PAIN ON THE CROSS

The Crucified hands there to answer the questions of our intellect.  What is the meaning, what is the value of pain?  Why does man have to endure it?  Or, granted that, why is its ditribution among men so unequal, disproportionate to the merits of the souls affected by it?

In so far as our meditations deal faithfully, though in a humble and reverent spirit, with the doctrine of God made Man, sinless yet suffering for sins; in so far as we honestly propose to ourselves the questions we all know so well -- Who hands here?  Doing what?  By what means?  At what moment of time?  In what manner?  For what purpose? 

We shall come away from our meditation of the passion both firmer in our faith and more reconciled to the pains and the sorrows that the sons of Adam are called upon to suffer -- suffer them in such company as that. 

Blessed John Cardinal Newman

(10-10-10)