Catechism of the Catholic Church
§1505 By His Passion and Death on the Cross, Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to Him and unite us with His redemptive Passion.
There are people for whom the least annoyance is a disaster. Our adorable Lord Jesus, however, elevated the role of suffering in human life to unimaginable heights, because He made it a means for man to fulfil his purpose on this earthly journey: to become conformed to Christ, our Redeemer, Model and Guide.
Some people mistakenly think that suffering entered the world only as a consequence of original sin. It is true that we go through a great deal of anguish due to the fault of our first parents (cf. Gn 3:16-19)… However, far beyond this contingency, difficulties constitute, in the many paradoxical situations in which they present themselves, a necessity for the full development of the intelligent creature in a state of trial. And to these two factors are added, finally, the contempt, insults and setbacks orchestrated by the prince of darkness and his cohorts (cf. 1 Pt 5:8), in their hatred of those who observe the divine Commandments.
There are therefore three sources of tribulation for the faithful: the consequences of original sin, the state of trial of this mortal life and diabolical or human wickedness.
How can we withstand so much adversity? Are we just born to embrace a meaningless existence? Teaching “the science of holiness,” Bishop Josep Torras i Bages of Vic, who died at the beginning of the 20th century, emphasized that “sufferings and setbacks are such an intimate ingredient in this earthly life that without them it becomes tiresome and even unbearable,” because “suffering teaches; and anyone who does not experience it would not know life in all its reality, because suffering is an essential part of it.”1
In the Grotto of Bethlehem and on Golgotha, God’s immeasurable affection for us shines through. He becomes small and is born of the Immaculate Virgin; however, His journey through the streets and roads of the Holy Land has one goal: the Cross! And the mishaps, struggles and difficulties we go through are a powerful aid in configuring us to the loving Heart of the suffering Jesus. In fact, the Heavenly Father wants us to be like His Son, collaborators in the building up of the Holy Church and in the salvation of souls.
Let us allow the Divine Goldsmith to carefully polish us so that, like a small drop of water united to the Precious Blood of Jesus, we can arrive purified in eternal glory, as the Saint of the Little Way reminds us: “Holiness does not consist in saying beautiful things, it does not even consist in thinking them, in feeling them!… it consists in suffering and in suffering from everything. Holiness! You have to conquer it at the point of the sword, you have to suffer… you have to agonize!…” A day will come when the shadows will disappear, then only joy, inebriation will remain… Let us take advantage of our unique moment of suffering!… let us see only each moment!… a moment is a treasure…”2 ◊
Notes
1 TORRAS I BAGES, Josep. La ciència del patir. In: Obres completes. Barcelona: Abadia de Montserrat, 1989, v.VI, p.400-401.
2 ST. THERESE OF THE CHILD JESUS. Letter 89. To Celine, 26/4/1889.
