A conference given to our Third Order on suffering. Support the Marian Friars Minor: www.marianfria... Interested in the Third Order? Click Here: www.marianfria...
My body has been my torture chamber for 30 years now. The doctors don’t like to dispense pain meds anymore to anyone. It never covered all my pain anyway. No cure and just pain. I’ve learned to give up so many things in life, even having fun with my grandkids, I wish I could do so many things with them, but I do teach them about our Lord, the Bible, and the right way to live according to our faith. I’m surprised how captivated they are when I talk to them about our Lord , and our Lady, the saints. What makes me so happy is when they ask me to pray the Rosary so they can pray with me. Imagine that in these days?! A little child and two teenage boys. Im so blessed! Thank you for this beautiful sermon I now know what I can do with this pain. God bless you.
Please pray for my children-Tiara (18, estranged from the family, fallen away from the faith) and Pierson (9, addicted to video games, with ADHD, and autism) Thank you 🙏🏼
Loren, I was recently also in a great deal of long term chronic pain which no doctors could figure out. During this time I eventually turned back to the Catholic Church and found God again in my life. About 2 months after my renewal of faith I found a diagnosis and was completely pain free in about a month. Here's the IMPORTANT part, the doctor who helped me said that most chronic pain cases are caused by something called "Neuroplastic Pain Syndrome" also known as "Tension Myositis Syndrome" (TMS). Essentially, the brain causes real pain signals although the actual damage has healed long ago or may not even have been there. These pain signals are further ramped up by our worries as well as pessimistic doctors who say things are seriously wrong and they cannot fix the issue. This is a very new field of study but it is believed to be the cause of nearly all long term back pain and chronic pain issues. I would recommend Doctor Bradley Fanestil in Colorado. He has done some TED talks if you'd like to look into this further. Although I haven't read it, Doctor Fanestil recommends "The Way Out" by Alan Gordon!! My pain took life away from me and God gave it back to me after I turned to him. This might not be what is afflicting you in your case, but I sincerely hope this might help you! GOD BLESS YOU!!
How lucky you are! He has chosen you to suffer so that you can bring salvation to others. Offer up every pain. You will be greatly rewarded if you do. Those who suffer on earth for love of Him and His children, my goodness, the thanks you will receive.
I remember back in 2007, I was working making lots of money, work work and money. Then suddenly I was in a bad car accident in which I had 2 broken legs and was disabled. Suddenly I could not work or walk. I remember in the hospital thinking as they are giving me drugs, how ironic I need them now,I was an addict prior. I had nothing, no work, no support {family} and no home. I thought this was the end for me, it was. I was homeless, disabled, an addict, and an adulterer. But once I renounced and accepted my faults, asked forgiveness. I was given a second chance by God..thank you for teaching me and bringing me back. Jesus, I trust in you. I am so thankful to God for teaching me thru suffering, for I was lost and now found.
Keep in mind that if even St. Joan of Arc while in jail (near the end) quailed in the face of punishment, how much weaker each of us might prove. Have the humility not to seek sufferings that may prove too much for you. Let God decide what He wants of you.
Wow! This helps put my life in better perspective... I' ve often felt self pity for what I've suffered in my life... I need to be thankful for these sufferings instead...
Please pray for me, my brothers and sisters, a weak man who's lived a pathetically comfortable life trying to the absolute best of his ability to become a real man of God.
Thank you, Father. Life does seem to be ceaseless pain and heartache often, but a great reminder that if we can just endure, it will bear great fruit. Merry Christmas, fellow Catholics. Let's hang in there together. Deo Gratias.
