Why a Life of Penance? Why do People Do It?

[TrueLight]

I was reading on another thread about how someone wanted advice on how to live a life of penance.

How does living a life of penance affect your spiritual life. Does anyone here live that type of life? I’m not speaking about meatless Fridays.

I’m not really asking about Religious either, although it would be nice to hear why they chose religious life as well.

I’m more speaking of regular folks who choose to live a pentential life.

How does living a life with sparse furnishings, no TV, bland food, very few possessions, wool shirts affect you. Does it bring you closer to God? Is there a direct correlation between denying oneself and increased spirituality?

Should that be the goal of every Christian?

Are there particular Saints who lived this type of life?

Thanks.

 

[mercyangel]

If you haven’t done so already, read about St. Rita!

 

[TrueLight]

If you haven’t done so already, read about St. Rita!

I had not yet read about St Rita, but did a quick Google search and read about her life, particularly this:

Sister Rita had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ. “Please let me suffer like you, Divine Saviour,” she said one day, and suddenly one of the thorns from the crucifix struck her on the forehead. It left a deep wound which did not heal and which caused her much suffering for the rest of her life. She died on May 22, 1457.

Are you saying God want us to live a life of suffering?

 

[cyberwolf001]

I had not yet read about St Rita, but did a quick Google search and read about her life, particularly this:

Are you saying God want us to live a life of suffering?

The Christian God does seem to have a massive preoccupation with suffering and a hatred for people trying to avoid it. You will see many discussions on sufferings and praise for people that underwent massive penance on here.

 

[TrueLight]

The Christian God does seem to have a massive preoccupation with suffering and a hatred for people trying to avoid it. You will see many discussions on sufferings and praise for people that underwent massive penance on here.

LOL thank you cyberwolf, but I am really seeking a Catholic perspective.

 

[Dorothy]

I was reading on another thread about how someone wanted advice on how to live a life of penance.

How does living a life of penance affect your spiritual life. Does anyone here live that type of life? I’m not speaking about meatless Fridays.

I’m not really asking about Religious either, although it would be nice to hear why they chose religious life as well.

I’m more speaking of regular folks who choose to live a pentential life.

How does living a life with sparse furnishings, no TV, bland food, very few possessions, wool shirts affect you. Does it bring you closer to God? Is there a direct correlation between denying oneself and increased spirituality?

Should that be the goal of every Christian?

Are there particular Saints who lived this type of life?

Thanks.

If someone desires to live a life of heavy penance they should definitely discuss it with a spiritual director first. Sometimes, such a desire stems from pride and their obedience to a director is more meritorious for them.

For instance, immoderation in food or drink can become a habit that is hard to break. In my own experience, I find that moderation in food and drink helps me to focus in prayer better.

Strict penance doesn’t have to be the goal of every Christian since we all have different lifestyles. A mother of young children should not be fasting as she needs her energy to care for her children, which is the duty of her state in life.

I believe that the goal of every Christian should be the acceptance of what they have to do each day, and do it without complaining. And, it can be a penance to smile and think of an alternative when it rains on a day you planned and prepared on going on a picnic.

Those who are called to a deeper prayer life and a life of service to others are already close to God without having to wear a hairshirt.

I think a person who begins to develop a deeper prayer life feels less inclined to satisfy their physical preferences because they can be distracting.

(just my opinions…some of it based on what I have read, and some on my own experiences.)

 

[surritter]

I know you asked about those who lead a penitential life by choice, but there are many folks who lead such a life because of circumstances created unintentionally by themselves or others. An example would be someone whose past sins, such as drug or alcohol abuse, inhibits their ability to lead a normal life in some way. Perhaps they do not complain but offer up their infirmities in reparation for their past lives.

This type of situation is a perfect illustration of why God allows evil: to bring a greater good out of it! Those suffering souls may be very happy in living a sacrificial life because they know that their past misdeeds were the very vehicle that God chose (allowed) in order to lead them to the Cross, and thus to salvation. And they could even offer up their sufferings for those who are currently trapped in the same sins that they committed.

