Mortification

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JimR-OCDS

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Came across this and thought it would be relevant for previous discussion on this forum.
“Mortification is good, but only when it is done out of love of God. A “saint” who spends his or her life sizzling on hot coals or reclining on railroad spikes would never be canonized by the Church. Asceticism for asceticism’s sake is actually a form of egotism, for self-discipline is only a means, the end of which is greater love of God. Any form of asceticism that disrupted charity would be wrong-this was the mistake of the monk who decided to live only on crusts and upset the whole monastery, turning it into one vast crust hunt to satisfy his idiosyncrasies.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen (Peace of Soul)
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Jim
 
Reading this makes me remember reading Dostoyevsky’s great The Brothers Karamasov, and seeing the distinction between the actual saint, Father Zossima, and the proud ascetic, Father Ferapont. Indeed, Father Ferapont seems to be the very type of character that the good archbishop is describing here.

Thank you for sharing.
 
Thanks for sharing, Jim.

I am working with the help of God on bringing to a ‘mean’ some things I do in excess. Maybe someday, my life would have such a balance that my sacrifices will be from the ‘mean’. Right now, I am aiming for harmony to better serve and love God and man.
 
Saint Seraphim of Sarov
  1. On Care of the Soul
We should have every concern for our soul, and should strengthen our body for this reason only, that it may assist in the strengthening of the soul.

Voluntarily to exhaust our body to the point that the spirit is exhausted is an unreasonable mortification, even if it is done to acquire virtue.

Peace
 
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