Special Gifts from God    229 

will be given the gift of true sorrow for their sins which were the cause of the 

sufferings of Jesus. 

    Christians who have sinned much in their lives will experience this gift as 

true sorrow for their own sins and as true repentance from sin. Many 

Christians will be converted away from all kinds of sin and towards a greater 

love for God. This conversion of Christians will occur throughout the world 

and will have a permanent effect on the Church. This gift from God will 

begin to transfigure the Church, which is the Body of Christ. At this time, 

many Catholics will also receive a greater love for Christ in His Real 

Presence in the Holy Eucharist. 

    Christians who have already come close to God and put most sin far from 

themselves will still experience sorrow for their sins. But these faithful 

disciples will also be given a deeper share in the sorrows of the Passion and 

Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. These Christians will feel more sorrow at the 

sufferings of Jesus than at their own sins. Blessed are these few faithful who 

will suffer with Christ on that day. 

The Church's Agony in the Garden 

     And he said to them, `My soul is sorrowful, even to death; remain here, 

and watch.'   (Mark 14:34). 

    At this time of repentance and sorrow, the Church will be like Jesus in 

agony in the garden. The Church will seek God's will sorrowfully. The 

Church will watch and pray in the midst of spiritual suffering. And like 

Jesus, the Church will find God's will through sorrowful prayer. 

    In the garden, Jesus experienced spiritual agony because He realized the 

sinfulness of humanity. On this day of sorrow, the Church will be given a 

deeper understanding of the sins of humanity. Jesus also suffered in the 

garden because He knew what great sufferings awaited Him at His 

Crucifixion. On this day of sorrow, the Church will be given the gift of a 

more thorough knowledge and understanding of the sufferings of Jesus 

Christ. 

    Jesus also suffered in the garden because He knew what great persecutions 

and sufferings His followers would have to endure. Jesus realized that future 

Christians would suffer a great deal in following His Way of the Cross. And 

He knew that the world would persecute His followers as they persecuted 

Him. So too, on this day of mourning, the Church will gain a deeper 

understanding of the sufferings which await the Church on earth. For the 

Church must be crucified, even as Christ Jesus was crucified.