George Matulaitis Journal

57 closer union with God, toward an ever deeper immersion in His holy will, toward a more intimate relationship with Him. November 29 To make our body a more pliable instrument in the hands of God, we must learn to deal with it prudently. When the body rebels against the mind illumined by the light of faith, we should discipline and mortify it, making use of harsher measures if necessary. But when a person would truly rather die than offend his God by the smallest sin and when he no longer experiences any particular temptations from the evil spirit or from the corrupt world or his own disordered sensuality, then may he regard his body as the property of his Lord and God to whom he will have to give an account of its management and use. We must be careful not to let our health deteriorate. When a person becomes too weak, he is not able to do his work properly. Mortification should make the body a more efficient instrument of the soul, but not weaken or destroy it unnecessarily. When our body is obedient to the spirit and to our reason illumined by faith, when it helps us to perform our duties, then it is both our friend and ally. The soul needs the body to be able to work for the glory of God. We should, therefore, love our body properly and maintain its health, but in such a way that we do not become overly indulgent or overly anxious about the preservation of our health. But whenever the body rebels against the spirit and makes war against it, then is it wise to mortify and discipline it, especially by intense and continual work. “A sound mind in a sound body is the best way a person is able to serve God and to work for the salvation of souls.” 1 Consequently, when the body becomes ill, we must do everything we can to regain our health so that we would be able to serve God and to work for His greater glory with all our strength. November 30 I have made my monthly day of recollection. Thank you, Lord, for the light that you have given me. 1 “Anima sana in corpore sano, ut hoc modo homo sit melius dispositus ad serviendum Deo et laborandum pro salute animarum.”