain sense, constantly being accomplished. Christ achieved the
Redemption completely and to the very limits, but at the same time He did not bring it to a close. In this
Redemptive Suffering, through which the Redemption of the world was accomplished, Christ opened
Himself from the beginning to every human suffering and constantly does so. Yes, it seems to be part of
the very essence of Christ's Redemptive Suffering that this suffering requires to be unceasingly complete."
-Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II to the Bishops,
to the Priests, to the Religious Families and to the Faithful of the Catholic Church on the
Christian Meaning of Human Suffering (February 11, 1984)
By virtue of God's love in us, even in its natural form, we long to help those we love and care for, and gladly participate in alleviating their pain by offering up our own to allow God's Grace of healing. Jesus will not interfere with the free will of a person, but He will honor the suffering intercession of another for that person. And in doing so, we participate in the Passion of Christ, and complete His Redemptive work. We embrace all of this life, and the next, in Redemptive Suffering.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Michalenko, Sr. Sophia. The Life of Faustina Kowalska. Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1987.
2. Ruffin, C. Bernard. Padre Pio: The True Story. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 1991.
3. Kolodiejchuk, Fr. Brian (Ed.) Come Be My Light. New York: Doubleday Religion,, 2007.
4. Bro. Scaramuzzi, Francesco (ed.). Have A Good Day. San Giovanni Rotondo: Edizioni "Padre Pio da Pietrelcina, 2018.
5. Saint Padre Pio. Letters III. San Giovanni Rotundo: Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary, 1997.
6. Gautrelet, Fr. François-Xavier. "Morning Offering Prayer", Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers. Washington D. C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1989.
7. Vianney, Fr. Jean. The Little Catechism of The Cure of Ars. Charlotte: TAN Books, 1951.
8. St. Juliana of Norwich. Revelations of Divine Love. Brewster: Paraclete Press, 2011.
9. St. Catherine of Siena. The Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Siena. Charlotte: TAN Books, 1991.
What is suffering, if not pain? What is redemption, if not the act of making something right? In our lives, there is happiness and sadness. From birth to death, there is work and there is rest. In living, there is cause for joy and cause for suffering. That is the stuff of life. For all who fully embrace this life and the next, there is Redemptive Suffering.
Redemptive Suffering is the act of taking on the consequences of another's sin so that the other may receive God's Grace. Saint Pio wrote to his superior,
"For a long time, I have felt in myself a need to offer myself to the LORD as a victim for poor
sinners, and for the souls in Purgatory...imploring on Him to lay on me the punishments that
are prepared for sinners and for souls in Purgatory, so long as He converts and saves sinners." 2
By asking God to allow you to bear another's physical, emotional or spiritual blight, you come out of yourself to save another. This is what is meant in the verse, "No greater love has one than to lay down their life for another." Offering to take another's consequences of sin by offering our suffering in place of that sin, we "...complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body..." (Colossians 1:24). We become Christ for them. What sin prevents Christ from freely working in a person's life, Redemptive Suffering removes. This is what Christ accomplished on the Cross. You cannot "save" another person, but you can intercede for them - through your suffering united to Christ's suffering on the Cross. The consequences of sin are atoned, expiated. God can work in one person's life without the person asking God directly because another has interceded for them, and God honors that. God honors the intercession because the act of taking on suffering for the other was done freely.
Redemptive Suffering allows God to enter into one's life through another that is willing to take on the Darkness of another. In her call from Jesus, He told Mother Teresa:
"Come be My Light. In your immolation of Me, and your love for Me, they will see Me, know Me, want Me." 3
By embracing their Darkness, she was bringing them to the Light. He asks the same of us. Jesus, in His call to Mother Teresa of Calcutta to the slums of India, said to her,
"Will you refuse? When there was a question of your soul I did not think of myself, but
gave Myself freely for you on the Cross. And now, what about you? Will you refuse?" 3
Suffering is not only part of life, it is necessary.
"We do not want to accept the fact that suffering is necessary for our soul, that the
Cross must be our daily bread. Just as the body needs nourishment, so does the soul
need the Cross...to purify it and detach it from creatures. " Padre Pio 4
Suffering does not mean God has abandoned us.
"Remember what took place in the Heart of our Heavenly Mother at the foot of the Cross.
She was turned to stone before Her crucified Son, due to the excessive suffering, but
you cannot say she was abandoned. On the contrary, she was never loved more than at
the moment when she suffered and couldn't even cry." Padre Pio 5
Redemptive Suffering has many forms. The simplest form is the offering of one's suffering, actions of the day, prayers, work and joy's to God as stated in the Morning Offering Prayer:
"O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and
sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart, in union with the Holy
Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins,
the reunion of all Christians, and in particular for the intentions of the Holy Father this month.
Amen" 6
In this way, everything we do becomes holy. We become immersed in His life to the point where everything we do we examine, so we can offer it to God to help others.
