Pope’s General Prayer intention for December

( November 30, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI’s General Prayer intention for December is that “our experience of suffering may help us better understand the pain of many people who are alone, sick or aged and stir us to generous help”
In our world today, suffering is often presented as something so evil that even death is preferable. Yet, in this month’s general prayer intention, Pope Benedict affirms that suffering has a great value in our lives, as it is only through suffering, we can learn to love others. Stating that suffering is the inner side of love, the Pope reminds us that the Son of God became human and shared fully in our life and our pain. In fact, He chose to redeem the world from sin by not only suffering but even by dying on the Cross. Only the person who has suffered can really understand the suffering of others, says the Pope, and our suffering when joined to the Cross, teaches us compassion and stirs us to help others, especially those, who are lonely, sick or old.
Pope Benedict prays that we may learn to rejoice in our suffering as we mature, and love others as Jesus loved us.