Suffering: An Invitation?

What good can come from suffering? In this episode, Fr. Josh answers a question about praying in the midst of suffering, encouraging us to receive it as an invitation rather than just pain. He also introduces us to Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro, who strived to do just that.

Snippet from the Show
How is God the Father inviting you to abide with Jesus right now in this present moment? Pray as you can: not as you ought.

Glory Story (1:08)

Question

How Do I Pray When I'm Suffering? (4:57)

What is the best way to pray whenever somebody is ill, recovering from an illness, or not able to concentrate on prayer as much as we would like to?
-Anonymous

Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro (13:54)

A woman who never experienced the physical healing of her many ailments, passing away at just 27 years old, but nonetheless a woman who lived a life of deep faith, trust, and hope in the Lord.

Meditation by Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

I give myself to God.
Here is my body. Take it.
Here is my blood. Take it.
Here is my soul, my will, my energy, my strength, my property, my wealth – all that I have.
It is Yours. Take it!

Offer it! Offer it with Thyself to the Heavenly Father in order that He, looking down on this Great Sacrifice, may see only Thee, His Beloved Son, in Whom He is well pleased.

Transmute the poor bread of my life into Thy Divine Life; thrill the wine of my wasted life into Thy Divine Spirit; unite my broken heart with Thy Heart; change my cross into a Crucifix.

Let not my abandonment, and my sorrow, and my bereavement go to waste. Gather up the fragments, and as the drop of water is absorbed by the wine at the Offertory of the Mass, let my life be absorbed in Thee; let my little cross be entwined with Thy great Cross, so that I may purchase the joys of everlasting happiness in union with Thee.

Consecrate these trials of my life which would go unrewarded, unless united with Thee; transubstantiate me so that like bread which is now Thy Body, and wine which is now Thy Blood, I too may be wholly Thee. I care not if the Species remain, or that, like the Bread and the Wine, I seem to all earthly eyes the same as before.

My station in life, my routine duties, my work, my family -all these are but the species of my life which may remain unchanged; but the substance of my life, my soul, my mind, my will, my heart – transubstantiate them, transform them wholly into Thy service, so that through me all may know how sweet is the love of Christ.

Amen.

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