This Valley of Tears: A Comprehensive Study of the Origins, Meaning and Value of Suffering

The title "This Valley of Tears" comes from the prayer written by St. Bernard, 'Salve Regina' or 'Hail Holy Queen'. Because of the disobedience of Adam and Eve we, their children, must now live in this world of suffering, pain, and death. We are the "poor banished children of Eve." This book is a treatment of the source of our suffering, that suffering has a meaning and has been made valuable by the Passion, suffering, and Death of Our Lord, Jesus Christ. Because of Original Sin, we have the tendency to seek gratification and to avoid pain and suffering at whatever the cost. We see the members of the Military, Firefighters, Police Officers, Search and Rescue Professionals, as heroes because they have been trained not only to endure hardship and pain but to run toward it to fight an enemy or in most cases to save the life or lives of others. Athletes, in like manner, are trained in endurance to pain and suffering for the 'winner's trophy' as well as passing glory. We must also train ourselves to become 'selfless' and to seek the good of others before our own gratification, even if this means we must endure pain and suffering in order to accomplish the good we set out to do. We can do all of this by the development of our spiritual life, through sacrifice and reparation. This book addresses the universal questions about suffering and pain in this world. It is written from a traditional Apostolic, Catholic, orthodox perspective, nevertheless, it is also written for the edification and inspiration of all people of good will.

Anthony John West was born and raised in California and was baptized in the Catholic Faith soon after his birth. He has been a faithful, devout, and practicing Catholic all of his life. AJ received a Bachelors Degree in both Philosophy and History from Loyola University at Los Angeles and his STB (Master of Divinity) from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome, Italy. He also spent two years in a Monastery with intense studies in Thomistic Theology and Augustinian Spirituality. In his Graduate studies, Mr. West concentrated on Spiritual/Mystical Theology developing an expertise in mystical phenomena, as well as Occultism and Demonology. A. J. West is a previously published author of the Novel (Vatican Thriller) Wolves Among the Ruins: The Prince Dethroned. Mr. West currently lives in Northern California and is active in promoting adherence to the traditional teachings, devotions, and praxis of the ancient Catholicism of the Latin West.