"Here is a rule for everyday life: Do not do anything which you cannot offer to God."
St. Jean Marie Vianney 7
"The prayer of a righteous man has much power." James 5:16
Suffering is natural. It occurs in life along side joy and happiness. God is the Author of both (Eccl 7:13-14). It is meant for our purification. In this process, we trust God to allow whatever He chooses to bring into our lives. We do not need to create suffering.
"Our LORD sends the crosses: we do not have to invent them." Padre Pio
"And I saw that nothing truly happens by accident or luck, but everything by God's
wise providence...for matters that have been in God's foreseeing wisdom, since
before time began, befall us suddenly, all unawares; and so in our blindness and
ignorance we say that this is an accident to luck, but to our LORD it is not so."
St. Juliana of Norwich 8
"I accept whatever He gives - I give whatever He takes." Mother Teresa 3
As this happens, our suffering becomes meaningful. The focus of our pain moves from us to the one we offer it for. Often, a person doubts the love or faithfulness of God through their trials. When a suffering is offered, two spiritual graces occur: the suffering is placed into the Palm of God where satan cannot touch it to use it against the person (Is. 49:16); the offering allows God to bring His Grace to another. The person who offers the sacrifice is sanctified; the person for whom the sacrifice is offered is sanctified.
In a conversation between God and Saint Pio, the importance and meaning of suffering is discussed.
"Pio: Father, You love what I fear.
God: I do not love suffering itself.
Pio: I ask You for it. I desire it for the fruits it gives me. It saves souls. It frees souls
from Purgatory. Father, what is suffering?
God: Expiation. And, what is it for you?
Pio: My daily bread." 4
"She suffered intensely at seeing the suffering of those she loved, but she kept
highlighting the value and the meaning of human suffering as a means of
sharing in the Passion of Christ." Mother Teresa 3
Pio's wounds served as expiation for others. The expiation allowed God's Grace to work in others: healing, forgiveness, salvation. His suffering, for 50 years, was offered for whatever God purposed it for. An offering up of any pain -physical, emotional, or spiritual- was offered as expiation/atonement for another's sin.
"Every suffering they bear from any source...is of infinite worth, and so satisfies
the offense that deserved infinite penalty." Saint Catherine of Sienna 9
Christ has allowed mankind to share in His redemption through the act of suffering, that is, offering up our own pain to cover the sin of another.
Saint Pope John Paul II explains Redemptive Suffering and the saint's role in the salvation of each other:
"Does that mean that the Redemption achieved by Christ is not complete? No. It only means that the
Redemption, accomplished through satisfactory love, remains always open to all love expressed in
human suffering. In this dimension - the dimension of love - the Redemption which has already been
completely accomplished is, in a certain sense, constantly being accomplished. Christ achieved the
Redemption completely and to the very limits, but at the same time He did not bring it to a close. In this
Redemptive Suffering, through which the Redemption of the world was accomplished, Christ opened
Himself from the beginning to every human suffering and constantly does so. Yes, it seems to be part of
the very essence of Christ's Redemptive Suffering that this suffering requires to be unceasingly complete."
-Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II to the Bishops,
to the Priests, to the Religious Families and to the Faithful of the Catholic Church on the
Christian Meaning of Human Suffering (February 11, 1984)
By virtue of God's love in us, even in its natural form, we long to help those we love and care for, and gladly participate in alleviating their pain by offering up our own to allow God's Grace of healing. Jesus will not interfere with the free will of a person, but He will honor the suffering intercession of another for that person. And in doing so, we participate in the Passion of Christ, and complete His Redemptive work. We embrace all of this life, and the next, in Redemptive Suffering.
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
1. Michalenko, Sr. Sophia. The Life of Faustina Kowalska. Cincinnati: St. Anthony Messenger Press, 1987.
2. Ruffin, C. Bernard. Padre Pio: The True Story. Huntington: Our Sunday Visitor, 1991.
3. Kolodiejchuk, Fr. Brian (Ed.) Come Be My Light. New York: Doubleday Religion,, 2007.
4. Bro. Scaramuzzi, Francesco (ed.). Have A Good Day. San Giovanni Rotondo: Edizioni "Padre Pio da Pietrelcina, 2018.
5. Saint Padre Pio. Letters III. San Giovanni Rotundo: Our Lady of Grace Capuchin Friary, 1997.
6. Gautrelet, Fr. François-Xavier. "Morning Offering Prayer", Catholic Household Blessings and Prayers. Washington D. C.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, 1989.
7. Vianney, Fr. Jean. The Little Catechism of The Cure of Ars. Charlotte: TAN Books, 1951.
8. St. Juliana of Norwich. Revelations of Divine Love. Brewster: Paraclete Press, 2011.
9. St. Catherine of Siena. The Dialogue of Saint Catherine of Siena. Charlotte: TAN Books, 1991.
QUOTES FROM THE SAINTS ON REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING
"My child, I have need of victims, and strong victims, who by their sufferings, tribulations and difficulties, make amends for sinners and for their ingratitude."
