Mortification

[iwillrisenow]

I would like to start a discussion about mortification. As a new member of the Church, this is one of the areas that I am least familiar with and am still trying to understand. I’m talking everything from the types of mortifications undertaken by the saints (e.g.- hair shirts, self-flogging, long-term fasting) to the ones undertaken more commonly as penances (e.g.- short-term fasting, inflicting pain on oneself while in prayer for protection from temptation, praying for suffering, being nailed to crosses, as practiced in the Philippines, etc.).

I’m having a hard time understanding how we are called to acts of mortification (especially the very intense ones) on our paths to spiritual growth. It is one thing to bear the suffering that comes with our daily lives, situations, and statuses, but quite another to inflict additional pain on ourselves. It seems to attract/appeal to some more than others (e.g.- those called to religious life), just as many aspects of our faith do. But what if you have a complete aversion to them? I’m trying to understand but the whole concept has been a tough pill to swallow, especially as someone raised outside of the Church in a culture where we don’t exactly go out of our way to add more suffering to what we experience in the world. Take, for instance, the list in the third post here (posted by a “banned” member, but…: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=424008

So, basically, “tame” even the smallest joy you get from anything (e.g.- food, friends, reading, heat in the wintertime)? Can those things not, alternatively, be seen as gifts for God to be cherished as such if enjoyed in moderation?

Also, I found an old thread with the following, posted by a forum elder: “But serious mortification is ** absolutely required** for anyone who would seriously follow Christ, and the cilice and whipping are valid forms of that.” (see here, I feel a lot like the OP, even after reading this thread: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=214650) So we are not true followers of Christ if we do not engage in these mortifications? And are there other forms of mortification that are less commonly discussed but that you/someone know know have undertaken?

 

[Monica4316]

well corporal mortification like hair shirts, etc, should only be undertaken with the guidance of a spiritual director.

But small mortifications (not having desert, praying on your knees, etc), or spiritual mortification (accepting humiliations, etc) are allowed for all.

The reason behind mortification I think, is that it’s like a way of telling God that we love Him more than our comfort, some pleasure, etc… so we give that up, for an intention, like the conversion of a sinner, or a soul in Purgatory. We can unite our suffering to Jesus’ suffering on the Cross, and then offer it to the Father. It’s like how St Paul talked about his sufferings “making up for what is lacking”.

Other times, the Saints did corporal mortification as a way to understand deeper what Jesus went through on the Cross and to share in His suffering. Stigmata is another example of this.

As for spiritual mortification, that is always good because it encouraged humility. Anyone who does any type of corporal mortification should strive for humility.

Here’s an article on redemptive suffering if you are interested
fisheaters.com/offeringitup.html

God bless

 

[mommyof4]

Take a look at his site, here. rcspiritualdirection.com/blog/tags/mortification

It has some good articles about penance/mortification here, among many others.

 

[thistle]

I would like to start a discussion about mortification. As a new member of the Church, this is one of the areas that I am least familiar with and am still trying to understand. I’m talking everything from the types of mortifications undertaken by the saints (e.g.- hair shirts, self-flogging, long-term fasting) to the ones undertaken more commonly as penances (e.g.- short-term fasting, inflicting pain on oneself while in prayer for protection from temptation, praying for suffering, being nailed to crosses, as practiced in the Philippines, etc.).

I’m having a hard time understanding how we are called to acts of mortification (especially the very intense ones) on our paths to spiritual growth. It is one thing to bear the suffering that comes with our daily lives, situations, and statuses, but quite another to inflict additional pain on ourselves. It seems to attract/appeal to some more than others (e.g.- those called to religious life), just as many aspects of our faith do. But what if you have a complete aversion to them? I’m trying to understand but the whole concept has been a tough pill to swallow, especially as someone raised outside of the Church in a culture where we don’t exactly go out of our way to add more suffering to what we experience in the world. Take, for instance, the list in the third post here (posted by a “banned” member, but…: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=424008

So, basically, “tame” even the smallest joy you get from anything (e.g.- food, friends, reading, heat in the wintertime)? Can those things not, alternatively, be seen as gifts for God to be cherished as such if enjoyed in moderation?

Also, I found an old thread with the following, posted by a forum elder: “But serious mortification is ** absolutely required** for anyone who would seriously follow Christ, and the cilice and whipping are valid forms of that.” (see here, I feel a lot like the OP, even after reading this thread: forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=214650) So we are not true followers of Christ if we do not engage in these mortifications? And are there other forms of mortification that are less commonly discussed but that you/someone know know have undertaken?

We are not to seek out suffering but rather accept it if it comes our way.
The Church here in the Philippines is against those people being nailed to a cross.

 

[Edward_H]

well corporal mortification like hair shirts, etc, should only be undertaken with the guidance of a spiritual director.

