How can Catholics find meaning in suffering and grow closer to God through it?

Dr. Michael Dauphinais engages with Megan Hjelmstad, author of Offer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering, to explore the theological and practical dimensions of suffering. They discuss how suffering, often an obstacle to faith, can be transformed into a path toward redemption by uniting it with Christ’s cross. Hjelmstad shares her personal experiences with chronic illness, pregnancy loss, and dietary restrictions, illustrating how these challenges led her to a deeper understanding of redemptive suffering.  

Resources:  

• Annunciation Circle (Ave Maria University Monthly Giving Community) 

• Ave Maria University website 

• Megan Hjelmstad's personal website  

• Find Megan Hjelmstad’s new book, Offer It Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering, published by Emmaus Road