V
VetA
Guest
Does anyone know of any specific practices of mortifying the flesh, also does anyone know where i might obtain a cilice?
- Status
L
LilyM
Guest
Fasting is one such practice. Skip the occasional lunch or dinner, or go a day on bread and water.
Abstain from particular kinds of food that you enjoy (eg meat, sweets, potato chips, coffee) Or just don’t put salt or sugar on them. Or put a bit of salt instead of sugar in your coffee, or sugar instead of salt on your fries, or lots of pepper on anything, so your food doesn’t taste pleasant
Cold showers (don’t do it in the dead of winter though - you’re meant to be uncomfortable, but not to the point of catching your death!).
In a slightly broader sense of ‘flesh’, choose not to wear makeup, perfume, cologne (DO wear unscented deodorant if you choose this option) or jewellery if you’re fond of any of these things.
Wake up early or go to sleep late and spend that extra time in additional prayer or spiritual reading.
Stay standing while you’re reading or watching tv rather than opting to sit or lie down - it’s uncomfortable if you’re not used to it.
Abstain from particular kinds of food that you enjoy (eg meat, sweets, potato chips, coffee) Or just don’t put salt or sugar on them. Or put a bit of salt instead of sugar in your coffee, or sugar instead of salt on your fries, or lots of pepper on anything, so your food doesn’t taste pleasant
Cold showers (don’t do it in the dead of winter though - you’re meant to be uncomfortable, but not to the point of catching your death!).
In a slightly broader sense of ‘flesh’, choose not to wear makeup, perfume, cologne (DO wear unscented deodorant if you choose this option) or jewellery if you’re fond of any of these things.
Wake up early or go to sleep late and spend that extra time in additional prayer or spiritual reading.
Stay standing while you’re reading or watching tv rather than opting to sit or lie down - it’s uncomfortable if you’re not used to it.
S
Shin
Guest
I suggest you simply make one yourself.
You can read about various practices of mortification in the lives of the saints.
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori used to season his food with bitter herbs, so it tasted so badly that neither animals nor the poor would eat it, but he would. More than once he was given vinegar instead of wine to drink by accident, and still he drank it. In other words, not merely fasting, but eating food that is very distasteful.
Vigils are also a part of mortifying the flesh, as well as uncomfortable and painful penances, such as the use of bamboo canes, and boards for a bed.
‘We give our youth to the devil, and the remains of our life to the Good God, who is so good that He deigns to be content with even that. . . but, happily, everyone does not do so. A great lady has been here, of one of the first families in France; she went away this morning. She is scarcely three-and-twenty, and she is rich-very rich indeed. . . She has offered herself in sacrifice to the good God for the expiation of sins, and for the conversion of sinners. She wears a girdle all armed with iron points; she mortifies herself in a thousand ways; and her parents know nothing of it. She is white as a sheet of paper. Hers is a beautiful soul, very pleasing to the good God, such as are still to be found now and then in the world, and they prevent the world from coming to an end.’
St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars
N
Nevermore22
Guest
Also, something else.
Be very careful when practicing forms of mortification like the cilice, whipping etc. There is a great occasion to fall into the sin of pride and they can also be very dangerous. So please only practice these forms if your spiritual director or confessor susgested it to you and under their supervision.
But as for some more forms;
Try sleeping on the floor, or like others said get up early.
In many years past in Europe, when a priest or friar visited someone’s home, they were always offered the choicest piece of meat and the best of everything else. Some, so as to not bring about gluttony, sprinkled ashes on the food.
Perhaps you can go a lesser route and put little to no seasoning on food, etc.
There are many ways to mortify the flesh. One does not have to use corporal means.
In Christ,
Never
Be very careful when practicing forms of mortification like the cilice, whipping etc. There is a great occasion to fall into the sin of pride and they can also be very dangerous. So please only practice these forms if your spiritual director or confessor susgested it to you and under their supervision.
But as for some more forms;
Try sleeping on the floor, or like others said get up early.
In many years past in Europe, when a priest or friar visited someone’s home, they were always offered the choicest piece of meat and the best of everything else. Some, so as to not bring about gluttony, sprinkled ashes on the food.
