There is no quicker way to expose yourself as a “Cath-oholic” than to drop the word mortification on an unsuspecting interlocutor. Once you’ve unleashed that baby you may as well change your name to Francis Xavier O’Surname and start wearing your brown scapular on the outside of your dress shirt—your cover is blown.
Nevertheless, you don’t have to use the word mortification to practice mortification. (Paradoxically, for some of us, not using it might even qualify as an act of it, but I digress.)
Very (very, very) loosely, mortification means “die-iting.” It’s an act of self-denial, of dying to self, that helps us grow in our spiritual life and become more Christ-like. Not all acts of mortification have to be Braveheart “Freedom!” moments. Here are five inconspicuous ways to mortify yourself that won’t get you labeled or libeled. Think of them as “mortamins”—the Catholic, spiritual version of vitamins. Take one and see if it helps you grow in your spiritual life.
- Wake like a hero. Get up the first time the alarm goes off. Don’t hit the snooze button, instead practice what members of Opus Dei call “the heroic moment.” Roll out of bed, kiss the floor, and say one word: serviam. That’s Latin for “I will serve.” It’s exactly the opposite of what Lucifer said before being cast into hell.
- Be on time. To everything. Here I open myself up to “tu quoque”s galore, but it is still good advice. Punctuality shows respect for others and yourself. It’s a perfect mortamin because it’s a small thing, but hard to do.
- Be cheerful even when you don’t feel like it. Every one you meet is engaged in a great struggle, not just you. Suck it up and be friendly. You might feel like an old shoe, but your attitude doesn’t need to smell like one. Smiles are free, they’re easy, and they go a long way towards boosting morale—maybe even your own.
- Order a smaller size drink. This is a ridiculously simple mortification, but a surprisingly hard one to do. For whatever reason, Americans feel entitled to jumbo-sized beverages—they don’t even have small drinks at McDonald’s anymore—but this is the perfect covert act of self-denial. If anyone notices, they’ll probably chalk it up to the economy.
- Eat fish on Friday. Admit it: you want to be a Catholic who eats fish on Friday—it’s so not cool, that it is cool. Besides, nobody will notice, I promise—there are too many trendy diets for people to keep track of. Call it the “purposefully alternating proteins and legumes” diet (the p.a.p.a.l. diet, wink, wink) and your co-workers will beg you for the details. Also, contrary to popular belief, Catholics have not been excused from the requirement to abstain from meat on Fridays—it’s just that now one is allowed to substitute another suitable act of mortification.
So there you have it, five ways to die to yourself for the greater glory of God. Feel free to add to the list and let us know if any these prove helpful. Peace!
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Excellent. And to my floor: pucker up!
I like the last one. It’s something I’ve been un-unifiedly doing it at our home. It’s surprising how much planning it takes–and how much remembering on the actual day.
Thanks for the great suggestions. You are such a readable writer-and you are nothing if not cheerful. Rising with enthusiam is going to be rough! I love fish on Friday, so is it still mortification??
You killed this one, Rob. (Snort.)
How about posting meatless Friday recipe suggestions? Trout au Drapeau, with photos?
My wife will usually have a supply of Tomato Soup, Black Bean Soup, and Potato Soup on hand for Fridays.
Or if we go out, we do try to find a place we know has variety. One of our favorites has become Turf on 1st Street, just north of Fillmore, near the ASU downtown campus. The fish there is great!!
Also, I love cheese tortellini and pasta sauce as well. There are many choices, you just have to be mindful.
Some of my favorites:
Turn off the radio in the car.
Relenquish control of the T.V. – only watch if other people are watching and only watch what they want to watch.
Burlap jockeys or undershirts. Just kidding.
I’m glad you’re kidding about the burlap undies. Though a hairshirt isn’t a bad idea. Discreet and itchy. Where would one find a hairshirt these days? There must be an online retailer somewhere in the world . . .
Turning off the radio in the car is a good one. Talk radio in particular can generate a lot of “undue” anxiety (at least for me). Even if radio silence is only maintained for the length of a quick prayer it’s worth it.
For some (men especially), relinquishing the remote might seem like cruel and unusual self-punishment.
Thanks for your additions!
Here’s some kind of hairshirt powerpoint business plan:
http://www.mitforumcambridge.org/about/hairshirts.pdf
I like the radio idea, too. I do that sometimes just to have quiet and reflection. Now I know the real reason.
Turn off the radio in the car … and instead pray the rosary. Use your fingers to count the hail marys ( we happen to have 10 fingers :! ).
