"Mortification is absolutely essential. We must mortify ourselves if we wish to do some good, since all the duties of state of life and all the virtues demand effort: therefore, mortification is necessary to their practice. Some religious might like to use extraordinary means of penance. I neither encourage nor discourage this. However, it is generally best to hold to this rule: first perform all the ordinary mortifications. Someone may say: "I am greatly tempted, I want to wear a hairshirt!" The best hairshirt is an intensification of work; then certain things will no longer enter the mind. Sometimes we say that it is the devil who tempt us. It is we who tempt ourselves, since we are not mortifying ourselves! Nowadays, there is a tendency to follow the spirit of the world - Full freedom is desired to do whatever nature asks. This is a serious error, especially when it implies freedom of sentiments, freedom of the eyes, freedom to gratify any of the passions." - Blessed James Alberione on to topic of Temperance
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 00:32:54 +0000