“I need to suffer.”
Said by Saint Gaspar Bertoni shortly before his death when a doctor asked him if he needed anything.
Saint of the Day Quote: Saint Gaspar Bertoni
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
I know nothing about this Saint, so I don’t know why he said that he needed to suffer, but he did not deserve to suffer. Now yes, rapists, wife beaters, pedophiles, child and animal abusers, cop killers, etc. – they deserve to suffer. But not this Saint. Christ did all the suffering that was necessary. And yes, I am aware of Colossians 1:24 where Saint Paul states: “I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.”
Apologies for being contrary, but I have seen too much suffering as I am sure most of us have.
Taking on suffering and offering it up is any excellent reparation for sins, which is fortune because this life is named a Vale of Tears for a reason.
The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
~ Romans 8:16-17
“Let us understand that God is a physician, and that suffering is a medicine for salvation, not a punishment for damnation.”
~ Saint Augustine
Donald and CAG, I know you’re right, but I don’t have to like it. Those who deserve suffering don’t, and those who are innocent often suffer most. 🙁