Giving Meaning to Suffering

We had a happy meeting of the young Manchester OCDS group last night.  Four in the group already in formation and several due to take the step in December.  Such love for Our Lord evident and such enthusiasm to share.  We were looking at Teresa’s Life where she talks about her early illness and her close encounter with death – they had even put wax on her eyes and prepared a grave for her, and her recovery was well-nigh miraculous.  Somebody spoke about how people don’t know how to deal with their suffering, whereas we Catholics have a way to make some kind of sense of it in the light of the cross.  I got to thinking that it is part of our apostolate to help people see that the cross gives meaning to their suffering, for the apparent pointlessness of their suffering makes it a great deal harder to bear.  However, this apostolate is very delicate, because we can't just do it by preaching, it requires sensitivity and of course prayer on our part.

Intercessions

Cancer: Brian Davis, Bernard (and wife Angela caring for him), Catherine, Alex (43 with five children), Theresa K, Elena

Ivy – sick child

Brian (recovering from Pneumonia)

Kevin (heart attack)

William Gove (in recovery)

Illness:  Katy Keeling, Noreen

David OCDS – housebound

Grace – troubling ailments, job difficulties, family (deceased mother and health of father)

Mark – brain infection

Michael, Kira – vulnerable youngsters

Defence of the unborn and the elderly