Start off a shower with a cold splash of water .. brrr .. no one will notice that
How about this idea: go ahead and ‘out’ yourself; be proud of the family of God.
Elijah, I like your idea, thank you. This one is also likable:
“(But) take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.”
A friend once told me that being a fool for Christ doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk for Jesus. I’m not suggesting we hide our light under a bushel; merely that we don’t have to flash our high beams into oncoming traffic.
Peace!
“Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them” is NOT equivalent to “Take care to perform righteous deeds in order that NO ONE will see them.”
There are two ways for the Christian to go wrong here, two less-than-holy extremes.
It’s probably a question of temperament–some will be inclined to turn their devotion into displays, and will need this biblical admontion–others are inclined to be embarassed by their faith and need to be encouraged a little.
Denys:
This has always been a difficult point for me. Could you give an example of what you’re referring to?
“Roll out of bed, kiss the floor, and say one word: serviam. That’s Latin for “I will serve.” I LOVE IT! IT WILL BECOME A STAPLE BEFORE MY MORNING OFFERING, AND I WILL PASS IT ON TO SEVERAL OF MY FRIENDS. THANKS.
I once heard a talk delivered by an exorcist who said that the evil one tries to steel the first moments of the day for himself. So getting out of bed immediately and start off praying is a way how to go against the evil one by denying him those precious moments.
Having more children is the highest form of mortification.
My children might frame it the other way: having me as their father is the highest form of mortification.
Thanks for visiting Catholic Phoenix!
Peace!
WHY WOULD YOU NOT ”OUT YOURSELF” AS A CATHOLIC?
Perhaps for reasons related to avoiding writing in all caps.
best reply ever!
Gabriel, thanks for visiting Catholic Phoenix and commenting. I take Rob to mean essentially “without trumpeting your holiness to the world.” I don’t think he means we should not “out” ourselves as Catholics or in any way be ashamed of our faith.
And as long as you keep visiting and commenting, you can write in any case you choose! Thanks again.
Deny’s the Friday favorites in our house:
Box of Velveeta Mac and Cheese
cook the mac and cheese per package directions. Drain.
Add 1 can of tuna and 1 can of peas( of if you prefer
add a cup of frozen peas and warm it up) mix with cheese.
Many grocery stores have “all ready seasoned” fish, catfish
and salmon especially.
The old standby is melted cheese sandwiches with a side salad.
(for a real penance have jello for dessert)
That sounds like mortification indeed.
I agree with Gabriel, only without the caps. The mortamin idea is a great one, and one we should follow! In my opinion we should do so quietly, but as openly as possible, always ready to give a charitable and reasoned defense of our Faith! Why would we leave our light under a lampstand on purpose? I have even pitched a good natured “fit” when fish is not available at lunch in my workplace! I, for one, am thrilled (I left out the caps so as not to offend Hansen and Christina, one more mortamin for me!
) to be a Catholic and do not care a whit who knows that I am! How can I share my joy if I am hiding it all the time? Denys is correct though…this is not to be done as a prideful display for the purpose of impressing others.
I thought these revelations of Jesus to the 20th century mystic St Gemma Galgani concerning sacrifice and suffering was really good:
http://www.stgemmagalgani.com/2008/11/jesus-teaches-st-gemma-value-of.html
God bless,
Mark
Thanks, Mark. We named our latest middle child Gemma after St. Gemma. So far, she’s our only exception to Ammazzamoro’s rule (see his comment above) .
Hairshirts and disciplines are available here:
http://www.cilice.co.uk/hairshirts.php
I clicked the “approve” button on this comment because I want to know if I’m the only one creeped out by this site. If I’m the only one, just let me know.
Not creepy at all. Some people need strong medicine. For some, ordering the small drink at Sonic is discipline–for others, more rigorous mortifications will be necessary.
When I see something like this I admire the discipline of Christians past and present much more serious about their sins than I am.
Plus now I know what to get Hanson for Christmas: his very own Cat o’ Seven Tails.
Not creepy “at all”? Not even the teensiest-weensiest bit? Or if not creepy-in-itself, at least creepy-to-us as American Catholics? Isn’t mortification a relative thing? In an age when people had to go potty in buckets, strong medicine like the whips and hair shirts on that site were probably more necessary to mortify the flesh. But in our time and place (people still go potty in buckets in some parts of the world, I know, I know), turning off the radio in the car and being alone with oneself can be excruciating.
Commence the yelling at me, commentators.
