SUFFERING WITH PATIENCE

O HAPPY EXCHANGE!

The example of Christ, and of all his saints, ought to encourage us under all trials to suffer with patience, and even with joy. We shall soon begin to feel that it is sweet to tread in the steps of Jesus Christ, and shall find that if we courageously take up our crosses, he will make them light by bearing them with us.

The soul will find it sweet to be abandoned by creatures, that she may more perfectly feel their emptiness, and learn that men are false and treacherous.

Then will she place her whole confidence in God alone, and cleave to him with her whole heart. Forsaken and forgotten by creatures, she finds no relish but in God who enters her more powerfully, and fills her with his consolations the more sweetly, as she is the more weaned and separated from all earthly things, and more purely adheres to him who never forsakes those who sincerely seek Him.

O happy exchange! cries out St Francis of Sales; the soul thus abandoned in the eyes of men, now possesses God instead of creatures.
(From Fr Butler’s Lives of the Saints)

 

PRAYER TO PADRE PIO FOR HEALING

PRAYER TO PADRE PIO FOR HEALING

Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, obedient father, you loved the sick and infirm more than yourself because in them you saw Jesus. In the name of God you performed miracles of healing in body, soul and mind.

Your intercession with God healed the ills of past and present and strengthened people to respond with confidence to future challenges. Those who came to you regained a sense of spiritual integrity as you rekindled hope in their lives, and encouraged them to renew the spirit in their hearts.

Through the intercession of Our Heavenly Mother, may we experience your powerful assistance and be healed in our bodily and spiritual needs, particularly (name it) and gratefully give praise and thanks to God for all His blessings. Amen.

 

“I COUNT ON NOT BEING IDLE IN HEAVEN”

“St Therese’s activity on behalf of the Missions has not ended with her death. Her letters to her Brother Missionaries throb with the expectancy of how far more effective she will be on their behalf in Heaven.

If I am leaving the battlefield it is not with the selfish desire of taking my repose

‘I count on not being idle in Heaven, for it is my wish to continue to work for the Church, and for souls. I ask this grace from God and I am certain He will grant it. So you see, if I am leaving the battlefield it is not with the selfish desire of taking my repose.

I will teach you how best to sail the world’s tempestuous sea – with the self-surrender of a child

‘When I myself have reached the port I will teach you how best to sail the world’s tempestuous sea – with the self-surrender of a child well aware of its father’s love and of his vigilance in the hours of danger.

Brother, I am so happy to die – because, far more than on earth, I shall help the souls I hold dear. O what joy when comes the happy hour of going Home! I shall not die – I do but enter into life and whatsoever I cannot tell you here upon earth I will make you understand from the heights of Heaven.’

What attracts me to the Homeland of Heaven is the call of Jesus

But more fully still she writes: ‘What attracts me to the Homeland of Heaven is the call of Jesus, the hope that I may at last love Him as I have so longed to love Him, and the thought that I shall bring a multitude of souls to love Him, who will bless Him for all eternity. Brother, you will not have time to send me the list of things I can do for you in Heaven, but I guess them; and in any case you will have but to whisper them and I shall hear you and faithfully bear your messages to Our Lord, to our Immaculate Mother, to the Angels and the Saints you love.’

Till the Angel shall have said: ‘Time is no more.’

Her work for the Missions still continues, and there is every evidence that it will continue, as she prophesied it would, until the end of time.

‘I feel that my mission is about to begin – to make others love God as I love Him – to teach souls my Little Way. I will spend my Heaven in doing good on earth. This is not impossible, for the Angels keep watch over us while they enjoy the Beatific Vision. No, there can be no rest for me till the end of the world – till the Angel shall have said: ‘Time is no more.’ Then shall I take my rest, then shall I be able to rejoice because the number of the elect will be complete.’

These striking words were spoken during her last illness, 17 July 1897, less than three months before she died. Sure of the unfailing support of our Saint, whom Our Lord through His Church has specially given us as our Patroness in these difficult times, the Church in the Mission Field can look forward with quiet confidence to the days that lie ahead.”

