SOS4SOSSt. Paul the Apostle
First century · Apostle to the Gentiles
“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.”
The saints
Saints on offering up suffering
Long before SOS4SOS, the saints offered their crosses, large and small, for the salvation of souls. Their words are a companion for anyone who wants to do the same.
St. Rose of Lima
1586–1617 · Dominican tertiary of Lima, Peru; the first canonized saint of the Americas
“Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to heaven.”
St. Thérèse of Lisieux
1873–1897 · Carmelite nun, “the Little Flower,” Doctor of the Church
“Let us go forth to suffer together, dear sister, and let us offer our sufferings to Jesus for the salvation of souls.”
“There is but one thing to be done here below: to love Jesus, and to save souls for Him that He may be more loved.”
“We must not let slip the smallest opportunity of giving Him joy.”
St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio)
1887–1968 · Capuchin friar of San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
“Endure tribulations, illness and pain, for the love of God and for the conversion of poor sinners.”
“The cross will never oppress you; its weight might cause you to stagger, but its strength will sustain you.”
St. Faustina Kowalska
1905–1938 · Polish sister and Apostle of Divine Mercy
“Suffering is a great grace; through suffering the soul becomes like the Savior; in suffering love becomes crystallized; the greater the suffering, the purer the love.”
“I united my sufferings with the sufferings of Jesus and offered them for myself and for the conversion of souls who do not trust in God.”
“If the angels were capable of envy, they would envy us for two things: one is the receiving of Holy Communion, and the other is suffering.”
Sts. Francisco and Jacinta Marto of Fatima
Francisco 1908–1919, Jacinta 1910–1920 · Shepherd children of Fatima, Portugal; canonized in 2017
In 1916 an angel, and in 1917 the Blessed Virgin Mary, asked the children of Fatima to offer sacrifices for sinners. They took it to heart. Their words below were recorded by their cousin, Sister Lúcia, in her memoirs.
“Make of everything you can a sacrifice, and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners.”
“Pray, pray very much, and make sacrifices for sinners; for many souls go to hell, because there are none to sacrifice themselves and to pray for them.”
“O Jesus, it is for love of You, for the conversion of sinners, and in reparation for the sins committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
“I’m very thirsty but do not want to drink; I offer it up to Jesus for sinners.”
“I offer everything for sinners and to make reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.”
“I am thinking about God, Who is so sad because of so many sins! If only I could give Him joy!”
St. John Paul II
1920–2005 · Pope from 1978 to 2005
“Thus each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ.”
Wording of translated quotes varies between editions. Quotes marked “attributed” are widely shared but not traced here to a specific letter or book.