The Topic of Suffering by Mother Mary Teresa

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	CMSWR Council of Major Superiors of Women Religious

The Topic of Suffering from the Autobiography and Letters of

Mother Mary Teresa of St. Joseph.

How dear Mother’s views on Suffering are relevant today.

First of all I would like to bring your attention to the fact that if a person speaks about a certain topic once we know it must be relevant. If the topic is brought up repeatedly, it must be something very significant in that person’s life.

I have noted all the passages in her Autobiography that pertain to the topic of suffering. Our dear Mother has made copious references to the trials, tribulations and crosses in her life. I have collected 32 pages of references to suffering in her Autobiography and 4 pages in her letters that we have been given. Each page averages at least 12 events or occurrences that have caused her pain.

This can be summarized by saying that suffering is exceptionally dear to her heart.

I. Her Realization of the Value of Suffering.

Mother Mary Teresa’s realization of the value of suffering became known to her at the death of her mother (AB - 17 and 22). Her great love for suffering sprang from her noble ideals to:

Suffer in order to prove her love for Him. (AB – 27 and 82)
Her vocation to suffer and do penance for holy Mother the Church and for the freedom of the Church. (AB – 284)
Purify her soul (AB – 59 and 113)
God the Father asked her found our Carmel and take upon herself the sufferings entailed. (AB – 67)
She pitied poor heaven because one cannot suffer there. ( AB – 158, 192, 361, 367, Letter no. 1867 S. November 16, 1923,
To save souls by suffering (AB – 192)
It is a great grace to work and suffer for God’s kingdom. (AB – 355-356)
There was never a saint without suffering (Letter 1867 S. November 16, 1923
Our Lord asked us to deny yourself. The first and principal duty is the purification of the soul. (The rich young man) (Letter – the Purification and Ornamentation of the Soul)
Atonement – balm for our Savior’s wounds. (AB – 158)
She prayed for sufferings and made a novena to obtain suffering. (AB 85)
It brought her closer to God. (AB 17)

Her love for suffering was not in any way morbid. She had such a perfect balance between ideal and practical purpose that she could call suffering her “Friend”, sing the Te Deum with gratitude on occasions of great trials, and then say that crosses were always welcome.

No, the more I felt its presence the more beloved the cross became, for I always regarded it as the highest proof of Divine love, and, I might say, of God’s trusting love for my soul. (AB- 68)

I. How Her views on Suffering are relevant today.

Dear Mother implores us to embrace and view the value of suffering as she did, in a spirit of love and sacrifice.

In a sense, the Cross always represented a Plus sign in her life and was God’s stamp of approval on all her undertakings for Him and His kingdom. She wanted all her endeavors to have this “Brand of God” on it. The idea that no more sufferings would come her way was unbearable to her. (AB – 191)

All of us do not have the ability or grace to embrace trials and tribulations in the manner that she did. Dear Mother does have a very pleasing way of making suffering attainable for us in the following example.

I had heard that before a race the jockey gives the horse some bread soaked in cognac or wine in order to incite its highest spirit and courage and thus give it extraordinary powers and strength. God acts in a like manner as I experienced innumerable times. Before great difficulties, when human help, which I might call the daily fare, is not sufficient, God sends help from heaven. This help bestows special graces which give life and understanding and the ability to achieve anything. Man is but a tool in the hands of God. God has proved this to me again on this occasion.”

(AB 202-203)

She shows us the way. Should we not follow joyfully knowing as she did that we will, “Fight the good fight, run the race and that a merited crown will await all who are faithful?

[But those souls that climb upwards, bravely and fearlessly, shunning no sacrifice, no effort, no cost, whatever the burden, will in the end find rest in the Lord, and like our holy Mother St. Teresa; a thousand fold recompense for the suffering and sacrifice during this time of pilgrimage. Let us not forget: God will not be surpassed in generosity.”]

(Letter - My Yolk is Easy)