Perhaps you can go a lesser route and put little to no seasoning on food, etc.
There are many ways to mortify the flesh. One does not have to use corporal means.
In Christ,
Never
A
Advocatus_Fidei
Guest
Fasting is the obvious, basic and most effective way.
What do you mean by a cilice there are many different kinds? Whatever cilcice you have in mind they should not be used in place of fasting but as an addition, so if you are not doing some kind of fasting several days a week start there.
S
Shin
Guest
If you can find a spiritual director who doesn’t give only one Hail Mary for penances and disbelieve in mortification in the first place. 
As that is not the norm… You must generally simply have prudence but not effeminacy.
As that is not the norm… You must generally simply have prudence but not effeminacy.
M
Monica4316
Guest
If you’re going to do this, try to do it under the guidance of a spiritual director… because it’s generally thought that it’s easy to get tempted to pride once a person starts practicing mortification. With spiritual mortification though, it’s somewhat safer. (an example would be: not arguing when you really want to, forgiving others, accepting humiliations, etc). You can also fast on Fridays, wake up early to pray, etc. If you start with these things, then it would be safer to move on to something like a cilice. If you’ve never done mortification before and you start with a cilice or a discipline, that can easily tempt you to pride and it might be very subtle and even unnoticeable at first! that’s why having a spiritual director helps with those things. (because then you do it out of obedience, which encourages humility… there’s a very dangerous form of spiritual pride where a person thinks they’re at a higher level than they are. I’m not saying you have this form of pride, but just something to consider! I’ve fallen into that trap and it’s difficult to get out of later).
Also it’s important to examine your motives. Our motives are never perfectly pure… but it’s humility that makes our sacrifices pleasing to God.
God bless
Also it’s important to examine your motives. Our motives are never perfectly pure… but it’s humility that makes our sacrifices pleasing to God.
God bless
B
baltobetsy
Guest
Has your confessor or spiritual director suggested that you use a cilice? No? Then the appropriate mortification is to forget it until he does. The sacrifice of your own will is always pleasing to God.
Betsy
Betsy
B
Bookcat
Guest
A good article on the subject:
holyspiritinteractive.net/columns/guests/michaelgiesler/corporalmortification.asp
holyspiritinteractive.net/columns/guests/michaelgiesler/corporalmortification.asp
J
jtodisco
Guest
I agree with most of the people here when they advised that 1) fasting is the most common and usually the best option and 2) that one must be careful with self-imposed penances as they can actually lead one away from God by focusing you more on yourself instead.
Also, you may consider taking on other penances that often go overlooked. My spiritual director once said something to me that really hit me hard when I asked her about the effectiveness of fasting or other forms of mortification. She said, “It would be a much greater penance, and do most people infinitely more spiritual good, if instead of harming their bodies as penance they were willing to do things such as spend an hour each week with someone they genuninely cannot stand showing them patience and kindness.”
She then told me a story from the life of Saint Therese of Lisieux and how the saint noticed that a sister in her convent who was quite rude and hostile was avoided and disliked by all the other sisters due to her mean temper. Saint Therese sought out this sister and befriended her despite receiving many insults initially, both from this sister and from the others who were baffled by Saint Therese’s behavior. Eventually the wayward sister not only became fond of Saint Therese, but was brought back into the fold. So we see how this sort of penance can be rewarding not only for ourselves but for others as well.
Also, you may consider taking on other penances that often go overlooked. My spiritual director once said something to me that really hit me hard when I asked her about the effectiveness of fasting or other forms of mortification. She said, “It would be a much greater penance, and do most people infinitely more spiritual good, if instead of harming their bodies as penance they were willing to do things such as spend an hour each week with someone they genuninely cannot stand showing them patience and kindness.”
She then told me a story from the life of Saint Therese of Lisieux and how the saint noticed that a sister in her convent who was quite rude and hostile was avoided and disliked by all the other sisters due to her mean temper. Saint Therese sought out this sister and befriended her despite receiving many insults initially, both from this sister and from the others who were baffled by Saint Therese’s behavior. Eventually the wayward sister not only became fond of Saint Therese, but was brought back into the fold. So we see how this sort of penance can be rewarding not only for ourselves but for others as well.
