This presentation examines the multifaceted experiences of suffering among female and male members of religious orders, articulated by the members themselves. How does the suffering of religious members manifest and what role does it play in consecrated life? By drawing on empirical research, specifically in-depth interviews, the paper sheds light on the complex ways in which suffering - whether personal, relational, or general - is experienced and interpreted within religious life. It highlights suffering's potential as both a formative tool and a mechanism of control within the total institution, a closed social system organized by strict norms (Goffman). The presentation explores the dual role of religious communities as potential spaces of both healing and suffering within the framework of power and structural dynamics. The study categorizes experiences recognized by interviewees as suffering into three, classical dimensions: physical, psychological, and spiritual. Within the physical realm, it distinguishes between voluntarily assumed ascetic practices, such as self-flagellation and fasting, and non-voluntary suffering, including illnesses and actions imposed by superiors. The psychological dimension addresses both external challenges like societal reactions and family separation, and internal issues, such as isolation within the house community, mental health struggles, and difficulties related to specific duties within the community. Spiritually, the discussion revolves around the vow of obedience and its relationship to suffering, along with theological interpretations of suffering. Ultimately, this paper seeks to deepen understanding of how religious individuals navigate their experiences of suffering in the context of their faith and community commitments. The results can also be helpful for research on suffering in the broader context of religion and other closed groups.