manner conformed to the dying and rising of Jesus Christ. During Lent, when we contemplate Christ’s suffering and death, St. Stanislaus reminds us of His call to “take up your cross and follow Me” (Mt 16:24) through the three traditional pillars of Lent: prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. Now, St. Stanislaus belonged to a different time and culture, and we may not find helpful the penances he asked of his early followers, such as wearing scratchy garments, bland two-course meals, sleeping on straw, or self- flagellation three or more times a week. However, we should heed his wisdom about the inner logic of mortification. Reparation and purification What is this “inner logic?” It is expressed in two words: reparation and purification. Simply put, true mortification evicts sin and invites grace. We fast and abstain on the days appointed by the Church to repair the damage of sin and to grow in purity of heart. Sin imposes chaos on the soul. This can be seen in ourselves, in the world around us, and in the suffering of the souls in Purgatory. By fasting and other mortifications, we deny ourselves disordered worldly attachments, and thus free our spirits to love God with all our hearts. Saint Stanislaus insists on the spiritual orientation of fasting in his Rule of Life (ch. 4), saying that it would be out of order to “hard press” the body and neglect the soul. Love and mercy The sufferings of the poor in this world further motivate our mortifications. Saint Stanislaus urges his followers not to ignore the poor as the rich man did Lazarus, but rather to show them great love and mercy. As Bl. George Matulaitis, MIC, the Renovator of the Marians, would later say in his Instructions, mortification should not hinder one’s apostolic work for others, but should be an integral part of it. Saint Stanislaus’ call to “take up your cross” grows most eloquent when speaking of the Holy Souls in Purgatory. In order to free these souls, he not only performed strenuous earthly penances like those listed above, but asked his confrères to do the same. These penances, harsh as they seem, are nothing compared to the torments souls suffer in their long path of purgation after death. The spiritual pains of Purgatory — longing for God, detachment, conformity to God’s Will — better remind us of our final goal: union with God. As St. Paul reminds the Colossians (and us): “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God” (Col 3:1). In light of this goal, we can better see howmortification fits into the plan of God’s Mercy. We deny ourselves to attack our sins, thus cooperating with Christ’s coming to redeem us. Our sacrifices and abstinence open us up to the graces of sanctification that God planned from all eternity to grant us. We are both reformed from sin and transformed by grace. Being Christ-like Christian holiness lies in being Christlike. This is the final end of all God’s graces and our efforts: union with God. Holy Communion in this life is a foretaste of that union, of the eternal banquet of the Lamb. During the season of Lent, we are conformed to Jesus specifically in His death, to “the Lamb who was slain” (Rev 5:12). Hence the word “mortification” (from the Latin words mors and facio, literally “to make dead”) gains a new Christian meaning. Death in itself is fearful, but to die with Christ is (paradoxically) joyful. As St. Paul says to the Romans: “If, then, we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him” (Rom 6:8). Death becomes life; mortification leads to resurrection. This is the inner logic of the one-hour fast before receiving Holy Communion: This “Bread of Angels” is no ordinary food! It is also the reason for the good old practice of “giving something up for Lent,” and meatless Fridays. This Lenten Season, choose carefully the mortification you will practice. Consider whether it will help you grow in virtue, in true detachment from the world and attachment to God. Weigh its value for your work and your witness to others of the joy of the Gospel. Finally, do something for the Holy Souls in Purgatory. Without having to wear a hair shirt or sleep on straw, you will then be a true follower of St. Stanislaus’ teaching about mortification. We should heed St. Stanislaus’ wisdom: We fast and abstain to repair the damage of sin and to grow in purity of heart. Marian Helper • Spring 2022 • marian.org 13
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