S
Shin
Guest
‘He who gives little important to exterior mortifications, claiming that interior mortifications are more perfect, clearly shows that he is not mortified at all, exteriorly nor interiorly.’
St. Vincent de Paul
‘St. John of the Cross says, that he who teaches that exterior mortification is not necessary is not to be believed, although he should perform miracles.’
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
‘Without mortification nothing can be done.’
‘Where there is no great mortification there is no great sanctity.’
St. Philip Neri
‘Some persons are so inclined to mortify themselves that at every opportunity they have, they do so. What a beautiful practice this is, and how profitable!’
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
‘Be careful not to admit into your society those delicate and sensitive people who are afraid of the slightest pin- prick, who cry out and complain at the least pain, who know nothing of the hair-shirt, the discipline or other instruments of penance, and who mingle, with their fashionable devotions, a most refined fastidiousness and a most studied lack of mortification.’
St. Louis Marie de Montfort
‘Let us read the lives of the saints; let us consider the penances which they performed, and blush to be so effeminate and so fearful of mortifying our flesh.’
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
‘There were two saints in the desert, who had sewed thorns into all their clothes; and we seek for nothing but comfort!’
‘There was once a solitary who had built himself a royal palace in the trunk of an oak-tree; he had placed thorns inside of it, and he had fastened three stones over his head, so that when he raised himself or turned over he might feel the stones or the thorns. And we, we think of nothing but finding good beds, that we may sleep at our ease.’
St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars
St. Vincent de Paul
‘St. John of the Cross says, that he who teaches that exterior mortification is not necessary is not to be believed, although he should perform miracles.’
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
‘Without mortification nothing can be done.’
‘Where there is no great mortification there is no great sanctity.’
St. Philip Neri
‘Some persons are so inclined to mortify themselves that at every opportunity they have, they do so. What a beautiful practice this is, and how profitable!’
St. Alphonsus Rodriguez
‘Be careful not to admit into your society those delicate and sensitive people who are afraid of the slightest pin- prick, who cry out and complain at the least pain, who know nothing of the hair-shirt, the discipline or other instruments of penance, and who mingle, with their fashionable devotions, a most refined fastidiousness and a most studied lack of mortification.’
St. Louis Marie de Montfort
‘Let us read the lives of the saints; let us consider the penances which they performed, and blush to be so effeminate and so fearful of mortifying our flesh.’
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
‘There were two saints in the desert, who had sewed thorns into all their clothes; and we seek for nothing but comfort!’
‘There was once a solitary who had built himself a royal palace in the trunk of an oak-tree; he had placed thorns inside of it, and he had fastened three stones over his head, so that when he raised himself or turned over he might feel the stones or the thorns. And we, we think of nothing but finding good beds, that we may sleep at our ease.’
St. Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney, the Cure of Ars
S
spencer2
Guest
i never really understood self inflicted pain and torture to yourself for sanctity. i think God chooses obedience over sacrafice any day of the week but then i guess the saints were totally obedient and needed something for deeper spirituality. i guess it’s a good practice to avoid over indulgence in the comforts and pleasures of life. did jesus ever teach his apostles to mortify their flesh (real question, i’m not being contrary)?
L
LilyM
Guest
Yup. Remember when He sent them out with no money, no extra clothing, etc etc? What was that if not asking them to give up the bodily comforts that can be purchased with money, and the fleshly satisfaction of having clean clothes rather than wearing the same old smelly ones for ages?
Another time - He quite simply said ‘WHEN you fast’. When, not if. That’s a command, not an option.
S
Shin
Guest
In all things we suffer tribulation, but are not distressed; we are straitened, but are not destitute; We suffer persecution, but are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we perish not:
Always bearing about in our body the mortification of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies.
For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake; that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2 Corinthians 4:8-11
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.
Romans 8:12-13
If any man will come after me, let him deny him-self and take up his cross, and follow me.
St. Matt. xvi. 24.
And they that are Christ’s, have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences.
Galatians 5:24
Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols.
