It's one of those phrases I grew up hearing. When there was some inconvenience or little pain, we were told to "offer it up!" We had the "Morning Offering" prayer on our bathroom mirror: "Oh Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I OFFER you all my prayers, works, joys and sufferings of this day..." (I think the Sacred Heart League sent them out; the leaflet had an adhesive backing for the very purpose of being used on bathroom mirrors, so you could make the Morning Offering while brushing your teeth.) My brother-in-law (brought up Baptist) has heard the recommendation so often in the almost-25 years of being part of our family that he uses it to, but with his own Mississippi rendering: "Send it up!" (Hey, that works, too!)
But the concept of "offering" is, of course, sacrificial language. Liturgical language. Priestly language. And "offering it up" is part of our baptismal priesthood.
This was all brought to mind when I read the weekly bulletin from St. Peter's Church (downtown "chapel of convenience' here in Chicago). Fr. Larry wrote about an organization called CUSA: An Apostolate of the Sick or Disabled. Basically, what CUSA does for its membership (all persons who are disabled or chronically ill) is support them in their priestly service of "offering it up" for the good of the Church. Members maintain communication with each other, sharing their experiences of consecrated suffering in that spirit of an offering, a gift freely and willingly given for the Church. Fr. Larry's article was genuinely inspiring. How many people of faith who are afflicted with chronic illness do not yet know how to make their sufferings a gift? The CUSA apostolate has a website; please pay them a visit. If you know someone who would find consolation in belonging to a wider network of Catholics who give new meaning to their sufferings, this may be just the thing.
2 comments:
Hi Sister,
I wanted to say thanks for the information on the CUSA website..
I decided to take a look at it and will probably be joining soon..
I love your blog and check in daily. Keep up the good work!!!!
May the Lord richly bless you in all you do..
God Bless,
Peggy
Our Founder had a great reverence for what he called "the apostolate of suffering." Even before undertaking the project of founding our congregations, he sought people who would offer their sufferings as a way of contributing to the mission. And later, in the 50's, he and Mother Thecla built a small hospital especially for priests and religious, where they would receive extra spiritual assistance to help them consecrate their time of illness. So if you don't mind, if you join CUSA or just want an extra "purpose" in whatever cross you live with, please remember the Pauline family: for our mission to evangelize with communication, and for vocations.
thanks.
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