Pain

a) Everyone must suffer at times. It is an inherent reality of our limited human condition. Resignation, therefore, and do not aggravate the sorrow by constantly dwelling on its causes.

b) Pain also has positive aspects.

• Pain frees man from many whims and caprices he can no longer afford.
• Suffering imparts realism, guarding against foolishness and superficiality: this life is not mere child's play.
• Pain lifts our gaze from this earth and helps us seek true happiness in eternal life.
• Suffering reminds us of our creaturely limitations, fostering humility: we are not gods, but creatures.
• The human will is strengthened in the crucible of difficulties. A person acquires fortitude, maturity.

Let us imagine two young people. One, raised in wealth, has lived wrapped in cotton wool. A spoiled son of privilege, he has had everything without ever lifting a finger. He has experienced virtually no hardship in life. What would we expect his character to be? Capricious, soft, focused only on amusing himself—all frivolous laughter and superficial fun.

Now let us consider another young person who has known suffering. For instance, one who worked to support his widowed mother while pursuing his studies. How do we imagine his character? He has almost certainly forged a sturdy maturity, and is steadfast, resilient, and accustomed to responsibility.

Things may not always turn out this way, but our imagination helps us recognize that, in a profound sense, suffering brings out the best in man.

• Pain stimulates prayer, because people naturally turn more readily to God in moments of trial.
• Suffering helps purify the soul, serving as penance for our personal sins and shortening time in purgatory.
• Pain unites us intimately with Christ, who died upon the Cross. Just as the Cross was the centerpiece of the Lord's earthly life, so suffering is essential for anyone who desires to follow Him ("Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple").
• Suffering offers an opportunity to express our love for God, helping to ease the weight of the Cross.
• Pain is indispensable for apostolic fruitfulness, as it was for Jesus Christ: "Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit."