Sufferings and the Mystical Body

Consider Colossians 1:24.

"...who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh, for his body, which is the church... (Douay)

Catholic teaching affirms the reality of the Mystical Body of Christ, of which we are members by Baptism. Now Christ suffers all things, but some things He suffered in His Body on Earth, and others are suffered by His Mystical Body, that is, by ourselves if we are baptised. When we accept these trials and Offer them Up in Reparation, we actually participate in the Work of Redemption. This is a great privilege of the baptised.

Now certain sufferings were inappropriate to the Person of Christ:

*He did not, we believe, suffer diseases;

*All the sufferings peculiar to women;

*shameful temptations.

It is our privilege to bear these trials and Offer them Up.