Apostolic Letter Salvifici Doloris by St John Paul II

Saint Paul writes: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake”.

The joy comes from the discovery of the meaning of suffering, and this discovery, even if it is most personally shared in by Paul of Tarsus who wrote these words, is at the same time valid for others.

The Apostle shares his own discovery and rejoices in it because of all those whom it can help—just as it helped him—to understand the salvific meaning of suffering.