On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering (Salvifici Doloris):  Apostolic Letter of John Paul II (Boston,  Massachusetts: Pauline Books, 1984).

Why do we suffer? Why does God allow suffering if He is good?  Does suffering have any meaning? 

Pope John Paul II addresses these questions and many others in On the Christian Meaning of Suffering.  Society seems intent on eliminating suffering at any cost.  Certainly we can try to ease suffering, but if we feel we can eliminate it, we are only hiding our heads in the sand. Suffering is a part of human existence, just as it was part of Christ's life on earth.  From Him, we can learn the meaning of human suffering. 

John Paul II takes us on a spiritual journey that visits Job, St. Paul, the Blessed Mother, and Christ in their sufferings.  We begin with St. Paul:

"Declaring the power of salvific suffering, the Apostle Paul says: 'In my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church.'"

The Pope goes on to ask what these words mean to us.  He discusses suffering as an "objective reality" revealed most clearly in many ways in Sacred Scripture which is "a great book about suffering."  The history of every human soul is "a history of suffering."   In His public ministry, Jesus took this suffering upon Himself so that He might redeem us all from eternal suffering.  Thus, Christ's suffering was directly linked to His love for us.

"The witnesses of the cross and resurrection were convinced that 'through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.' . . . Thus to share in the sufferings of Christ is, at the same time, to suffer for the kingdom of God. In the eyes of the just God, before His judgment, those who share in the suffering of Christ become worthy of this kingdom.  Through their sufferings, in a certain sense they repay the infinite price of the passion and death of Christ, which became the price of our Redemption."

For those who suffer and those who care for the suffering, the insights of John Paul II will bring light into the darkest night and hope to those without it.  Inexpensive in price, the book is priceless in its eternal message.

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