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One of the most striking things I've realized during my conversion from Protestantism to Catholicism is how Protestants hold such a warped view of suffering.
Thread:
Thread:
When you believe salvation is by faith alone, suffering becomes unneeded. Not so for the Catholic, who believes it's an economy of grace and sin. Catholicism teaches that every ounce of suffering we bear is necessary for salvation. It becomes sanctifying.
Many Prots look at suffering as inherently evil. "If you're suffering, God must be angry with you." For many, it's nearly synonymous with sin itself. They may bear it, but they never embrace it.
The faith alone perspective simply removes the need; the concept of doing penance for sin is alien.
Nearly every aspect of the Catholic Faith reflects suffering, the pinnacle obviously being Christ’s suffering, celebrated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
Nearly every aspect of the Catholic Faith reflects suffering, the pinnacle obviously being Christ’s suffering, celebrated in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
The Catholic learns not just to accept it, but to embrace and love suffering.
As Fr Ripperger says, we must step into the boxing ring and be willing to “take the beating”. “If we are willing to suffer, there is nothing in our spiritual life we cannot obtain.”
As Fr Ripperger says, we must step into the boxing ring and be willing to “take the beating”. “If we are willing to suffer, there is nothing in our spiritual life we cannot obtain.”
The enemy hates our willingness to suffer.
All this creates a beautiful harmony. As Tolkien put it:
All this creates a beautiful harmony. As Tolkien put it:
I’ve found, personally, that this makes suffering easier to bear.
Suffering ≠ absence of joy
Ultimately, it’s a tool God uses to make us holy, to make us die to the self. Pray that you may fall in love God’s will for you, even if that includes suffering. Which it will, ofc.
Suffering ≠ absence of joy
Ultimately, it’s a tool God uses to make us holy, to make us die to the self. Pray that you may fall in love God’s will for you, even if that includes suffering. Which it will, ofc.
Here's the clip where Fr. Ripp talks about suffering. I'd watch the whole video if you haven't already, but he touches on suffering at 47:24
