I have a dear friend who has ALS. She is also a very Spirit-filled woman who truly loves the Lord and suffers virtuously. (Although I'm sure she would not have wanted me to write that.)
Anyway, she would like to start a website for those who suffer. A website that would offer encouragement and inspiration in the face of suffering. She'd like it to include Catholic teaching and the Catholic perspective. She envisions it having links to other sites that would also serve this purpose, maybe having audio links to inspiring talks from EWTN or Avemaria radio. She'd like to quote saints and include a variety of inspiring works on this subject, all from a Catholic perspective. She would like the theme to be "Offer It Up."
So my friend has asked me to help her gather materials and ideas for this project. I told her I'd ask all of you too. Do you have a favorite source of inspiring material on the subject of suffering? Any saint's writings that particularly speak to you? Any ideas for a website like this?
I'm also looking for technical help for her. There are some people here locally that I will ask. but if anybody else out there would like to volunteer that would be great. My friend has the vision and the desire but neither she nor I are computer types, if you know what I mean. May God bless this project!!! I will be emailing all of your comments to her. Thank you!!
11 comments:
Rosemary,
Several years back, while on a silent retreat at a Cistertian monastery, I came across a small book titled, "Little Book of Eternal Wisdom" by Blessed Henry Suso. I love this, true discourse, between Our Lord and Blsd. Henry. Here is the web-site which has the entire book written out. Ch XIII is "On The Immeasurable Dignity of Temporal Suffering...and Ch XIV.."On the Unspeakable Advantages To Be Derived From Meditations On The Divine Passion. Also, you may want to read Ch XII "On The Immeasurable Joys Of Heaven"
Find it at: www.ccel.org/ccel/suso/wisdom.toc.html
One other is Fr. Paul Sullivan on "Suffering". It is great.
www.olrl.org/virtues/suffering.shtml
Hopes this helps! Barb {Hail3N1}
Rosemary -- I'm not sure if you all intend to cover emotional suffering as well, but if you do, you might check out my daughter Arwen's blog. (ennorath.typepad.com -- I can't do a link without a nice little button to click....) She's writing about parenthood now, but suffered from infertility for a long time and there's a lot in her archives. Also, you could talk to her personally, as she's local to you and a member of your parish. She has good theological grounding, as she graduated from AMC along w/ Fr. Ed. (Only it was his umpteenth degree..)
Rosemary,
Take a look at paragraph 40 from Spe Salvi:
40. I would like to add here another brief comment with some relevance for everyday living. There used to be a form of devotion—perhaps less practised today but quite widespread not long ago—that included the idea of “offering up” the minor daily hardships that continually strike at us like irritating “jabs”, thereby giving them a meaning. Of course, there were some exaggerations and perhaps unhealthy applications of this devotion, but we need to ask ourselves whether there may not after all have been something essential and helpful contained within it. What does it mean to offer something up? Those who did so were convinced that they could insert these little annoyances into Christ's great “com-passion” so that they somehow became part of the treasury of compassion so greatly needed by the human race. In this way, even the small inconveniences of daily life could acquire meaning and contribute to the economy of good and of human love. Maybe we should consider whether it might be judicious to revive this practice ourselves.
Rose,
There's an entire encyclical on suffering, Salvifici Doloris by JPII: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_11021984_salvifici-doloris_en.html
JPII actually wrote and said a lot on the topic, especially after the attempt on his life.
I know some computer/web types in your area, but then I'm sure you've known them longer than I have (like, since they were in diapers) so you probably don't need my recommendations. ;-)
Barb, thank you, I will send these links to my friend. (and check them out myself too:-)
Salome ellen, your daughter is at CTK? Do I know her or maybe even you? My email is bogdan@rc.net if you'd like to contact me privately. And yes, I'm sure she would include internal suffering (since those can be the worst kind.) I will check out your daughter's blog.
Catholic Mom-- that is really good. Some of us remember when we were frequently reminded to offer everything up.
Kate, yes, that encyclical would have to be included. Feel free to give me the names of the "computer types" you're thinking of, particularly those who might have a heart for this kind of service or this particular person, whom I'm thinking you may know of. My email is bogdan@rc.net Thanks, Kate. God bless.I am still getting to your blog from time to time, just not getting in the time for many commetnts.
Hi, Rose,
I have a lot of Web experience (Web design, graphics, instructional design, editing, etc.). I just retired and have time available and would love to help. Let me know what I can do.
Will RCNet be hosting the site? Does she have a domain yet?
Ruthann, I don't even know what "hosting a site" means. No she does not have a domain yet. Where do we start?
A domain is something like "microsoft.com" -- for example, I own "ruthannzaroff.com" (and other domains). I think that RCNet still hosts personal sites for free, although the domain would be something like "yourdomainname.rc.net." I suggest that you check out rc.net first and look at their explanation (http://www.rc.net/). Click on the huge yellow button that says "Let us host your domain!" -- They're very nice and helpful people and can get you started. (And, of course, they're local to Ann Arbor AND Catholic!)
Let me know if you'd like more help!
Ruthann
I haven't read the following book yet, but have heard others say it's wonderful, and that is Peter Kreeft's 'Making sense of Suffering'.
http://www.amazon.com/Making-Sense-Suffering-Peter-Kreeft/dp/0892832193
It might be of help for your friend to read this, to link to the book, to quote excerpts from it etc.
Hope you are having a much blessed Advent, my friend!
God Bless you and yours this Christmastide :-)
Thank you all for your suggestions so far. Ruthann, I may call you.
Hi, well be sensible, well-all described
Post a Comment