Rosary Novena Day 8: When Suffering Won’t Go Away

What do you do when suffering won’t go away?

For St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the answer was to unite herself to Jesus.

Yesterday I shared about how St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, born Marguerite Alacoque, went to a boarding school at a convent run by the Poor Clares. What I didn’t mention was that she became paralyzed with illness.

When she was 9 years old at the convent school, Marguerite Alacoque contracted a fever. She had constant joint pains, high fevers, and was unable to walk. Marguerite was bedridden for almost four years!

During this time, all her external prayer – her kneeling, attending Mass, prostrating herself – had to become interior. Unable to go to Church or receive the Eucharist, she dedicated herself to prayer.

It was only when she made a vow to Mary that she was instantly cured. Marguerite writes: “I fell into such a pitiable state of illness that I was unable to walk for about four years. My bones were piercing through my skin on all sides; […] no remedy could be found for my suffering, except to consecrate me to the Blessed Virgin, with the promise that, if she cured me, I would one day become one of her daughters. No sooner had I made this vow than I was healed.”

During this time, Marguerite grew in her understanding that suffering is a mysterious way we can draw closer to Jesus Christ crucified on the cross. When she wasn’t able to move physically, she spent her time growing spiritually.

Do we suffer well for our Church? For our families? We need to! And, as we’ll see with St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, sometimes suffering is preparing us for the vocation God is inviting us to.

PRAY WITH US AT 7PM CT

Join us for the Family Rosary Across America tonight at 7pm CT. Let’s pray for all families – that they might help lead others to Christ.

And now, you can also join our Family Rosary Across America text group by texting “PRAY” to 914914 for updates and reminders to pray with us during this novena.

See you at the Rosary!

Rev. Francis J. Hoffman, "Fr. Rocky" is the Chairman and CEO of Relevant Radio and a priest of Opus Dei.