MORTIFICATION
SEPTEMBER REFLECTION
HÃM MÌNH
MORTIFICATION
AN OUTLINE ON SEPTEMBER REFLECTION
I. INTRODUCTION
II. TWO AREAS OF MORTIFICATION
1. EXTERIOR MORTIFICAITON: AVOID INDULGING OF SENSES
2. INTERIOR MORTIFICATION: STRENGTHENING SELF-CONQUEST
b. Self-will
iii. How to encounter: Obedience
III. THE ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS OF MORTIFICATION
What is “mortification” according to your own understanding?
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, for these are contrary, one to another: so that you do not the things that you would (Gal. 5:17).
TWO AREAS OF MORTIFICATION
1. Exterior Mortification
Exterior mortification consists in doing and suffering what is opposed to the exterior senses, and in depriving oneself of what is agreeable to them.
2. Interior Mortification:
Interior mortification consists in restraining our inordinate self-love and self-will.
EXTERIOR MORTIFICAITON
AVOID INDULGING OF SENSES
Five senses:
EXTERIOR MORTIFICAITON
AVOID INDULGING OF SENSES
Animal vs. Man and Angel: an analogy
It is proper to animals to gratify their senses; it is characteristic of angels to do the Will of God. From this a learned author concludes that we become angels when we strive to do God’s Will, but we become like animals when we seek to gratify our senses.
EXTERIOR MORTIFICAITON
AVOID INDULGING OF SENSES
Be careful with what we indulgence
“We omit prayer today,” says St. Teresa, “because we have a headache; tomorrow because we had a headache, and the next day because we fear we might get one.”
EXTERIOR MORTIFICAITON
AVOID INDULGING OF SENSES
A physician at times prescribes medicines that are very distasteful to the patient, and he strictly forbids injurious foods and drinks, though the patient may desire them. He would be a cruel physician indeed who could be dissuaded from administering medicines because his patient objected on account of their being bitter, and who would allow the sick man to eat and drink what he pleased.
We ourselves as our own worst enemy
“I chastise my body and bring it into subjection.” (1 Cor. 9:27).
If the body is not mortified, it is very difficult to make it obedient to the law of God.
INTERIOR MORTIFICATION
Self-Love
Tự Ái
Self-will
Ý Riêng
STRENGTHENING SELF-CONQUEST
SELF-LOVE (LOVE OF SELF)
There is a twofold love of self, the one good and the other bad.
The former spurs us on to strive for eternal life, for which God has created us; the latter prompts us to seek for the good things of this earth, to the great detriment of our immortal soul.
SELF-LOVE (LOVE OF SELF)
The worst of all enemies of the soul
Interior mortification, therefore, consists principally in restraining and keeping in check these inordinate inclinations of self-love. The soul has other enemies, it is true, but the worst enemy of all is self-love.
“Self-love is like the worm that gnaws at the root and destroys not only the fruit, but even the very life of the plant.”
“They are like weeds,” says St. Bernard, “that crop out again as often as they are cut off; even when you think you have rooted them out entirely, they soon appear again.”
SELF-LOVE (LOVE OF SELF)
How to encounter: Self-Denial
Of a hundred persons who practice mental prayer, more than ninety follow their own head. Therefore, saint Ignatius of Loyola placed greater value on a single act of self-denial than on a whole hour’s prayer filled with spiritual consolation.
All exercises of piety are nothing else but means to arrive at virtue. Consequently at Holy Communion, during meditation, while visiting the Blessed Sacrament and performing other acts of devotion we must always ask God for the grace to be humble, mortified, obedient and conformed to His holy will. To act only from self-love is a fault in every Christian; but it is a greater fault in him who has received a greater measure of grace and is on that account bound to strive more earnestly after perfection.
SELF-LOVE (LOVE OF SELF)
St. Augustine says, “The less one seeks to gratify the passions, the more one truly loves God, and when one desires nothing but God, one’s love of God is perfect.”
In order to teach us the value and necessity of mortification, our Blessed Lord chose to live a mortified life, a life without sensible consolation, a life of sorrow and shame. “Having joy set before him,” says the Apostle, “he endured the cross, despising the shame.” (Heb. 12:2).
SELF-LOVE (LOVE OF SELF)
How to encounter: Self-Denial
SELF-WILL
Will of God is all good, of man is the origin of evil.
Adam & Eve
SELF-WILL
ii. Devil’s strategy “deadly weapon”
SELF-WILL
iii. How to encounter: Obedience
If you, Christian soul, desire to become holy and enjoy uninterrupted peace, strive as often as you can to mortify your will. Do nothing for your own satisfaction, but everything to please God.
“As God has given you an opportunity to suffer and endure abandonment, endeavor to increase His love in your heart, a love that is as strong as death. May this love detach you from all creatures and from your very self in order that nothing may hinder you in clinging to your Lord with all your thoughts, desires and inclinations. Do all for Him and in union with Him. Before your crucified Saviour make a daily renunciation of all the inclinations and attachments you find within your soul. Protest that you desire no other honor but the shame of Jesus Christ; no other treasure but His love; no other comforts but His Cross; no other object but Himself, your Lord and God.”
“The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him,” (John 8.29
THE ADVANTAGES AND BENEFITS OF MORTIFICATION
1. PURPOSE: Expiates the temporal punishment of sin
If therefore, Christian soul, you have anything to suffer, say to yourself: This must be my Purgatory; I shall bear this suffering patiently to atone for my sins, and to gain merit for eternal life.
2. GOAL: Elevates the soul
SALMON
THE END