Moderation verses Penance

[houston1]

How does one know whether what they are doing is moderate verses what they are doing is penitential? This can be regard to food, drink, television, internet, and other pleasures of life. For example, suppose I drink two 12 oz cans of diet coke a day but I chose not to drink but one a day because I am trying to make a sacrifice for the Lord. Is this just being moderate or is this penitential? I suppose some could argue that drinking diet coke is sinful because the nutrisweet in the drink can cause cancer and, thus, cause us to harm our bodies.

Thanks for your help.

houston1

 

[Barbkw]

I can understand it being a gift to God if by drinking only a certain number of sodas a week you’re able to donate that saved money to a food bank.

 

[ready]

Maybe being penitential requires that the act we do hurts us a lot or takes a lot out of us, like fasting, giving up all of one’s possesions to donate to the poor, depriving oneself of sleep to continue praying, wearing a tight cord around one’s waist, walking on one’s knees for a long while while doing some devotion, holding one’s arms out for the whole Divine Mercy Chaplet (doing these penances with the permission of a spiritual director, of course). Maybe giving up something little is just considered a mortification or a small sacrifice and is not considered penitential. I would ask a priest or a CAF apologist your question and see what they say. I think I remember some priest saying that a penitential act hurts us a lot or takes a lot from us.

 

[Edward_H]

Don’t sweat the details. Make it count as both moderation and penance. Tell God that you desire to practice temperance and to make penance. He’ll sort out the proportion. The important thing - in my opinion - is that you do it for God, with God (in conversation with God).

I don’t think God wants offerings and prayer to be a burden for us; aim for utter simplicity. He seeks union with us. Any undue focus on the mechanics is a decrease in simplicity and full sincerity.

One priest told me “God chuckles at our ingenuity”

Just my 2 cents.

 

[houston1]

Thanks all of you for your posts. This gives me a little more understanding into it. Thanks about the reminder that we do all of this for God and converse with God about it.

houston1

 

[ready]

Maybe being penitential requires that the act we do hurts us a lot or takes a lot out of us, like fasting, giving up all of one’s possesions to donate to the poor, depriving oneself of sleep to continue praying, wearing a tight cord around one’s waist, walking on one’s knees for a long while while doing some devotion, holding one’s arms out for the whole Divine Mercy Chaplet (doing these penances with the permission of a spiritual director, of course). Maybe giving up something little is just considered a mortification or a small sacrifice and is not considered penitential. I would ask a priest or a CAF apologist your question and see what they say. I think I remember some priest saying that a penitential act hurts us a lot or takes a lot from us.

I spoke with a priest and he said that being penitential does not require that our act of penance hurts us a lot or takes a lot from us.

 

[Shin]

I think Our Lord gave us the best example of penance.

‘Do you not understand that your prayers and your grief can draw souls from Purgatory? What they have not had the chance to suffer themselves, so as to purge themselves here below, you will suffer in their stead; you will substitute yourself for them and finish what they could not end. You will pay your grief in ransom, and the more sharp your pain, the sooner will the debt of her you loved be paid.’

St. Lydwine of Schiedam

‘By suffering we are able to give something to God. The gift of pain, of suffering is a big thing and cannot be accomplished in Paradise.’

St. Padre Pio

‘It is such a joy to think that for each little pain borne with joy, I shall love God more throughout eternity.’

St. Therese of Lisieux

 

[houston1]

I think Our Lord gave us the best example of penance.

‘Do you not understand that your prayers and your grief can draw souls from Purgatory? What they have not had the chance to suffer themselves, so as to purge themselves here below, you will suffer in their stead; you will substitute yourself for them and finish what they could not end. You will pay your grief in ransom, and the more sharp your pain, the sooner will the debt of her you loved be paid.’

St. Lydwine of Schiedam

‘By suffering we are able to give something to God. The gift of pain, of suffering is a big thing and cannot be accomplished in Paradise.’

St. Padre Pio

‘It is such a joy to think that for each little pain borne with joy, I shall love God more throughout eternity.’

St. Therese of Lisieux

Shin,

These are helpful quotes. In my case, being “moderate” is very painful often times. How so I love to eat sweets, candy, and other junk food!!! So, could one say that being moderate can make one also penitential? The focus of my moderation is for the service to our Lord. Otherwise, I would eat a disproportionate amount of junk food.

Also, I have such a difficult time doing the fasting required on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. I wish I could do more fasting and other acts of self-denial. I see God moving me to pursue this more. I just need to know how (in a practical way). Hearing other persons’ experiences is very helpful to me.

God bless,
houston1