A homily on suffering the Devil doesn't want you to hear

My husband passed away when he was just 51 years old. At 45, I became a widow with a 15 yo son, and a 6 yo daughter. At that time, I thought; Why me? Why my kids? Why us? We were good people. We went to church every single week. We took our kids to Sunday school. We looked after our ageing parents. We did all our sacraments. Why us? At my lowest point, in my room crying, I even heard a voice whisper in my ear; “God doesn’t love you”. But today, 9 years on, I know exactly why. My kids and I are closer to HIM. I’m still here, still learning to be better today than yesterday. But I’m stronger. Nothing frightens me today. I know God is with me. Always. This is not our home, we’re just passing through. God bless you too, Father. The same way He has blessed me, and my kids.

I am proud to be a Catholic. Amen

Thank you because I am back in the Catholic Church after a story of abuse and I am healed, completely healed through forgiveness and I have always wondered who prayed for my healing. I found out about you today. Praise the Lord for priests like you!

this priest deserves to be a saint my god watch over you and all those who suffer for god loves us all !!

Wow. An Amazing story and so happy all turned out OK ! A few years back, I had a calcium scoring test of the arteries with low grade CT scan, and a lung tumor was discovered. I said Lord, I want to live but Thy will be done. As a fan of St. Terese, I asked her to intercede for me, and for some reason, I also asked Archbishiop Fulton Sheen to intercede for me, too. Luckily, I was never afraid of the surgery or outcome as I placed it all in God's hands. Here I am, five years later thankful to my team of doctors, my family caretakers, to my intecessors, and to God-- telling people who smoked to have a low grade CT scan. Discovering it early, and full removal of the lung, prevented it from spreading. I call that a miracle--forever grateful.

God answered his prayer and then recently performed a miracle (healing)at Lourdes. Suffering makes great saints! 🌹

great, useful and meaningful sermon. greetings from colombo sri lanka with love for all

I am suffering terminal cancer as well and I just wanted to thank you for expressing your joyful experience in accepting your cancer. I had that same joy and was never happier I will pray you keep that joyfull acceptance it will take much prayer and patience. Please pray for me to keep my acceptance and joy in the cross. The battle can get very tiring.

Thank you for your wonderful homilies Father.

You are so loved and appreciated, Father. You will be missed but not forgotten during the upcoming weeks. Prayers will surround you constantly. 🙏🙏🙏💗

God Bless you 🙏 A truly inspirational and beautiful homily. 💕🌻✝️

Please God, forgive Fr. John Hollowell for any sins he may have, allow him to endure the suffering you feel he need experience to save souls including his own. May it be your will, dear Lord, that Fr John Hollowell's surgery be a complete success so that he may continue many years on earth to help us all enter the Kingdom of Heaven. In the Name of The Father,The Son, and The Holy Ghost, Amen.

Tears are a gift , suffering is a gift. Once we are nailed to the cross we are out of the devil's reach

I will be suffering with you, Fr. John. I have accepted mine for the salvation of my children and grandchildren, but I will pray for you, as well. You are an inspiration.

Dear Lord, we need Fr. Hollowell. Please cure him and comfort those victims of abuse so they return to you.

Father beautiful homily...j Thank you.

You inspire me to offer up the suffering of my mental health illness, of being seperated from my child and husband in a psych ward, of enduring the pain of suicidality, ptsd, self harm and anorexia as I surrender to feeding myself against all that my body and mind screams, to offer it up for all suffering with these same pains, and for the salvation of souls , beloved to our dear Lord Jesus. Thank you father. Alys

God bless you, Father! Praying for you for a successful surgery and recovery!

Dear Father Hollowell, I just finished hearing your homily that you gave today. A few minutes ago I learned about your illness through the interview you gave to Dr. Taylor Marshall. Yesterday I attended a women’s conference held in my Archdiocese in Newark. I received a Blessing from Cardinal Tobin and and I fondly spoke of you. I told him I listen to you on you -tube and your homilies help me a lot to me. I am praying that God grants you a long life and that if He so wishes I would gladly suffer for you. I’m seventy years old and I’m not afraid of death, terrorists, or the Corona virus. Just keep me in prayer that if the time comes for my suffering that I can do it happily. It’s easier said than done. You are an inspiration and I hope to be like you. God Bless you Father Hollowell, Linda Desantis Mcgrath

When I stopped running from His chosen cross for me, When I sat exhausted, looking at it a few feet away, When I realized what He has done & called me to as well.... I knew it was all love. Love.