– From “The Little Way Association” booklet, Issue No 94 – Little Way Association, London. Internet contact: http://www.littlewayassociation.com (external link)

 

FATHER, GRANT THAT WE MAY TAKE JESUS CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS AS OUR MODEL

Let us pray.

Almighty and everlasting God, to provide an example of humility for mankind, you ordained that our Saviour should become man and submit to the cross; in your goodness grant that we may take his sufferings as our model and so share in his resurrection. Through the same Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

 

CHRISTIAN PATIENCE IS THE REMEDY TO ALL EVIL

PROBLEMS? ADVERSITY? BAD HEALTH? PEOPLE DON’T SEEM TO LIKE ME? I DON’T HAVE A GOOD JOB? NOT ENOUGH MONEY? I FEEL LEFT OUT? FAMILY TROUBLES? ANXIETIES? WORRIES?

“…JESUS TEACHES US HOW TO SUFFER. Look with what unalterable calm He suffers His first crib, circumcision, poverty, exile and the work of a humble trade. Look at the sublime placidity with which He took the persecution, calumny, infamy, and all the torments of His passion.

All evil was launched against Him and yet He said nothing. He never raised a hand to defend Himself. He ardently desired suffering, and accepted it courageously, and He suffered with trust in His Heart.

Christian, Jesus was innocent and suffered so much for love of you, so how can you, who have sinned so many times, have no desire to suffer for Him? Do you think Jesus suffered to save you from suffering? No, He did not. It was in order to give you the example and the strength to suffer well. Do you claim His glory in Heaven when you have not shared His cross on earth? It is an unworthy thought.

Be one with His most patient Heart and love suffering. Have patience in trials that come from God via the hands of men, in injustices, calumnies or betrayals. Have patience in trials that come from God via the devil, in temptations or disturbances. Have patience in trials that you yourself cause by mistakes, negligence or weakness. Humble yourself before God in all things, and with the Heart of Jesus, surrender to His will. The earth is a vale of tears and life is a hard pilgrimage, but Christian patience is the remedy to all evil.

The Heart of Jesus makes suffering sweet. He said, “Blessed are you when people persecute you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account, rejoice and be glad.” Remember that Christ sends you tribulations so that you may know your faults; to help you detach yourself from the world, to know your plight so that you may no longer trust in yourself but in Him; to purify you, to make you holy and make you like Him in this life so that you may also be like Him in glory. Think that whatever the reason for which He afflicts you, whether it is punishment or to make you more perfect, He always does it out of love for you and for your good.

If it were not good for you to suffer, Jesus, who loves you, would surely spare you the experience. The clearest sign of love is to suffer for the beloved, and so, if God suffered so much pain for love of you, the pain became for Him as lovable as love itself.

Learn that the higher Jesus wants to raise a soul to perfection, the more He will give it suffering, and this is the fate of all those that are dear to Him.

It is in the fire of tribulations that you will become like fine gold, worthy to be displayed in the heavenly palace. The suffering of this life is not only negligible when compared to blessed eternity, but also compared to divine grace which gives such sweetness and comfort that it is worthier than all worldly joys. That is why martyrs were full of joy when they were going through torment.

Do not all these considerations alleviate every pain? Yes, all sufferings, when looked at through the Heart of Jesus, become worthy of respect and love. Love that Heart and even the bitterest things will become sweet to you.”
– Mons. Nicola Tafuri

 

PRAISE THE LORD! – IF GOD DOES “SEND” SUFFERING, IT IS MORE LIKELY TO BE TO A SAINT THAN TO A SINNER, BECAUSE THE SAINT IS BETTER “QUALIFIED”

And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me (Mat 1:38).

“THE POWER OF PAIN

Pain is one of our great supernatural resources. That statement is out of line with our usual pattern of thought. We are accustomed to viewing pain as an unmitigated evil. For some persons, the existence of pain even is a source of temptation against their religious faith. ‘If God is good,’ they ask, ‘why does He permit suffering, particularly so much innocent suffering?’

‘IF GOD IS GOOD,’ THEY ASK, ‘WHY DOES HE PERMIT SUFFERING?’

