Yesterday, 07:52 AM
Mgr. Louis de Ségur: Short Answers to Common Objections Against Religion - 1908
THIRTY-FIFTH OBJECTION. WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE TO OFFEND GOD THAT HE SHOULD SEND ME SO MUCH TROUBLE?
Answer. "Man of little faith," who understandest not the secrets of God! When He visits you with suffering, never, I beseech you, propose to Him that dreadful question, "What have I done to offend you, that I should thus suffer?"
It is very seldom that He could not reply to you, by spreading out before your terrified eyes, a long and frightful list of sins, which your religious indifference veils from your observation, and the eternal pains of hell which these sins have merited a hundred times over!
He might always reply to you by recalling to your recollection the terrible flames of purgatory, by reminding you that none are holy in His sight, and that the mitigated pains of this present life are very trivial in comparison with the expiation that is to come.
He might always reply by showing to you the Paradise where He now dwells, the manger at Bethlehem, the cross; and by telling you that your journey through this world is but a passing condition of trial; that He has given to you the example of patience, so that by the holy use of suffering, you may sanctify your soul, and accumulate on your head a great amount of glory in eternity.
He might recall to you those oracles which fell formerly from His divine lips.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye shall weep and mourn, while the world rejoices. But your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in labor hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she has brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. So also, you now, indeed, have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you." . . .
Whatever you may be, a just man or a sinner, endeavor to appreciate the adorable mystery of suffering! To suffer is to receive a familiar visit from God! Suffering is the most precious gift of His mercy.
It is the crowning mark of His love.
God had no more excellent gift to give to His only Son, Jesus; to Mary, His Mother, the best beloved of all His creatures; to His saints, His martyrs, and to all His faithful.
If you suffer with Jesus Christ, you will be crowned with Him. It is by means of the cross that we attain to glory.
THIRTY-FIFTH OBJECTION. WHAT HAVE I EVER DONE TO OFFEND GOD THAT HE SHOULD SEND ME SO MUCH TROUBLE?
Answer. "Man of little faith," who understandest not the secrets of God! When He visits you with suffering, never, I beseech you, propose to Him that dreadful question, "What have I done to offend you, that I should thus suffer?"
It is very seldom that He could not reply to you, by spreading out before your terrified eyes, a long and frightful list of sins, which your religious indifference veils from your observation, and the eternal pains of hell which these sins have merited a hundred times over!
He might always reply to you by recalling to your recollection the terrible flames of purgatory, by reminding you that none are holy in His sight, and that the mitigated pains of this present life are very trivial in comparison with the expiation that is to come.
He might always reply by showing to you the Paradise where He now dwells, the manger at Bethlehem, the cross; and by telling you that your journey through this world is but a passing condition of trial; that He has given to you the example of patience, so that by the holy use of suffering, you may sanctify your soul, and accumulate on your head a great amount of glory in eternity.
He might recall to you those oracles which fell formerly from His divine lips.
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, ye shall weep and mourn, while the world rejoices. But your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman when she is in labor hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she has brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. So also, you now, indeed, have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you." . . .
Whatever you may be, a just man or a sinner, endeavor to appreciate the adorable mystery of suffering! To suffer is to receive a familiar visit from God! Suffering is the most precious gift of His mercy.
It is the crowning mark of His love.
God had no more excellent gift to give to His only Son, Jesus; to Mary, His Mother, the best beloved of all His creatures; to His saints, His martyrs, and to all His faithful.
If you suffer with Jesus Christ, you will be crowned with Him. It is by means of the cross that we attain to glory.
"So let us be confident, let us not be unprepared, let us not be outflanked, let us be wise, vigilant, fighting against those who are trying to tear the faith out of our souls and morality out of our hearts, so that we may remain Catholics, remain united to the Blessed Virgin Mary, remain united to the Roman Catholic Church, remain faithful children of the Church."- Abp. Lefebvre