Some 18th Sunday After Pentecost Thoughts About Mortifications, Macerations, and the Like

On this 18th Sunday after Pentecost we share some thoughts about mortifications, macerations and the like. These are not to be an over-indulgence. When we do engage with these, their purpose is not pain or even discomfort - although this may accompany them. Rather they are intended to draw us closer to God, as we share in the Cross of our Beloved Savior Jesus Christ. 

Taking spiritual direction helps here. Saints have written to us of the importance of deferring to the judgement of our spiritual director or "father." In the Rule of St. Benedict, there are passages where the suggestions for extra mortification or other ascetical practices comes with the caveat that these are to be vetted first with our Superior. If you have a spiritual director, go that route by all means. For those of us who don't have one - and, from experience, it's not easy to find one these days - then do the best to be prudent and temper any plans in this matter.

In any case, such practices must be seen in their proper light. And fortunately for us, we have Fr. Schryvers to shine a light on all this today. 

“Do not think that great mortifications or severe macerations are to be imposed, or that you are to be always armed with disciplines, or covered with iron chains. No! …There is an immense field of smaller mortifications…What joy can be given to Jesus, by suppressing an idle thought, by repressing the urge to criticize our neighbor or to converse with him! There is a world of virtue in restraining a too human sympathy or a too human tendency to be puffed up by a word of praise, a mark of esteem, a breath of flattery, or cast down by a reproach, an unkind word, or unjust accusation. There is great room to exercise ourselves in mortification, if we keep back the sharp retort, the cutting witticism that leaps to our lips. 

"What sacrifices could be made in controlling our flighty imaginations, our persistent curiosity, our enervating love of ease, so diligent in justifying little comforts and frequent relaxations! It is not a small thing to deny our eyes the sight of an innocent and licit object; it is not a trifling matter, after all, to lay aside an interesting book. Oh! There are a thousand things we can do, besides indulging in awful maceration. And these little things, like little gnats, can really test the temper of one’s soul.
“How beautiful and how divine before God it would be to force ourselves never to wear a sad or worried look, in spite of all the ill-will of others, the embarrassment of business, the burden of overwork, interior depression, and the importunities of those around us! Finally, let us be ever ready to render service, especially to those who displease us, or who abuse our kindness; always to smile when more inclined to weep or break out into recriminations or murmurs; ever to welcome ingratitude from those whom we have served: Oh! How sanctifying all this is!” (Fr. Joseph Schryvers, C.SS.R.)

So, as we see, we all have been given a whole palette to choose from. Each day brings literally dozens of opportunities for us. Do we take advantage of all these - or even any of them? 

Simple restraint can be a good starting point. When things go well, when we are praised, or given credit for something good, we can pause and make room for humility to hold pride at bay. When we are tempted to speak harshly, or even think harsh thoughts about someone, we can pause and let the alarm go off that warns us to hold our tongue or temper those thoughts, perhaps by inserting simple holy aspirations (All for Thee, I love Thee, Jesus, etc.) to crowd them out.

These simple examples, when considered seriously, present enough for most of us to get a good head start. And once we've developed good habits here, we'll have a solid foundation upon which we can build a veritable cathedral of prudent mortification, and other ascetical, sacrificial practices.

With thanks to Fr. Schryvers for his well-stated practical advice on this blessed Sunday.

 

Happy 18th Sunday after Pentecost!