On Mortification

[anon67074017]

It might seem so if someone doesn’t understand mortification.

Mortication is called the “prayer of the senses”. We can pray with our body. We can use our body’s own reactions and nature to spur on and quicken our conversation with God.

Fasting is a form of mortification.

If we mortify for prideful reasons…not good.

When we mortify…we should talk with God. “Never fast alone”.

Smiling when we don’t want to can be a great mortification.

So many moments in our ordinary day…red lights…flat tires…dirty diapers, a change in a work deadline can be opportunities to cheerfully draw closer to Jesus on His Cross, to share His Cross with Him.

A great and more continuous intimacy with God can happen with “ordinary” mortifications.

That is correct. I did not understand it. I thought it was a form of physical punishment.

 

[Edward_H]

That is correct. I did not understand it. I thought it was a form of physical punishment.

It may be that more active forms of mortication are called for by one’s spiritual director. For example if a person admits to utter laziness and is seen as dominated by a constant love of comfort, a good spiritual director may recommend slightly more effortful mortifications: earlier wake up time, fewer snooze buttons, doing a distasteful task immediately upon waking (cleaning out a closet, a messy drawer, the inbox, etc), or maybe a shorter or colder shower.

Normally little things…not big or very visible mortifications. The little ones are the best, hidden, shared only with God and one’s spiritual director.