Mortification methods (nort corporal)

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Hello! I am having trouble finding other methods of mortification (NOT corporal). I know of fasting, sleeping without a pillow, waking up. Any others? Would something like a sack cloth cilice (no barbs. Just a sack cloth belt you fasten around your leg) be considered corporal and therefore need spiritual direction? Thank you! (This isn’t really mortification but, anyone have any experience with the cord of St. Joseph?)
 
One priest suggested “eat your vegetables” … in other words, eat stuff that is good for you, even if it’s not your favorite.

I do not like Brussels Sprouts. Never liked them.

They were on the menu at a place we like to eat at.

The server said that they sell out the Brussels Sprouts first.

[actually, they were quite good.]

Anyway, some people are not crazy about cauliflower or broccoli … but they are good for you!
 
Anything that causes physical pain should be approached only with the advice and blessing of a spiritual director - this includes the cilice.

There are lots of little things you can do.

Is your food too cold or not salty or spicy or sweet enough? Don’t complain, don’t reheat or add anything yo make it more palatable, just eat it as is.

Has someone asked you to do something for them just as your favourite tv show is about to come on? Don’t wait, even for the next ad break, but do it straight away and cheerfully.

Is great-aunt Ethel telling you the same boring old story for the fifth time in a row? Make the effort to listen and pay attention rather than tuning out or interrupting to change the subject.

Are you the type who can never leave home without makeup on? Love your high heels? Try going without.

The old cold shower - in winter make it a less-than comfortable blast of cold for a few seconds rather than risking a chill.
 
Whenever you have a “cross” to bear, no matter how small (an idiotic driver almost runs you off the road-ok, that’s not so small 😉 ) offer it up! One of the Fatima prayers was for this: “O Jesus, this is for the love of Thee, and for offenses committed against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” Please remember, mortification is only beneficial when it is directed toward salvific suffering. Otherwise, it becomes an empty sacrifice.
 
If you want to mortify in a systematic way, try contemplative prayer. It mortifies you in that you “let go” of your constant stream of thoughts you normally have, and invite God into your quiet mind and heart.
 
We can use any form of denying ourselves as mortification. You can mortify your tongue by forcing yourself to pause and think before you speak, you can mortify your eyes by not allowing yourself to look on worldly beauty. You can mortify your mind (and imagination?) by not allowing yourself to think about judgements you make of others or not allowing yourself to remain in a judgemental anger, or just generally thinking about ungodly things. You can mortify anything in your life by doing the good and better thing when it is opposite to your will. So you can think about what kinds of sins you tend to fall into and mortify something that has to do with those sins, then you will hopefully grow in holiness in that area, along with the other benefits of mortification.
 
A fairly aggressive technique I use for mortification training of my emotional reflexes to things that I find disturbing or offensive, is by witnessing them, usually in videos, and training myself to remain perfectly at peace during the presentation. Comedians are good for that, and even some of the more modern animated sitcoms.

It’s been very helpful to me, and has allowed me to stay calm in the face of insult in “real life,” which has been a great blessing to me spiritually, emotionally, and socially. It has allowed me to keep a professional demeanor in what could have been very awkward situations. Sometimes I even see through the “offensive” parts of discourse and find some good in it, or at least isn’t as bad as it first appeared. When that happens, it also removes the bonds between that flavor of others’ “bad” behavior, and my soul. Whether someone does something immoral or not, if I take offense at it then it becomes my problem – I have let it disturb my peace. Or what I thought was peace but obviously isn’t the unconditional peace like Jesus gives.

Some might think it strange that I find peace in intentionally viewing offensive materials. Well, it worked for me. Your mileage may vary.

Actually I hardly do it anymore because doing it has pretty well accomplished what I needed it to do. I started getting diminishing returns, and realized that enough was enough. 👍

Alan
 
Imcatholic7 said:
Hello! I am having trouble finding other methods of mortification (NOT corporal). I know of fasting, sleeping without a pillow, waking up. Any others? Would something like a sack cloth cilice (no barbs. Just a sack cloth belt you fasten around your leg) be considered corporal and therefore need spiritual direction? Thank you! (This isn’t really mortification but, anyone have any experience with the cord of St. Joseph?)
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How about a pebble in your shoe?

