Today, the mercy of God towards the needy is highlighted. The true measure of humanity is essentially determined in relationship to suffering and to the sufferer. This holds true both for the individual and for society.

A society unable to accept its suffering members and incapable of helping to share their suffering and to bear it inwardly through "com-passion" is a cruel and inhuman society. Yet society cannot accept its suffering members unless individuals are capable of doing so themselves; moreover, the individual cannot accept another’s suffering unless he personally is able to find meaning in suffering, a path of purification and growth in maturity, a journey of hope.

—O Jesus, help me to welcome the sufferer by taking up his suffering, so it becomes also mine. Then, this shared suffering will be penetrated by the light of love and we will experience the joy of consolation: both of us —united in suffering— will find You, Who suffered on the cross for us.