But small mortifications (not having desert, praying on your knees, etc), or spiritual mortification (accepting humiliations, etc) are allowed for all.

The reason behind mortification I think, is that it’s like a way of telling God that we love Him more than our comfort, some pleasure, etc… so we give that up, for an intention, like the conversion of a sinner, or a soul in Purgatory. We can unite our suffering to Jesus’ suffering on the Cross, and then offer it to the Father. It’s like how St Paul talked about his sufferings “making up for what is lacking”.

Other times, the Saints did corporal mortification as a way to understand deeper what Jesus went through on the Cross and to share in His suffering. Stigmata is another example of this.

As for spiritual mortification, that is always good because it encouraged humility. Anyone who does any type of corporal mortification should strive for humility.

Here’s an article on redemptive suffering if you are interested
fisheaters.com/offeringitup.html

God bless

Good question and answers.

Mortification is praying with our body…prayer of the senses, it’s been called.

We should never “mortify alone”…e.g, fasting alone…we should fast with God. There should be a running conversation with God.

The sacrifice of Jesus to the Father is still ever present to the Father…He is not limited by time.

What we desire, God can grant. We can desire to help Jesus carry His cross. We can unite our sufferings with those of Jesus. This gives a supernatural purpose to our little, infinitesimal sufferings. Little smiles - e.g, when you don’t feel like it - parking a car farther a way…and then offering that little quiet, hidden sacrifice to God…as penance, as an act of charity, or mortification…etc,…can grant graces to others.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Also, I found an old thread with the following, posted by a forum elder: “But serious mortification is ** absolutely required** for anyone who would seriously follow Christ, and the cilice and whipping are valid forms of that.”

If it was necessary for salvation to practice the cilice or the discipline, the Church would say so.

So, basically, “tame” even the smallest joy you get from anything (e.g.- food, friends, reading, heat in the wintertime)? Can those things not, alternatively, be seen as gifts for God to be cherished as such if enjoyed in moderation?

Dear iwillrisenow, it’s not an either/or. Earthly pleasures are gifts to be cherished, which we should thank Him for, but when we offer suffering as a penitential prayer, we are offering them as a great gift to God and neighbor.

It’s important when thinking about this to consider the Passion of Christ. His suffering and death was His ultimate gift to us. It saved our souls. When Christians today fast and use the discipline or other means to afflict themselves, they unite their sufferings with the Passion of Christ. The penance becomes a prayer. We don’t just hurt ourselves for the sake of pain. We do it for the sake of love. Grace is poured out to all believers to transform their lives and circumstances for the better through the Passion of Christ. We, the Body of Christ, are called to suffer in union with the Head, for ourselves and the world.

In Col. 1:24, Paul writes, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His Body’s sake, which is the church.”

Paul, and other believers, suffer in union with the Passion of Christ, filling up what is lacking in His suffering, so that the grace of His Passion might be spilled out more effectively through these redemptive, penitential prayers, transforming us and the world around us.

But here are some really essential keys to keep in mind when considering mortification:

1. Paul said, “let each man give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” He is happy with small sacrifices, as well as with great ones. He wants us to give willingly and lovingly what we can give, for ourselves and for others. So if we can’t willingly make a sacrifice, if we don’t have the desire for it and can’t offer it willingly, we aren’t ready yet, and we should not do it.
2. Paul said in 1 Cor. 13:3, “If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.” Sacrifice and suffering offered without love is worthless. Love should motivate all our sacrificial offerings.
3. Paul said in Heb. 13:7 that we should obey the presbyters, because God has put them in charge of us to “watch over your souls.” Therefore we should practice only those mortifications that we are permitted to perform by our priest or spiritual director. For this man represents Christ for us and watches over our souls.

Mortification should be practiced within these parameters. The saints suffered enormously, and mortified themselves in everything, because their love was so vast and their yearning for the blessing and salvation of others was so tremendous that they just hurtled themselves into the crucible of suffering to help everyone they possibly could and to draw as close to God as possible. They offered all their suffering willingly, cheerfully, lovingly, and obediently (with the permission of their spiritual directors). They grew into these sufferings also. Their penances increased over the course of their lives, as their love for others and for God increased, and they became capable of willingly and lovingly giving more sacrifice to their prayer, uniting themselves with the Passion more deeply so that more grace might be spilled out.

God looks on us with love as children and is happy with us where we are, though He always wants us to grow closer to Him. We are just children. If we can’t offer the big sacrifices now, let us pray for the grace to love and give more, and He will change our hearts over time to draw us closer to Himself.

Suffering mortification, and extreme mortification, is not the end of happiness if it is practiced willingly, out of love for God and neighbor. Rather, it draws us closer to God and we find ever deepening happiness and joy in Him, and in spiritual things rather than the things of this world. The things of this world become less and less appealing to us as we draw closer to God. The things of the Spirit become more and more engaging, though, and we find greater and greater joy in these holy treasures and delights.

