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ABSTRACT. The human condition is not at all alien to suffering. Although they were not created or desired by God Who made man for everlasting happiness, trials and “sufferings” are closely intertwined with joys and fulfilment. Beyond seeking or wanting them, the Christian faith shows us what the true Christian behaviour should be in the limit situations of our lives, in times of sorrow and suffering. It teaches us how to transform painful and sad trials into ways and means of spiritual growth by adding them to the happy circumstances of our existence and by giving life itself a profound meaning and a high moral sense. Trials, tribulations, illnesses and sufferings must be counted as an alert signal which draws our attention to the spiritual imbalances, most often at the somatic or flesh level. When man is aware of this fact and remedies them, he will come out from all his sufferings quickly and more easily. However, when he ignores these warnings, he will multiply and aggravate them, directing himself to the collapse into even greater sins and thus into more burdensome pains and sufferings. pp. 41–58

Keywords: sorrow; daily cross; sour medicine; soul salvation; Christian behaviour; suffering

IOAN C. TEȘU
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Alexandru Ioan Cuza University,
Dumitru Stăniloae Faculty of Orthodox Theology; Iași, Romania

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