11:50 Put Up With Anything 14:14 Suffering Sanctifies 16:41 Sweeping Away, Clean 17:08 Do Good Through My Soul 20:23 Don’t Sin Ever Again. 22:05 Repair and Appease 24:54 “The Grace of God will assist you and always Bear you up” 30:12 Degrees in suffering 1. Repugnance 2. Desserts 3. Loss “Accept the crosses and endure” Merit Love Charity No Limit To It 36:27 4. Restlessness 39:26 Polished Learning to accept humiliation 42:11 Lead by inspiration
I turned away from the church when I moved away from my parents. Didn’t take my children to church so they grew up putting sports before God. I continued to listen to Christian music and returned to the church. Prayer the rosary everyday to ask for my children to find their faith. They both got confirmed but my son hasn’t been back to church. I hurt inside so much by this. I’m scared for his soul. Please pray for my family to find a way back to the church and God
I'm a baby boomer and a cradle Catholic. A few years ago I joined the Traditional Catholic Congregation and it has enriched my life. That's Church that I was born into. Television was always important to me as a child. I turned in off forever several years ago. The times after Vatican II were very confusing and more people were leaving it. I was a lukewarm Catholic for many years, but I always had a love and attachment to Jesus. My Church is right across the street from my home and I'm very active in my parish. The clergy are amazing and I've learned so much. My grandchildren are taking catechism and have been confirmed. I spend 2 hours or more in Adoration and pray the Holy Rosary multiple times a day.This time of tribulation have been so hard on many people and I wish that I was living in a different time. This is the time that Our Lord God placed me in and there was a purpose for me being here during this time. This is a time for martyrdom and it will happen. My faith is with God and only in Him will I trust. Our Savior is also my neighbor. He's welcomed to my home anytime. 🏡⛪
As a Third Order member, I need to hear this. While I know the innocent often suffer for the guilty, I lose track of that knowledge. I know I need to do more penance but am weak. With no one to hold me accountable other than myself, it is too easy to just go with the flow of mediocrity.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽😁 AWESOME never give up to fall into Satan’s games. Resist and Focus on our Lord. Know that you are not only the one going through this confusion.
Why are you confused? Get the old Baltimore Catechism and read it. There are some heresies in the New Catechism, like non Christian religions are authentic paths to God.
There's a difference between "Willing to suffer and die" and "Wanting to suffer and die". Remember...our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did not want to suffer and die. That's why he asked his Holy Father in the garden that if it was His will would there be a way to avoid His Passion. It's perfectly normal for us to not want to suffer. We just need to be prepared to exercise our Faith and Obedience to the Father. "Dear Holy and Eternal Father, grant me the courage and faith to carry out your will, for when my time comes, just like your beloved Son Jesus Christ."
Thank you and a blessed and merry Christmas 🎄 to you and yours, Mr. S. Cunningham . Very grateful to God for His Majesty‘s faithful servants such as yourself who has given me so many beautiful lectures to learn and to reflect for my interior life. May God richly reward you. Deo Gratias! 🥰🙏😃
Well it seems I have found yet another way having kids and rheumatoid arthritis is a blessing. Our kids keep my busy and if I were to just sit around and do nothing, my RA would get worse.
Thank you for posting this. I’ve started slowly with some of the suggestions with regard to voluntary mortification and in dealing with difficult people.
I see this but I also see the need for priests, bishops and laity to stand up and fight against the evil in the Church and world. Our Lord did that with the Pharisees, the lawyers and the scribes by excoriating them and taking a whip to the people in the Temple. The saints did this (St. Athanasius, St. Theodore the Studite, St. Nicholas, etc) when the doctrine of Our Lord was being attacked, when His Bride was being attacked. I listened to one person describe the distinction as: it's the right thing to suffer and die when the persecution is done to your personally (Padre Pio), then the attacks are calumny against YOU. But when the attacks are against Our Lord/doctrine/His Church, the Church Militant are called to stand up and fight against the evil. Distinction, distinction, distinction. Those who are fighting the evil within the Church ARE suffering...the battle wounds, losses and stresses/fears are VERY REAL. Do NOT discount them. If the priest friend described is being persecuted unjustly on a personal level (and not for promoting the true faith), then yes, the concept presented here applies. But if the bishops are attacking this priest b/c he is living out, teaching and promoting the true faith of Christ and this priest's bishops are doing the opposite, then he is obligated, like the saints of old, to fight against the wolf in shepherd's clothing. God bless~
Lord I’m willing to die for the truth of our Catholic faith just like my night Templars did in my little Portugal a nation that was born for Christ to rescue and protect the holy grail amen 🙏 thanks for this beautiful sermon father.
After listening to this I really need to go to Confession Not so much for mortal sin but for all the other sins I’m committing due to disobedience and a lack of love on my part
Thank you-you have answered my prayers-I now understand my need to accept the sufferings sent from God. I thought that I was being condemned-now I realize the gift that God has sent me.
Thank you Steve for posting this. I didn't know there were any Traditional Franciscan communities left. May God and our Blessed Mother protect them and increase their numbers!!!
