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do we need suffering
Magis CenterAugust 12, 20201 min read

Do We Need Suffering and What Is Its Purpose?

In suffering, we all agree on one point—we don't like it. But there are many disagreements on how to avoid suffering, and what to do when it inevitably catches up with us.

The inevitability of suffering

We think of suffering as harmful (whether physical or emotional) because it causes us pain. When we have this view, we seek to avoid it at all costs, but how can we? You've probably heard the old saying about two things everyone encounters in life, death and taxes—all of which  involve some degree of suffering.

This leads many people to reject God. After all, who wants to worship a god that causes them pain?

The value of suffering

In the light of salvation, suffering takes on a whole new meaning. As Father Spitzer points out in the video below, suffering can be a gift that purifies us in love and faith. When we accept our burdens, they help us get to heaven, to an eternity of joy.

 

For more from Fr. Spitzer on suffering and happiness, check out this full article.

Cover image credit: Christi Marcheschi

Read Also: 

Why Does God Allow Suffering?

Understanding the Complexities of Depression and Spirituality

Why Does God Allow Evil

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Magis Center
The Magis Center's Mission: We exist to turn the rising tide of unbelief in our culture through contemporary, rational, and science-based evidence. Many young people today have the preconceived notions that science and faith are mutually exclusive, that there is no such thing as a soul, and that God is just an illusion of hope. There is a great need for a practical defense of the Catholic Faith that meets the surrounding culture in materialism and scientism. As more young people leave the faith, Magis Center seeks to answer the conflict of science and faith with sound scientific research and clearly communicate the reasonability and truthfulness of the Catholic Faith.

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