This is why there is a sublime paradox that can be found in the lives of the saints: They were the people who suffered more than anyone on Earth has suffered, and yet simultaneously they were the most joyful and happy people anyone on this Earth has ever been.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

We are not to seek out suffering but rather accept it if it comes our way.
The Church here in the Philippines is against those people being nailed to a cross.

You’re right about the condemnation of nailing oneself to the cross. They should not do such things. But you’re mistaken about the general concept of never inflicting suffering on oneself. Fasting/Abstinence is commanded by the Church on Fridays, especially during Lent, and especially on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. All of the saints practiced and encouraged far more mortification than what is strictly required by the Church, and the Church holds their lives up as examples for us all.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

iwillrisenow, I noticed that you asked about other forms of penance, besides the severe ones you listed.

There are many forms of penance one can practice. One can reduce various pleasures we enjoy, especially ones we have an excessive attachment to (like if we’re watching lots of television or spending many hours on the computer). For instance, spending less time on the TV or computer, or eating less dessert, or having the shower on less hot than we want. There are all kinds of small penances like that, that we can practice if we’re willing to.

Other kinds of mortification would be to spend less of our time on personal pleasures and spend the time practicing good works, instead. A virtuous life can be a mortification, when we don’t want to be virtuous. But this is a beautiful offering.

There are all kinds of mortifications, small and great, that can please God if we offer them willingly, out of love for Him or neighbor. These can all be sacrificial prayers.

 

[thistle]

You’re right about the condemnation of nailing oneself to the cross. They should not do such things. But you’re mistaken about the general concept of never inflicting suffering on oneself. Fasting/Abstinence is commanded by the Church on Fridays, especially during Lent, and especially on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. All of the saints practiced and encouraged far more mortification than what is strictly required by the Church, and the Church holds their lives up as examples for us all.

I’m talking only about inflicting physical suffering on oneself through whipping or whatever. I not including fasting/abstinance which frankly are not much of a suffering. The Church does not encourage inflicting physical pain on ourselves.

 

[Shin]

‘Disciplines or flagellations are a species of mortification strongly recommended by St. Francis de Sales, and universally adopted in religious Communities of both sexes. All the modern saints, without a single exception, have continually practised this sort of penance. It is related of St. Aloysius that he often scourged himself unto blood three times in the day. And at the point of death, not having sufficient strength to use the lash, he besought the Provincial to have him disciplined from head to foot. Surely, then, it would not be too much for you to take the discipline once in the day, or at least three or four times in the week. However, the practice of this penance should be regulated by the confessor.’

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church

‘Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.’

Proverbs 20:30

‘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

‘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

‘Without mortification nothing can be done.’

‘Where there is no great mortification there is no great sanctity.’

St. Philip Neri

 

[Monica4316]

‘Disciplines or flagellations are a species of mortification strongly recommended by St. Francis de Sales, and universally adopted in religious Communities of both sexes. All the modern saints, without a single exception, have continually practised this sort of penance. It is related of St. Aloysius that he often scourged himself unto blood three times in the day. And at the point of death, not having sufficient strength to use the lash, he besought the Provincial to have him disciplined from head to foot. Surely, then, it would not be too much for you to take the discipline once in the day, or at least three or four times in the week. However, the practice of this penance should be regulated by the confessor.’

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church

‘Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.’

Proverbs 20:30

‘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

‘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

‘Without mortification nothing can be done.’

‘Where there is no great mortification there is no great sanctity.’

St. Philip Neri

but only under the guidance of a spiritual director

 

[Lief_Erikson]

I’m talking only about inflicting physical suffering on oneself through whipping or whatever. I not including fasting/abstinance which frankly are not much of a suffering. The Church does not encourage inflicting physical pain on ourselves.

Fasting is a form of physical suffering, even though not much (depending on the amount of time one fasts). Jesus fasted for 40 days from all food, though, and so did many of the prophets in the Bible. King David wrote in the Psalms that he was “gaunt” from fasting.

Christ foretold in the Book of Revelation that the two witnesses who are to come would wear hairshirts. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, also fasted extensively, endured severe heat and cold in the desert, slept on the ground in the wilderness the Lord sent him to, wore a shirt of camel’s hair, and ate locusts for his food, all of which are extremely unpleasant mortifications. These men are presented to us in the Bible as examples of holiness worth imitating.

Using the discipline, or whipping oneself, is also a Biblical practice of mortification (Jeremiah 41:5) that has been practiced by saints throughout the ages. Even Bl. Pope John Paul II whipped himself with his belt. If it was counter to Church teaching to whip oneself, the Pope would not have done it.