Thoughtful people realise that we could not have the world we do have, without suffering. A great amount of suffering is caused by man’s own inhumanity to man. To prevent this, God would have to make man a puppet, with God pulling the strings on each man’s actions. Being no longer free, man would cease to be human.

FREE WILL AND CREATION AS WE KNOW IT

Similarly, to eliminate all pain caused by nature, God would have had a different kind of world. Fire burns. Coal tars initiate cancer. Gravity crushes. Electricity kills. The world could not be our world, as we know it, without pain.

Still, after all possible explanations of pain have been made, there does remain a large element of mystery in this question of suffering. For example, why deadly microbes, why poisonous reptiles?

THERE DOES REMAIN A MYSTERY

It helps a little to remember that God’s plan for the universe encompasses billions of years. Our own world with its pain is but one pinpoint in that vast plan and only one moment in those uncounted eons. How the phenomenon of pain may eventually contribute to God’s over-all design, we must await to discover.

‘GREATER LOVE THAN THIS NO MAN HAS, THAT ONE LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS’

The really important truth about pain, for the Christian, is the fact that it does have a meaning in the here and now. In Eden God gave to suffering its value as an atonement for sin. On Calvary Jesus Christ gave to suffering its ultimate nobility as He expressed, in the language of pain, God’s infinite love for man. ‘Greater love than this no man has, that one lay down his life for his friends.’

SHARING THE SUBLIME FRUIT OF SUFFERING

Jesus did not hoard to Himself this sublime fruit of suffering, this ability to make one’s pain count for others. In His scheme of salvation, our Lord has chosen to share with us His redemptive work. Each of us who has been baptised in Christ has the privilege of helping Him to carry His cross. Each of us has the power to atone by our sufferings for the sins of others and to crack the locks on hearts that have been closed to God’s grace.

‘WHO NOW REJOICE IN MY SUFFERINGS FOR YOU, AND FILL UP THAT WHICH IS LACKING IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST IN MY FLESH FOR HIS BODY’S SAKE, WHICH IS THE CHURCH’ (Colossians 1:24)

Whatever pain may be our lot, in honesty we must admit, ‘I deserve this for my sins.’ Only an innocent child can truthfully say, ‘I do not deserve to suffer.’ If God’s justice were not tempered with mercy and if we had to pay the full price of our infidelities, we should be living our whole lives in pain.

However, when suffering does come to us, it would be a mistake to conclude, ‘I am being punished for my sins.’ God is not a vindictive God. He may permit us to suffer for our spiritual good and to better assure our eternal happiness, but He does not send suffering to ‘get even’ with us for our offences against Him.

MOST SUFFERING IS THE INEVITABLE RESULT OF LIVING IN THE KIND OF WORLD THAT IS OURS

In fact, it probably is quite rarely that God positively ‘sends’ suffering to anyone. Most suffering, such as disease or accident, is simply the result of natural causes; or, it is the result of the evil will of fellow humans. Most suffering, in other words, is the inevitable result of living in the kind of a world that is ours.

If God does ‘send’ suffering, it is more likely to be to a saint than to a sinner. The saint is better qualified to use suffering unselfishly for the salvation of others.

‘I OFFER THIS CROSS, BELOVED JESUS, IN UNION WITH YOURS’

Suffering comes in all styles and sizes. It may be a simple headache, a slight cold or a minor disappointment. It may be the excruciating agony of cancer or of acute arthritis, or the mental distress of deep despondency or loneliness.

Whatever our particular pain may be, it will be a tragic waste if we refuse or forget to say, ‘I offer this cross, beloved Jesus, in union with Yours. I offer it for my own sins and especially in atonement for the sins of others. Let my suffering bring another soul to You!'”
– Fr Leo J. Trese, 1966 (text within the inverted commas; capital headings added afterwards).

(see also Mt 5:2-12)

 

LET NOT SICKNESS ISOLATE US FROM OUR CHRISTIAN JOURNEY

OUR SICKNESS, OR SORROW, ARE NECESSARY CAUSES OF SOME GREAT END, WHICH IS QUITE BEYOND US. GOD DOES NOTHING IN VAIN.

