What is mortification in the Catholic Church?

The Roman Catholic Church has often held mortification of the flesh (literally, “putting the flesh to death”), as a worthy spiritual discipline. The purpose of mortification is to train “the soul to virtuous and holy living” (The Catholic Encyclopedia, article on Mortification).

What is the virtue of mortification?

Historians say that the virtue St. Vincent de Paul called “mortification” might be better understood as something akin to self-discipline or even sacrifice. In other words, mortification means giving up something we value for the sake of something more valuable.

What are examples of mortification?

Mortification is the feeling of humiliation or wounded pride, or something that causes such feelings. An example of a mortification is having your pants split open while on a stage.

What is mortification in religion?

The original meaning of mortification was religious; in Christianity the meaning is “putting your sin to death”. In Christian practice, this has varied from denying oneself pleasurable things, like certain foods, to inflicting physical pain on oneself.

What is an act of mortification?

Mortification of the flesh is an act by which an individual or group seeks to mortify or deaden their sinful nature, as a part of the process of sanctification. In Christianity, common forms of mortification that are practiced to this day include fasting, abstinence, as well as pious kneeling.

What does the word mortification mean?

Definition of mortification 1a : a sense of humiliation and shame caused by something that wounds one’s pride or self-respect the mortification of being jilted by a little boarding-school girl— Washington Irving. b : the cause of such humiliation or shame. 2 : necrosis, gangrene.

What is mortification and penance?

As nouns the difference between penance and mortification is that penance is a voluntary self-imposed punishment for a sinful act or wrongdoing it may be intended to serve as reparation for the act while mortification is the act of mortifying.

What does mortification feel like?

Mortification is a feeling of humiliation or extreme embarrassment. In medical terms, mortification refers to the death of one part of the body while the rest of the body is alive.

What is the meaning of the mortification?

What is an example of mortification in the Catholic Church?

Mortification in Catholic history Throughout the Old Testament, persons fast and wear sackcloth to appease God. Furthermore, the nazirites were persons who took special vows to, among other things, abstain from alcohol. In the New Testament, Saint John the Baptist is the most clear example of a person practising corporal mortification.

Is mortification a law of death?

From this original use of the term we see that mortification, though under one aspect it is a law of death, under another and more fundamental aspect it is a law of life, and so does not destroy but elevates nature. What it slays is the disease of the soul, and by slaying this it restores and invigorates the soul’s true life.

What does the Bible say about corporal mortification?

Throughout the Old Testament, persons fast and wear sackcloth to appease God. Furthermore, the nazirites were persons who took special vows to, among other things, abstain from alcohol. In the New Testament, Saint John the Baptist is the most clear example of a person practising corporal mortification.

What is the difference between internal mortification and external mortification?

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, internal mortification, such as the struggle against pride and self-love, is essential, but external mortification, such as fasting can also be good if they conform with a spirit of internal mortification. Throughout the Old Testament, persons fast and wear sackcloth to appease God.