Instead of the Cat o’ Seven Tails, get me the Cat Stevens Greatest Hits CD. (Now someone will yell at me for supporting Islam.)
I agree with Denys. If anything, this site should remind us that overcoming the flesh can sometimes require a battle against our actual flesh. I think that your initial reaction of being “creeped” out is natural–because mortification is unnatural. Or at least contrary to our sinful desire for comfort and pleasure.
I understand Rob to be putting out these mortamins as a beginner’s guide to mortification. Perhaps transcendent spiritual growth requires stronger medicine. We have a great cloud of witnesses that can attest to that, including JPII. It’s my understanding that he practiced mortification using a discipline and other “extreme” forms. And as far as I know, the Vatican has toilets.
I don’t think my initial reaction of being creeped out is merely “natural”. I think it’s cultural. I’m an ordinary American Catholic. Hair shirts and whips aren’t part of the ordinary American Catholic experience. OK, now tell maybe they should be. Fine. But culturally we aren’t there yet. (Am I wrong about this? Do most people have hair shirts? Am I the only one wearing Hanes under my “business casual” at Mass.) And knowing that JPII practiced “extreme” forms doesn’t make them seem less extreme to these ordinary American Catholic eyes.
I understand your point. But are you suggesting that mortification is all (culturally) relative? Mortification for an American might be turning off the car radio while mortification for a Polish pontiff might be use of the discipline? If that’s the case, then what else is relative?
Use of hair shirts, disciplines, and other painful forms of mortification have been used by the faithful for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. And they’re still being used today, at least (to our knowledge) by the holiest of all. So I wouldn’t say “culturally we’re not there yet,” I would say, “culturally we’ve left that.” In either case, we’re worse off for it.
JH, when you say “I’m an ordinary American Catholic,” are you merely desribing something value-free and neutral?
I can see how such a statement could have several different meanings. The first one that occurs to my mind is NOT one I would claim with any kind of pride.
“I’m an ordinary American Catholic” might mean “My prejudices make me only interested in the last 20 years of Catholic culture, devotions, and theology, and I recoil with disgust at anything foreign to those sensibilities.”
Or it might mean “Aware of my own cultural conditioning, I at least wonder if my life of material ease and comfort is making sanctity more difficult for me.”
Or it might mean “I am a 21st century Catholic layperson of average breeding, education, and wealth, with all that entails, good and less so.”
Creep factor 9. Just saying………
This entire thread is so entirely Catholic, entirely fallen human. We so want to joyfully share our faith and ideas with each other. And as we do, and especially on the humility-based subject of mortification, our comments incite many different reactions. Some seem highly defensive, although all seem to be in good charitable tone. Here’s a good subject for another post: “Humility and the Stand up Catholic.” God must call people with well-developed egos to do great work, especially in the public eye, so that they have the proper personality style to accomplish the work. God has planned it this way. Consequently, humility is always an issue for the vocal and strong. (Think of good Catholic musicians) So, my question is, how do you all think the Catholic who is willing to stand up for the faith can maintain deep humility? Perhaps through careful practice of the virtue of humility, it becomes such a part of us, that when others question the motives of a truly humble, truth-bearing Catholic it just wouldn’t even faze us. All for the glory of God. We must decrease so He can increase. That’s how I imagine St. Paul was… or dear Mother Teresa.
truly a GODSEND.thanks.
I have quite a few friends who had much pain and difficulty breastfeeding and offered this up as a mortification. Of course, my strategy with my own child was just not to breastfeed! But to me this raises the question…are all “mortifications” valid in the sense that they have real spiritual value? Or is God looking down on us in regard to some of these things and thinking “oh, what silly humans…”? When the opportunities present themselves, how can we know whether so-called mortifications, especially the more serious ones are:
1) real spiritual exercises
2) the result of a person’s infatuation with suffering
3) the result of a “martyr complex”
Thoughts?
As to the question whether all mortifications are valid, I’ll direct you to Number 498 from St. Josemaria Escriva’s book The Furrow:
“You are writing to me in the kitchen, by the stove. It is early afternoon. It is cold. By your side, your younger sister — the last one to discover the divine folly of living her Christian vocation to the full — is peeling potatoes. To all appearances — you think — her work is the same as before. And yet, what a difference there is!
—It is true: before she only peeled potatoes, now, she is sanctifying herself peeling potatoes.”
Any activity offered to God out of love for Him is a valid offering. Any activity–even “holy” ones–done purely out of self-love are worthless.
Thanks for posting!
Peace!
