TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF MONSEIGNEUR DE LA BOUILLERIE, Archbishop of Perga, Coadjutor of Bordeaux.
Religion explains suffering to us. In the Christian language pain and sin so correspond that these terms are inseparable. God had created man exempt from suffering and death: "It is by sin," says S. Paul, "that death entered into the world." (Romans v. 12.) And as a foretaste of death — suffering. Man has sinned; can one then wonder that he suffers ?
Man has sinned! How should not his guilty heart, become cursed ground, bring forth briars and thorns? How, when his body has rebelled against God, should it not feel the severe yoke of His justice ! And how should our poor nature, so profoundly injured and fallen, not feel the rebound of its fall ?
But religion does not content itself with explaining suffering to us! It teaches us to suffer well, and for that what does it do ? It shows us the Eucharist.
The Saviour willed to establish between the Eucharist and suffering the closest ties. Let us know how, in suffering, to have recourse to the Eucharist. The Eucharist and suffering can mutually aid each other in us.
When we suffer, we communicate better, and if our communions are good, they will teach us to suffer well. Finally, united together, the Eucharist and suffering are for us sure means of sanctification and salvation. Let us meditate, I pray you, on these thoughts.
Religion explains suffering to us. In the Christian language pain and sin so correspond that these terms are inseparable. God had created man exempt from suffering and death: "It is by sin," says S. Paul, "that death entered into the world." (Romans v. 12.) And as a foretaste of death — suffering. Man has sinned; can one then wonder that he suffers ?
Man has sinned! How should not his guilty heart, become cursed ground, bring forth briars and thorns? How, when his body has rebelled against God, should it not feel the severe yoke of His justice ! And how should our poor nature, so profoundly injured and fallen, not feel the rebound of its fall ?
But religion does not content itself with explaining suffering to us! It teaches us to suffer well, and for that what does it do ? It shows us the Eucharist.
The Saviour willed to establish between the Eucharist and suffering the closest ties. Let us know how, in suffering, to have recourse to the Eucharist. The Eucharist and suffering can mutually aid each other in us.
When we suffer, we communicate better, and if our communions are good, they will teach us to suffer well. Finally, united together, the Eucharist and suffering are for us sure means of sanctification and salvation. Let us meditate, I pray you, on these thoughts.
