Friday, December 4, 2009

Pope Benedict Says Sickness and Suffering Can Benefit the Church

The experience of sickness and suffering can become a school of hope, maturity and union with Christ, and benefit the whole Church, Pope Benedict XVI said yesterday in his message for the 18th World Day of the Sick.

In this Year of Priests, the Pope asked the sick to "pray and offer your sufferings for priests, so that they will be faithful to their vocation and that their ministry will be rich in spiritual fruits, for the benefit of the whole Church."

The Holy Father concluded, "what cures man is not to shun suffering and flee in the face of pain, but the capacity to accept tribulation, to mature in it, and find meaning in it through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love."

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