WE’RE CATHOLIC! WE don’t say, “Where was the last place you saw it?” We say, “Have you prayed to St. Anthony?”
We’re Catholic! We don’t say, “I’m trying a vegan diet.” We say, “Sorry, it’s Friday.”
We’re Catholic! We don’t say, “Suck it up, Buttercup.” We say, “Offer it up!”
People these days don’t react well to “thoughts and prayers.” They say that prayer doesn’t change anything, and that telling someone you’re praying for them is useless compared to taking whatever “action” is politically popular. I understand where this instinct comes from, but I also think it’s a shame to shut down the discussions around the efficacy of prayer.
I think it’s this same materialist instinct that rejects the reminder to offer up our sufferings and unite them to the cross of Jesus. If your heart isn’t softened for it, it can come off as dismissive and unhelpful. But “offering up” our sacrifices is not just a way to “cry a river, build a bridge and get over it.” It’s actually the way we become saints.
There’s just a rampant misunderstanding of the Catholic doctrines around redemptive suffering. Especially if you’re coming from an atheist or worldly viewpoint, it can be hard to grasp the Church’s teaching that suffering has its own inherent value.
St. Paul tried to teach this to the Colossians, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Colossians 1:24).
What does that even mean? What could possibly be lacking in the afflictions of Christ? Nothing! And that’s the point. Jesus’s humility — which made God a man, and our brother, and our very food — allows us to participate in his suffering by adding our own to His cross.
Like a father allowing His toddler to help Him with car repairs, even though it would be quicker to do it himself, Christ allows us a way to participate in our own salvation, through union with His suffering.
That’s why every time we encounter a difficulty, we can unite it to the cross. I tell my children they can “offer it as a present for Jesus.”
But I don’t have anything too bad going on in my life right now. Who am I to encourage someone to embrace the heavy cross they’ve been handed? Well, let’s start small. I’ve got a bit of toothache, the kids have been extra noisy this week and there are ants in the house. If I offer up these little inconveniences and pains, it will draw me a little closer to Jesus each time.
Sainthood is not usually some heroic act of virtue; it’s choosing the right thing in all the little mundane moments of life. St. Therese called it the “Little Way.” It’s also practice for when larger sufferings come. If you cultivate a habit of offering up little things, then you strengthen that “muscle” into a reflex. Finally, when you encounter real suffering — maybe you get sick, or you get injured or you encounter heartbreaking loss or trying circumstances — you’ll be ready with a direction to send that opportunity for grace.
Every pain or suffering is a shining jewel in our eventual heavenly crown. Ideally, none of that valuable suffering would go to waste. Every stubbed toe is a drop of grace. To make it easier to remember, try keeping a list of prayer intentions to offer your sufferings for. Then, when every joy and every sorrow are offered equally up to God, we’ll finally be living 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”