Colossians 3:2-5
For the wisdom of the flesh is death; but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.
Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be.
And they who are in the flesh, cannot please God.
Romans 8:6-8
And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.
2 Corinthians 12:7
*If any man will come after me, let him deny him-self and take up his cross, and follow me. St. Matt. xvi. 24. *
This is all that is necessary in order to become a follower of Jesus Christ; the denying of ourselves, and the moritfying of self-love. Do we desire to be saved? we must conquer all, to secure all. How wretched is the soul that allows itself to be guided by self-love! Mortification is of two kinds; interior and exterior. By interior mortification the passions are conquered, and particularly that which prevails over us most. He who does not overcome his predominant passion is in great danger of being lost. On the contrary he who does overcome it, will easily conquer all the rest. Some nevertheless suffer themselves to be swayed by some particular vice, and yet think they are good persons, because they are not overcome by the same vices which they witness in others. " But what will this avail ?" says St. Cyril, " a small" chink is sufficient to sink the vessel." It avails nought to say: “I cannot abstain from this vice:” a resolute will overcomes every thing; when it relies on God’s assistance which is never wanting.
Exterior mortification is the conquering of the sensual appetites. Worldlings call the saints cruel, because they deny their bodies all sensual gratifications, and afflict themselves with hair-shirts, disciplines and penances. But St. Bernard says that those are much more cruel towards themselves, who for the sake of the momentary pleasures of this world, condemn themselves to the eternal torments of the next. Others say that the body should be denied all forbidden pleasure, but despise exterior mortifications, saying that interior mortification alone is necessary, that is, the mortification of the will. Yes, it is in the first place necessary to mortify the will, but it is also necessary to mortify the flesh; because if the flesh be not mortified, it will have great difficulty in being obedient to God. St. John of the Cross says, that he who teaches that exterior mortification is not necessary is not to be believed, although he should perform miracles.
But to come to the practice. . .
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church
Always bearing about in our body the mortification of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies.
For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake; that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2 Corinthians 4:8-11
Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.
For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.
Romans 8:12-13
If any man will come after me, let him deny him-self and take up his cross, and follow me.
St. Matt. xvi. 24.
And they that are Christ’s, have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences.
Galatians 5:24
Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. For you are dead; and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ shall appear, who is your life, then you also shall appear with him in glory.
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, lust, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is the service of idols.
Colossians 3:2-5
For the wisdom of the flesh is death; but the wisdom of the spirit is life and peace.
Because the wisdom of the flesh is an enemy to God; for it is not subject to the law of God, neither can it be.
And they who are in the flesh, cannot please God.
Romans 8:6-8
And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me.
2 Corinthians 12:7
*If any man will come after me, let him deny him-self and take up his cross, and follow me. St. Matt. xvi. 24. *
This is all that is necessary in order to become a follower of Jesus Christ; the denying of ourselves, and the moritfying of self-love. Do we desire to be saved? we must conquer all, to secure all. How wretched is the soul that allows itself to be guided by self-love! Mortification is of two kinds; interior and exterior. By interior mortification the passions are conquered, and particularly that which prevails over us most. He who does not overcome his predominant passion is in great danger of being lost. On the contrary he who does overcome it, will easily conquer all the rest. Some nevertheless suffer themselves to be swayed by some particular vice, and yet think they are good persons, because they are not overcome by the same vices which they witness in others. " But what will this avail ?" says St. Cyril, " a small" chink is sufficient to sink the vessel." It avails nought to say: “I cannot abstain from this vice:” a resolute will overcomes every thing; when it relies on God’s assistance which is never wanting.
Exterior mortification is the conquering of the sensual appetites. Worldlings call the saints cruel, because they deny their bodies all sensual gratifications, and afflict themselves with hair-shirts, disciplines and penances. But St. Bernard says that those are much more cruel towards themselves, who for the sake of the momentary pleasures of this world, condemn themselves to the eternal torments of the next. Others say that the body should be denied all forbidden pleasure, but despise exterior mortifications, saying that interior mortification alone is necessary, that is, the mortification of the will. Yes, it is in the first place necessary to mortify the will, but it is also necessary to mortify the flesh; because if the flesh be not mortified, it will have great difficulty in being obedient to God. St. John of the Cross says, that he who teaches that exterior mortification is not necessary is not to be believed, although he should perform miracles.
