Reflections on Being Sick

So I've been spending alot of time alone lately, contemplating on the Saints. Why? Well this week I came down with a terrible case of the flu.

At first, I was very bitter, since my illness prevented me from making a long-awaited trip to Chicago as well as throwing a birthday party for two of my best friends. So in a conversation with my boyfriend, I said, "so much for the St. Blaise blessing," which I had previously thought was my Catholic solution to "matza-ball-soup." My boyfriend then pointed out a very important fact: sickness is an opportunity.

So I started to think about my favorite Saints:

Frank Parater came down with a bad case of rheumatism and pneumonia, which ultimately caused his death right before he was supposed to be ordained.

St. Francis had to return home from the war with Perugia because he also had a severe case of influenza. It was this sickness, it is said, that really drew him closer to Christ.

My dear St. Clare was chronically ill for most of her life as a nun- it is thought to have been some sort of Cancer.

St. Therese, the Little Flower, had terrible tubercolosis during the last years of her life.

What do all of these Saints have in common? They all drew nearer to Christ through their suffering via illness. In Frank Parater's case, he offered up his suffering for the souls of non-believers in Virginia. St. Therese offered up her suffering in a similar way.

Thus, we can all view our illnesses as an opportunity to share in the sufferings of Christ- to draw closer to Him. Next time you're ill, think of something to offer up your suffering for....for the Poor Souls in Purgatory, for a friend who has fallen away from the Church, for those who are sicker than you are, etc.

Also, I'm going to take this opportunity to curl up and finally watch "Flowers of St. Francis"!