HR 19 – On Suffering – The Holy Rule of St. Benedict with Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B – Discerning Hearts Podcasts

On Suffering – The Holy Rule of St. Benedict with Fr. Mauritius Wilde O.S.B In this episode of The Holy Rule of St. Benedict: A Spiritual Path for Today’s World, Fr. Mauritius Wilde, OSB, and Kris McGregor explore St. Benedict’s wisdom concerning suffering and the place it can have in the Christian spiritual journey. Drawing particularly from Chapter 7 of the Rule on humility, Fr. Mauritius considers the suffering that arises through illness, emotional pain, difficult relationships, injustice, disappointment, and the ordinary crosses of life. The first task is discernment: some suffering can and should be alleviated, while other suffering cannot simply be removed. When a cross remains, St. Benedict points toward patience and perseverance, inviting us to bring that suffering into relationship with Christ and allow Him to reveal how it may be carried. Fr. Mauritius reflects on the mystery of becoming united with Christ in His suffering, a union that can transform the way a person carries pain. The cross at the heart of the Medal of St. Benedict becomes a powerful image for this spiritual reality: through Christ, suffering can become a place of healing, growth, deeper faith, and love. Fr. Mauritius closes with a moving experience at the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough, where he physically embraced a large stone cross and suddenly recognized the deeper meaning of the gesture. The Christian is invited to embrace the cross that truly belongs to his or her life and to discover that Christ, the Divine Physician, remains present within it, continually healing our wounds and drawing us closer to Himself. From the Holy Rule of St. Benedict Chapter 7: From the Holy Rule of St. Benedict: CHAPTER VII The fourth degree of humility is, that, if hard and distasteful things are commanded, nay, even though injuries are inflicted, he accept them with patience and even temper, and not grow weary or give up, but hold out, as the Scripture saith: “He that shall persevere unto the end shall be saved” (Mt 10:22). And again: “Let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord” (Ps 26[27]:14). And showing that a faithful man ought even to bear every disagreeable thing for the Lord, it saith in the person of the suffering: “For Thy sake we suffer death all the day long; we are counted as sheep for the slaughter” (Rom 8:36; Ps 43[44]:22). And secure in the hope of the divine reward, they go on joyfully, saying: “But in all these things we overcome because of Him that hath loved us” (Rom 8:37). And likewise in another place the Scripture saith: “Thou, O God, hast proved us; Thou hast tried us by fire as silver is tried; Thou hast brought us into a net, Thou hast laid afflictions on our back” (Ps 65[66]:10-11). And to show us that we ought to be under a Superior, it continueth, saying: “Thou hast set men over our heads” (Ps 65[66]:12). And fulfilling the command of the Lord by patience also in adversities and injuries, when struck on the one cheek they turn also the other; the despoiler of their coat they give their cloak also; and when forced to go one mile they go two (cf Mt 5:39-41); with the Apostle Paul they bear with false brethren and “bless those who curse them” (2 Cor 11:26; 1 Cor 4:12). Discerning Hearts Reflection Questions

1. When suffering enters my life, do I first bring it before God and ask Him to help me discern what can be changed and what must be carried?
2. Is there a particular cross in my life that I have been struggling to accept? What might it mean to bring that cross consciously into relationship with Christ?
3. Fr. Mauritius speaks about becoming one with Christ in suffering. How does looking at the Crucified Christ change the way I understand my own pain?
4. Have I experienced a difficult season that, with time, strengthened my faith, deepened my compassion, or...