Pope Francis

Quality of Life - Fr. Matt Settle

Saint Pope Paul II

Victorious Suffering - Fr. Matt Settle

Pope Francis: The Weak and Suffering Are a ‘Richness for the Church’

“Dear sisters and brothers who are unwell, don't consider yourselves only as objects of solidarity and charity, but feel integrated fully into the life and the mission of the Church. You have your place, a specific role in the parish and every ecclesial sphere,” he said. “Your presence, silent but more eloquent than many words, your prayer, the daily offering of your suffering in union with that of Jesus crucified for the salvation of the world, patient and even joyous acceptance of your conditions — these are a spiritual resource, a patrimony for every Christian community.”

In fact, the Pope said, “it is a matter of really valuing the presence and the testimony of weak and suffering persons,” not merely as people to be served, “but as active subjects of  apostolic activity. The poor, also the poor in health, are a richness for the Church: And you … have received the gift and the responsibility to accept these riches, in order to help them be valued, not only for the Church herself, but for all of society,” he said.

He added, “Every sick and fragile person can see in your face the face of Jesus; and you also can recognize in the suffering person the body of Christ. This can be difficult in the modern world, which “is much more inclined to hide physical frailty, to consider it only as a problem which requires resignation and pietism, or at times discards people” (http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-the-weak-and-suffering-are-a-richness-for-the-church/#ixzz3Vi6QDdFg).

Pope Francis: Christians Respond to Suffering With Patience, Not Whining

The Holy Father based his homily on the first reading of the day, Acts 16, in which St. Paul and Silas were persecuted and thrown in jail for proclaiming the Gospel.

But they “were joyful because they followed Jesus on the path of his passion, a path the Lord traveled with patience,” he added. “This does not mean being sad. No, no, it's another thing.”

“This means bearing, carrying the weight of difficulties, the weight of contradictions, the weight of tribulations on our shoulders: this Christian attitude of bearing up, of being patient.”

“This is a process — allow me this word, ‘process’ — a process of Christian maturity, through the path of patience; a process that takes some time, that you cannot undergo from one day to another. It evolves over a lifetime, arriving at Christian maturity. It is like a good wine.”

The Holy Father finished his remarks by repeating that a Christian is called to endure suffering just like Jesus, “without complaint; endure in peace.”

This patience “renews our youth and makes us younger,” he said, mentioning how he has seen this among elderly people in hospice care “who have endured so much in life” (http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/pope-francis-christians-respond-to-suffering-with-patience-not-whining#ixzz3Vi9nlgkZ).

St. Pope John Paul II and Redemptive Suffering

There remains the one dimension, the one reality in which human suffering is essentially transformed. This dimension, this reality, is the cross of Christ. On His cross the Son of God accomplished the redemption of the world. It is through this mystery that every cross placed on someone’s shoulders acquires a dignity that is humanly inconceivable and becomes a sign of salvation for the person who carries it and also for others. “In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s affliction” (Col 1:24), wrote St. Paul.

Therefore, uniting myself with all of you who are suffering in your homes, in the hospitals, the clinics, the dispensaries, the sanatoria---wherever you may be—I beg you to make use of the cross that has become part of each one of you for salvation. I pray for you to have light and spiritual strength in your suffering, that you may not lose courage but may discover for yourselves the meaning of suffering and may be able to relieve others by prayer and sacrifice.

They are the words of St. Pope John Paul II teaching the suffering faithful to profit from the cross they bear and unite their trials with Jesus.

What is the Pope also saying? He is emphasizing the value of pain, when joined with prayer, in moving the heart of God. Prayer, all prayer, is always efficacious. But prayer takes on extraordinary power to win graces, for the one praying and for all mankind, when it is united with patient suffering.

Indeed, suffering is already a prayer, when humbly accepted from the hands of God and offered to God—as Christ’s prayer on the Cross—in patient resignation to the divine will (Redemptive Suffering, John Paul II and the Meaning of Suffering, Fr. John A Hardon, S.J.).

St. Pope John Paul II on Euthanasia and the Dignity of the Elderly

In his Letter to the Elderly, Pope John Paul stated: "Here it should be kept in mind that the moral law allows the rejection of 'aggressive medical treatment' and makes obligatory only those forms of treatment which fall within the normal requirements of medical care, which in the case of terminal illness seeks primarily to alleviate pain. But euthanasia, understood as directly causing death, is another thing entirely. Regardless of intentions and circumstances, euthanasia is always an intrinsically evil act, a violation of God's law and an offense against the dignity of the human person. Therefore, "Honor thy father and mother for where this commandment is accepted and faithfully observed, there is little danger that older people will be regarded as a useless and troublesome burden. He observes that while honoring parents and older people is a time-honored tradition in many nations and societies, elsewhere, and especially in the more economically advanced nations, there needs to be a reversal of the current trend (in order) to ensure that elderly people can grow old with dignity, without having to fear that they will end up no longer counting for anything."

You, who are elderly have a specific contribution to make to the development of a genuine “Culture of Life.” The Church looks to you with great esteem and trust. The Church needs you!” Through your prayers and sufferings, you become instruments and channels of God’s grace. You are with Jesus on the Cross and from the Cross He imparts all blessings (Homily to the Elderly).