There are exceptions though of people who felt called by God to offer themselves as a victim soul for the conversion of a loved one. Michael Voris' Mother, for instance, was so fed up by the bad life her sons were living, and knowing that much of it was due to the neglect of her motherhood, she pleaded with God in desperation to save her sons and to do whatever He wished with her. She became ill soon after and died from it, and her sons reverted. I absolutely agree that it not recommended to do such a thing on a whim, because there is a high risk that it is for the wrong reason. But I think sometimes in such a situation someone is doing it for the right reason. Perhaps a good thing to do would be to make it conditional - to add at the end of the offering, that it only be granted if it would not damage your own soul in the process, and that God's will be done. Even then, it is not a good idea without a spiritual director, but it is worth mentioning.
I didn’t hear that but yes! Blessed Elisabeth Leseur is a brilliant example of this! Her great sufferings converted her militantly atheist husband, Felix, who then became a Dominican priest (as she prophesied) and led retreats, including to one Fulton Sheen! Their book Salt and Light is wonderful.
It is my strong feeling that The Coalition for the canceled Priests; ALL.SOULS ARE AFFECTED so they MUST DO TO SAVE THE CHURCH LATIN MASS ; They must RESIST if the head of church ID Frances is wrong heretical we must resist they are correct to RESIST EVIL.
5:56 “We have to suffer and die. Through innocence, we have to suffer and die, and that’s what I feel we’re being called to right now” I’m a conservative Catholic but honestly don’t know your intention with this comment. It doesn’t seem likes it a call to temporal suffering for our spiritual growth until we all die a natural death. It really does sound to me like you’re inducing me to seek my temporal death through suffering asap. It’s not entirely clear that this isn’t a call for ritualistic suicide or human sacrifice.
Thank you for the words of Wisdom. May Jesus surround you with His Love, Mercy, and Peace. Your words give me great strength to lift up my pain and suffering to our Sweet Holy Mother, may she offer them to her Son Jesus as they see need.
About a month ago, I had teased with a few co-workers, that the good have to suffer with the bad. Get the stole. I had said wait, who made that rule up. We should get rid of that rule. Father, I do know that from our teachings that this can and or will happen. I do apologies. I am working with some who believe and some who do not. My subtle actions are an attempt to give example. Most, both, do not take in this thought. I am the instrument, Glory to God alone. With those alien in faith and culture are housed on our closed military bases, as also in the surrounding area, we are, in 10 to 15 years, going to be treated as our Eastern rite in the ME. I agree work in moderation, as we age. Many 55 or 60 y/o and older, can be prayer warriors, along with fasting and penance. Holy communion should received, or in desire/aspiration when limited. Get off the grid. Use the fire place to be central heat, there are capable men who can keep the smoke out, too. Make the fire place large enough to cook, too. Can, food, store water.
Was this primarily intended for priests & religious? If yes, it'd help if the title showed that. God calls each of us to a different level of holiness. We had to stop watching only 10 minutes in because this seems completely unproductive for the laity, especially Christmas week, especially after 2 years of the world relentlessly being hammered by the enemy. Some people are called to the military, go, some a missed calling of military chaplain, go; the majority are not. Some Super Saints are called to extreme levels of high holiness, go; the majority are not, we're called to live our daily life holy. Hammering on us for an unattainable level can only backfire. When Our Lord showed St. Margaret Mary A La Coque her heart, after being harsh with her too rigid, too high expectations of her sisters, it was made of what looked like steel, and not particularly pleasing? He exchanged His Heart, with hers. We watch A LOT of SF which is exceedingly good, but a segment like this can be very unproductive if it's done in a way that causes people to want to jump off a cliff. Even priests & religious aren't all called to the same level of holiness, nor given the same capacity, & consider that the laity receive much less grace than priests and religious, that which is appropriate to our state in life. We've appreciated other segments of Father Anthony's but this, no. We are not fans of the negative comments & tone about the Coalition for Cancelled Priests. We are not called to follow and obey evil men, nor men doing evil. Isn't superiors' "abuse of obedience" & timidity where a giant part of the church's problems are coming from? The Cancelled Priests have every right to do as The Lord calls them to do, to call out wrongs, and to shepherd Our Lord's flock who are calling out all around the world "we're starving for the truth!" We love them & hope MANY more come forward. Father's religious friend might not "get it," but we the faithful, DO, and we support them 100%. We thank God for ALL our holy priests & religious. And those in the peanut gallery, can you please quit throwing up Padre Pio all the time? It's unproductive. He is an extremely holy Exception; the ONLY priest ever to have received the stigmata. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year.
It's a talk to lay third order Franciscans. Anyone can apply these teachings to his life. No one is saying to go from 0-100 in a day though. Growth in virtue is a process, not a leap. Do what you can and always strive for more. Always pray for more. All he is doing is laying out a path and giving advice on how to most effectively follow it.
