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I hold a Master of Theological Studies from the University of Dallas' Institute for Religious and Pastoral Studies. God has called me to be a father and to teach, so I now serve through From the Abbey, my catechetical apostolate. Brother Thomas is the persona I created for the moral theology textbook Dear Brother Thomas.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Suffering

Passion & Death of Christ

Sorrowful Mysteries

  1. Agony in the Garden
  2. Scourging at the Pillar
  3. Crowning with Thorns
  4. Carrying of the Cross
  5. Death on the Cross

Paschal Lamb

  • Perfect sacrifice
  • Lamb promised by Abraham
  • Passover (Paschal)
  • Sacrificial Lamb

Paschal Mystery

  • Christ’s death & resurrection applied to our lives
  • Carry our cross
  • Suffer in love
  • Death to sin, resurrection in grace
  • Healing of fallen human nature
  • New nature of grace added to human nature

Glorious Mysteries

  1. Resurrection
  2. Ascension
  3. Descent of the Holy Spirit
  4. Assumption
  5. Coronation

The Meaning of Suffering (Salvifici Doloris)

Important in the Modern World

  • Pope John Paul II
  • Mother Theresa
  • Euthanasia
  • Abortion
  • Worldview: secular humanism vs. Catholic humanism (personalism)

The Problem Of Suffering


Suffering Disproves God?
Why do innocent people suffer if God is . . .
  • All-loving
  • Omniscient
  • Omnipotent
Possible Answers:
  • God is not all-knowing (Deists)
  • God is not all-powerful (When Bad Things Happen to Good People)
  • God is not all-loving (God is vindictive, punishing for sin by inflicting suffering)
  • There is no God
False Assumptions:
  • Suffering comes from God (Suffering comes from Original Sin)
  • Suffering is always bad (Suffering can be beneficial)
  • Suffering is final (Suffering is transitory/temporary)

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