Christianity Explained
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Why does suffering exist?
God created the world perfect. Adam and Eve ate the apple of knowledge of good and evil, allowing sin death and chaos to enter the world. Now we are in our fallen nature and experience darkness. But even in their turning away from God, God offers salvation. God created the stars and moon but man made the cross which represents suffering, God willingly attaches himself to the cross and transforms it and suffering itself into a sign of peace healing, redemption, and purification.
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Why does God allow the Rebellion of Satan and his followers?
Satan and rebellion has to be allowed to exist to allow for true love and free will of choosing God to exist and not forced. Love without the possibility of refusal is not love. God lets us have the option of being tempted, but choose him and righteousness by our free will. So everything is for righteousness to be known, and true joy in Christ to be known. God transforms suffering into something good.
Isaiah 45:7
7 I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
St. Teresa of Avilla
GOD may permit the devil to tempt a soul to prove its virtue.
Why didn't God just kill Satan and abolish wickedness?
For the same reason he doesn't wipe out us sinners. Because God is loving, compassionate and merciful.
Psalm 145:8-9
8 The Lord is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love. 9 He has compassion on all he has made.
Luke 6:32-36
32 If you only love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. 33 And if you only do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. 34 And if you only lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward in heaven will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
CCC 309
“If God the Father Almighty… can bring good from the consequences of an evil… then he permits evil.”
CCC 312
“In time we can discover that God in his almighty providence can bring a good from the consequences of an evil… ‘For almighty God… would never permit an evil if he did not cause a good to come from that very evil.’” (St. Augustine)
CCC 314
“God is in no way, directly or indirectly, the cause of moral evil. He permits it, however, because he respects the freedom of his creatures and… knows how to derive good from it.”
CCC 385
“The Gospel gives us the certainty that God would not have permitted evil if he had not caused good to come from that very evil.”
CCC 412
“God permitted the activity of the devil… because he knows how to derive good from it.”
Why doesn't he just fix everything now?
He wants to give more chances for people to come to repentance choose to live holiness, godliness, and avoid hell. Immediate intervention would destroy human freedom. So God doesn’t end suffering now — He enters it, transforms it into new meaning, and gives you the strength and endurance to pass through it. Whatever you're going through would be worse without prayer and the grace of God by your side.
2. Benefits of Suffering
The strengthening of our endurance, will, focus, virtue, merit and power of prayer.
Colossians 1:11-24
“May you be strengthened with all power… for all endurance and patience with joy.
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. (Participation)
2 Corinthians 4:16–17
“This slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory.”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited (some translations elated), I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
John 9
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind
3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Romans 5:3–5
“We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope…”
Romans 8:17
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Romans 8:28
“We know that all things work together for good for those who love God.”
Romans 12:1-2
A Living Sacrifice
12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
James 1:2–4
“Count it all joy… when you meet trials… for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness… that you may be perfect and complete. 12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial.”
James 2:5
“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”
James 5:10-11
Patience and God’s Reward
“Take as an example of suffering and patience the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider blessed those who have endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.” 16 “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
Hebrews 5:7-9
7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus[a] offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience through what he suffered. 9 And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him.
Refinement:
Hebrews 12:10–11
“He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness… later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.”
Isaiah 48:10
“I have refined you… I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.”
1 Peter 1:6-7
6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
John 15:2
“Every branch that does bear fruit, he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.”
Psalm 12:6
“The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times.”
Proverbs 17:3
“The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the Lord tests the heart.”
Proverbs 25:4
“Remove the dross from the silver, and a silversmith can produce a vessel.”
Matthew 3:11–12
“He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
1 Peter 2:18
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
1 Peter 4:13
“Rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.”
1 Peter 5:10
“After you have suffered a little while, [God] will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.”
Psalm 34:19
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Psalm 66:10–12, 16–20
“For you, O God, have tested us… we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance… Truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer.”
Psalm 118
18 the lord has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death.