I think you misinterpret the cause of canceled priests, these priests are more concerned about the souls of their flock and are being targeted by bishops that have lost THEIR way….
The most popular canceled priest scares me. it's his hate mongering his anger his disobedience his speaking out against the bishops his daring the Catholic authority to do more and wants to battle and his refusal to take a different parish. I cannot watch any show that he is on he scares me. No obedience no humility no flock
As a day when we set aside servile work to have more time for prayer and spiritual reading. The Lord's Day is first and foremost to give to God. Yes, it refreshes us and we can spend time on Sundays with family or friends, taking a long walk, playing games with the kids, etc. But that's a far cry from saying "Right, today's my day to relax", going to the earliest possible Mass to get it out of the way so you can head home and spend the rest of the day on the couch drinking beer and watching cricket. I believe this is the point Father is making. Many modern people's idea of relaxing is merely indulgence rather than recreation. St Francis de Sales covers the topic of recreation in "Introduction to a Devout Life". He contains that our re-creation should refresh our mind and body to leave us ready to continue our work. He argues that spending more than 2 hours on an activity moves it from the category of recreation to that of occupation. You actually turn out into a work of you indulge in it for too long. Everything needs to be in balance :)
That said, seems like Father needs to make that more clear. I have four kids under six and I have to say that’s a frustrating thing to hear. So am I not allowed to chill after bedtime? Get a plot of land and work? Come on man. What? The way he puts it, although I know he’s correct and I’m not on that level yet, is frustrating and deflating. I keep up my daily devotions. I’m not allowed free time? It’s frustrating.
JRock Rad you need to rest when you can since your kids need you to be happy and strong. I think this priest is talking to people like me-my kids are grown and I work full time but hate it so I get little else done in my life because after work I feel tired. I see the important things I need in my life slipping away because I take TOO much time being idle.
@@jrockrad7126 Your state in life and the duties with it are also, in a sense, penance. I understand your frustration and when reading spiritual books, I often felt they were not for a married lay person. Thankfully there are Saints who were married and did not sleep on boards nor live in a freezing home, etc. No, they lived their vocation in marriage. We are not all called to be Franciscans.
This is the best explanation of what mortification to our flesh is that I have heard. I have searched so many times for what it really means. I'm very grateful for it and will pray about what it means for me in the Lord's will.
There are a lot of criticisms and self justifications in these comments. We need to have the ability to see the big picture and make practical applications to our own lives. This priest is not your personal spiritual director and has zero knowledge of the day to day particulars of your life. So take what is useful and apply it and if it doesn't pertain to you, it will to someone else. Blessings in the new year.
Alot of the canceled priests scare me, the loud anger and hate and hate mongering. It's clear they have no peace. Padre Pio lost everything they removed all his duties but he prayed constantly and he was returned. It took a long time but was restored
I am going to share this with my Fraternity as what I have listened to so far is excellent and what we need to hear more of and internalize. As liberalism creeps into everything, I pray Father's conference will illumine the hearts of everyone as to THE Truth. Blessings on this Christmas Eve. Oremus.
WOW, thank You JESUS for our Good priests!! This is awesome & so important from the Holy Spirit!! God Bless You & Merry Christmas!! I pray when I share this people will listen & apply to lives, especially myself in my own little life!!!🙇♀️🙇♂️🙏🙏❤
My prayers for my family have been coming true. After the fact of repentance and confession. Pain is a great motivator. I suggest Rosary rosary rosary.
This is so helpful Father, so wonderful to be able to strive for more glory to be given to the Trinity. We owe God so much!! I will ask God to help me to always do His will and to fulfill the plan He made for me before I was born. And hopefully, by His grace, I won't fail Him... my one true love... Please know the Marian Friars will be in my prayers always. Wishing you all every blessing for Christmas and always. Viva Cristo Rey :)
I’m a psychotherapist and my colleagues are exactly like that. I teach people to “suffer joyfully” and most colleagues cannot accept this concept. We will suffer in life because of the natural order and suffering is the price of admission into freedom of choice. The point of “suffering joyfully” is to accept our suffering without pride saying it’s not fair this happened to me and turning it humbly to God. God bless you and your family
That’s such a grace that you see the deep truth in it and have withstood the onslaught of your colleagues. Without faith, they cannot see what you see. Pray for them too.
Such a wonderful teaching. Love the idea of making small choices contrary to what you want. Also that this holy priest somehow understands the beginner!
