Redemptive Suffering Reflection

Redemptive Suffering – Fr. Riccardo

POSTED BY on 9:59 PM under Lent, Philosophy, Prayer, SPEAKER: Fr. John Riccardo

Here’s a talk on a little-discussed bit of Catholic theology – redemptive suffering. If you’ve never understood Col 1:24, this is probably the talk for you.

From what I understand, there were few things more common 60 years ago than for a whining Catholic kid to hear, “Offer it up!” Hopefully Fr. will go a bit deeper… ;0)

Prayer By Those Who Suffer
This podcast is from a lenten mission talk presented by Fr. Riccardo several years ago at the Cardinal Maida Institute in Plymouth, Michigan. The title of the talk is Redemptive Suffering-The Supreme Power of Prayer By Those Who Suffer.

STRUGGLING WITH INFERTILITY?

A special Mass for couples struggling with infertility will be celebrated by Bishop Kevin Rhoades on Sunday, February 24 at 1 PM in the chapel of the Mother-house of the Sisters of St. Francis, which is located on Dragoon Trail across from Marian High School in Mishawaka. Following Mass, a presentation on the life of St. Gianna Molla, a twentieth-century wife, mother and physician who has become a powerful intercessor for those struggling with infertility, will be given by Thomas McKenna, founder and president of the St.Gianna Physicians’ Guild. An opportunity for silent prayer and veneration of St. Gianna’s relics will also be provided, and the event will include a light reception. Sponsored by the diocesan Office of Family Life Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Indiana.

St. Francis Convent
1515 W. Dragoon Trail
Mishawaka, IN 46546-0766

http://classic.mapquest.com/

 

 

Our Sufferings

Our Sufferings must become our prayer united to Christ Jesus who suffered more then we will ever know.  We must unite ourselves to Christ each and every moment of the day that nothing will be wasted but used for God’s greater glory!   We can do nothing without Him who is perfect, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, my Lord and my God please take that which is my greatest suffering at this time in my life and use it for your divine will and for the conversion of sinners.  For all of those suffering with infertility, the loss of a child within the womb and those that have died after birth be with them my Lord and my God that their tears may be dried with your loving mercy in Jesus name we pray.  Amen

Saint Faustina:  “On the First Friday of the month, before Communion, I saw a large ciborium filled with sacred hosts. A hand placed the ciborium in front of me, and I took it in my hands. There were a thousand living hosts inside. Then I heard a voice, These are hosts which have been received by the souls for whom you have obtained the grace of true conversion during this Lent.” (Diary, p640)

 

Jesus to Saint Faustina

For the sake of your love, I withhold the just chastisements, which mankind has deserved. A single act of pure love pleases Me more than a thousand imperfect prayers. One of your sighs of love atones for many offenses with which the godless overwhelm Me. The smallest act of virtue has unlimited value in My eyes because of your great love for Me. In a soul that lives on My love alone, I reign as in heaven. I watch over it day and night. In it I find My happiness; My ear is attentive to each request of its heart; often I anticipate its requests. O child, especially beloved by Me, apple of My eye, rest a moment near My Heart and taste of the love in which you will delight for all eternity. But child, you are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My kingdom in human souls; fight as a king’s child would; and remember that the days of your exile will pass quickly, and with them the possibility of earning merit for heaven. I expect from you, My child, a great number of souls who will glorify My mercy for all eternity. My child, that you may answer My call worthily, receive Me daily in Holy Communion. It will give you strength’… Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am. I am an abyss of wretchedness, I am nothingness itself; so what will be so strange if You leave me alone and I fall? I am an infant, Lord, so I cannot get along by myself. However, beyond all abandonment I trust, and in spite of my own feeling I trust, and I am being completely transformed into trust-often in spite of what I feel. Do not lessen any of my sufferings, only give me strength to bear them. Do with me as You please, Lord, only give me the grace to be able to love You in every event and circumstance. Lord, do not lessen my cup of bitterness, only give me strength that I may be able to drink it all. O Lord, sometimes You lift me up to the brightness of visions, and then again You plunge me into the darkness of night and the abyss of my nothingness, and my soul feels as if it were alone in the wilderness. Yet, above all things, I trust in You, Jesus, for You are unchangeable. My moods change, but You are always the same, full of mercy.”

Little Flower Novena

Prayers to be said each day:

Come Holy Spirit and fill the hearts of the faithful, and kindle in them the fire of divine love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit and they shall be created.

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

 

Let us pray: O God, who have instructed the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit; grant that by the gift of the same Spirit, we may be ever truly wise and rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Acts of Faith, Hope, and Love: O my God! I believe in Thee: strengthen my faith. All my hopes are in Thee: do Thou secure them. I love Thee: teach me to love Thee daily more and more.

 

The Act of Contrition: O my God! I am heartily sorry for having offended You, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend You, my God, who are all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Your grace, to confess my sins, to do penance , and to amend my life. Amen.

 

Concluding Prayer Prayed Each Day:

O Lord, You have said: Unless you become as little children you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven; grant us, we beg You, so to follow, in humility and simplicity of heart, the footsteps of the Virgin blessed Thérèse, that we may attain to an everlasting reward. Amen.

Special Prayers for Each Day:

For a printer friendly copy of this novena, click here

Resource obtained from:  http://www.ewtn.com/

Gifts Shared…

Today I seek the fruit of patience, the gift of fortitude and the virtue of hope.  How about you?

 

The 12 Fruits of the Holy Ghost
Charity
Joy
Peace
Patience
Benignity
Goodness
Longanimity
Mildness
Faith
Modesty
Continency
Chastity

Note: See Galatians 5:22-25 (three of these are not mentioned in some Greek and Latin manuscripts). The 12 Fruits of the Holy Ghost are the effects of the 7 Gifts of the Holy Ghost.

The 7 Gifts of the Holy Ghost
Wisdom
Understanding
Counsel
Fortitude
Knowledge
Piety
Fear of the Lord

Note: See Isaias 11:1-3

The 3 Theological Virtues
Faith
Hope
Charity

Note:  Reference I Corinthians 13:13. The Theological Virtues are called such because they are supernatural in origin, relate immediately to God, and can only be gained through His grace

The 4 Cardinal Virtues
Prudence
Justice
Fortitude
Temperance

Note:  Refrerence Wisdom 8:7. The Cardinal Virtues, unlike the Theological Virtues, can be achieved by human effort.

Treating the Sacred with RESPECT

We must get this message to the youth, that they are a treasure that is unique and special and their lives must seek the love of Christ as we are made in the image of the one who is sacred we too are sacred. This is why our vote today is so very important, we must make a stand for life and not take it lightly, we must protect the unborn and the laws that will be made in this country. We must stand for the gift of life, family and marriage. Others make their choices but we must make a stand for what is true!

Bl. John Paul pray for us…