 

[TrueLight]

If someone desires to live a life of heavy penance they should definitely discuss it with a spiritual director first. Sometimes, such a desire stems from pride and their obedience to a director is more meritorious for them.

For instance, immoderation in food or drink can become a habit that is hard to break. In my own experience, I find that moderation in food and drink helps me to focus in prayer better.

This may be difficult to answer, but how does it do that? I mean I understand if you’re fasting, you’re quite aware of hunger pains, so that is penitential in itself. I ask because I am actually interested in eating bland food for example on Fridays. Eating meatless is not so hard for me, especially if I can eat fish, but eating plain food feels more like penance.

I believe that the goal of every Christian should be the acceptance of what they have to do each day, and do it without complaining.

That would definitely be hard for me because I complain about my job all the time.

I think a person who begins to develop a deeper prayer life feels less inclined to satisfy their physical preferences because they can be distracting.

(just my opinions…some of it based on what I have read, and some on my own experiences.)

Very helpful!

 

[TrueLight]

I know you asked about those who lead a penitential life by choice, but there are many folks who lead such a life because of circumstances created unintentionally by themselves or others. An example would be someone whose past sins, such as drug or alcohol abuse, inhibits their ability to lead a normal life in some way. Perhaps they do not complain but offer up their infirmities in reparation for their past lives.

I didn’t think about that, but I guess it is possible to live that sort of life unintentionally. So then the penance would be in accepting the suffering?

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

How does living a life with sparse furnishings, no TV, bland food, very few possessions, wool shirts affect you. Does it bring you closer to God? Is there a direct correlation between denying oneself and increased spirituality?

The short answer is yes. You see in any relationship there has to be mutual self-sacrifice by both parties involved. This is because love is selfless and not selfish. With our relationship with Jesus we can see that Christ has already done His part and is lovingly waiting for use to choose to do ours so we can be one with God.

Now a word of caution since not everyone is called to the same type of penance. God wills that there are rich people and that there are poor people and rich people can live a life of penance just as much as an ascetic monk or religious. Different lifestyles present different sufferings and penance is the loving acceptance off all suffering for the Glory of God, conversion of sinners, and the holy souls in Purgatory.

Should that be the goal of every Christian?

Absolutely! All Christians are called to conform their will to the will of God and this can only be done with God’s grace which is given primarily through the sacraments, prayer, fasting, alms, and penances.

If Christ suffered a Passion we too must suffer a Passion. The servant is not above the Master.

Are there particular Saints who lived this type of life?

Every saint that has ever lived has lived a life of penance.

 

[TrueLight]

I love your enthusiasm!

Plus I have to admit just reading your name made me sing the first line of the Credo (Credo III), but I digress.

If Christ suffered a Passion we too must suffer a Passion. The servant is not above the Master.

Any other references besides Matthew 10:24 to support that we must suffer a Passion?

 

[Chatter163]

It is often done to promote a spirit of detachment, a necessary part of the achievement of sanctity. Read up on that.

 

[TheRealJuliane]

I was reading on another thread about how someone wanted advice on how to live a life of penance.

How does living a life of penance affect your spiritual life. Does anyone here live that type of life? I’m not speaking about meatless Fridays.

I’m not really asking about Religious either, although it would be nice to hear why they chose religious life as well.

I’m more speaking of regular folks who choose to live a pentential life.

How does living a life with sparse furnishings, no TV, bland food, very few possessions, wool shirts affect you. Does it bring you closer to God? Is there a direct correlation between denying oneself and increased spirituality?

Should that be the goal of every Christian?

Are there particular Saints who lived this type of life?

Thanks.