I’ve had bad feelings about how some priests are responding publicly after being canceled. Now I think they should fight legally to get reinstated, but not bad mouth their bishops. It’s interesting to me that I’ve not heard any say, “pray for X bishop”. The language some are using is also eyebrow raising. Really? For example, now we can call God to damn certain people? It’s sad. I’ve stopped listening to this nonsense.
the part where he tells us to NEVER commit another mortal sin is something I desperately needed to hear and I pray with all my heart that it truly takes root in my heart and grows good fruit... I reverted a little over a year ago and I absolutely crave to live a holy life but I fail so often to shake loose the awful, evil, destructive habits of my past life. please pray for me to get to confession and to resolve to never commit another mortal sin. I realize now I cannot do it myself, I NEED God and the prayers of my brothers and sisters, the Saints, Our Lady, and everyone who would have the grace to pray for a wretched sinner like me.
I felt similarly in the sense I felt enslaved and addicted to sin. Nothing seemed to diminish my sinful longings and actions until I started to pray the rosary daily, go to confession again and receive communion more regularly. I really sense that the Virgin Mary is strengthening me through her prayers and protecting me from evil. She can do the same for you. God bless you!
“So when you see standing in the holy place ‘the abomination that causes desolation,’ spoken of through the prophet Daniel-let the reader understand- When he speaks graciously, do not believe him, Because there are seven abominations in his heart. For my part, even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. As one who is present with you in this way, I have already passed judgment in the name of our Lord Jesus on the one who has been doing this. It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that even pagans do not tolerate: A man is sleeping with his father’s wife. Never have sexual intercourse with a woman and her daughter or a woman and her granddaughter. They are related. Doing this is perverted.
Fr. I understand where your talk is coming from and I myself will pray I am able to accept whatever sufferings my Lord send me. However, might it be also God's will that canceled priests speak up, and is necessary to do fraternal correction. I do not see them as rebelling rather seeking justice didn't st Paul did the same thing when he said "I too am Roman."
I dont get it. If a person is striving and putting great effort into living a holy life. If they avoid sin and the material temptations of this world, it seems that God should reward them, maybe not materially but in other ways. Yet more suffering is heaped upon them. Meanwhile, the sinners of the world live lives of comfort and luxury, some of the greatest despots and mass muderers lived till ripe old age. Forgive me for saying this but it seems perverse.
St. Thomas Aquinas the angelic doctor wrote a beautiful prayer about the cross: ‘The cross to me is certain salvation. The cross is that which I ever adore. The cross of the Lord is with me. The cross is my refuge.’
It rarely seems god intervenes in the material world. I accept that god has his reasons. However, i believe we can receive everything to fulfill God's will if we ask for it.
As a priest said on EWTN can't remember which one he said"when you have 2 people in a room u have a problem" how true heard that years ago I'll be 64 in July
Will good priests hide as hermits or stand and fight? Good priests, please stand against the wolves for us sheep! As Our Lady said, "Prayer and penance". We also need Our Lord, our Daily Bread. If good priests become hermits and quietly abandon their flocks to starve (out of false obedience), then we laity run out of options and are spiritually orphaned. Illicit orders can not make good fathers leave their families. Most of the Apostles didn't have what it took to follow Our Lord to the cross publicly. Instead they retreated to hiding. The pre Pentecost Apostles vs the post Pentecost Apostles need to be in the forefront of the minds of the good priests. We need to pray and offer sacrifices that they gain courage from The Holy Ghost and publicly correct evil (fight the wolves) and protect and feed their children/flocks.
Relaxing and resting led me to this channel. Working hard made me sick. Half the work in America is just delivering sickness to everyone. I get what he’s saying tho.
I don't what her religious faith is if she has one. Yeonmi Park ate bugs in North Korea to survive. Her and her mother made it to China where they were sold into sexual slavery. Or think of the guys who hit Omaha Beach in 1944. When I think of these people I realize I have nothing to complain about. I'm 64 years old and still work full time. Am I gonna retire or relax? No way. I'll work as long as my health holds up. The early Christians walked willingly into the lion's den so they could have a blessed martyrdom. Tim Pool recently said on his podcast with regards to the mandates that there are cultists who want to shove the mandate down out throats and cowards who put their heads down and go along with the program. When the Nazis came to power there were few people who publicly resisted like Father Franz Reinisch who refused to take an oath to allegiance to Hitler and was tried and executed.
Wel maybe If I wasn’t GANGSTALKED at my work I would be more motivated. I came to work not to play petty games with “covert” perps. Pot calling the cattle black.
