I commenced reading of St. Thomas More's A Dialogue of Comfort against Tribulation on the tram today. As any good Catholic knows, to the children of this world the very thought of suffering is enough to make them tremble and take cover, for it is an obstacle to their desires for health, honour, pleasure and power. There are of course the optimistic pragmatists who see suffering as an opportunity to develop character or identify with others. Of course even with them suffering remains an obstacle. That leaves the Christian for whom suffering is actually redemptive, insofar as it is received only to be offered in union with passion and death of Christ. For the Christian realises that though not posited by God's will, suffering is permitted as a consequence of our fallen nature and as a means of directing ourselves towards He who alone is our greatest good, therefore our most sure hope and consolation.