Comments for Catholicism and Suffering at http://www.thecatholicthing.org , comment 1 to 14 out of 14 comments http://www.thecatholicthing.org Sun, 19 May 2013 10:01:04 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-15349 Having to 'listen' to the morose ramblings of Americans on the internet, everywhere you turn, daily, is - one truly can believe very often, a penance too much to bear. Were it not for the grace of God one would lose one's marbles altogether. How many souls have I saved since the inception of the WWW. My star shall shine so brightly in the firmament. - Paula Sun, 13 Jan 2013 00:58:42 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10615 @Tom Perna: That quotation is from St. Ignatius of Loyola. - Howard Kainz Wed, 28 Mar 2012 05:25:51 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10612 Professor Kainz - a terrific piece and a good reminder of the importance of suffering. This hit home for me since my father has suffered from Crohn's disease for as long as I can remember. I have always tried to tell my Dad that his sufferings although painful are beneficial. It's a work in progress for all of us. I was once told that Bl. John Paul II in the months leading up to his death did not take pain killers. He offered up his pain and suffering to Christ. Just to clarify one point you made - you mentioned St. Ignatius in the third paragraph. You are speaking of St. Ignatius of Antioch, correct? - Tom Perna Tue, 27 Mar 2012 21:10:51 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10588 The reality of redemptive suffering is so central to our faith. Our son, Danny, was in a terrible auto accident and suffered severe brain injury. Our good Carmelite Sisters at Port Tobacco in Southern Maryland helped me weather this storm w/Danny. Mother Mary Joseph told me that we don't know the God's use of Danny's suffering for the good of the mystical body. Her words were just a very practical orientation for redemptive suffering. - Bob Vacin Tue, 27 Mar 2012 05:42:02 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10562 @tz: "When we massacre innocent men, women, and children...." Who is the "we" here? You? Me? We Catholics? We Catholics go around massacring men, women, and children, just like Jihadists? Or when these things happen, we Catholics are to blame? You're bringing in "red herrings" to the topic. - Howard Kainz Sun, 25 Mar 2012 19:54:11 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10561 Ought then I should pray that you get some horrendous, disfiguring, untreatable, slow, excruciating disease? I wouldn't engage in calumny or detraction against muslims so easily - most sundays the women taking our Lord's body and blood could learn modesty from them. And we are not without sin, most muslims consider terrorism as most catholics consider abuse. When we massacre innocent men, women, and children, we call it 'collateral damage' although it is a war crime under treaties we signed. Like torture. But they become less than human, we look at the hadjis, towelheads, the way abortionists look at fetuses. But to return... Suffering's purpose is to absorb and destroy evil that would otherwise continue or afflict an innocent or someone who would fall. We rarely know the ultimate target, only that we stepped in front and took the bullet. But we redeem some part of the world with our participation in the cross. - tz Sun, 25 Mar 2012 16:40:13 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10554 @Thomas C. Coleman and Martin Campbell: Thanks for the corrections. English guillotines! I must have been writing that late at night. - Howard Kainz Sun, 25 Mar 2012 10:26:03 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10552 A thought-provoking column. Thank you. - patty1930 Sun, 25 Mar 2012 09:46:19 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10547 I don't think that Jacinta has been canonised by the Church as of 24.03.12 although it is only a matter of time. - Martin Campbell Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:29:04 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10543 Edifying colmun, indeed, Dr. Kainz. Please foregive my poiniting out that the guillotine had not yet been invented at the of St. Thomas More's maryrdom and that his asking the executioner to hit the right spot was not chiding but an understandable plea for mercy since the axe men were often bribed to make one clean cut rather than draw out the agony. For us St. Thomas is a symbol of courage, but it might be helpful to remember that others keep in mind that he himslef had ordered the burning of Protestants. - Thomas C. Coleman, Jr. Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:27:02 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10537 Not always something we want to hear, but necessary nonetheless. The column was worth it for the Flannery O'Connor quote alone. I chose Thomas More as my confirmation name (RCIA) for many reasons. But Ms. O'Connor makes me laugh -- and that's heavy lifting these days. Thank you Prof. Kainz. - Graham Sat, 24 Mar 2012 06:32:11 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10535 Manfred, I'm with you, bud. A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day - Proverbs 27-15 - Grump Sat, 24 Mar 2012 04:11:51 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10533 An excellent column, Howard. I thought you might quote the next line from Luke: "Think ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you,no; but separation. For there shall be from henceforth five in one house divided: three against two and two against three." (Luke 12, 51-52). I think this describes the state of the Church today as always. BTW, it may sound self-serving, but I believe, looking back, that following the traditional Faith in marriage or single (no divorce, no contraception, no abortion, no cheating, no lying, struggling to pay bills and tuitions) can produce enough suffering by itself - Manfred Sat, 24 Mar 2012 03:40:20 +0100 http://www.thecatholicthing.org/columns/2012/catholicism-and-suffering.html#comment-10531 This is not masochism at all, you can see it in every human endeavor. If you want to understand higher mathematics, you first have to submit yourself to the boring and mechanical rules of arithmetic and algebra. Then, having undergone the initiation, having purified your mind, you can contemplate wondrously pure and ornate vistas. Similarly in physical exercise, it is initially painful but eventually gives one strength for great feats. Building muscles is painful because it actually destroys old muscle structure so that it can be replaced with something more powerful. I think spiritual exercise is like the exercise of our body and mind. We have to destroy all of our sinful inclinations in order to be made anew according to God's light. We perceive this as painful, but it is really a purification, a pruning of all of our selfish, sinful branches, so that God's glorious flower might grow upon us. - Patrick K Sat, 24 Mar 2012 00:18:39 +0100