I made Jesus suffer for me  

 “Christians believe that a mysterious, spiritual solidarity exists among themselves and all other children of the same God. We call this solidarity the communion of saints; the efforts, merits, and sufferings of each individual benefit the rest.” (Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur to Jeanne Alcan)

A decade back, I prayed myself through the Ignatian retreat that the Jesuit father took Mother Teresa through in 1959 (found in appendix B of Come Be my Light). Sometimes the wording he gave in his instructions stood out for me. One such time was his instruction to her that stated, “To spend a day in reparation for the sufferings I have made Jesus bear for me.”

I grew up hearing Jesus suffered for me on the cross. But I’ve never heard I made Jesus suffer for me. Wow, a paradigm shift.

“ I believe that there is flowing through us – those on earth, those in purgatory, and those who have reached true life – a great, unending stream of the sufferings, merits, and love of everyone, and that our least sorrow, our slightest efforts, can through grace reach others, whether near or far, and bring them light, peace, and holiness.”  (Servant of God Elisabeth Leseur)

When Catholics suffer, we typically ‘offer it up’, often for the souls in purgatory. That’s good in itself. But too often we do it with a desolate heart, one that lacks hope for itself. Our Father’s plan for our redemption is personal and inspiring if we embrace it. We can make our suffering personal too by asking for the grace of our suffering to aid another who needs relief at this moment.  Like us, Jesus suffered not just on the cross but in His everyday life on earth with mere mortals. As Fr. Daniel Considine SJ put it, “Our Lord was thwarted at every turn. His preaching was misunderstood; his miracles and cures he got no thanks for. The one thing he looked  for—to gain love—failed him. Take our Lord’s day; it was one long string of disappointments. … His efforts invariably met with failure. “ Let’s face it: life with us was a pain in the keister for Him! So we can take our physical, emotional and spiritual sufferings alongside His and ask for these to benefit another soul who needs relief at this very moment. 

“I can [relieve] the sufferings of Jesus.

I can take a part from His suffering.”

(Mother Teresa)

Or maybe, with my suffering, I can take a part from the suffering I made Him endure. 

We have the beautiful tradition in our church of celebrating Allhallowtide: All Hallows Eve on Friday, All Saints Day this Saturday, and All Souls Day this Sunday. A weekend to spend in this communion of saints sharing in the merits of suffering with one another. 

“Catholics have always had a strong sense of solidarity, not only with the dead who are now saints in heaven, but also with the dead who are still in need of a final purification before they enter the glory of heaven. Indeed, praying for the dead clearly reveals the elevated notion of what heaven is—intimate union with God—and thus the purity necessary for this union. We are not simply destined to be with God, but to be in God, and that’s why Jesus taught us that we must be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. It is impossible to see how the soul that is not perfect in virtue, and purity of heart, could possibly enter into the most intimate union with Almighty God.” […] “the Church also teaches that, because of the communication of spiritual goods and merits among the communion of saints, we on earth can be of great help to those who have gone before us and are not yet in the state of perfection necessary to enter in to the divine embrace and blessedness of perfect union.”  (Fr. Mark Pilon)

The communion of saints isn’t a sentimental myth. It is our lived reality, our extended family. And until the end of time, this communion of saints will grow in numbers. Who better to offer up our suffering for than our own parish priest? Continue to pray for our worldwide Church, particularly Pope Leo XIV, all priests, clergy, religious and consecrated. Remember that every few seconds of the day, the sacrifice of the mass is taking place somewhere in the world. Don’t miss an opportunity to consecrate to that sacrifice the souls of all priests living and deceased, especially yours. 

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam 😊

(Image by Fra Angelico, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)