“Being sick is never easy, I know that from the periods of sickness in my own life and the experiences of sickness suffered by members of my family and friends. However, it is something that comes to all of us, and it is beneficial to spiritualise these experiences in order to let them not isolate us from our on-going Christian journey.

As St Syncletice, a 4th century Egyptian abbess, wrote, ‘There is much profit of soul in bearing illness quietly and giving thanks to God.’

SICKNESS IS ‘BENEFICIAL FOR THE SOUL’

This, of course, can be hard to do, but profitable. Blessed John Henry Newman wrote, ‘I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain.'”
– This is an excerpt from “Spiritual Thought from Fr Chris”, February 2012

 

“I AM A LAWYER AND I CAN TESTIFY THE EFFICACY OF THE ROSARY”

“The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple yet most efficacious devotion. Everyday, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: ‘O Mary, my Mother, keep me from mortal sin.’ Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practise this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, it is a sure means to obtain Our Lady’s help.

• Thank you for curing me from a sickness through my devotion to the 3 Hail Marys. (M.P., Goa)

• I am grateful to Our Lady for granting my requests through the faithful devotion to the 3 Hail Marys. (T., Chennai)

MARY WAS THERE

• My mother was hospitalised for a month and 13 days. For 22 of those days she was in ICU and the doctors had given up on her. We could not take her home as we could not arrange for a nurse to help her with tube feeding. She eventually came around and we could bring her home. She is now eating normally through her mouth and is fine. I prayed the 3 Hail Marys before leaving for the hospital. I am most grateful. Thank you, dear Jesus and Mother Mary and continue to shower on us your blessings. Keep my mother under your protection. (C.C., Goa)

• My sincere and heartfelt thanks for the many blessings and favours received through faithfully praying the 3 Hail Marys. Specially healing my baby niece who was hospitalised for dengue. Her blood count had gone down and kept fluctuating. We were all worried for our one-year-old baby. As always, I trusted in the 3 Hail Marys and once again it worked for me. I thank you dear Mother Mary for getting my niece out of the ICU and then from the hospital. (V.D., Mumbai)

• Many thanks to Mother Mary, Help of Christians for helping my brother and curing him of his throat problem and for the other favours received. Thanks for curing my brother of a minor surgery he had to undergo. (Mrs B.C., Mumbai)

• I am 78 years and I can testify to the efficacy of the Rosary. I recited the 15 mysteries when I was in distress and immediately my pain and discomfort ceased. Being a lawyer I can admit that the Rosary has produced inexplicable results by reinforcing my stand on various issues very successfully. I am deeply indebted to our dear Mother and her intercession. (A.G. D’M., Mumbai)

• I am grateful to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament and Our Blessed Mother for saving my house and for getting a gas leak at my house attended to, in time and at no cost. (M.W.D., Pune)
– This article was published in “Don Bosco’s Madonna” issue June 2013, Vol. 15, No. 02. For subscriptions or to assist Seminarians please visit http://www.dbmshrine.org (external link) or http://www.donboscosmadonna.org (external link).

 

“FIRST AID” FOR THE SOUL

BY ST LOUIS DE MONTFORT

Are you in the miserable state of sin? Then call on Mary and say to her: AVE, which means “I salute thee with the most profound respect, thou who art without sin” and she will deliver you from the evil of your sins.

Are you groping in the darkness of ignorance and error? Go to Mary and say to her: HAIL MARY; which means “Hail thou who art bathed in the light of the Sun of Justice” – and she will give you some of her light.

Have you strayed from the path leading to heaven? Then call on Mary, for her name means “Star of the Sea, the North Star which guides the ships of your souls during the voyage of this life,” and she will guide you to the harbour of eternal salvation.

Are you in sorrow? Turn to Mary, for her name means also “Sea of Bitterness which has been filled with sharp pain in this world but which is now turned into a Sea of the Purest Joy in heaven,” and she will turn your sorrow to joy and your afflictions into consolation.

Have you lost the state of grace? Praise and honour the numberless graces with which God has filled the Blessed Virgin and say to her: THOU ART FULL OF GRACE and filled with all the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and she will give you some of these graces.