It’s worked for me.
 
Imcatholic7 said:
Hello! I am having trouble finding other methods of mortification (NOT corporal). I know of fasting, sleeping without a pillow, waking up. Any others? Would something like a sack cloth cilice (no barbs. Just a sack cloth belt you fasten around your leg) be considered corporal and therefore need spiritual direction? Thank you! (This isn’t really mortification but, anyone have any experience with the cord of St. Joseph?)
Click to expand...
Everything you listed is considered a form of corporal mortification. If it isn’t internal (ie: accepting humiliations, fulfilling the duties of your state in life, etc.), it’s corporal.
 
I’m not sure if this crosses a line, but if you’re having difficulty with a particular virtue or vice (doing something good or eliminating something bad) I recommend a thin, NOT TIGHT) rubber band around the wrist that doesn’t have a watch on it. Whenever the “thorn in your side” crops up, just gently snap the rubber band against your wrist. This is actually a secular method for breaking a bad habit. Supposedly, it takes the human brain 11 days to make or break a bad habit.
In this case, I recommend saying a prayer every time you have to snap your wrist. The point isn’t to hurt yourself, it’s to clear your mind to pay attention to what you are doing. So, if you’re the type to take it too far, ask a priest at confession, see what he says.
 
Oh, I almost forgot. Give away some things that you absolutely love to the poor. Anonymously. We have a Joseph’s Coat ministry that gives away, directly, clothing and furniture to the poor and there are drop boxes at different churches. No one should see you do it (I mean, the items that you give) our you will already be repaid, as Jesus said. My vice was purses. I didn’t spend much (seriously) but I bought them or accepted them as gifts. I gave away my favorites. In one case, it actually did hurt a little more cuz I have it to my sister, and I had to smile instead of cringe every time I saw her with it! Or, go out and buy some of YOUR FAVORITE foods and donate them to a food pantry (call first to find out when they accept donations. Do not accept a receipt.) Also, go to a nursing home and visit the most forgotten residents there. Take your time and do it cheerfully. It might not sound like much, but Our Lord said to visit the sick and imprisoned. You can’t get much more imprisoned than poor, old, sick, forgotten people who have no one and can go nowhere.
 
carmichael2359 said:
Oh, I almost forgot. Give away some things that you absolutely love to the poor. Anonymously. We have a Joseph’s Coat ministry that gives away, directly, clothing and furniture to the poor and there are drop boxes at different churches. No one should see you do it (I mean, the items that you give) our you will already be repaid, as Jesus said. My vice was purses. I didn’t spend much (seriously) but I bought them or accepted them as gifts. I gave away my favorites. In one case, it actually did hurt a little more cuz I have it to my sister, and I had to smile instead of cringe every time I saw her with it! Or, go out and buy some of YOUR FAVORITE foods and donate them to a food pantry (call first to find out when they accept donations. Do not accept a receipt.)** Also, go to a nursing home and visit the most forgotten residents there. Take your time and do it cheerfully. It might not sound like much, but Our Lord said to visit the sick and imprisoned. You can’t get much more imprisoned than poor, old, sick, forgotten people who have no one and can go nowhere.**
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The part I bolded, seriously I nearly cried. I’ve worked in nursing homes for several years and the lives that some people live in there…it’s heart breaking. The elderly are the forgotten ones of today. It’s so sad. And the rest of your post is Fantastic too.
 
LilyPearls said:
The part I bolded, seriously I nearly cried. I’ve worked in nursing homes for several years and the lives that some people live in there…it’s heart breaking. The elderly are the forgotten ones of today. It’s so sad. And the rest of your post is Fantastic too.
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Thank you, you are so sweet-but I can’t take credit, lol. The Holy Spirit, you know? And, my Mom was a geriatric nurse for many years, because she said no one wanted to work with old people. She went back to college and got her RN when she was nearly 50, and did that. Hats off to you, too, for your ministry to our most forgotten segment of the population.
 
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