Mortification Question

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Rebecca97

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What kind of mortification can I do as a young person with a disabling physical illness? I’m not permitted to fast or do anything physical that might tire me out or compromise my health. I experience a lot of physical pain already. And due to this illness, I’ve already had to give up a lot of things I previously enjoyed doing, including foods I like, sports, outings, playing video games (I get migraines), etc… so my life is already pretty mortified just by default. And I’ve become resigned to not getting what I want and having to do things I hate. So I honestly can’t think of anything to do to mortify myself.

I do offer up my suffering, and if I’m doing all I can that’s fine, but I just listened to a homily on mortification and wondered if there’s something else I could be doing. Or am I doing enough just because of the way my life is? Where I currently live, I don’t have a priest to ask… so I’m not sure where to turn for advice or suggestions.
 
Rebecca97 said:
I do offer up my suffering, and if I’m doing all I can that’s fine, but I just listened to a homily on mortification and wondered if there’s something else I could be doing. Or am I doing enough just because of the way my life is? Where I currently live, I don’t have a priest to ask… so I’m not sure where to turn for advice or suggestions.
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Well, I suppose you could, but be careful with these sort of things. Don’t let mortification just be an infliction of pain, but a demonstration of love. More pain and severity does not necessarily equal a greater sacrifice: it only is if the will is aligned towards love of God as opposed to hatred of self. Start small. You could, for example, give up meat on Fridays, or take a lukewarm shower every week. Instead of 30 minutes watching TV, read the Bible for 30 minutes or some spiritual reading. Instead of a candy bar, buy a homeless person lunch. Then you can build it up from there! And of course, another opportunity would be offering up the suffering your disability causes you up to God, if you’re not doing that already.
 
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Rebecca97 said:
Or am I doing enough just because of the way my life is?
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God bless you @Rebecca97 .

I’m sure you are doing enough in accepting the way things are for you .

You might add a prayer for miserable beggars like me who complain about the merest twinge .
 
Rob2 said:
God bless you @Rebecca97 .

I’m sure you are doing enough in accepting the way things are for you .

You might add a prayer for miserable beggars like me who complain about the merest twinge
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Haha thanks! I can pray for you, for sure! 😀
 
Thanks for this! Lately I have had this idea that I should start praying specifically for priests and religious, since I have the time and especially with the things going on in the news, etc… but I wasn’t sure that my prayers would count or matter. I’m super distracted whenever I pray, its a major issue for me. But you are literally the third person this week who has suggested it to me, so I think I will start, even if my mind is wandering at least I am trying I guess…
 
Fauken said:
Well, I suppose you could, but be careful with these sort of things. Don’t let mortification just be an infliction of pain, but a demonstration of love. More pain and severity does not necessarily equal a greater sacrifice: it only is if the will is aligned towards love of God as opposed to hatred of self.
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Thank you, that’s a really good point. I do already have a lot of physical pain, and I do try to offer it up most days, so I was sort of looking to do things that were more on a spiritual level.
 
Cool thanks, I want to say the rosary more and it would be awesome to get that version if you’re able to share it! Otherwise maybe I could google it.
 
I bookmarked this and come back to read it from time to time. It’s inspiring that even though you already suffer that you want to offer more. I wish I could be as strong as you. God bless you @Rebecca97
O Lord, we ask for a boundless confidence and trust in Your divine mercy, and the courage to accept the crosses and sufferings which bring immense goodness to our souls and that of Your Church. Help us to love You with a pure and contrite heart, and to humble ourselves beneath Your cross, as we climb the mountain of holiness, carrying our cross that leads to heavenly glory. May we receive You with great faith and love in Holy Communion, and allow You to act in us, as You desire, for Your greater glory. O Jesus, most adorable heart and eternal fountain of Divine Love, may our prayer find favor before the Divine Majesty of Your Heavenly Father. Amen.
–St. Pio of Pietrelcina
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I find the best mortification is to put up lovingly with small irritations, including things people do and say, the weather, the temperature, bodily aches, loneliness, bad memories that invade our thoughts–whatever small things happen throughout the day contrary to our will. Offer them to God with love and patience. This is essentially Therese of Lisieux’s Little Way.
 
I find doing small things helps me too. So for a long time I fasted from 3 pm to 4. It sounds like very little, but it was snack time at our house! And I learned from doing that.

Giving up irritation and “sighs” that accompany illness and disability would also be a big one.
 
causer00000 said:
I bookmarked this and come back to read it from time to time. It’s inspiring that even though you already suffer that you want to offer more. I wish I could be as strong as you. God bless you @Rebecca97
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Wow thank you so much, and I love the prayer you included. I was just in the hospital again and while there I read a book about St. Pio, and now I’m a bit obsessed with him, so this was perfect timing!
 
Limoncello4021 said:
I find the best mortification is to put up lovingly with small irritations, including things people do and say, the weather, the temperature, bodily aches, loneliness, bad memories that invade our thoughts–whatever small things happen throughout the day contrary to our will. Offer them to God with love and patience. This is essentially Therese of Lisieux’s Little Way.
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Oh thanks that’s such a good idea, and so simple! I’m going to try it!
 
Annie said:
I find doing small things helps me too. So for a long time I fasted from 3 pm to 4. It sounds like very little, but it was snack time at our house! And I learned from doing that.

Giving up irritation and “sighs” that accompany illness and disability would also be a big one.
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That actually does sound hard because snacks are so good lol. I’m not really supposed to restrict eating because I need to keep my weight up, but I could do without treats sometimes I guess. Today I really want ice cream but I suppose I could just not have it, or have something I want less. Everybody is giving me so many good ideas, thanks so much!
 
It is perfectly fine for you to offer up your sufferings and your desires for the things which you can no longer have just by themselves. You need not do anything more.
 
Rebecca. I am a writer and a short story idea came to me yesterday. It is interesting your post appears now.
My suggestion is this. Simply accept your condition (whatever it is as it seems to be debilitating) Then with a sense of joy, go to Mass, praise God, love the Eucharist and everything about your Catholic faith. I say this because, you become a great teacher. There is a person in my Church who suffered a debilitation stroke and shows the physical effects of it. Yet that person always comes to Mass with a smile, sings joyfully, and loves her God, her church, and her sacraments. She could be angry with God, turn away, blaming God for her infirmity, but doesn’t. Rather she accepts and clings ever closer to her Lord.

I say this because that person is a teacher to all of us who don’t suffer such a situation. Someone who could blame God for the plight suffered, refuses to and is faithful and constant in the love she has for the Lord. It is a very needed example for all of us who are dissatisfied with the meager and trivial things that bother us and get in the way of our coming ever closer to our Lord, His Church, and His sacraments.

You’ve suffered enough mortification. Go be that light that shines forth for all men to see, as Jesus said.

Shalom and God Bless
 
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