-Saint Gemma Galgani
"Many souls go to Hell because there is no one to sacrifice themselves and pray for them."
-Our Lady of Fatima
"The medicine by which He willed to heal the whole world and to soothe His wrath and Divine Justice was humble, constant, holy prayer."
-Saint Cathrine of Sienna
"If the angels were capable of envy, they would envy us for two things: one is the receiving of Holy Communion, and the other is suffering."
-Jesus to Faustina
"I have never made more progress in the spiritual life as when I began to devote myself to praying for others."
-Saint Therese of Lisieux
"My daughter, I want to instruct you on how you are to rescue souls through prayer and sacrifice. You will save more souls through prayer and sacrifice than a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone. I want to see you as a living sacrifice of love, which only then carries weight before Me... And great will be your power for whomever you intercede. Outwardly, your sacrifice must look like this: silent, hidden, permeated with love, imbued with prayer."
-Jesus to Saint Faustina
"Jesus has many lovers of His Heavenly Kingdom, but few cross-bearers. Many desire His consolation, but few His tribulation. Many will sit down with Him at table, but few will share His fast. All desire to rejoice with Him, but few will suffer for Him. Many will follow to the breaking of the Bread, but few will drink the bitter cup of His Passion. Many revere His miracles, but few follow the shame of His Cross. Many love Jesus when all goes well with them, and praise Him when He does them a favor; but if Jesus conceals Himself and leaves them for a while, they fall to complaining or become depressed. They who love Jesus purely for Himself and not for their own sake bless Him in all troubles and anguish as well as in time of consolation. Even if he never sent them consolation, they would still praise Him and give thanks. Oh, how powerful is the pure love of Jesus, when not mixed with self-interest or self-love!"
-Thomas a Kempis
"The Missionary must die daily, if she wants to bring souls to God. She must be ready to pay the price He paid for souls, to walk in the way He walked in search for souls...I know what I want is above my strength - but He who has given me the desire will also give me strength to do the impossible."
-Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined. Leave it all to Him, to let yourself go, lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely."
-St. Catherine of Sienna
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION FOR PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUPS, HIS MISSION AND HIS TEACHINGS
2018
"My child, I have need of victims, and strong victims, who by their sufferings, tribulations and difficulties, make amends for sinners and for their ingratitude."
-Saint Gemma Galgani
"Many souls go to Hell because there is no one to sacrifice themselves and pray for them."
-Our Lady of Fatima
"The medicine by which He willed to heal the whole world and to soothe His wrath and Divine Justice was humble, constant, holy prayer."
-Saint Cathrine of Sienna
"If the angels were capable of envy, they would envy us for two things: one is the receiving of Holy Communion, and the other is suffering."
-Jesus to Faustina
"I have never made more progress in the spiritual life as when I began to devote myself to praying for others."
-Saint Therese of Lisieux
"My daughter, I want to instruct you on how you are to rescue souls through prayer and sacrifice. You will save more souls through prayer and sacrifice than a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone. I want to see you as a living sacrifice of love, which only then carries weight before Me... And great will be your power for whomever you intercede. Outwardly, your sacrifice must look like this: silent, hidden, permeated with love, imbued with prayer."
-Jesus to Saint Faustina
"Jesus has many lovers of His Heavenly Kingdom, but few cross-bearers. Many desire His consolation, but few His tribulation. Many will sit down with Him at table, but few will share His fast. All desire to rejoice with Him, but few will suffer for Him. Many will follow to the breaking of the Bread, but few will drink the bitter cup of His Passion. Many revere His miracles, but few follow the shame of His Cross. Many love Jesus when all goes well with them, and praise Him when He does them a favor; but if Jesus conceals Himself and leaves them for a while, they fall to complaining or become depressed. They who love Jesus purely for Himself and not for their own sake bless Him in all troubles and anguish as well as in time of consolation. Even if he never sent them consolation, they would still praise Him and give thanks. Oh, how powerful is the pure love of Jesus, when not mixed with self-interest or self-love!"
-Thomas a Kempis
"The Missionary must die daily, if she wants to bring souls to God. She must be ready to pay the price He paid for souls, to walk in the way He walked in search for souls...I know what I want is above my strength - but He who has given me the desire will also give me strength to do the impossible."
-Mother Teresa of Calcutta
"He will provide the way and the means, such as you could never have imagined. Leave it all to Him, to let yourself go, lose yourself on the Cross, and you will find yourself entirely."
-St. Catherine of Sienna
RESOURCES AND INFORMATION FOR PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUPS, HIS MISSION AND HIS TEACHINGS
2018