Psalm 119
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies, and not to selfish gain! 37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things. 61 Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law. 71 It is goodd for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes. The law of your mouth is better to me than gold.
Philippians 3:10
“That I may know him… and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
2 Corinthians 1:3–5
“As we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort.”
John 12:24
“Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”
John 16:33
33 I have said this to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."
Psalm 34:19
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”
Wisdom 3:5–6
“Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good… as gold in the furnace he tested them.”
2 Samuel 12:7-14
(The lord disciplines David by allowing him to suffer)
Deuteronomy 8:2-3
Remember how the LORD your God has led you in the desert for these forty years, taking away your pride and testing you, because he wanted to know what was in your heart. He wanted to know if you would obey his commands.
Acts 2:23–24
“This Jesus… you crucified and killed… but God raised him up.”
2 Timothy 2:3-13
3 Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. 5 Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules. 6 The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. 7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.
11 Here is a trustworthy saying:
If we died with him,
we will also live with him;
12 if we endure,
we will also reign with him.
If we disown him,
he will also disown us;
13 if we are faithless,
he remains faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
Other Quotes:
We need affliction to draw us back to god, god finds you through suffering,
those who are called to god are purified by suffering but the wicked prosper.
There is no wood better to kindle the fire of holy love than the cross of suffering.
-St. Ingatius
Desire to suffer for Gods sake.
-St. Aloysius
Self will is the cause of affliction, remove it and your spirit will enjoy tranquility and peace.
-St. Catherine Siena
Desire to suffer for Gods sake. (As an opportunity to unite with Christ)
-St. Aloysius
Ecclesiastes 1:17-18
18 In much wisdom is much vexation,
and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow
CCC 1642
“Christ abides with [those who suffer]… gives them strength to take up their crosses.”
Matthew 16:24
“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
Luke 14:27
“Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
3. Uniting With Christ offering our Suffering for Others
CCC 1006
“It is in regard to death that man’s condition is most shrouded in doubt. But Jesus has transformed the curse of death into a blessing.”
Redemptive Suffering
The following are Bible verses and declarations from Church authority including Mother Mary about uniting our suffering with Christs suffering on the cross to be turned into a powerful prayer for others salvation, peace and hope. See Miracles on the appearance of Mary our Lady of Fatima. Christ accomplished everything, our redemptive suffering becomes spiritually efficacious and helps others cooperate with Gods grace, mirroring his brightness. Turning suffering into love has power.
Doing this grants you indulgences in Purgatory as well:
Fatima messages, Mary said:
"Many souls go to hell, because there is no one to pray and sacrifice for them.Pray the Rosary every day to obtain peace for the world and the conversion of sinners. You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart.”
She showed the urgency of saving souls through prayer, penance, and acts of reparation. This can be giving up something you enjoy: like sweets, TV, social media, sleep, or anything small but meaningful. Offering daily annoyances and discomforts. Patience in difficult situations, refraining from anger, doing chores cheerfully, Acts of penance: fasting, prayer, rosary attending Mass, humility, charity, and forgiveness can also be offered as reparation. Every act of love or obedience becomes a spiritual gift for souls who need God’s mercy for the salvation of their souls. This is directly linked to preventing souls from going to hell, because these offerings unite our suffering with Christ’s, as shown affirmed by the popes at the bottom of this page.
reparation means making amends to God and Mary for sins that offend them. It’s not just about personal forgiveness — it’s about repairing the spiritual damage of sin in the world and helping souls.
Sin doesn’t just hurt the sinner; it wounds God’s heart and can endanger other souls / the Church (the body of Christ.)
CCC 958:
“The sins of one member are passed on to others… The whole Church suffers from the sins of its members.”
Pope Pius XII, “Mediator Dei” (1947):
“Sins offend God and, unless repaired, they injure not only the sinner but the community of the faithful.”
St. John Paul II, “Reconciliatio et Paenitentia” (1984):
“Sin is not only a personal offense; it affects the entire Church and the salvation of others.”
St. Augustine:
“When you sin, you hurt not only yourself but also others, for your sin leaves a wound in the Body of Christ.”