Also, as I mentioned before, the Church has always held up the saints as examples for us all to imitate, and the saints used the discipline and hairshirts, as well as other means of self-inflicting suffering on themselves. These can unite us with the Passion of Christ, and through means of these sacrificial prayers, the Lord pours out grace to convert souls in need and draw us closer to Himself as well.

That is why Paul wrote in 1 Cor. 9:27, “I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.”

He buffets himself to purify himself of sin, so that he won’t be rejected at the Judgment. In his self-inflicted suffering, Paul endures union with the Passion and Christ in the Passion brings forth grace to change and purify Paul’s soul.

Here’s one of the teachings of St. Anthony Mary Claret:

"Besides denying self in regard to sight, hearing, speaking, in the senses of taste and smell, I tried also to perform some acts of mortification, such as taking the discipline on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and wearing the cilice on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. If, however, I found that circumstances of time and place did not favor these modes of penance, I used to practice some other form of mortification, as for example: praying with the arms stretched out in the form of a cross, or with the fingers under the knees. I know very well that worldly people and those who have not the spirit of Jesus Christ make little of, and even disapprove of, these mortifications. But for my part, I keep in mind the teaching laid down by St. John of the Cross which states: “If anyone affirms that one can reach perfection without practicing exterior mortification, do not believe him; and even though he confirm this assertion by working miracles, know that his contentions are nothing but illusions.”

As for me, I look to St. Paul for my example, for he mortified himself, and said publicly: “Castigo corpus meum et in servitutem redigo, ne forte cum aliis praedicaverim ipse reprobus efficiar – I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps when I have preached to others I myself may become a castaway.” All the saints until now have done in like manner. Venerable Rodriquez says that the Blessed Virgin said to St. Elizabeth of Hungary, that no spiritual grace comes to the soul, commonly speaking, except by way of prayer and bodily afflictions. There is an old principle which goes: “Da mihi sanguinem et dabo tibi spiritum.” Woe to those who are enemies of mortification and of the cross of Christ!

In one act of mortification one can practice many virtues, according to the different ends which one proposes in each act, as for example:

1. He who mortifies his body for the purpose of checking concupiscence, performs an act of the virtue of temperance.
2. If he does this, purposing thereby to regulate his life well, it will be an act of the virtue of prudence.
3. If he mortifies himself for the purpose of satisfying for the sins of his past life, it will be an act of justice.
4. If he does it with the intention of conquering the difficulties of the spiritual life, it will be an act of fortitude.
5. If he practices this virtue of mortification for the end of offering a sacrifice to God, depriving himself of what he likes, and doing that which is bitter and repugnant to nature, it will be an act of the virtue of religion.
6. If he intends by mortification to receive greater light to know the divine attributes, it will be an act of faith.
7. If he does it for the purpose of making his salvation more and more secure, it will be an act of hope.
8. If he denies himself in order to help in the conversion of sinners, and for the release of the poor souls in purgatory, it will be an act of charity towards his neighbor.
9. If he does it so as to help the poor, it will be an act of mercy.
10. If he mortifies himself for the sake of pleasing God more and more, it will be an act of love of God.

In other words, I shall be able to put all these virtues into practice in one act of mortification, according to the end I propose to myself while doing the said act."

 

[Lief_Erikson]

We are not called on to do more mortification than we can handle right now. Paul says that we should do what we can willingly do, and cheerfully, and that it should be motivated by love and performed under obedience to our spiritual director or priest. Therefore, if I can only perform the penance of giving up butter on my bread, or taking lukewarm showers, so be it. This will please God, for He loves us right where we are right now.

But I am called on to grow in union with God, and as I grow, my desire and capacity for sacrificial prayer will increase. Then I will unite with the Passion more. I will keep growing in union with the Passion, and what I cannot do now, I will pray for the spirit to do. As I keep suffering more and loving more, I keep drawing closer to God, and I am filled with ever deepening joy because He inspires me with it and fills me with it, and it flows over me to other souls.

Thus the Passion leads to the Resurrection, and to the Ascension, and to pure joy.

Don’t be afraid of it but pray for it, that the Lord will lead you into the Passion, according to your capacity, and that He will increase your capacity so that your love of Him may be deepened as well, and your union with Him may become so strong that nothing matters to you anymore save Him alone. Joy will then overflow your soul endlessly because of your pure loving union with God.

The saints suffered more than anyone but were simultaneously happier and more gloriously joyful than anyone has ever been on Earth. This is the mystery of the Passion and Resurrection lived out in the Body of Christ, the Church.

 

[puzzleannie]

I would not undertake anything other than the Church’s traditional practices of fast and abstinence and penance without advice and permission from one’s confessor or spiritual director. Spiritual direction includes the counsel of those who are in charge of your formation in a secular, tertiary, personal prelature, or other bona fide recognized lay spiritual group.