Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Helpful Remedies to Sadness

It is not easy to read the news these days for most, if not all, people. As a mother, it is absolutely heart-wrenching at times. Names of big cities and small towns, nearby streets and far-off countries pepper news reports of human loss and tragedy. Unfamiliar people whose grief and pathos many of us have come to know of and share in some fragmented way.

Sadness is a very normal human reaction to pain, suffering, death and loss. It bears a weight which wears heavy on anyone’s heart and soul, dragging one down into a limbo of misery – if one allows it. Perhaps we cannot do much about these things which cause so much grief in the world. Yet, that which we can manage within ourselves does, in fact, count for something.

The Remedies of Pain and Sorrow

In Saint Thomas Aquinas’ Summa Theologiae, I–II, q. 38, he considers the remedies of pain and sorrow and determines five of them. A scholar, I am not; what has helped me to understand better is an article, published in 2016, which talks about this. It was from a conference given by Carlo de Marchi, vicar of Opus Dei for Central-South Italy at the National Ecclesial Congress in Florence.

The five remedies listed are fascinating, not for their sophistication and complexity, but rather for their simplicity and practicality. Pain and sorrow are part and parcel of our life and human condition. The remedies are very much grounded in the fundamental unity of our human body and soul and I believe can definitely help “assuage pain and sorrow”.

Simple Things You Like

The first remedy St. Thomas Aquinas touches on pleasure as a cure for pain. His own explanation of such is quite succinct:

“(…)pleasure is a kind of repose of the appetite in a suitable good; while sorrow arises from something unsuited to the appetite. Consequently in movements of the appetite pleasure is to sorrow, what, in bodies, repose is to weariness, which is due to a non-natural transmutation; for sorrow itself implies a certain weariness or ailing of the appetitive faculty. Therefore just as all repose of the body brings relief to any kind of weariness, ensuing from any non-natural cause; so every pleasure brings relief by assuaging any kind of sorrow, due to any cause whatever.” (emphasis mine)

It may seem trivial and perhaps nonsensical yet having or doing something we like allows us to relax and pause momentarily to experience the pleasure. For some, this may be a glass of something cool and invigorating or a cup of something warm and comforting. It could be something sweet or not, but it is something we relish with pleasure. This temporary break relieves our senses and can allow for refreshment of both body and spirit. It helps us to manage what can easily be a sensory overload.

Flowing From the Windows of our Souls

Recently, in trying to deal with the challenges of running a business, I found myself driving to work in the morning, feeling as if I was all tied up in knots inside, my heart and mind bursting with something I could not figure out. I called my husband and the moment I began to speak – whatever it was exactly I said, I cannot now recall – it was as if a switch flipped and copious tears began to flow. I did not simply cry. I sobbed.

After several minutes of my torrential outpouring of emotion, I calmed down enough to take a few deep breaths. I felt so much better. (I cannot say the same for my poor husband whocould not do anything other than listen helplessly to me blubber on as I cried. God love this man I married!)

There are those times when “a hurtful thing hurts yet more if we keep it shut up”. It is then when tears provide us a way to simply let the sorrow and pain well up and flow out. A good cry really can be a good thing!

A Friend in Need, A Friend Indeed

Often, it is in speaking and opening up to a good friend in times of sadness or distress that we are consoled. St. Thomas Aquinas gives two reasons for this:

“The first is because, since sorrow has a depressing effect, it is like a weight whereof we strive to unburden ourselves: so that when a man sees others saddened by his own sorrow, it seems as though others were bearing the burden with him, striving, as it were, to lessen its weight; wherefore the load of sorrow becomes lighter for him: something like what occurs in the carrying of bodily burdens. The second and better reason is because when a man’s friends condole with him, he sees that he is loved by them, and this affords him pleasure.” (emphasis mine)

To those whom we love, we are the hands and arms, the ears and mouth, the face of Jesus. We are encouraged and invited to love as Jesus loves because our sincere friendship and affection to those around us are a mark of His own Love for them. “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11:28-30, RSVCE)

In Consideration of Truth, Beauty and Goodness

While sadness can bring our spirits down and drag us along slowly and painfully, the contemplation of the truth is something St. Thomas Aquinas presents as a remedy to pain or pleasure. This for the simple reason that careful and meditative consideration of truth, beauty and goodness leads ultimately to one and only one Being: God.

Whether it be contemplation of nature, art, music or the world around us – a prayer of the senses – our spirits are lifted. We can begin to figure out without racking our brains with formulas or words that God Himself is in charge. We can start to see things perhaps from a supernatural point of view – with God’s eyes even if comprehension and understanding are not always so forthcoming. If God is with us, who can stand against us? Our faith, hope and love can be renewed and restored!

Finally – Sleeps and Baths

Sadness – sorrow and pain – has a way of chipping at the soul. It is tiring and tiresome. The fifth remedy of St. Thomas Aquinas is simplicity itself and yet profound for its intuitive connection to our very humanity.

Although sadness is an interior disposition, it is one which can be manifested externally and may definitely affect the physical. It is a disposition which can cause one to feel paralyzed and helpless – as if all hope is lost. Yet, even if we are unable to solve a problem or change circumstances creating the dilemma, we are still capable of doing certain things as they pertain to ourselves. Caring for our physical well-being helps to promote a sense of hope and optimism. It is something we can choose to do and should do. We are important enough to God that He created us. We ought to care for ourselves.

Getting enough sleep and maintaining our cleanliness gives us energy and can help to keep us healthy. These also assist in fostering a healthy and positive disposition – a willingness to keep going and not give up. As human beings, for as long as we are alive, our bodies and souls are united as one. We experience and live our lives through our senses, so the physical element is essential and must be cared for.

Christ Himself to Others

To those whom we care for, relate to and encounter, many times God speaks and acts through each one of us. Our thoughts, words and actions make a difference because they help to create a climate of hope and love, of faith and trust in divine providence. We may not be able to do great big things, but often it is the small and ordinary acts of love which are necessary and so important to those who may be feeling sad or alone. To them, what we say and do make all the difference in the world. To those whom we love, we become like other Christs: Christ Himself.