In Christianity, common forms of mortification that are practiced to this day include fasting, abstinence, as well as pious kneeling. Also common among Christian religious orders in the past were the wearing of sackcloth, as well as flagellation in imitation of Jesus of Nazareth’s suffering and death by crucifixion.

We may define it as the struggle against our bad inclinations or tendencies in order to do the will of God. 1 It is therefore not an end in itself, but a means to an end. Corporal mortification, in particular, is that type of GE1SLER 149 Page 2 penance or self-denial which is practiced upon the bodily senses.

Mortification is a strong feeling of shame and embarrassment.

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.

Tips: Any woman wearing chain on their legs,means is prostitute or married but available to other men.

The purpose of mortification is to train “the soul to virtuous and holy living” (The Catholic Encyclopedia, article on Mortification). It achieves this through conforming one’s passions to reason and faith.

The purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer for Easter through prayer, mortifying the flesh, repentance of sins, almsgiving, simple living, and self-denial.

Some celibate members use them generally once a week for a minute or two. Again, no blood, no harm, just some short-term discomfort. Far from the two-fisted flogging of The Da Vinci Code’s crazed monk, the real disciplines are made of woven cotton string and weigh less than two ounces.

Corporal Mortification in Opus Dei. Corporal mortification is regularly practiced in Opus Dei. It is perhaps one of the most startling aspects of Opus Dei life for people outside the group. Many of the practices of corporal mortification were at one time more regularly practiced within the Church; however, due to modern psychology and thinking,

Mortification helps us resist our natural drive toward personal comfort which so often prevents us from answering the Christian call to love God and serve others for love of God. Also, this voluntarily accepted discomfort is a way of joining oneself to Jesus Christ and the sufferings he voluntarily accepted in order to redeem us from sin.

The Church mandates certain mortifications – fasting and abstinence from meat – as Lenten penances.