Mortification

Mortification

Cl. Mario D’Couto SDB

            The Church has witnessed the lives of so many saints who made mortification as a part and parcel of their lives. It is said that mortification is perhaps the best way to reach spiritual enlightment. But what exactly is mortification?
           
            Too often, mortification has been misunderstood as something that one is supposed to give up. But such is not the case! Mortification is about discipline. One good analogy that can be used to describe this phenomenon is that of a painter. Painting, like all other skills, requires discipline. If a painter was to paint anyhow or if he or she did not have any sense of proportion, the picture would then be a complete disaster. A lot of things in life follow discipline be it learning to play football, music, cooking and so on. Hence, just as in all facets of life, the element of discipline is present, the same could be said when it comes to spirituality.


            The saint and holy men and women realized the value of mortification. They were not mad or crazy to just do penance for the sake of doing penance. It was this that took them to great heights in their spiritual lives. 

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