Redemptive suffering:
Colossians 1:24
24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ’s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. (Participation)
2 Corinthians 1:5‑7
5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
Catholic writers explain this passage as meaning:
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Christ’s sacrifice is complete and sufficient for all salvation.
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But the application of that salvation — how it reaches individual souls — happens through the communion of saints (members of the Church unified in Christ).
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So when someone offers their suffering in union with Christ, God can apply that offering for others’ good, whether in their conversion, healing, moral strength, perseverance, or sanctification.
Suffering, the trial of illness, and the distress of the weak or oppressed, when accepted in a spirit of faith, can be united with the passion of Christ to serve the salvation of others.
“By freely uniting himself to the Passion and death of Jesus, the Christian can offer the difficulties of his life in a spirit of faith for the good of others and for the needs of the Church.”
CCC 947–953
“In this solidarity with all men, living or dead, which is founded on the communion of saints, the least of our acts done in charity redounds to the profit of all.
Every sin harms this communion.” — Catechism of the Catholic Church (paragraph 953)
CCC 1505
On the cross Christ took upon himself the whole weight of evil and took away the "sin of the world." of which illness is only a consequence. By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.
1997, English translation:
“Suffering, the trial of illness, and the distress of the weak or oppressed, when accepted in a spirit of faith, can be united with the Passion of Christ to serve the salvation of others.”
CCC 1506
Christ invites his disciples to follow him by taking up their cross in their turn. By following him they acquire a new outlook on illness and the sick. Jesus associates them with his own life of poverty and service. He makes them share in his ministry of compassion and healing
1997, English translation:
“By freely uniting himself to the Passion and death of Jesus, the Christian can offer the difficulties of his life in a spirit of faith for the good of others and for the needs of the Church.”
CCC 1521
“Union with the passion of Christ… gives new meaning to suffering: it can become a participation in the saving work of Jesus.”
CCC 618 “The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ, the "one mediator between God and men". But because in his incarnate divine person he has in some way united himself to every man, "the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the paschal mystery" is offered to all men. He calls his disciples to "take up [their] cross and follow [him]", for "Christ also suffered for [us], leaving [us] an example so that [we] should follow in his steps." In fact Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries.”
1997, English translation:
“Even the weaknesses of the just, united to Christ’s Passion, can become the source of salvation for others.”
St. John Paul II – Salvifici Doloris (1984)
The Redeemer suffered in place of man and for man. Every man has his own share in the Redemption. Each one is also called to share in that suffering through which the Redemption was accomplished. He is called to share in that suffering through which all human suffering has also been redeemed. In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ. Those who share in the sufferings of Christ preserve in their own sufferings a very special particle of the infinite treasure of the world's Redemption, and can share this treasure with others.
Human suffering evokes compassion; it also evokes respect, and in its own way it intimidates. For in suffering is contained the greatness of a specific mystery. Man, discovering through faith the redemptive suffering of Christ, also discovers in it his own sufferings; he rediscovers them, through faith, enriched with a new content and new meaning. In the Cross of Christ not only is the Redemption accomplished through suffering, but also human suffering itself has been redeemed,.
“Our prayers, our sufferings and our joys affect others in ways that are known fully to God alone… each of us is given an opportunity to **cooperate with Jesus in bringing the saving power of his Cross to bear on the needs of our brothers and sisters… Whether we pray for our family or our friends… we can be confident that our prayers will be heard.” — Catholic Journal commentary on redemptive suffering (quoting John Paul II)
John Paul II Day of the Sick (1995)
“We ask all you who suffer to support us. We ask precisely you who are weak to become a source of strength for the Church and humanity. In the terrible battle between the forces of good and evil…. may your suffering in union with the Cross of Christ be victorious.”
John Paul II Day of the Sick (1994)
…all of you may be able to make yourselves a gift of love to Christ for the good of the Church and the world… Then your pain, too, will become salvific and contribute to completing the suffering of Christ for the benefit of his Body which is the Church.”
