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Johnpeter073
Guest
Can anybody contrast the difference in the object of the two actions “mutilation” and “mortification”? I know the intentions are different, but what about the object of these action?
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TheLittleLady
Guest
Mortification:
Look at that box of chocolate candy! I want to eat all of it, but, will deny my pleasure and give the box away to someone else.
Mutilation:
Look at that box of chocolate candy! I want to eat all of it, so, I will off my arm.
Look at that box of chocolate candy! I want to eat all of it, but, will deny my pleasure and give the box away to someone else.
Mutilation:
Look at that box of chocolate candy! I want to eat all of it, so, I will off my arm.
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Genesis315
Guest
Causing oneself discomfort is different than inflicting permanent damage.
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Johnpeter073
Guest
Are you telling that religious self harm is a temporary and the harm must be reversible?
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Johnpeter073
Guest
I remember I read some Saints used to inflict bodily injuries as penance? What about that
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TheLittleLady
Guest
Serious mortification such as those are done only under spiritual direction.
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adgloriam
Guest
Yes. Those are the rules.
Very different in nature.
Mortification: can be seen as spiritually positive. And much more in the past.
It is a constraint that someone impose on his body. For eg fasting, to wear unconfortable clothes, sleeping on a hard floor. There are also specific instruments dedicated to self-mortification.
A lot of Saints had practiced mortification, including some popes of the XXth century.
Mutilation: It is not something positive. It is for eg to cut and remoove an healthy member of your body. The body remains definitively damaged and the person handicapped.
For eg, The church since the early centuries had forbidden castration in order to avoid sinful temptations.
Mortification: can be seen as spiritually positive. And much more in the past.
It is a constraint that someone impose on his body. For eg fasting, to wear unconfortable clothes, sleeping on a hard floor. There are also specific instruments dedicated to self-mortification.
A lot of Saints had practiced mortification, including some popes of the XXth century.
Mutilation: It is not something positive. It is for eg to cut and remoove an healthy member of your body. The body remains definitively damaged and the person handicapped.
For eg, The church since the early centuries had forbidden castration in order to avoid sinful temptations.
po18guy
Well-known member
I worked with many mental health patients over 31 years, and cutters remain some of the most vivid memories. Having said this, I would have to guess that mutilation/cutting is the object in and of itself. It satisfies the desire. It is perhaps also a punishment for what may be no crime or even sinful.
Conversely, mortification is a step toward purification and perfection - not motivated by self-hatred or other negative influence, but rather by “hating” (preferring less) this world, its flesh and sinful desires while longing for the perfection of the next world.
Saint Jerome is one of the best-known who routinely mortified his flesh. He was reputed to have a bad temper and thus carried about with him a rock with which he mortified his flesh. One Pope reportedly gazed upon a painting of Saint Jerome and stated “Without that rock, the Church would never have canonized you.”
Conversely, mortification is a step toward purification and perfection - not motivated by self-hatred or other negative influence, but rather by “hating” (preferring less) this world, its flesh and sinful desires while longing for the perfection of the next world.
Saint Jerome is one of the best-known who routinely mortified his flesh. He was reputed to have a bad temper and thus carried about with him a rock with which he mortified his flesh. One Pope reportedly gazed upon a painting of Saint Jerome and stated “Without that rock, the Church would never have canonized you.”
Very good exemple!
We mortified ourself, our flesh because of its imperfection. we would have no need to mortified ourselves if we have a good temper, pures desires and the Godly and charitable actions.
Something that is very good does not need to be constrainted by a self denial mortification.
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