A religion of works. Getting closer to god means you are not next to him. Johnpaul used to whip himself to get closer to Jesus. I guess you dont believe that it is finished
Thanks for stopping by, Wayne. I think you’re looking at things the wrong way. It’s not a “works mentality” or a belief in the insufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice that motivates us to want to be closer to Him by becoming more like Him. It’s love.
Spouses and parents regularly deny themselves things they want out of love for the Other, is it really so hard to imagine a Christian doing the same for his Savior?
i attempt to abstain from meat on Fridays.. given the ever changing nature of my work and school schedule keeping track of what day Friday is … is sometimes difficult. but i do try
indeed, on time! because you dont want YOUR tardiness to be a goad to others uncharitable thinking or harsh words…
i will say that there are several VERY good Rosary Cds, (some even with music) that can be played in the car instead of your normal music choices.
and as to a hair shirt, i assure you they exist, these days we just call it knitting with cheap yarn…..
I never order less liquid if I can avoid it, but I usually skip the soda and go for the water. It’s a nice favor to the wallet, too. (Unless, like me, you make up for it by drinking seltzer at home instead of tap water.)
How about something even remotely productive….
Zack, looks like you were cut off in mid-comment. That’s what I’m assuming anyway; otherwise, the irony’s almost too much to bear.
hahaha
I love the raising cheerfully one. That’s going to take a lot of work on my part but I’m going to give it a go! I’m also going to start trying to raise earlier than I need to.
Also another small thing I’ve taken to doing is kneeling on the floor in Mass and Adoration. It’s a small thing but it can be hard to do at times.
JMJ+
~Betsy
Cold showers!! I did this last Lent and it was so difficult in such a good way.
Good post and comment thread! I personally (get out your whips) can understand not being ready to be “outed” as Catholic. For me, it was being a new convert and not wanting to get into a theological debate before I figured I could handle it. I’ve always been better at understanding what I know than explaining what I know. For those who commented on the subject, yes I believe mortification can be subjective. I mean, does any of us believe a vegan is practicing mortification by abstaining from meat on Fridays?
I realize this is an older post but it’s something I’ve been researching lately so its new to me! I know the webpage you were all discussing. Its a group of Italian nuns if I’m not mistaken. My brother shared the page with me about a year or two ago- I’ll admit I’m still apprehensive about the metal stuff but (after the initial 45 seconds of shock) – I was more excited that there are still Catholics in the world that actively practice such “extreme” (I prefer “traditional”) forms of mortification. I’m currently completing a degree in Religious History (*Medieval Roman Catholicism in Europe)- for research and pure Catholic entertainment, I’ve read a bunch of medieval Hagiographies… if St Benedict could THROW himself into a thorny bush & proceed to more or less ROLL around in it (in order to prevent an act of ‘passionate’ sin)… an occasional strike of the discipline is weak in comparison.
... ] I think St Josemaria Escriva brings up some beautiful points in his writings- are we more afraid of (in a relative translation) *harming* the body or the soul? If we can prevent harming our soul by a willful disciplining of the body – what is there to lose? – except perhaps our pride.
Don’t get me wrong, I won’t be joining Opus Dei anytime soon. [I like sleeping with my pillows WAY too much
Perhaps another way to look at it is to consider that we are all like wild and unruly children. A spank on the butt now will stop you in your tracks and (hopefully) correct you behavior at the present moment as well as help you to be a better person later. Many of the forms of mortification you suggested are great and should of course be regularly used by all Catholics… But when faced with temptation on a Monday night, my dinner plans for next Friday might not be enough to help me prevent sin.
-The way that I understood it is that the ‘creepier’ stuff for mortification [Cilices, Disciplines, etc.] are better for immediate “results” (if we can apply such a term here) when our temptations are not swayed by the use of other forms of mortification. * Of Course- this is assuming that the person using these forms first gains the permission of his/her Spiritual Director. Our intentions and personality are key- fasting is an acceptable form of mortification but somebody with an eating disorder shouldn’t skip meals – by accepting this form of mortification they are actually creating an opportunity to sin… they can give to God in other ways. Same with the more harsh forms…
If for whatever reason the sting of a whip invokes lust or if you have a history of self-inflicting injuries- by-golly find a different way- this is not for you! Somebody using these “creepy” forms typically discuss with their confessor these kinds of things first. My priest basically told me all mortification is fine “as long as it doesn’t harm or interfere with your health.” There is no need to draw blood or bruise the skin- in fact I’ve heard we shouldn’t do it that excessively because we would be damaging the body that God has given us.
This is just my 2 cents.
-PAX
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