Why must we suffer? – Module 1

09/09/2025
|By Fr. Ryan Francis Donald Murphy

Summary of the Module

 

Ever since God expelled Adam and Eve from Paradise, humanity has faced a dramatic reality that not even the incredible advances of science have managed to fathom or resolve. It is the reality of suffering.  It is the drama of the cross. Many hold that a life altogether exempt from crosses — abounding in delights, enjoyment, and ease—is the ideal we ought to aim for. Others question how God could possibly allow pain and tragedy. What is the true outlook? What are the Church’s timeless counsels regarding the crucial issue of suffering?

 

That is what you will have occasion to discover as this course unfolds. Your astounding findings will convince you that suffering is not to be avoided — or eradicated, if that were possible — but cherished for its invaluable benefits and indispensable role in our present existence and eternal destiny.

Fr. Ryan Francis Donald Murphy Fr. Ryan Francis Donald Murphy

Fr. Ryan Murphy is a Catholic priest and member of the Clerical Society of Apostolic Life, Virgo Flos Carmeli. He has dedicated most of his life to youth apostolate and missionary work in Canada, Brazil, Equador and Guatemala where he currently resides. He also contributes to the Heralds of the Gospel YouTube channel in English and Spanish.

Course Lessons

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Lesson 1 – Suffering: a punishment or a mercy?

With the damaging impact of original sin, the human soul acquired a need for suffering as a means to remedy and restore equilibrium to our fallen nature…
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Lesson 2 – Humanity’s view of suffering throughout History – I

In ancient times, pain was regarded as a sign of curse and chastisement. But with the coming of Our Lord…
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Lesson 3 – Humanity’s view of suffering throughout History – II

In our day, we can say with St. Louis Grignion de Montfort that Christians are presented with two divergent paths…
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Lesson 4 – A Stairway to Paradise

There is only one way to achieve holiness: by embracing the Cross of our Redeemer and allowing ourselves to be crucified on it. Besides remedying the effects of sin, the Cross…
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Lesson 5 – By the Cross, we reach the Light

Our divine Saviour declared, “If any man would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Mk 8:34). Thus, to be His true disciples…

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