In his book Render Unto Ceasar, Archbishop Chaput has a nice little explanation of the Christian view of suffering: Someone once asked me how any sensible person could choose to become a Christian because Christians have such an unhealthy desire for suffering. The best answer comes from Leon Bloy, a writer who himself chose to become a Catholic. “man has … Read More
Do You Really Want to Follow Jesus Christ?
For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. (1 Peter 2:21) Archbiship Chaput has a wonderful reflection on what it means to follow Christ that we should think about this Good Friday, from his book Render Unto Ceasar: Jesus accepted every measure of suffering … Read More
Christ Teaches Us How to Die
This Sunday’s Mass readings reminded us that we are nearing the end of Lent and the Way of the Cross will soon be upon us. We were told that it was Christ’s suffering and death that made Him the “source of eternal salvation for all who obey him” (Heb 5:7-9) and that we too, like a grain of wheat, must … Read More
Terri’s Day
Today is “Terri’s Day,” the fourth anniversary of the starvation death of Terri Schiavo: Statement from the Schindler family today: Four years ago today Terri Schiavo died. By the order of Judge George W. Greer, Terri died a slow barbaric death by starvation and dehydration over a period of almost two weeks. We have been posting stories of the events … Read More
You Are Not Alone
From today’s first reading from Hebrews: Because he [Jesus] himself was tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. This is certainly a source of hope for all who suffer. Though He may not always take away the sufferings that befall us, Christ will be there with us in the midst of them … Read More
The Life of the Sufferer Must be Affirmed
In a post that I linked to a few weeks ago, Wesley Smith mentions a man he knew who was dying from ALS who, after years of depression and suicidal thoughts, eventually came out of his despair and learned to embrace his physically challenging life. According to Smith, who was one of his hospice caregivers, this transformation was the result … Read More
Selfishness Fuels the Culture of Death
In a column yesterday, pro-life attorney, Ken Connor, commented on the recent trampling death of a WalMart employee the day after Thanksgiving, relating it to the story of the teenager who committed suicide in front of a live web audience and the 1964 stabbing death of Catherine Genovese in front of witnesses who refused to help because they were “too … Read More
Holocaust Lessons Not Learned
Good news from Berlin (h/t Wesley Smith): German historians have started compiling a central register of 9,000 mentally ill people murdered as part of the Nazis’ euthanasia policy, most of whom were previously unidentified. More than 100,000 people are believed to have been killed during a drive inspired by Hitler that was carried out in six extermination centres in Germany … Read More
St. Gianna on Suffering
Quotes from Saint Gianna Molla who gave up her own life so that he unborn child would live: To Pietro, her husband, as she was dying in the hospital: Pietro, I am cured now. Pietro, I was already over there and do you know what I saw? Some day I will tell you. But because we were so happy, we … Read More
It is Not By Fleeing Suffering That We Are Healed
The tragic story of Daniel James (mentioned in this post) reminds me of a passage from Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain: Indeed, the truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering, the more you suffer, because smaller and more insignificant things begin to torture you, in proportion … Read More