I have come acroos this video today. God bless u fr John Hallowel. Am from Tanzania. I think 10 yrs ago . A listened to your messages " I have a say" i admired your fortitude and courage and love to ur flock. Here am again hearing this. God be with u in this. God bless u for helping him carrying his cross. May Simon of Curene pray for u you

To become a Saint; it is necessary to suffer.

Thk u father 🙏💜✝️

3 Hail Marys for you, Father. May our Lord comfort and heal the victims and survivors of clerical sexual abuse.

Thank you father. I now realize why temptation is always behind me. I thank God that I persist in praying Rosary despite many temptation and sacrileges I made. I am always weak but now I tried to embrace the pain of not doing what makes myself happy. To make it clear, I am gay and I tried control and block my desire and feel the pain it cause. I suffered but it brings relieves to my soul. Please pray for me.

A True Persona Christi 🙏✝️ please Jesus Christ ✝️ heal , this Priest in your Mercy ✝️ We need Holy Priests , to lead Us to Heaven. Amen 🙏⛪️💕

Father, you took us one step closer to Jesus. Praise the Lord forever...

Thank God that SUFFERING is REDEMPTIVE so it is not wasted but instead cleanses, purifies, and prepares me (Revelation 21:27) for my final destination which is ETERNITY. What a gift. Thank you JESUS..

Father John, I am praying for you! God bless you!

Thank you for your witness Father. Ave Maria!

God be with you, Fr. John. May the Holy Spirit continue to give you the strength and grace to bear this suffering.

Suffering: 1) Draws the sufferer closer to God. 2) Helps us to love others.

I am praying that he pulls through one hundred percent! I am also praying for his family and close friends.

Please GOD Heal Father John.

Going public is the right thing to do Father. People need to understand suffering, this will teach many people!

Keeping you in prayer for healing, and complete recovery!✝️🙏

Father Hollow I will pray for you 🙏🙏🙏

The evil one and his cowardly spineless legion tremble before the patient suffering of the righteous faithful, the faith shown here and not shown by many others fills them with rage. God bless you Father John.

Father, Thank you so much for sharing this homily with us. Regsrdless, preaching like this is what is sorely needed today..People today are so hard hearted they do not want to suffer much less for anyone else. Thank you for your suffering, thank you for your wisdom and thank you for loving us enough to tell us the truth ll the time..As Ihave told you over the last few weeks I pray for you each day by offering my rosary to our Blessed Mother for you... We love you Father Hollowell...

God bless you father you’re an inspiration to many Catholics we need priest that speak the truth in their heart. Acknowledged that there was wrong in the church of these abusive priest they did horrible things to innocent young boys, and young girls. God bless you and thank you for sharing what you’re going through. I’m sure it touches many Catholics. Amen.🙏⛪️

From Belfast Ireland 🇮🇪 I say we one and holy church. I also say thank you to our beautiful priests.

So beautiful… So beautiful… Amen… Amen… My F a a flower…

God be with, Fr. John.

Sharing your suffering in public has strengthened my faith in God. It has also restored my belief that there is lots of good in the Catholic Church amidst all the current challenges. May God continue strengthening the good priests knowing their good acts are not in vain.

Dear father, I was able to empathise with all that you said in your sermon. I have a cancerous tumour in my neck with metastases for which I am awaiting surgery. At a double biopsy on 19 February, the needle was mistakenly pushed into a knot of nerves, and the result was unspeakable, unmanageable pain for a month. At times I was reduced to yelling at God to help me. The pain did not go but He helped me, held my hand through that and all subsequent five biopsies, and I was able - in joy - to offer Him my suffering who suffered so much for me. And I know that whatever the future holds, He will continue to hold my hand, giving meaning to my suffering, and changing it so that it is productive, to be used as He desires, for my sins, and for those of perhaps another that doesn't seek His forgiveness. I echo your words and say, "Give me some of that!" and "Help me to help You in your work of redemption. Amen.

May God bless you father God bless you we all love you

Fr. Hollowell, be assured of my continuous prayer for complete healing!

May the Holy Spirit continue working in and through you. What a wonderful homily, Scotland could do with wisdom such as this. Thank you Father for your prayers, your sacrifice and battles. With love and prayers from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Praying for your successful surgery and total healing. 💗

I can take on suffering just a little daily, small acts of love, of penance in reparation. We can all do a little more and yes silently. Please God bless this good priest.

You WILL be healed by the blood of JESUS. Get well soon father :)

Suffering for The Lord is never without purpose. Thank you Father.

