MEDITATION FOR FRIDAY AFTER ASH-WEDNESDAY- ON THE EXCELLENCE OF MORTIFICATION.

DEVOUT MEDITATIONS FOR LENT.
MEDITATION FOR FRIDAY AFTER ASH-WEDNESDAY. 
ON THE EXCELLENCE OF MORTIFICATION.

1st Point - What is mortification? It is a death of love, which destroys the criminal life, detaches the mind from the senses, separates the soul from the body, and makes it live in the spirit.
It is a sacrifice of love, in which the Holy Ghost is the priest, the body is the victim, the heart is the altar, pain the knife, love the fire, glory the fruit.

2nd Point - What is mortification? It is a martyrdom of love, less bloody than a martyrdom of faith, but longer and more wearisome, more free, and (in one sense) more voluntary.

What is mortification? t is a continuation of the sacrifice of the passion of Jesus, which supplies all that is wanting in his sufferings; which transforms our bodies into members of his, and animates them with his divine spirit; which makes us participate in his sorrows, merit his graces, and finally exalts us to the throne of his glory.

3rd Point - Why is it that I mortify myself so little ? Alas ! it is because I do not love Jesus Christ, and am not one of his members animated by his spirit; it is because I lead a sensual and carnal life, and despise and shrink from his sufferings; it is that I am the slave of my body, and seek only the pleasures of the flesh, and relish not those of the spirit, being worldly, sensual, voluptuous, and the enemy of God. Oh! in order that I may die the death of the just, I will henceforth live the life of the just; I will, from this moment, become a victim of love, that I may die in the arms of divine love.

WORDS OF SCRIPTURE.

" I beseech you, brethren, by the mercy of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing unto God."—Romans, 12.

" I die daily."—1 Corinthians, 15.

" With Christ I am nailed to the cross."— Galatians, 2

" Who now rejoice in my sufferings, and fill up those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ, in my flesh for his body, which is the Church."—Colossians, 1.

" Unhappy man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death? The grace of God, by Jesus Christ our Lord."—Romans, 7.

Written by an 'Anonymous' Jesuit Priest in England in the 19th century.

DEVOUT MEDITATIONS FOR LENT - ON EXTERIOR PENANCE AND MORTIFICATION.

DEVOUT MEDITATIONS FOR LENT. 
MEDITATION FOR ASH-WEDNESDAY. 

ON EXTERIOR PENANCE AND MORTIFICATION.

1st Point - There is nothing more united and less united than the soul and body. When one advances, the other recoils ; when one rises, the other descends; when one is in health, the other is sick; when one is strong, the other is weak. It is necessary, then, in order to strengthen and give health to the soul, to bring the body under subjection, and weaken its evil propensities by penance and mortification.

I am not a man if I obey my passions; I am not a Christian if I do not combat with and overcome my passions; I am not a true penitent if I do not mortify my passions. Since my body is polluted by sin, it ought to be purified by pain; and since it has part in the pleasures of the soul, it ought to glory in sharing its sorrows.

2nd Point - How do I know that my sins are forgiven? How do I know that the pain which my offences merit is remitted? How do I know that God will not punish me in my body? How do I know that he will not chastise me in my soul? How do I know that he will not regard me with coldness, and permit me to fall into some grievous sin? How do I know that I shall be able to rise after falling therein?

3rd Point - If I spare myself, God will not spare me; if I love myself, God will not love me; if I hate myself, God will not hate me; if I punish myself, God will not punish me ; if I excuse nothing in myself, God will pardon all; if I excuse all things in myself, God will pardon nothing; if I am indulgent to myself, God will be severe; if I am austere and harsh with myself, God will be merciful.

Oh, Christian soul ! Make your body a living and dying victim; mortify your passions, your senses, and your desires; mortify yourself at all times, and in all places; mortify yourself with zeal, mortify yourself with discretion.

Written by an 'Anonymous' Jesuit Priest in England in the 19th century... Please share with friends..