I would believe this

Despite suffering intensely, I believe that he also loved God and humanity intensely. That's what makes saints different than the average schmoe.

Physician: Pope John Paul never asked for sedatives, even in most intense pain

(At least different from this average(?) human schmoe. a) I'm a chicken about pain, and b) that loving humanity in general part? Well, you haven't read the blog long, have you?)

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I'm not surprised at all

I am surprised that others are surprised...

Stunner! Pope Practiced Self-Mortification

"So various circles have been atwitter about news reports that Pope John Paul II practiced certain forms of self-mortification or, in the immortal words of the Associated Press, "John Paul II used belt to whip himself.""

Under-educated (sorry, I'm groping for a good, correct word here) Catholics and non-Catholics find this to be something unusual, reeking of fanaticism and 'ultra-conservative' old-time Catholicism, reserved to what they consider 'fringe groups or individuals' within the Church. Interestingly, acts of self-mortification were very often, if not always, performed by those that the Catholic Church considers their greatest saints...

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A good thought

for the new year and new decade...

Rowan Williams reflects on 'gruelling' decade

"People should respond to the suffering of those in distant countries as if it involved a member of their own family, the Archbishop of Canterbury has said."

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I struggle always

with turning suffering into hope and salvation...


Sickness Is Linked to Advent, Says Pope: Through Illness, Christ Speaks Words of Love

Hope dwindles...

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To think

that these supposed 'Christian' churches, are targeting the most helpless of all - children...

Churches denounce African children as "witches"

The parents are poor, generally unschooled, and gullible. The pastors take advantage of this to cause great harm, and, I expect, death. There is no excuse for this. These people are anything but Christian. They blame all manner of things, from poverty to being unable to bear children, on witchcraft, and then accuse the most defenseless of being witches.

Lord, have mercy on your little ones. Protect them, and help others to protect them, from these predatory pastors who claim to be 'Christian'...

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It's one thing to discuss it

theoretically, and another to live with it...

The Authentic Transformation of "Useless" Human Suffering

"Human beings naturally recoil at the prospect of pain and suffering."

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These poor people

won't be helping out the auto makers by buying new vehicles...

AT&T to cut 12,000 jobs, 4 percent of staff

I wonder how many jobs belonging to top-level executives are being cut? Yes, most likely none. You do have to have people in place to plan the cuts at the bottom...

We don't know when...

Pope to sick: 'Accept death at hour chosen by God'




Here's an organization, an offshoot of one founded by St. Maximillian Kolbe in 1917, that focuses on those suffering to help them with using their suffering in a redemptive manner:

Knights at the Foot of the Cross (KFC)

(Don't get them mixed up with that other 'KFC'... )