Im heading to Knock today for the novena which concludes tomorrow and am leaving in the next few minutes. I decided to log on to see if anyone needs prayer and I just read this thread. Im so sorry for whats happened to you and Deanna and I know that Our Lady wants me to pray for you and your family today so I will especially remember you at Knock and ask Our Lady to console you and Deanna and heal all the hurts. Every blessing to you Mary
Greg, I am just seeing this now, will keep you and Deanna in prayer today. I am glad things are doing a little better- I will pray she continues to find the right people to help her through this time and for her healing, safety, and protection. Blessings, Val
Let us offer up our Masses for Greggo and his wife, you at Knock and I here at our Sacred Heart Parish tomorrow at 7:20. Anyone else wish to join in our offering for them?
Can someone give me a good explanation why some people seem to receive more than their fair share of suffering? ...and without a word from our Lord as to why, or to what good it might be doing?... Just silence from above. I am close to despairing, and I don't understand...you don't know the half of it...I find myself angry... I know that's wrong, but I can't help feeling it.
From living through a similar experience in the early 90's, I can only say that it's important to guard your heart from turning your anger toward God. The enemy will tempt you to resent God for not rescuing you from this situation. It may only be from the comfort of heaven that we will know His reasons. " I've been sitting here trying to remember how I got through it, and here's what I remember that helped: 1. Turn your questions, your anger, your depression, your resentment and your fear into prayer. You can easily spend all your time chewing on that stuff like a bone, which is a waste of time and unhealthy. Every time the anger blazes up, for instance, pray, "Lord, I give you this anger as a prayer. I don't want it. Jesus, I trust in you." Sometimes I felt like I was playing tennis with those negative feelings. Every time one landed, I'd lob it to Jesus, hundreds of times a day. 2. No matter how bad you feel, go to Mass, go to confession, pray the rosary every day. 3. Hold on to His promises. During those years, I held onto Psalm 27-14 like a lifeline: "Be stout-hearted and wait upon the Lord." It was only near the end of my trial that I lifted my eyes to the preceding verse: "I believe I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living." I learned how to be stout-hearted, and I did eventually see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Most of the fruit that came from that experience took me years to see, and I'm sure I haven't seen it all. But one thing that comforted me at the time was how many non-believers came up to me and said, "Your life is a mess, and you just keep going, and most often, you manage to smile. How do you do it?" What a gift it was to be invited to tell non-believers about my faith! There's one thing I know for sure - Mother Mary is on top of your situation. I am a very forgetful person, but she nudges me to pray for you and Deanna several times a day..
It is such a mystery. I remember my brother Cormac 26, Teresa 26 and their 2 years old daughter were all killed in a car crash and going to the morgue in the hospital and viewing their battered bodies. The doctor pulled back the rubber sheet and as I looked I just went into shock.... Later that week my poor mother asked me why it had happened and I had to admit I didn't know. I think often freely admitting we simply don't know is the wisest course. All I ever do know from prayer is that God loves us all so much He is totally crazy with love. Because I hold His hand in prayer all the time when the bad times come our hands don't let go in the great dark and storm as we walk through these terrible things together. One thing I have found though is that life is a little like climbing a mountain and as the years roll by I get a better perspective on the hows and whys of things. For instance since early childhood I have wanted to be a priest. Instead of which I ended up fighting a large part of my life and ended up in prison twice. This seems like such a failure and begs the question, why? Well I understand if my life had taken anther course, if their had been no war here, yes I would have ended up a priest here but a very bad one. Selfish, nasty, unspiritual with a very shallow faith and no use to anyone. But getting nailed right to the Cross made me look with and find the Hand of Mary to lead me in the ways of prayer. So that while with no Cross I would have made a horrible, dreadful priest I though falling and the Cross make at least a bearable lay person. Being led, for instance to start this forum. Jesus drank the Chalice of Suffering to the very dreggs. It seems to me the very dreggs of suffering is not to understand (at the time at least) the hows and whys of things. This lack of understanding lies at the very centre of our Cross, the nails that keep us there ..so to speak. So all we can say is I love, you, I trust you , I hope in you. This is been my prayer now for nearly 30 years, one I take with every breath. ..and in times of great perplexity when I do not know where to turn I pray, 'Lead me oh Lord in the Light of your Love'. Offering Mass today for you and yours.
One thing always draws my attention in the lives of the saints and that is suffering. It is like a wind from heaven. The more suffering the greater the sanctity . You simply cannot divorce the two, the Cross and the Resurrection. I must say, in my own life, the times of greatest pain have been the times of greatest grace. When I look into the faces of people I consider to be saints or very,very holy I always, always see the marks of pain left there. Always. Great joy too of course, the gift of accepted pain.
