Catholic and Christian Responses to the Problem of Evil and Suffering
The Teachings of St Irenaeus and the Vale of Soul Making
One significant Catholic response to the existence of evil and suffering is rooted in the theological teachings of St Irenaeus. He argued that the presence of evil and suffering in this life does not constitute a logical problem because these elements are integral parts of a divine plan. According to this perspective, those who undergo suffering will ultimately be rewarded with eternal paradise following their death. Most Christians who adhere to this view maintain that earthly life serves as a necessary period of preparation for paradise. They believe that if individuals are to improve their souls, they must encounter and face evil and suffering, as these challenges provide the essential environment for becoming good, kind, and loving people.
Proponents of this view claim that evil and suffering are things that God cannot simply remove if He intends to give human beings a genuine opportunity to develop into good people. By allowing people to navigate these difficulties, God provides the framework for moral and spiritual growth. In the end, God demonstrates His omni-benevolence (all-loving nature) and His omnipotence (all-powerful nature) by rewarding these individuals in heaven. This theological framework is widely known as the "vale of soul making" response. It posits that God intentionally created the world as a specific place for human beings to develop and mature their souls.
Good Arising from Evil: The Case of Maximilian Kolbe
Catholic Christians often link the "vale of soul making" to the specific belief that good can emerge from even the most profound evil. A prominent example cited is the tragedy of the Holocaust and the life of Maximilian Kolbe (1894–1941). Kolbe was a Franciscan friar—a member of a religious order following the spiritual disciplines of St Francis of Assisi—who was arrested and sent to Auschwitz during the Second World War. Auschwitz was a Nazi concentration camp located in Poland where at least (1.1 million) Jews were killed. Even in this environment of systemic evil, Kolbe continued his priestly ministry discreetly. He heard many confessions and smuggled in bread and wine to perform the Mass for fellow prisoners.
Maximilian Kolbe's legacy is defined by a supreme act of sacrifice. When a married man with children was selected for execution, Kolbe offered to take his place. This act of selflessness led to his canonisation as a saint in 1982. Notably, the ceremony in Rome was attended by the very man whose life Kolbe had saved, who was still living at the time. Kolbe's life and sacrifice are commemorated in religious art, such as the stained-glass window located in the Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Marija Bistrica, Croatia.
Practical Responses to Evil and Suffering and the Example of Jesus
Beyond theoretical theodicies, Catholic Christians believe they have a moral obligation to respond to evil and suffering in practical, tangible ways. They look to the life of Jesus as documented in the Gospels, which illustrates that even the Son of God was not exempt from suffering. Jesus explicitly commanded his followers to respond to suffering by providing aid to those in need. Therefore, all Christians believe it is their duty to help those who suffer while simultaneously trusting in God to provide the ultimate answer to the problem of evil.
The New Testament teaches that Jesus did not view evil and suffering as inevitable things to be ignored, but rather as forces to be fought against. Throughout his ministry, Jesus actively engaged in this fight by healing the sick, feeding the hungry, challenging those who were evil, and even raising the dead. Contemporary Christians feel they should follow this example by fighting against evil through both prayer and charity. This active engagement is seen as a central part of the Christian life.
The Power of Prayer as a Response
Prayer is regarded by Christians as an exceptionally powerful method of responding to the problem of evil and suffering. There is a deep-seated belief that by praying for those in distress, God will intervene to ensure they receive the appropriate type of relief for their specific suffering. These types of prayers are formally known as intercessory prayers, which are defined as prayers asking for God's help on behalf of other people. All Christian services typically include sections for intercession, where the congregation asks God to assist those suffering from war, famine, sickness, poverty, and other afflictions.
Christians maintain that the effectiveness of prayer is evident in its results. For Catholic Christians, this power is often observed during pilgrimages to Lourdes, where many seek and report healing. Similarly, Protestant Christians often point to healing services held within many of their churches as evidence of the tangible impact of prayer. Through these practices, the faithful express their trust that God remains active in addressing human suffering.
Glossary and Definitions
To understand these concepts fully, several key terms must be defined. The "vale of soul making" refers to the specific idea that God provided humanity with this earthly life as a means to refine their souls and make them good enough for heaven. A "Franciscan" is a member of a religious order that adheres to the teachings and spiritual disciplines of St Francis of Assisi. A "friar" is distinguished as a member of a religious order who does not own personal property and must either work or beg for their living.
Specific historical and liturgical terms are also central to this topic. "Auschwitz" is identified as a Nazi Second World War concentration camp in Poland where at least 1.1 million Jews died. "Intercessory prayers" are defined as those prayers specifically asking for God’s help for other people. In the context of religious study, students are often asked to reflect on the moral implications of these lives and definitions, such as considering if Maximilian Kolbe deserves his status as a saint based on his actions in the face of suffering.