Pope Benedict XVI (commentary)
“…suffering which is lived with Jesus assists in the salvation of your brethren.”
“Thus, pain, received with faith, becomes the door by which to enter the mystery of the redemptive suffering of Jesus and to reach with Him the peace and happiness of His Resurrection.”
“All human suffering, all pain, all infirmity contains within itself a promise of salvation; … evil is present in the world partly so as to awaken our love, our self‑gift in generous and disinterested service to those visited by suffering.… Of course, we must do all we can to alleviate suffering and prevent the injustice that causes the suffering of the innocent. However, we must also do the utmost to ensure that people can discover the meaning of suffering and are thus able to accept their own suffering and to unite it with the suffering of Christ. In this way, it is merged with redemptive love and consequently becomes a force against the evil in the world.”
✔ “All human suffering… contains within itself a promise of salvation…”
This affirms that even ordinary suffering, when understood properly, carries a salvific meaning because of Christ’s redemptive work.
✔ “…ensure that people can… unite [their suffering] with the suffering of Christ.”
This expresses the Catholic teaching on redemptive suffering — that our suffering is meaningful when joined with Christ’s suffering on the Cross.
✔ “…it is merged with redemptive love and consequently becomes a force…”
This tells us that suffering doesn’t simply remain a burden — by uniting it with Christ’s suffering it becomes spiritually powerful for good in the world
Christ “transforms suffering from within.” In Catholic theology, this means your offered suffering can become a spiritual offering or prayer that God applies in His providence for others’ needs — as part of the Communion of Saints.
In Spe Salvi, Benedict XVI explains that suffering united with Christ has value because it participates in the redemptive work of Christ and builds up hope in the community of believers.
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
“Suffering is a kiss from Jesus.”
On offering suffering for souls:
“I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses… I will spend my time loving, doing little acts of sacrifice and offering them to God… for souls.” (Story of a Soul, Chapter VI)
On joining her suffering with Christ:
“I will unite my sufferings with those of Jesus. I will offer them for priests, for sinners, for souls in purgatory… I will be love in the heart of the Church.” (Story of a Soul, Chapter VII)
On small acts having great value:
“The Lord does not look so much at the greatness of the work, as at the love with which it is done.” (Story of a Soul, Chapter VI)
On redemptive suffering:
“I understood that a soul could be of use to the Church in heaven, just as it had been of use on earth, by its prayers, its sufferings, its sacrifices, its love.” (Story of a Soul, Chapter IX)
St. Faustina’s diary (The Divine Mercy)
“Before heaven and earth… I make a voluntary offering of myself for the conversion of sinners… I offer everything for them: Holy Masses, Holy Communions, penances, mortifications, prayers… I offer it for the souls who have lost hope in God’s mercy.” — Diary of Saint Faustina (paragraph 309)
"...save souls. Join your sufferings to My Passion and offer them to the heavenly Father for sinners.” — Diary (entry 1032)
“Offer all your sufferings for the conversion of sinners; your smallest pain united with My Passion can save souls who do not trust in the goodness of God.” — Diary (entry 324
“My sacrifice… when I join it to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, it becomes all powerful.”
“There is but one price at which souls are bought, and that is suffering united to My suffering on the cross.”
“You are not living for yourself but for souls, and other souls will profit from your sufferings. Your prolonged suffering will give them light and strength to accept My will.” — Diary (entry 67)
Explanations.
Participation in the Communion of Saints: Catholics believe all the faithful are spiritually united; our prayers and sacrifices help each other in Christ.
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Medical analogy: Christ’s Cross is the full cure for sin. Your suffering is like helping deliver the medicine to others — God applies it for their healing.
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Financial analogy: Christ’s sacrifice is infinite “wealth of grace.” Your offering is like placing a check into the system — it doesn’t create more money, but it distributes the grace where God wills.
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Your suffering, offered in prayer, can be applied by God to help someone emotionally or spiritually, e.g., giving them strength to endure sickness or grief. So another “need” is grace to face trials or illness.