The Message
Lesson Twelve — St. Faustina, the Way of the Cross, and Life's Trials
God never intended for us to suffer. His desire for us has never changed — He wants us to be united with Him in love. Suffering entered the human condition through original sin, and the result was sickness, tribulation, and death. But through the Cross, Our Lord took suffering and transformed it. Jesus transformed human suffering so that it now has redemptive value. In his Apostolic Letter "On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering" (Salvifici Doloris), Pope John Paul II states:
Declaring the power of salvific suffering, the Apostle Paul says: "In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church."
These words seem to be found at the end of the long road that winds through the suffering which forms part of the history of man and which is illuminated by the Word of God. These words have as it were the value of a final discovery, which is accompanied by joy. For this reason St. Paul writes:
"Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake." The joy comes from the discovery of the meaning of suffering, and this discovery, even if it is most personally shared in by Paul of Tarsus who wrote these words, is at the same time valid for others. The Apostle shares his own discovery and rejoices in it because of all those whom it can help — just as it helped him — to understand the salvific meaning of suffering (Chapter 1).
Our Lady knew suffering. She was spiritually crucified and suffered as she watched her only Son be crucified. Yet she stood with Him to the end. Today, many people living in affluence many think that they can avoid suffering. Yet there are many types of suffering which will inevitably come into our lives, including watching our loved ones suffer.
Saint Faustina thanked Jesus "for the little daily crosses, for opposition to my endeavors, for the hardships of communal life, for the misinterpretation of my intentions, for humiliations at the hands of others, for the harsh way in which we are treated, for false suspicions, for poor health and loss of strength, for self-denial, for dying to myself, for lack of recognition in everything, for the upsetting of all my plans" (D, #343). She also wrote that, "Great love can change small things into great ones, and it is only love which lends value to our actions" (D, # 303). She wrote about rejection and humiliation. "When I fell ill and was taken to the infirmary, I suffered much unpleasantness because of this. There were two of us sick in the infirmary. Sisters would come to Sister N, but no one came to visit me" (Diary of St. Faustina, 149).
Her physical suffering at times was overwhelming; "Today my suffering increased somewhat: I not only feel greater pain all through my lungs, but also some strange pains in my intestines. I am suffering as much as my weak nature can bear ..." (953).
Yet she maintained her trust in God in spite of all her trials and tribulations, adding, "Oh, how pleasing are the hymns flowing from a suffering soul! All heaven delights in such a soul, especially when it is tested by God. It mournfully sings out its longing for Him. Great is its beauty, because it comes from God. The soul walks through the jungle of life, wounded by God's love. With one foot only it touches the ground" (114).
It is at these difficult times that our faith and trust in God is put to test. The Catechism teaches us that, "Now, however, 'we walk by faith, not by sight'; we perceive God as 'in a mirror, dimly' and only 'in part.' Even though enlightened by Him in whom it believes, faith is often lived in darkness and can be put to the test. The world we live in often seems very far from the one promised by faith. Our experiences of evil and suffering, injustice, and death, seem to contradict the Good News; they can shake our faith and become a temptation against it" (164).
As followers of Christ, we know we are to be Christ-like. Yet, we avoid suffering. Jesus wants us to follow Him in His footsteps, telling us, "If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me" (Mt 16:24).
Questions for Discussion
Suffering is a mystery and a great grace; Saint Faustina understood this and suffered not only from advanced tuberculosis, but from rejection and humiliation. Trust in God is critical as we walk through this valley of tears.
1. Discuss St. Faustina's sufferings with tuberculosis and rejection by her fellow nuns, and how in our own lives we will be misunderstood.
2. Read and discuss Diary, 343.
3. Saint Faustina was rejected by her fellow nuns when she was ill in the infirmary. Discuss how when we focus on ourselves, we miss the needs and pains of our loved ones and fellow man.