Saint Paul calls us to “mortify the deeds of the flesh.” This concept of mortification seems to be incompatible with our current understanding of human flourishing. Instead something so harsh as mortification is rejected for we have been led to believe that we must obtain everything which is possible within this life if we are to be found happy. Therefore we are to receive an over abundance of goods and pleasures if we are to be found happy. This we call the vice of gluttony which does not liberate us, but instead leaves us as slaves.
If we take a circle and fill it with vice we must practice virtue if we are to push vice out of this circle in order that virtue alone can be left behind. To take up Saint Paul’s advice and “mortify the deeds of the flesh” is an important way for us to embrace the cross and to allow virtue to take hold to the point that it begins to push vice out of our life.
Mortification, as foreign as it may be to our modern ears, is not something new nor something that is left to antiquity. The Old Testament makes mention of the practices of fasting, wearing sackcloth, and putting ashes upon one’s forehead to name a few. Even the New Testament as can be seen by Saint Paul’s remarks are proof of its presence in the early life of the church. We even have the season of Lent which we often are led to believe is the only time that we should practice things such as fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Ultimately to practice mortification of the flesh should not be confined to Lent alone, but should become a part of our daily lives especially on Friday when our Blessed Lord came to surrender His life upon the cross.
Saint Josemaria Escriva reflects time and time again upon this concept of mortification. I encourage you to look into his reflections on mortification on the internet to see his many opinions concerning this concept. In his book “Christ is Passing By” he reflects: “Mortification is the seasoning of our life. And the best mortification is that which overcomes the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life in little things throughout the day. Ours should be mortifications that do not mortify others, and which give us more finesse, more understanding and more openness in our dealings with everybody. You are not mortified, if you are touchy; if your every thought is for yourself; if you humiliate others; if you don’t know how to give up what is unnecessary and, at times, what is necessary; if you become gloomy because things don’t turn out the way you had hoped. On the other hand, you can be sure you are mortified, if you know how to make yourself “all things to all men, in order to save all.”
If we are to practice mortification we must know where we currently are in the spiritual life. We must pray and discern where our weaknesses and failures can be found. If we are unaware of what these may be it will be hard for us to progress in the spiritual life. Through mortification we find ways to combat these dispositions for the growth of our mind, body, and soul towards the Divine Will of God. So often we live in order that our will be done instead of in the word’s of the Out Father that “thy will be done.”
What are some small tangible ways that we can allow ourself to put mortification into practice? Let us not continue to push mortification to the side, but instead come to embrace it for the good of our soul and life everlasting.
