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Penance as Devotion

“Dad, why does God like it when I suffer? I don’t like it.” This was the question that my five-year-old, Anastasia, posed during a recent dinner at home. As the liturgical seasons ebb and flow and certain penitential days make their appearance (not to mention the year-round meatless Fridays), my wife and I frequently encourage our three little children to offer some small, age-appropriate sacrifices to God. These exhortations, however, gave my little Anastasia the idea that God takes delight in our suffering—a long-debated question spanning multiple creeds. But is it true? If I put up with cold, or heat, or hunger, or that annoying co-worker, does God really find joy in my discomfort? What about people with cancer or any other painful illness? Ultimately, does God take delight in my death?

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Jeremy Duo was born and raised in Gibraltar, where he co-founded the Saxum Institute, a catechetical institute. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Franciscan University of Steubenville. He currently lives with his wife and children in Fort Worth, Texas, where he is headmaster of the Chesterton Academy of Fort Worth, and hosts the podcast “Practicing Catholics.”

This article is from The Catechetical Review (Online Edition ISSN 2379-6324) and may be copied for catechetical purposes only. It may not be reprinted in another published work without the permission of The Catechetical Review by contacting [email protected]

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