A note for a friend in a forum

[1) The following post I have adapted from one I put in a forum (sadly no longer available) a while ago which proved quite popular. It was written for a friend, also disabled, who had recently converted to the faith but hadn’t yet understood redemptive suffering well enough to apply it to her own life. By explaining the way it helps me to “offer (my suffering) up”, I hoped to help my friend. 2) To protect privacy, some names have been changed or omitted. 3) Thanks, as always (see below), to EWTN.]


Maggie, I am so sorry that last time we “spoke” I forgot to welcome you Home, into the Catholic Church. I was trying to say too much, too quickly, I think. Anyway, truly, I am so happy you have joined our family. And know how full of joy and passion you must be, because I was a convert – with Tom – in 1993 and know how I felt, and still do feel, in love with Mother Church. Welcome home!

The other thing, of course, was “redemptive suffering”, and where I’m sure others can (and probably did already) explain it better than I could, I will tell you what it means to me, and how it makes everything so much easier.

Credit for anything, and everything, I know though, really has to go to EWTN. After years of listening on satellite radio and now watching on Sky TV - especially from Mthr. Angelica. Fr. Mitch Pacwa and Dr. Scott Hahn - I have become quite knowledgable in our faith – well, at least moreso than when I started! I am so grateful to them all.

First of all I look to my two favourite scripture passages: Luke 9:23 and Paul to the Colossians 1:24.

In the first, Jesus is addressing His disciples: “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (LK 9:23) He is instructing them, and us, that if we want to be with Him in Heaven we must follow His example, which is to take up our cross (i.e. suffering) and pray for the forgivenes of sins (for each sinner’s redemption). This can be for your own sins and those of your family but most of all, I think for those you are aware of taking place elsewhere, through strangers.

So, in my own way, I will perhaps be feeling a lot of pain, not sure I can go on, and then I picture Jesus in front of me with His cross and I, physically, do my best to keep up with Him (sometimes He takes my hand; He always helps). Other times I’ll meditate on being with our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mt 26:36-46; Lk 22:40-46; Mk 14:32-42) sharing His Agony. Or with Him on the cross uniting with His suffering of the Crucifixion. At the same time I will be “offering up” my pain – as a sort-of sacrifice to God – and remembering in my thoughts (i.e. silent prayer) those people I wish God to forgive/help/convert – it can be any or all of these things or any you think of for yourself.

This is just how I understand it, and how I try to be faithful to Christ’s teaching but I’m sure, Maggie, you will find your way and it will be just as meaningful. The wonder then, is the peace which comes from knowing that it all does serve a purpose – it makes sense. And that’s when, by the grace of God, the miracle happens: you find yourself filled with a great joy. Which leads us to St. Paul and his epistle to the Colossians.

“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body, that is the Church [my caps.]…” (Col 1:24).

To my understanding, this is St. Paul realising that, certainly Jesus died for the forgiveness of sins, but original sin, not all sins forever more (as some Protestants would have it). No, Jesus died, that we, through our faith in Him, could be saved by following His example (see above). St. Paul has therefore learnt that to offer up our suffering in prayer for our own sins and others’, post-original sin, is to unite with our Saviour in His Passion. And that unity, that closenes brings a great peace and, finally, joy.

Well, there you go, Maggie. A couple of weeks of crashed computer, souping-up an old and better one, re-formatting and becoming a regular geek later, and here you have it: probably totally redundant by now, but my interpretation (with EWTN’s help) of redemptive suffering.

I’m going to close now and come over to the site (I’ve drafted this on Word – hope the paragraph-breaks and italics come out?!) because I’m really missing everyone on ***** and looking forward to catching up.

God bless you.

Love, Virginia

MS Bubble

[This poem/prayer also appears on my MS blog (MS - My Scene). I like re-reading it as, for me, it describes the consolation to be found in having a disease like MS (yes, there is one!). It's a "Thank you."]


There is something very special about being in an MS “bubble”.
Alone, untouched by voice or hand, or even presence of another.
Protected, enveloped, by what? By peace. There is no panic here. No stress.
Only the blessing and golden light of being alone,
yet loved, in communion with the Holy Family.
Through silence and physical solitude to feel the soul surrender its own wordless prayer.
Contemplation.
And grace.
Amen.