Gregg- I just saw your note and join with the others and will offer up Deanna and you to the care of Jesus at Mass today. There has been so much wise advice already given here. All I can say is in the most simplest way is to try and Love. I know you love Deanna- share it in spirit now. Say the name of Jesus over and over even in the phone. He will protect her and begin to heal her. Love conquers all things. Peace to you Gregg and Deanna. The Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Blood of Christ, only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, save us. (after each line) Blood of Christ, Incarnate Word of God, Blood of Christ, of the New and Eternal Testament, Blood of Christ, falling upon the earth in the Agony, Blood of Christ, shed profusely in the Scourging, Blood of Christ, flowing forth in the Crowning with Thorns, Blood of Christ, poured out on the Cross, Blood of Christ, price of our salvation, Blood of Christ, without which there is no forgiveness, Blood of Christ, Eucharistic drink and refreshment of souls, Blood of Christ, stream of mercy, Blood of Christ, victor over demons, Blood of Christ, courage of martyrs, Blood of Christ, strength of confessors, Blood of Christ, bringing forth virgins, Blood of Christ, help of those in peril, Blood of Christ, relief of the burdened, Blood of Christ, solace in sorrow, Blood of Christ, hope of the penitent, Blood of Christ, consolation of the dying, Blood of Christ, peace and tenderness of hearts, Blood of Christ, pledge of Eternal Life, Blood of Christ, freeing souls from purgatory, Blood of Christ, most worthy of all glory and honor, Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Spare us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Graciously hear us, O Lord. Lamb of God, Who takest away the sins of the world, Have mercy on us. V. Thou hast redeemed us, O Lord, in Thy Blood. R. And made us, for our God, a kingdom. Let us pray: Almighty and eternal God, Thou hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son the Redeemer of the world and willed to be appeased by his blood. Grant, we beg of Thee, that we may worthily adore this price of our salvation and through its power be safeguarded from the evils of the present life so that we may rejoice in its fruits forever in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
My own 2 cents is believe it or not I think God loves you more and He trusts you to make the most of this suffering and like Job wants you to totally trust Him. I know that sounds contradictory but it seems the closer you are to God the more you suffer. I have so many around me that have it so easy. I live in constant anxiety because of work and when overwhelmed by someone who is testing me (we deal with the public)I've come to the conclusion I have no control over these situations. They are tests for both sides but I will only be judged by my actions not the other persons. So God always seems to be testing me which at times seems overwhelming but at least I don't live in fear of being killed for practicing my faith (yet), or starving. I'm sometimes don't appreciate how good I have it even though it seems to be too much. I don't have visions or voices like the majority of the forum here so I don't get that confirmation sign from God that I'm on the right track but I know He loves us all. Remember He loves you more than you love your wife or parents or children. He only wants us to be with him forever. So I've been praying for you and RoryRory. We're so close to the end I know we can endure for a bit longer. I hope you don't despair and remember this forum cares for you and is praying. Life is but a blink of the eye less than a millisecond in regards to eternity. Be at peace! God Bless!
I ponder that same question and have come to the conclusion it won't be answered until I reach the other side of the grave. Very frustrating, I know! There's an account from the Carmelite reformer and Doctor of the Church, St. Theresa of Avila, that I think many of us can relate to in difficult times. As you know, St. Theresa was a spirituality deep and reverential woman, prone to levitating during prayer, but she never lost her great sense of humor, evident in her somewhat playful relationship with God. Once, when she was travelling to one of her convents by donkey, doing God's work, she was bucked off into the mud and injured her leg. Covered with mud and in pain she looked up to the heavens and complained. “Lord,” she said, “you couldn’t have picked a worse time for this to happen. Why would you let this happen?” And the response in prayer that she heard was, “That is how I treat my friends.” She replied, “And that is why you have so few of them!” Falling off a donkey is pale in comparison to the troubles you're facing right now, but it illustrates how even our saints don't understand the reason for God's seeming indifference to our plight. In fact, sometimes He seems to be the instigator. Why? Only He knows. But I do know that suffering can be a sign that He is lovingly and painstakingly molding you into His perfect shape...because He loves you.
When I was going through a very tough time that I found hard to understand I just kept saying Jesus I trust in you. Times I felt there was no one listening but then I would say with St Peter 'Lord to whom will I go' if I didnt trust in Jesus. I eventually came through the tunnel of trial and I realised that my faith was so much stronger. It will the same for you. I am keeping you in my prayers. Mary
Purification, Greggo and an opportunity to look to the Lord for all His guidance....think about everything Our Lady went through on Her journey through this earth. She certainly did not need purification but her example of HUMILITY astounds me. Jesus suffered greatly while on earth. We have the next life to look forward to with Jesus and Mary. Hold tight.....Anchor yourself between the Eucharist and the Rosary.... All will be well, my friend.
