Corporal Mortification

[Person123]

In order to practice corporal mortification, is a spiritual director required? If one were to practice this WITHOUT a director, would that be a sin? Thanks.

 

[ChibiViolet]

Get to know God and yourself first. Pray A LOT about this and reflect on this before acting alone. Acting alone on this is NOT a sin, but it could be VERY unwise depending on various factors.

 

[anruari]

If you are referring to practices that could inflict physical pain or discomfort, or have a risk of causing damage to the body or mind then I am not aware of any groups that advise on the use of that type Corporal Mortification without it being under the supervision of a suitably experienced spiritual director. The only groups of which I am aware who advise on its use have strict rules about it only bueing used by the explicitly sought permission of the penitents spiritual director, and continuing supervision.

This is an area where it is very easy to delude yourself about your intentions, motivations, aims and attainments.

Of course in that I am assuming that you are using the term “Corporal Mortification” in its most obvious understanding n the public eye:
use of self flagellation. use of the cilice, sleeping on a stone floor without a mattress, etc.

These are examples of a range of practices which can cause damage to the body, and the mind, and must only be used with the permission of and supervision of a Spiritual Director.

Of course when properly understood, any penance undertaken which has a direct physical aspect can be part of “Corporal Mortification”. the traditional penances of Friday the Lenten Fast and abstinence is a form of corporal mortification. These are examples of Corporal Mortification which not only do not require permission or supervision, but some of them are mandatory and require special dispensation to not perform (the prescribed fasts and abstinences during Lent. The requirement to make some Corporal or Spiritual Mortification on every Friday (In England and Wales the requirement to abstain from Meat if it forms a normal part of the diet has been reinstated for all Fridays.)

 

[fred_conty]

Get to know God and yourself first. Pray A LOT about this and reflect on this before acting alone. Acting alone on this is NOT a sin, but it could be VERY unwise depending on various factors.

You might think along the lines of some kind of fasting or abstinence.
The eastern churches fast about 6 months out of the year.
Our Roman church fasts 40 days of lent.

More fasting would be good if you are healthy.

Abstinence is also good, especially from our modern conveniences and entertainment.
Then replacing that time with prayer for sinners and the world, or personal reflective prayer.

Another form of mortification is always to do what you know God wants you to do.
That is, pray more to know his will, and then make your will bend to his.
This is the toughest kind of mortification, to do Gods will every moment in the day.
So often what happens is that we decide first what to do, determine if it ok before doing our will without considering God’s will first which may be different.

If you do decide to do something along these lines, you will notice a difference in your connection with Jesus. For He is never out done in generosity.

Just some thoughts.