158 here. Jesus I Trust in You 🙏✌️

Greetings from Kohima Diocese I'm a priest... Presently in Kohimas hospital having undergone a grade III keyhole surgery... Please keep me in your prayers 2nd day in hospital Truthfully through the sickness one night before the diagnosis I experienced dying and unable to die I understood now... I could be when the urinary pipe was blocked and I was dying out... I experienced a partial true death... Thank you all for your support and the true Catholic communion... May God bless us all and especially From. Hollowel

Amen 🙏

God bless you. Heal well.

3 Hail Marys with love from Liverpool England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

I am sure that BY UNDERTAKING SOME SUFFERING ONE CAN LESSEN OTHER PEOPLE'S SUFFERING. From Hungary with love

Fr. Hollowell........ Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Jesus Forever 🇭🇷🌹🕊

Fr. John I highly admire you. You are a model to other priests and you draw us closer to Jesus in his suffering. By unitimg to our Lord and each other, our suffering becomes meritorious. We love you Fr. John. Please get well. Viva Cristo Rey!

I am suprised to know that the article headline I saw was you... Fr. John, please live longer. We need a priest like you 😭. I was contemplating what does it mean to pick up your cross, I know now. God bless you, Fr. John. 🙏🙏🙏

Fr. I believe that your going public on your suffering is helping Catholics be reunited to suffering as all of us in this age are unwilling to suffer .The Holy Spirit is teaching us through your example.God give Fr. the strength to endure and to have courage and of perseverance.

God bless you Father; please pray for my brother Tommy. The bishop told him to just forget and not think about it anymore

Praying for you Father. God bless you.

Thank you ❤️ 🕊

Thank you for going public! Catholics need strong priests like you to lead us now. You are helping all Catholics who feel lost and ashamed that the reactions we are hearing from the pulpits are words only. We are hearing of payments only to victims as if we can pay them off. Where’s the healing in that You are responding in a truly Catholic way and we need to follow. With offering constant prayers and sacrifices for the victims, we ask God forgiveness and healing. We need to remember WE ARE the church. Our prayers and sacrifices are needed to support priests. We need to turn back to God, putting Him first and His Church. Jesus is suffering with each and every victim. The power of prayer and personal sacrifice is the answer for getting our church back. GOD BLESS YOU FATHER.

Thank you Father Howell. May Our Ladys heart comfort you, and may the image of the crucifix be you're strength.

God have you in his arms all through this ,your procedure. Thank you for your guidance,Father

All pain is personal and only God can know what one is truly suffering. But we can offer our pain for others. I suffer from mental illness and I am offering my daily pain for a dear friend of mine who is not in a good situation... sadly he has rejected me lately but my love for him is true and I believe Godly. And I offer my pain for his salvation and a better life. If anyone reads this and might want to offer a prayer I would appreciate so much it is so needed. Thank you dearly.

Amen beautiful fr John you're in my purse may God bless you fr John keep up the good work we need more priests like you

Father, it was a "coincidence" that I came upon your video here tonight. Your message was definitely God working through you. It was through your words that Jesus calmed my storm and filled me with peace. Thank you for allowing me to "see" Jesus through you. God bless you and I will keep you in my prayers.

God Bless you. We need more Priest's like you

Wow, powerful message!! I have been away from the Church too because of abuse by a Nun in Catholic School years ago (I am now 59) - I so appreciate what this Priest is saying! God Bless you Father and I will pray for you! 🙏🙏

Father I am a cancer survivor, at the moment, by Gods Holy will. Thank you for your witness of love as a priest and as a son of God.

Hi guys, I just broke my lenten promises. Don't wanna say what they were, but they were mortal sins. If you lads and lassies could say a prayer for me until I get to confession Tomorrow or Friday, I would appreciate it. Thanks and God bless.

Thank you, Father John, for your faithful example. I pray for a total recovery for you. When I was undergoing chemotherapy, I reflected with gratitude towards the nameless men and women in the 1940's, who first agreed to the chemo treatment, and those that came after them. They may have suffered a lot -not only from the cancer, but from the treatment. But, because of them, such tremendous advancements have been made, such that chemo can be more and more refined and targeted. (Even so, it's no picnic!!!) I learned humility and patience, among other things, from the experience, and an increased appreciation for life, and for the truly heroic sacrifices that many people carry out every day, unseen and unheard. Dona nobis pacem.

Thank you Father. I want you to know that I offer the pain of my schizophrenia for priests. So, I'm hoping you'll get better. But if you don't, I'm already praying for your salvation too.❤ And I can't do much for anyone either, but God can, and I'm really banking on His help, for all of us.

