ST. MARY'S PADRE PIO PRAYER GROUP
  • About US
    • Saint Padre Pio
    • From San Giovanni Rotondo >
      • Viale Capuccini 172
    • The Team
    • Contact us
  • Prayer Meetings
    • Presenters
    • Upcoming Prayer Meeting
    • Past Prayer Meetings
    • Gallery
  • Prayers
    • Prayer Intentions
    • Prayer Request
    • Padre Pio's Prayers
    • Padre Pio's Quotes
  • BLOGS
    • Fr. David's Blog
    • PPPG Bloggers

PPPG Bloggers

Suffering

1/5/2020

0 Comments

 
Picture
Why me? Why so much pain? Why do I have to suffer? Why is it so inconvenient? I cannot go out with friends.  I don’t have a normal life like other people.  I cannot have my normal routine back.
 
These are my regular rant of complaints. On some especially bitter days, I’d say, did I do something wrong to cause my suffering?  Is it my fault? Is it  my family members’? My situation? My surroundings? 
 
But Fr. Anthony Ho has a better take on suffering than my rants can offer.  Suffering is a result of original sin because we are devoid of our original state of Holiness (the fall of man in the book of Genesis 3).
 
Jesus was born to partake of our human nature, to partake of our human suffering particularly His suffering on the cross.  Suffering on the cross was not necessary for Him but is necessary for us as the natural consequences of our sins.  Love and sacrifice cannot be separated.

Fr. Ho mentioned redemptive suffering: when we unite our suffering with Jesus on the cross.  Redemptive suffering is when whatever pain we have to endure is more worthy to be OFFERED UP.  We can ask the Lord to accept these pains as intercessory prayers for the redemption of souls.  It is sharing in the suffering of Jesus on the cross. 
 
Others are given suffering so that God’s glory will be manifested just like the story of the blind man in the Gospel of John (Jn. 9:1-12), just like the story of the leper in the Gospel of Luke (Lk 5:12). 
 
Lucy Rodjito enumerated numerous persons with disabilities but who were miraculously cured through the intercession of St. Padre Pio. God’s healing grace and mercy indeed!
 
I too personally witnessed miracles of healing thanks to medication, therapy and persistent prayers. Exactly five years ago, my mom suffered a stroke.  She was paralyzed all along her left side.  She could barely move on her own; couldn’t lift a finger to feed nor bathe herself.  Three years ago, my son suffered from depression and a sleep disorder.  Both my mom and my son are now doing well.  My mom is back on her feet.  My son is trying to survive the rigours of engineering studies.  Now, it is my turn to suffer from intermittent allergies.  
 
Through all these sufferings, my heart breaks again and again. But the experiences give me lessons to remain steadfast in prayer and to be fervent in my belief that God never fails to answer us according to our needs.

A lot of saints prayed for more sufferings so they could share in the cross of Jesus.  Take the case of St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus who suffered from prolonged sickness, St. Rita of Cascia on the pains of losing her family, our beloved St. Padre Pio who suffered physical and emotional pain from his stigmata. They all offered up their sufferings for love of Jesus.  
 
It is a good opportunity to study the lives of the saints; to study and be inspired by the people who suffered but perfected their lives to be with God.
 
Fr. Ho mentioned that God allows physical suffering to fortify our spiritual lives.  Ordinary pain and suffering give us the opportunity for extraordinary graces from God.  And the most bittersweet reflection I can share is knowing that God takes care of us, especially during these times. 
 
Just like most normal parents who give special attention and time to their sick children, I have the courage to say, God is likewise giving us this special time and attention, most especially to receive our intercessory prayers. 
 
Fr. Ho mentioned the potential pitfalls of suffering: NOT to increase suffering by overthinking and NOT to inflict it on ourselves and on other people.  So, we have to ask, is my suffering my own doing?
 
We should avoid aggravating sufferings by thinking too much about past wounds and about possible sufferings in the future. We cannot change the future. That is why we brace ourselves for today asking for God’s blessings daily. We have to exercise prudence, discipline, mortification and penance.   
 
When we suffer, we also exercise the power of the will—when we suffer, we train our will.  If we are impatient, that means we are not yet holy. We have to fix our immaturity.  We have to work on our virtues and acknowledge our wrongdoings; to recognize the shortness of life and to detach from earthly things. This is the way to purify our souls.
 
VIRTUES can manifest from suffering as they can be used as a lesson or call to come back to God.  We are called to be apostles: the exterior apostolic mission and the interior apostolic mission (e.g. attend mass, prayers, devotions, rosary and intercessory sufferings).  Through whatever pain or  suffering we endure, may we be enjoined to keep an eternal perspective because God has set eternity in our hearts.   Read verses Matt. 6: 19-20 ; Rm. 8:17 on suffering. 
 
As we set our eyes toward this new year, may we never forget the reason God sent His only Son.

Written by: A Spiritual Daughter of Saint Padre Pio
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Authors

    PPPG Bloggers the faithful members of St. Mary's Padre Pio Prayer Group

    list by titles

    Blessings from PPPG
    God's Providence
    Path of Suffering
    Stay with Me, Lord
    Your Story is God's Story
    ​Solo Dios Basta
    ​Suffering
    ​The Journey Home from Rome

    Generosity is Love in Action
    ​
    The Thankful Leper
    ​Me and PPPG
    ​
    When the going gets tough
    ​June 16, 2002
    ​
    Message from Archbishop Miller
    ​Call for Holiness-Part 1
    ​Call for Holiness-Part 2
    ​
    What I learn from COVID19
    ​
    When Love is Truth
    ​
    The Beautiful hands of a Priest
    ​The Ceremony of the Rosary
    ​
    Grace abounds all the more
    ​The first visit full of grace
    ​Bringing Out the Best in Others
    Seeking Discernment


    Archives

    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019

    LIKE US

    on FACEBOOK

    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Blessed Mother
    Blessings
    Canonization
    Catholic Poem
    Consecration
    Divine Providence
    Feast
    Generosity
    Gratitude
    Holiness
    Holy Communion
    Padre Pio's Prayers
    Pandemic
    Relic
    Rosary
    Sainthood
    Silent Prayer
    St. Terese Of Ávila
    Suffering
    Testimony
    Volunteering

    RSS Feed

about us
upcoming prayer meeting
keynote presenters
contact
© St. Mary's Padre Pio Prayer Group
  • About US
    • Saint Padre Pio
    • From San Giovanni Rotondo >
      • Viale Capuccini 172
    • The Team
    • Contact us
  • Prayer Meetings
    • Presenters
    • Upcoming Prayer Meeting
    • Past Prayer Meetings
    • Gallery
  • Prayers
    • Prayer Intentions
    • Prayer Request
    • Padre Pio's Prayers
    • Padre Pio's Quotes
  • BLOGS
    • Fr. David's Blog
    • PPPG Bloggers