asymptotes

Does God want us to suffer? What if the answer to that question is yes? Does God want us to suffer? This question may arise in the midst of catastrophes. C.S. Lewis, a convert from atheism, may provide us the answer. In the movie Shadowlands , a biopic on C.S. Lewis., Lewis is shown giving a lecture on the topic of suffering: Yesterday, I received a letter... that referred to an event that took place... almost a year ago now, December . My correspondent hadn't forgotten. I doubt if any of us have. That was the night... a bus drove into a column... of young Royal Marine cadets in Chatham... and killed all of them. You remember? The letter asks... some simple but fundamental questions. Where was God on that December night? Why didn't He stop it? Isn't God supposed to be good? Isn't He supposed to love us? Does God want us to suffer? What if the answer to that question is yes? See, I'm not sure that God particularly wants...

Lent prepares the Christian faithful for the celebration of the great mysteries of our faith: the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. During this season, the Church invites its faithful to do practices of charity, almsgiving and penance.  Abstinence and fasting are among the penitential acts that the Church recommends. Below is a summary of penitential practices that the Catholic Church demands from its faithful during Lent. Practice of Abstinence and Fasting during Lent On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday for 14 years old up : Abstinence from eating meat and its derivatives for 18-59 years old : Fasting (eating only 1 full meal during the day) * abstinence and fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are not substitutable On Fridays (inlcuding Fridays of Lent) for 14 years old up : Abstinence from eating meat and its derivatives In the Philippines, abstinence is substitutable by any of the following : exercise of piety (e.g. reading the B...