How do Catholic spiritualities address the universal human experience of suffering? Catholicism has a rich tradition of seeking to understand the ways in which pain enables us to grow and reach new levels of spiritual understanding. Likewise, understanding the pain of others can lead to an active faith and personal efforts to reduce suffering in a global context, enabling a richer Christian life.
Mathew Schmalz is a professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross and founder of the Journal of Global Catholicism. He is also co-author with Alonzo Gaskill (BYU) of the forthcoming Understanding Our Catholic Neighbors: A Guide for Latter-day Saints.
Part of our fall 2022 lecture series, "The Global Religious Experience."