Penance! Penance! Penance!

[TempleofTheSoul]

That is what Saint Bernadette repeated after having heard Our Lady repeat these often little practiced words. I admit that in the past I have been guilty of not doing penances simply because I did not understand the profundity of meaning in carrying a penance out.

I think that sometimes Catholic’s hear the word penance and their minds go immediately back to the alleged “Dark Ages” (which in reality wasn’t as dark as anti-Catholic’s like to point out) where saints were known to scourge themselves horribly in order to atone for their sins and the sins of others and offer it up to the Lord in order to unite with Our Lord’s passion and suffering.

It took me a long time to realize that I don’t have to do HUGE penances like scourging myself in order to unite with Our Lord’s passion. That there is great value in doing little penances throughout the day as an offering of love to our most merciful Lord.

Some of the little penances I practice are not remarkable at all… I can try to be “Super Catholic” and do some mega penances but if they are not rooted in a deep love, then all I am doing is trying to be holier than thou for my own selfish benefit…and therein lies the danger of spiritual pride.

The little penances I can offer up to the Lord throughout the day can be as simple as letting my food get cold so I don’t enjoy it so much or not adding extra salt/pepper/name the condiment to enhance my meals flavor. Sometimes I will go without drinking soda (I am an admitted Coke Cola-holic) or offer up a larger portion of my favorite meat (Steak!) to someone else. As you can see there is a pattern associated with food happening here… lol I have a great weak spot for overindulging with food so it makes doing penances when it concerns food hit me right in the gut where it hurts the most…

What little penances do you do as a love offering for Our Lord?

I am curious to see other examples as they can serve to inspire me spiritually so that I can do more types of " little penances " with great towards our precious Lord.

God bless

 

[Seira]

The little penances I can offer up to the Lord throughout the day can be as simple as letting my food get cold so I don’t enjoy it so much or not adding extra salt/pepper/name the condiment to enhance my meals flavor. Sometimes I will go without drinking soda (I am an admitted Coke Cola-holic) or offer up a larger portion of my favorite meat (Steak!) to someone else. As you can see there is a pattern associated with food happening here… lol I have a great weak spot for overindulging with food so it makes doing penances when it concerns food hit me right in the gut where it hurts the most…

You should go w/o the soda anyways not just because of God but that it’s horrible for your health. I stopped drinking that junk for a few years now. Besides once you get over the intitial pop withdrawl, you won’t even miss it. Drink tea, it’s better for ya.

 

[TempleofTheSoul]

You should go w/o the soda anyways not just because of God but that it’s horrible for your health. I stopped drinking that junk for a few years now. Besides once you get over the intitial pop withdrawl, you won’t even miss it. Drink tea, it’s better for ya.

Well, I’ve toned it down a bit by not drinking the sugar loaded regular Coke and drink Coke Zero instead. I know I will never go totally without drinking soda but at least I am cutting out the sugar. As for the tea… bleh… I can’t stand the taste of tea, not even Lipton tea. Heck, I can’t stand the taste of coffee either.

Maybe one day I will give up soda completely with the Lord’s help. As of now I can give up the soda one or two days in row but that’s about it.

Thanks for suggesting the tea option… I know its much better for me, but what can I say… once a Coke-aholic always a Coke-aholic.

God bless

 

[TrueLight]

Penance, penance, penance!

I’ve done the following small penances:

• Taken a cold shower (don’t like cold showers)
• Eaten purposefully bland food
• stood up on the train for the whole ride when I’ve wanted to sit down

If I can think of any more, I’ll post them.

 

[HonoraDominum]

As far as soda penance, sometimes even a very small mortification can bring value. Instead of drinking a Dr. Pepper, for example, I’ll drink a Mountain Dew. It’s not totally gross, but it’s not what I would have preferred. Another food mortification is leaving the “best” bite of food on the plate - that last bite of pizza with a huge piece of pepperoni or that last bite of pie with the big old piece of meringue. Instead of taking a cold shower, I’ll take one that’s lukewarm, just a hair below the temperature that I would like. Sometimes I park a couple of places farther than the closest spot, and offer the few extra steps for the conversion of souls. Keeping one’s mouth shut when one wants to make a tacky comment is a very pleasing mortification to the good God. This opportunity comes very often at work, where tacky comment opportunities abound. Putting a book down at the Good Part is an excellent mortification of the eyes, as is keeping one’s eyes down during Mass (Except at the elevation, to adore almighty God). My priest even says that driving the speed limit can be very penitential.

Like others said, it’s not the big stuff - we can’t all fast all the time or live on 4 hours of sleep a night. But we’re not all called to make those kind of sacrifices. It’s the small things, done multiple times a day, that help us to mortify our passions and bring us slowly but surely towards perfect detachment from the world.