Joining my prayers to yours, Father Hollowell.

to day is Good Friday I will pray for you Father Hollowell. Thank you for the awsome teaching

Continued prayers Father for you and your recovery. 3 Hail Mary for you Father.

This guy here. Wisdom and understanding beyond most understanding. Love him!!

Praying for you! You are in my thoughts and prayers always!! God bless you.

How much we love you Father! Know how much your love for Jesus and because of Him your loving us brings us closer to Jesus and makes us want to be like you who gives glory to God with your life. You have more people than you know praying for you, thanking God for you and your priesthood, and please forgive those cynical and totally inappropriate questions, a thankful soul, Kevin

I've had a lifetime of unseen suffering. I finally understand why. You made it all make sense. I will boast in the Lord. I pray for your healing. God Bless you.

Fr. John Hollowell words are not to be taken lightly. Father, you WILL be alright. I know first hand as a brain cancer (tumour also) survivor, at least so far. I was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Glioblastoma tumour in my right front lobe. Only through my faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ I am about to celebrate 2yrs post-surgery and conduct my life as I once did. I committed to God that I must survive to glorify Him and his blessings (talents) to my medical care professionals. Initially when I was diagnosed, the doctor's words sounded something like out a movie, BUT although my wife and I were rattled, for some reason I was confident as if a reflex to look to God to take over this burden. He did. Within 72hrs I was in an operating room for a 6.5hr surgery and was never scared, but rather thankful for the opportunity to glorify our Lord. I held on to my faith, with prayer in my recovery bed through thick and thin and committed myself to help those I could in ICU when I still had a voice to call nurses for others. God gave me life, and a job. I was never a hardcore Catholic, nor did I attend Catholic school or regular mass consistently, but always raised in a God fearing house and guided my parents, especially my Dad's Catholic reinforcement. Before surgery I had the priest pray with me at my bedside and have the Anointing of the Sick. As I was wheeled into the OR I had the greatest peace I have ever known. Words cannot describe the presence of the Holy Spirit. I just prayed for to God fulfill his will, whatever the outcome. I awoke and still remembered every doctor, surgeons, nurses names that I committed to prior to surgery. After 30 days of Radiation+Chemo, eventual seizures, followed by another 6 months of Chemo, I am living proof like there are no limits to the Lord's power. I have never been more at peace and happier in my life. As crazy as this may sound, but my diagnosis was a blessing to direct my time down other paths. No more high stress job, material burdens lightened and eliminated from my priorities replaced by daily prayer, and spending quality time with the people in my life who truly matter. God Bless Fr. John Hollowell.

Will miss you but also knowing your strength is a comfort to me and many and keeping you in prayer.

I’m so glad when I saw this a couple days ago that I decided to watch this, today. GOD BLESS YOU AND PROTECT YOU FATHER HOLLOWELL FOR YOU CERTAINLY HAVE BEEN BLESSED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. IN JESUS’S NAME. AMEN.

Missing you during this crisis. You are a courageous and uplifting voice. Much love and prayers.

Thank for your sacrifice and great homily, Father. I’m very proud to be a Catholic, who has a father like you.

God bless you Fr. Hollowell! You are teaching us a very complex lesson on suffering. Thank you and God bless you. You are in my prayers always, as are the 157 people who are victims in touch with you.

I have Prayed for you daily for several years, since Father Meyer first mentioned your health “issue”. I, too, have stage 4 cancer, but for me it has been the most beautiful journey of my 78 years. I Pray the same will be true for you…..FROM NEW MEXICO

Praying for you today, Fr. John

A little over three years since that homily by Father Hollowell, I thank you for posting it. Why? Because it is still relevant to our mutual lives in the Body of Christ in relation to Jesus Christ.

Such an important lesson. My respect. Oh Lord, you are so mysteriously full of mercy.

You are such an inspiration.you are showing us how to suffer with dignity. God bless you on your surgery and for a speedy recovery

Thank God for Fr. Hollowell, a very holy priest. He has been in my daily prayer ever since I heard him on the KZhead, before I knew his heroic suffering. I will continue to keep him in my daily prayer. God bless Father Hollowell!

PRAYING FOR YOUR FULL RECOVERY. GOD BLESS YOU.FROM BUENOS AIRES ARGENTINA 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

+JMJ+ Praying for your healing. Love and prayers from Louisiana. Father, Please pray for a dear friend of mine. About 15 years ago, she was diagnosed with leukemia. She beat the leukemia, but the chemo and radiation has caused damage to her heart. GOD bless.

I agree wholeheartedly because iv6ben the barque for the past 16 years. I have never been closer to God. Admittedly, He chose me , Not the other way.. The journey is