By Thomas Creen, MJ • Phoenix, AZ

It is Lent and Lent means joy. Joy because we have a better chance of freeing ourselves from bad habits that weigh on us and bring us down. It is a time of mortification. And mortification comes from the Latin word for death which is mors. Mortification means to put something to death. During Lent, it means putting to death any weeds that have taken root in our souls and in our daily lives so that we can have life and have it to the fullest.

A deeply satisfying book on the spiritual life and the reasons for mortification is The Three Ages of the Interior Life by Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P. (It is accessible on the Internet for free at www.christianperfection.info.) Fr Garrigou-Lagrange was a very influential Dominican in the 20th century and was the one who supervised Pope Saint John Paul II’s doctoral work in the 1940s at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas in Rome. In the book, some of the main reasons why we need mortification are presented. Among them are:

  1. Our Savior told us we need it when He said, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; for he that shall lose his life for My sake, shall save it. For what is a man advantaged if he gain the whole world and lose himself and cast away himself?” (St. Luke 9:23-25)
  2. St. Paul says that we need mortification because of the consequences of original sin; because of the results of our personal sins; because of the infinite elevation of our supernatural end; and because we must imitate our crucified Lord.

That is enough for this Lent. Cheers!

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