But to come to the practice. . .
St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church
S
Shin
Guest
That is what crucifixion is.
Truly, His entire life was mortification, He, ‘the man of sorrows’.
T
TheophilusOD
Guest
M
momor
Guest
Rather than administering your own mortification you could ask God to supply you with one and humbly accept whatever comes your way.
When you see someone who appears to be suffering or struggling, ask God to give you some of their suffering/struggle to lighten their burden.
When you have aches or pains offer them up to God to relieve some of the pain of His Passion. If you have a headache, don’t take an aspirin, but offer it up to God to relieve some of the pain of His crown of thorns. Wake yourself up in the middle of the night and “watch with Him for 1 hour” to keep Him company during His Passion. Try standing with your arms outstretched as long as you can to relieve some of the pain Jesus felt hanging on the cross.
When you see someone who appears to be suffering or struggling, ask God to give you some of their suffering/struggle to lighten their burden.
When you have aches or pains offer them up to God to relieve some of the pain of His Passion. If you have a headache, don’t take an aspirin, but offer it up to God to relieve some of the pain of His crown of thorns. Wake yourself up in the middle of the night and “watch with Him for 1 hour” to keep Him company during His Passion. Try standing with your arms outstretched as long as you can to relieve some of the pain Jesus felt hanging on the cross.
J
John_of_Woking
Guest
In my opinion The journey goes something like this as a convert who used to live a more sinful existence:
Man decides to follow Christ and give up Sin. He visits the Sacraments of Penance and Eucharist regularly and leads a structured prayer life
Stage 1) When one makes the choice to follow Christ he begins the Mortification of the flesh by giving up sins of the flesh…masturbation/fornication, overeating, getting drunk etc
- After a while the devil starts to send temptations. Temptations that one was barely aware of when one was leading a sinful and selfish life (either the devil did not send them or I wallowed in them) and so one conquers them through prayers, the sacraments and perhaps by a slightly sticter observance of the church’s teaching on abstinence and fasting. Maybe a daily rosary or novena/divine office is added asnow you are using the spiritual weapons more frequently.
- The devil is getting a wee bit angry now and starts to send more violent temptations (especially to despair). Again the remedy is trust in God and more fasting and praying
- Hairshirts, bamboo canes may be needed - along with abandonment to self.NOT EASY even with abundant grace. The devil is throwing up all kinds of temptations now…including temptation to pride/despair etc. You start to lose your friends as you don’t go out/want to go out with them anymore. Your family think you are taking it just a little too seriously now. The sports that you were once interested in lose their appeal. The devils distractions are not working and he is in a rage. The mortifications need stepping up…
- If you are St.Jerome you go to a desert and practice untold mortifications. You see yourself in the light of Christ and your wretchedness is magnified…Indeed, for stage 5 read the lives of the saints there will be Dark Night of the Souls/diabolical attacks e.t.c
So dear friends pray for one another because narrow is the way and few there are who make it.
In Christ - from John a cowardly and lukewarm sinner
H
houston1
Guest
John,
what do you mean by “narrow is the way and few there are who make it?” Is this regarding salvation or do you mean level 5 in your scenario? I live in constant fear of going to hell. Please let me know what you mean. Thanks for your help.
J
John_of_Woking
Guest
Dear Houston
I hope all men be saved. However I fear few will be saved and that’s why I was pleading for prayers as I firmly believe I am on the precipice.
This is what lots of visions of the Saints seem to attest i.e. that many are damned. I hope they are wrong. I fear they are unerringly right.
Dear brother in Christ
I live in constant fear of hell too - Join the club. I believe my biggest temptation is to despair and give up.
Obviously I hope this fear of hell will eventually cede to a greater love of God and inner peace. However, fear of Hell and Love of God are by no means mutually exclusive.
I will add you to my meagre petitions but remember living in fear of hell (but not succumbing to depair) is better than presumption.
- Status