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The
Apostolate of the Suffering (AOS)
in the USA
Blessed Mother’s Messages Inspires Founder
 The Apostolate was
founded by Monsignor Luigi Novarese in 1947, who himself had experienced
uselessness and frustration from a passive acceptance of his permanent disease.
With faith, he sought the meaning of life and came to the conclusion that the
only answer was the individual’s union with Christ crucified and resurrected.
He then received his inspiration from the messages of Our Blessed Mother as
given at Lourdes and Fatima:
“Penance, penance, penance and pray for the
conversion of sinners”.
“So many souls are lost because there is no one to pray or offer sacrifices for
them”.
“Are you willing to accept whatever God sends you
and offer it up for sins and the conversion of sinners”?
 For the average
person, responding to Our Lady’s request, amounts to little more than accepting
the daily trials and tribulations resulting from the performance of our daily
duties, and offering them up. However, there are special souls whom God has
chosen to identify with in a special way – to take their place with His Mother
at the foot of the cross in today’s world. These special people are our sick,
suffering and physically or mentally challenged brothers and sisters. It is
for these people the Apostolate of The Suffering was founded!
Neither the kind
nor severity of suffering determines a person’s participation in the Passion of
Christ! It is the love expressed in our suffering that unites us to His
Passion.
Our vocation is the
acceptance of our sorrows and it’d burden and transforming it into a
sacrifice that is offered to the father in Christ for the salvation of one’s
self and others.
We are not seeking
to suffer, but we resolve to accept that which we cannot change and offer it up
to work with Christ to save souls.
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