The Mystery of Suffering

Ave Maria Meditations

O God, I see that nothing in nature happens by chance. All creatures have a reason for their existence. There is also a reason for the existence of pain in the world otherwise You would never permit it.

It is not for me to question Your divine plan. My duty is to accept life with its sorrows and joys willingly. As a creature I am bound to You,my Creator. You did not abandon me after bringing me into this life, and You do not intend to do so. Give me faith that I may be able to fit the stark realities of life into Your divine plan. My daily trials cannot harm me unless I rebel against them and Your divine plan.

Jesus, teach me that I must pass through the valley of suffering here on earth before I can reach the mountain of happiness in heaven. Suffering, sadness, and cares come to me to remind me that earth is not a para­dise and that the life, truth and love I crave, is not to be found here below. The possession of You is my end in life, as St. Augustine said. “Thou hast made us for Thyself, O Lord, and our hearts are rest­less until they rest in Thee.”

Lord, suffering teaches me the most im­portant lesson of wisdom, that this life is but a preparation for the next. Every new trial has its present blessing and will pur­chase the happiness to be found hereafter. In times of illness and pain I am forced to answer questions that really matter in life. Where did I come from? Why am I on earth? Where am I going?

May suffering give me a broader view of life, an opportunity of studying myself. All my longings,hopes, and fears point to a life beyond the grave where I shall completely possess You.

Life on earth does not satisfy the yearnings which Your wise Providence implanted in my heart. Help me to live for the life above by ac­cepting pain and suffering as my daily cross sent by You. Then only shall I have a foretaste of the joys to come. My only duty in life is to submit myself willingly to Your holy plan for true submission can help me find myself and find You, Who measures my pain for a definite pur­pose.

My God, You never promised that I would be free from trials and temptations. You did promise me Your aid to carry me through them. You ask me only to fol­low Your plan willingly, not mine. If I had done so in the past. I would have been happy. I cannot understand Your plan now. Nevertheless. let me follow it willingly and always. Amen.

My God. my only Good. Thou art all mine; may I be always Thine.

+Fr.Lawrence Lovasik (Consolation in Suffering I)

Jesus, my King. I have crucified Thee:

Now it is Thy turn, crucify me.

Make Thou the cross. be it only like Thine;

Mix Thou the gall, let Thy love be the wine.

Shrink not to strip me of all save Thy grace;

Stretch me out well. ’till I fit in Thy place.

Here are my hands, felon’s hands and my feet;

Drive home the nails, my King, the pain will be sweet.

Raise me and take me not down ’till I die.

Only let Mary, my mercy, stand by.

And last, let the spear – while I live – do its part,

Right through the heart, my King, right through the heart.