Are you all alone, having lost God’s protection? Pray to Mary, and say: “THE LORD IS WITH THEE – and this union is far nobler and more intimate than that which He has with saints and the just – because thou art one with Him. He is thy Son and His Flesh is thy flesh; thou art united to the Lord because of thy perfect likeness to Him and by your mutual love – for thou art His Mother.” And then say to her: “The Three Persons of the Godhead are with thee because thou art the Temple of the Most Blessed Trinity,” and she will place you once more under the protection and care of Almighty God.

Have you become an outcast and have you been accursed by God? Then say to Our Lady: “BLESSED ART THOU ABOVE ALL WOMEN and above all nations, by thy purity and fertility; thou hast turned God’s maledictions into blessings for us,” and she will bless you.

Do you hunger for the bread of grace and the bread of life? Draw near to her who bore the Living Bread Which came down from heaven, and say to her: BLESSED BE THE FRUIT OF THY WOMB Whom thou hast conceived without the slightest loss of thy virginity, Whom thou didst carry without discomfort and to Whom thou didst give birth without pain. Blessed be Jesus Who has redeemed our suffering world when we were in the bondage of sin, Who has healed the world of its sickness, Who has raised the dead to life, brought home the banished, restored sinners to a life of grace and Who has saved men from damnation.” Without doubt, your soul will be filled with the bread of grace in this life and of eternal glory in the next. Amen.

 

MORE TESTIMONIES AND THANK YOU’S FOR THE DEVOTION OF THE THREE HAIL MARYS

“The devotion of the THREE HAIL MARYS is a very simple and yet most efficacious devotion. Every day, recite Three Hail Marys, adding the invocation: ‘O Mary, my Mother, keep me from mortal sin.’ Many people recite the Three Hail Marys as part of their morning and night prayers. To practise this devotion in time of danger, stress, special need or temptation, is a sure means to obtain Our Lady’s help.

• My heartfelt thanks to Jesus and Mother Mary for the innumerable favours received and the blessings bestowed on my family through faithfully praying the 3 Hail Marys. Thank you Mother Mary for taking care of me during my illness and helping me to recover quickly. Also thanks for helping me to get a job soon. Both my sons are doing well now. Oh, mother, always protect our family from every danger and sickness. (E.D’C, Mumbai)

• I prayed the 3 Hail Marys when my father was in the ICU, I was touched by the wonders worked. I am most grateful. (A., Goa)

• On 4th January I came back home because I had chicken pox. I remained there for four weeks. I prayed the 3 Hail Marys during this time. Mary helped me, providing strength and helping me recover. By the time the four weeks were over I was fit enough to return to the hostel. I am very grateful to Mother Mary for all her goodness. (M.A., Chennai)

• Thank you Mother Mary for all the favours granted and for being with us at the time of pain. (B/A & family)

• My sincere thanks to Mary Help of Christians, Don Bosco and Dominic Savio, through faithfully praying the 3 Hail Marys I received the final settlement from work. I prayed fervently for 2 years and now finally it has come through. Do continue to bless me always and help me to carry out my daily chores and responsibilities. (C.A., Goa)

• My wife and I are grateful to Our Lady for the success in the law exams and for other favours received which we gratefully acknowledge. (Dr O.A. and D.A.)

• I am grateful to Mother Mary; faithfully praying the 3 Hail Marys I received countless blessings for 35 years. I had been saved from many accidents. I always pray the 3 Hail Marys before leaving the house and Mother Mary has guided me in my work. Thank you Mother for granting all my favours. (C.M., Mumbai)

• While travelling by train I was struck on the head by a huge bundle of clothes from the rack above. I am in the habit of praying the 3 Hail Marys while I travel. I remained unharmed and I believe it was the gracious protection of Our Lady. I am most grateful. (M.P., Mumbai).
I These testimonies and “Thank You’s” were published with full names in “Don Bosco’s Madonna” issue September 2013. To support the Shrine of Don Bosco’s Madonna in Matunga – Mumbai – India including seminarians, or to subscribe to the magazine please visit http://www.donboscosmadonna.org (external link) or http://www.dbmshrine.org (external link).