The Confraternity of the Holy Cross

I have just discovered a wonderful spiritual association for those with chronic, debilitating or fatal illnesses. Their website states their purpose.

The Confraternity of the Holy Cross is a spiritual association of the faithful erected under the authority of Bishop Slattery and open to those Catholics in the Diocese of Tulsa whose lives are characterized by serious, chronic, debilitating, or life-threatening diseases and who wish to offer their suffering as a gift to God our Father in union with the suffering of His Son.

[Note: The Confraternity was originally open only to those generous members of the Church in Tulsa; however, Bishop Slattery has recently opened enrollment to any Roman Catholic from whatever parish throughout the world, who loves the Church and is willing to let God the Father use their daily suffering and pain for the salvation and healing of others.]


Those who offer their suffering as a gift to the Father do so for three principle ends:

*the sanctification of the universal Church
*their own growth in charity and love
*the healing of those who have been sexually abused by priests

I think this is a great opportunity for those of us who are going through any sort of suffering to offer it up for our own sanctity and growth, and for the sanctity and growth of the Church, which has been hurt so badly in recent years.

Purpose in suffering is a great gift given to us by God. So many other religions/non-religions/philosophies do not realize the efficacy of suffering and some go so far as to blame those who suffer for what they are going through. God Himself suffered for us physically on the cross as well as emotionally during the time he was here ministering on earth. Let's join our suffering with His for the betterment of ourselves and for the world.