I don’t know about it being the goal of every Christian. I know that I have wanted to mortify my flesh when I go to pray in front of an abortion facility like Planned Parenthood. I think about taking on some of the pain that the babies feel as they die, and the pain that the mothers are going to feel when the full awareness of what they have done reaches through their denial. If I were to live a more penitential life it would be with that intention, for God to end abortion and increase my pain.

But I don’t think it would help the pro-life effort if some middle-aged woman started whipping herself with a cat o’ nine tails in front of Planned Parenthood…

I do believe that living a life of few distractions does assist one’s holiness, yes. Thus, monasteries and convents.

 

[Credo_in_Deum]

I love your enthusiasm!

Plus I have to admit just reading your name made me sing the first line of the Credo (Credo III), but I digress.

Thank you! I was very happy that this name was available.

Any other references besides Matthew 10:24 to support that we must suffer a Passion?

It will take some time to post because I do not have them off the top of my head but I will be happy to get them for you. If you take a look at Christ’s life it is one big sacrifice which is what a life of penance is. It’s offering your life as one big perpetual sacrifice to God out of love.

 

[TrueLight]

It is often done to promote a spirit of detachment, a necessary part of the achievement of sanctity. Read up on that.

As taught by St John of the Cross? Any links would be helpful.

 

[TrueLight]

I don’t know about it being the goal of every Christian. I know that I have wanted to mortify my flesh when I go to pray in front of an abortion facility like Planned Parenthood. I think about taking on some of the pain that the babies feel as they die, and the pain that the mothers are going to feel when the full awareness of what they have done reaches through their denial. If I were to live a more penitential life it would be with that intention, for God to end abortion and increase my pain.

But I don’t think it would help the pro-life effort if some middle-aged woman started whipping herself with a cat o’ nine tails in front of Planned Parenthood…

Do you feel it would make your prayer more effective?

 

[Dorothy]

This may be difficult to answer, but how does it do that? I mean I understand if you’re fasting, you’re quite aware of hunger pains, so that is penitential in itself. I ask because I am actually interested in eating bland food for example on Fridays. Eating meatless is not so hard for me, especially if I can eat fish, but eating plain food feels more like penance.

I agree with you that eating bland food is harder than eating meatless!

During Lent I ate oatmeal in the mornings, without the usual honey and walnuts. Big difference!

It was a penance for me, but not very hard as it only lasted a few minutes and was not painful.

 

[TrueLight]

It is often done to promote a spirit of detachment, a necessary part of the achievement of sanctity. Read up on that.

St John of the Cross on Detachment

Detachment breaks the thread which fastens us to earth and our soul, thus freed, can follow every slightest impulse of the Holy Spirit, who will then take possession of it and direct it according to His good pleasure.

This would explain why having very little possessions would make one more spiritually in tune so to speak.

However, is there a difference between detachment and penance?

 

[Oneofthewomen]

As taught by St John of the Cross? Any links would be helpful.

This is the*** Principle & Foundation ***of the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.

And the other things on the face of the earth are created for man and that they may help him in prosecuting the end for which he is created.

From this it follows that man is to use them as much as they help him on to his end, and ought to rid himself of them so far as they hinder him as to it.

For this it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things in all that is allowed to the choice of our free will and is not prohibited to it; so that, on our part, we want not health rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty, honor rather than dishonor, long rather than short life, and so in all the rest; desiring and choosing only what is most conducive for us to the end for which we are created.

Detatchment is a very important part of Ignatian spirituality, and for me, this is the best definition I have ever heard! But then I am a little biased, as I am an Igantian junkie!!

 

[Dorothy]

St John of the Cross on Detachment

This would explain why having very little possessions would make one more spiritually in tune so to speak.

However, is there a difference between detachment and penance?

I believe there is a difference. A person who is attached to his material possessions and wants to acquire more items that are not necessary to his life is putting the possessions before God.

Penance is when you voluntarily do without some pleasure of the senses so as to focus on God more. It is also offering up to the Lord in union with His sacrifice on the cross the sufferings we endure that we have no control over. (grin and bear it!)