The Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (John 1)
In Dostoevsky’s novel Crime and Punishment a killer falls in love with a prostitute. He eventually confesses his crime and is sent to prison in Siberia. She follows him not because she enjoys punishment but because she loves him. The same self-sacrificing love explains why John’s disciples decide to stay with Jesus. They must realize that when John calls Jesus “the lamb of God,” he means that Jesus will be slaughtered to redeem the world. But they follow him despite the likelihood that they will have to suffer with him.
We can see the same self-sacrifice for Christ’s sake in Elizabeth Ann Seton. She was a widow with children. Yet she gave up social prominence to become a Catholic and eventually a religious sister. It is not that she desired to suffer the rigor of religious life but she accepted the discipline to follow Christ.
None of us seeks suffering for its own sake. We might choose to suffer a bit in order to make accomplish some goals as when we go hungry to lose a few pounds. We also choose to suffer for Christ. Out of love for him we get out of bed early in the morning to come to Mass. Out of love for him we cheerfully bear with the difficulties that the whole day brings us.
