The
Blessing of Suffering
The
authentic Christian gospel is
the gospel of the cross. When
we suffer for the sake of Christ,
we walk in his footsteps, we
are purified, we become more
like him, we grow in holiness.
It is a great privilege to suffer
for him, a privilege that we
should not turn our backs on,
nor bear grudgingly. Paul counted
it pure joy to suffer for him.
So should we.
We
as CFC-FFL are privileged to
be God's instruments of renewal
in the world. We can only succeed,
and defeat the enemy, if we
work under the banner of the
cross. Let us continue to learn
the lessons of Lamentations,
joyfully carry our cross each
day, and be willing to give
our all for the cause of Christ.
God
bless.
frank
Pope
Benedict XVI: "Euthanasia
is a false solution to the drama
of suffering."
By Thaddeus M. Baklinski
VATICAN,
February 2, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com)
- Before praying the Angelus
yesterday with the multitude
gathered in Saint Peter's Square,
Pope Benedict XVI spoke of Christ's
suffering and crucifixion as
an essential part of His mission
of salvation. He reminded the
faithful that "The cross
of Christ will be the demon’s
ruin, and this is why Jesus
does not cease to teach his
disciples that in order to enter
into his glory he must suffer
much, be rejected, condemned
and crucified. Suffering is
an integral part of his mission.”
The
Holy Father explained that,
just as a death that is died
willingly is a source of life,
Jesus gave meaning to human
suffering by willingly suffering
and dying on the cross for love
of humanity: “a meaning
that many men and women of every
age understood and made their
own, experiencing profound serenity
even in the bitterness of difficult
physical and moral trials.”
The
short discourse on the meaning
and dignity of suffering was
given on the occasion of the
Day for Life, celebrated in
Italy on the first Sunday of
February.
The
Pope referred to the Day for
Life message from the Italian
Bishops on the theme, “The
strength of life in suffering.”
The Holy Father stated, “I
wholeheartedly join in their
message in which we see the
love of pastors for their people,
and the courage to proclaim
the truth, the courage to state
with clarity, for example, that
euthanasia is a false solution
to the drama of suffering, a
solution unworthy of man.
“The
true answer cannot be putting
someone to death, however 'kindly,'
but to bear witness to the love
that helps us to face pain and
agony in a human way. We are
certain: No tear, whether it
be of those who suffer or those
who stand by them, goes unnoticed
before God.”
Link
to the complete text of the
Holy Father's address, in various
languages:
http://www.fides.org/ita/magistero/bxvi/angelus_010209.html
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"For
to me life is Christ, and death
is gain." (Phil 1:21)