Joy in Suffering (mini) Book Club — Day 1: St. Therese's Attitude Toward Suffering
- Prayer & Productivity
- Nov 12
- 4 min read
Want to join me over the next 9 days, reading the book Joy in Suffering? I thought every day we could share our favorite quote or takeaway from that day’s reading.
I’m calling it a mini book club because the readings are short (10 minutes at most I think) and I figured it would be nice to keep it simple and just do a post each day where then we can comment and share our favorite quote/takeaway as we have time later in that day.
Today we will start and read Day 1. And if you don’t already have the book you can find the readings online for free here:
📖 Day 1: St. Therese's Attitude Toward Suffering:
What was your favorite quote or takeaway from today’s reading? Share in the comments below!
My favorite quotes from today (I had a lot today but I keep it simpler tomorrow):
St Therese asked: "How can the good God, who loves us so much, be happy when we suffer?"
St. Therese’s answer → "Never does our suffering make Him happy, but it is necessary for us; and so He sends it to us while, as it were, turning away His face…. I assure you that it costs Him dearly to fill us with bitterness."
“Our Lord loves the glad of heart, the children that greet Him with a smile."
Why does God allow and send us suffering? What does God want us to get out of it? →
1. Proof of love: “suffering the highest proof of pure and genuine love, for there can be no love without suffering…Under the pressure of pain, I prove my love by test divine!"
2. Oneness: “God sends us suffering also because "He longs to give us a magnificent reward." What is this reward?…'Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man what things God hath prepared for them that love Him.'"
“How do sufferings effect this? By conforming us to Christ Crucified, for "they greatly help to detach us from this earth, they make us look higher than this world." Besides, life and pain are short; "tomorrow, in a brief hour, we shall be at rest"; nay, even now "God already sees us in glory and rejoices in our everlasting bliss.”
3. Saving Souls: "Jesus has for us a love so incomprehensible that He does not wish to do anything without making us His cooperators. He wills that we should have a part with Him in the salvation of souls."
“St. Therese esteemed every cross as a “mine of gold”…
“I fear only one thing, and that is, to do my own will. Accept the offering of my will, for I choose all that Thou willest.”
I liked the note included from the publiser taken from “Thoughts of St. Therese”: God has given St. Therese an attraction for suffering which is a rare grace” but even if someone is without the desire or has a repugnance to suffering (I think that’s most of us!) souls can be sanctified. What pleases God is the suffering be borne with love.”
I really liked how St. Therese said it herself here in a letter responding to the following words from her sister “Like the young man in the Gospel, I am seized with a certain sadness at your extraordinary desire for martyrdom.”…“I wish you would write down for your little Godmother whether she can love Jesus as you love Him.”
St. Therese’s reply: “How can you ask me if it be possible for you to love God as I love Him! My desire for martyrdom is as nothing; it is not to that I owe the boundless confidence that fills my heart. Such desires might be described as spiritual riches, which are the unjust mammon, when one is complacent in them as in something great.... These aspirations are a consolation Jesus sometimes grants to weak souls like mine - and there are many such! But when He withholds this consolation, it is a special grace. Remember these words of a holy monk: "The Martyrs suffered with joy, and the King of Martyrs in sorrow." Did not Jesus cry out: "My Father, remove this chalice from Me."'' Do not think, then, that my desires are a proof of my love. Indeed I know well that it is certainly not these desires which make God take pleasure in my soul. What does please Him is to find me love my littleness, my poverty: it is the blind trust which I have in His Mercy.... There is my sole treasure, dearest Godmother, and should it not be yours?”
Lastly, the novena prayer was my absolute favorite part of today’s reading. All of it was absolutely beautiful!
Reflection Questions
1. When I am suffering, what is my first, most honest thought about God? Do I see Him as the "tenderest of fathers," allowing suffering for my benefit, or do I see Him as "without…sympathy” for my suffering? Did you get any new insights or perspectives from this Chapter on this subject?
2. What did you think about the quote, "it costs Him dearly to fill us with bitterness”? How does this change my perspective on any current suffering?
3. When I suffer, do I see it as meaningless or without a purpose? How can I begin to see it as a "mine of gold" instead?
4. Of the "triple value" (Proof of Love, Oneness with God, Ransom of Souls), which one resonates most with me? Which one is the most difficult for me to understand?
5. The idea that my suffering can save a soul transforms it from a passive affliction into an active, apostolic work. Have I ever intentionally offered my suffering for a specific person's salvation?
6. St. Thérèse says, "I fear only one thing... to do my own will." How does this compare to my own fears? Do I spend more energy avoiding suffering rather than seeking to do God’s will?
Action Item
The next time today that a small pain or annoyance arises, catch the complaint before it starts and try to thank God for the opportunity to:
1) prove your love
2) grow closer to Him
3) save souls
Example prayers:
“My Lord, I know this is necessary for me, and I know it pains You to see me suffer. I will not complain; I will bear this with a smile to console Your Heart."
"Jesus, I offer this (headache, heartache, frustration) to You. I accept it as 1) a proof of my love, 2) to grow closer You, and 3) for the conversion of (name a specific person)."
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