As he brings this section on learning hope through suffering, Pope Benedict offers a few words on the spiritual practice of “offering up” our minor daily hardships, a practice that “used to be a form of devotion—perhaps less practised today but quite widespread not long ago.” (SS, 40)
For those of you of a certain age reading this may recall your parents or religious sisters in school repeating that phrase over and over again, especially when they found you complaining about your problems. “Offer it up.” Sadly, that phrase was often not explained well, and it simply became synonymous for “get over it” or “quite whining.” Acknowledging that this practice has suffered in the past from misguided or exaggerated forms of expression, the Holy Father pauses to question where there actually may be some value in revisiting this devotion. He offers the following reflection:
What does it mean to offer something up? Those who did so were convinced that they could insert these little annoyances into Christ’s great “com-passion” so that they somehow became part of the treasury of compassion so greatly needed by the human race. In this way, even the small inconveniences of daily life could acquire meaning and contribute to the economy of good and of human love. Maybe we should consider whether it might be judicious to revive this practice ourselves. (ibid.)
A few months ago, I came across a podcast episode in The Road to Emmaus podcast hosted by Dr. Scott Hahn in which he interviewed Megan Hjelmstad on this very topic, referring to the book that she recently wrote, titled Offer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering (published by Emmaus Road Publishing). Dr. Hahn wrote of this book:
In Offer It Up, Megan Hjelmstad transforms a trite slogan into an invigorating battle cry. Those who are suffering in mind or body, as well as their caretakers, will find ample encouragement to embrace their cross and participate more intimately in our Lord’s saving mission. (https://stpaulcenter.com/store/offer-it-up-discovering-the-power-and-purpose-of-redemptive-suffering)
Though I have not read the book, I was inspired by the interview. If you are reading this and are not too scarred from past admonitions to “offer it up”, perhaps this can be a good book for your spiritual reading. And if you do not have the time right now to read the book, perhaps listening to the interview would be a blessing. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/i1Akj9DcLFw?si=iJJ-EHv6thJ4MgKg (or you could search for “The Guide Through Life’s Struggles with Megan Hjelmstad and Scott Hahn” in YouTube and it should show up).
The line that really caught my attention toward the end of the interview came from words that Jesus shared with St. Faustina, the Apostle of Divine Mercy: “You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone.” (Diary of St. Faustina, no. 1764) May we never underestimate the power of suffering to teach us many important lessons and so be a means for growing in hope and being instruments of hope to others.