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Sister Susan Marie: When we hear the term “bodily mortification,” we often think of someone afflicting his or her body exteriorly. However, the term primarily refers to the mortification of self-control (fasting, abstinence, etc.). Why do you think bodily mortification is beneficial for us spiritually? Saint Francis says on one hand that it is good for us to go beyond the Church-prescribed fasts, but he also tell us that in certain situations one even has the right to dispense from the Church-prescribed fasts.
What do you think about the two sides of this coin? What situation would allow for someone to eat on a day of fasting?
Often people treat Lent like a heroic, spiritual competition: Am I fasting enough? Am I suffering enough? Am I “giving up” enough? How does the above reflection help us find a balance and prudence in how we embrace the simplicity that the Church calls us to with the observance of Lent?
Mar 2 2017, 2:21 PM
Sister Susan Marie: Sun Mar 5 2017 at 730pm-chat
Mar 5 2017, 3:04 PM
Guest6658 (Guest): Hi Everyone! It’s Judy. I mentioned last week that I would be missing from chat for the next 7 or so weeks to participate in a program at a local parish. It is part 3 of a 3 part series–the first was Discovering Christ, the second was Following Christ and this on is Sharing Christ. The focus of this one will be on Evangelization. I promised to leave my answers to the discussion questions, so here I go.
Mar 5 2017, 3:05 PM
Guest6658 (Guest): Quest. 1 Bodily mortification is beneficial to us spiritually because if we can control the body and its appetites, it could be easier for us to control our spiritual lives.
Mar 5 2017, 3:08 PM
Guest6658 (Guest): Quest. 2 What situation would allow for a person to eat on a day of fasting? There are circumstances is which fasting can be detrimental to the body. For example, a diabetic who is experiencing an episode of low blood sugar, would need something to help the sugar to rise.
Mar 5 2017, 3:09 PM
Guest6658 (Guest): A person who has been seriously ill and unable to eat, may need to to eat several small meals rather than the one full meal and two lesser meals required of the fast.
Mar 5 2017, 3:12 PM
Guest6658 (Guest): Quest 3 Lent is not a contest or an act of heroism. To achieve in a contest or an act of heroism can lead to pride and the purpose of the Lenten disciplines is to root out such vices and replace them with the opposite virtue. in this case humility.
Mar 5 2017, 3:13 PM
Guest6658 (Guest): The task is to choose a a type of fasting, prayer or almsgiving that will most effectively foster the elimination of the vice and the growth of the virtue.
Mar 5 2017, 3:16 PM
Guest6658 (Guest): For example, gluttony. Choose one item which is the one in which you most frequently overindulge and resolve, first to reduce its consumption and if you achieve that goal, then. move on further, to reducing consumption to a minimum.
Mar 5 2017, 3:17 PM
Guest6658 (Guest): Of course, prayer is needed to bring you through this adjustment and doing so successfully could provide you with some extra money for almsgiving.
Mar 5 2017, 3:17 PM
Guest6658 (Guest): Have a great chat and a profitable second week of Lent.
7:23 PM
Lisa C: Why do you think bodily mortification is beneficial for us spiritually?…We are like Christ when we sacrifice things and offer them for sins.
Mar 5 2017, 7:23 PM
Lisa C: Fasting or any sacrifice
4 PM
VisitationSiste: It clears our inward vision and makes us stronger in character, 7:25 PM
Lisa C: The little flower kept making little sacrifices for sins
Mar 5 2017, 7:25 PM
Lisa C: She wanted to help save everyone
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VisitationSiste: Hopefully fasting helps us to be less self indulgent
Mar 5 2017, 7:27 PM
VisitationSiste: Thanks for joining us
Mar 5 2017, 7:27 PM
Lisa C: Do you think if we suffer a little to help, it might alleviate how much Jesus has to suffer
Jesus has to suffer
Mar 5 2017, 7:27 PM
Lisa C: Hi Guest
Mar 5 2017, 7:27 PM
Guest1221 (Guest): His
Mar 5 2017, 7:27 PM
Guest1221 (Guest): Hi
Mar 5 2017, 7:27 PM
VisitationSiste: I think it consoles Him, but as to His degree of suffering I do not know
Mar 5 2017, 7:28 PM
Lisa C: Not trying to be presumtuious
7, 7:28 PM
Lisa C: Just thinking if we could help Him it would be nice
Mar 5 2017, 7:28 PM
VisitationSiste: We are just beginning Guest 1221 Shall I repeat tonite’s questions?
3 online
Lisa C
Guest1221
8 PM
Guest1221 (Guest): Yes, thank you
Mar 5 2017, 7:28 PM
Lisa C: Maybe consolation does reduce suffering to some degree
30 PM
VisitationSiste: Spiritually we are always trying to grow other- oriented and fasting takes attention away from our needs
Mar 5 2017, 7:30 PM
Lisa C: Yes, I knew He would want us to behave in certain ways, but never knew we could make Him feel better, because He is God. How could we make God feel better.
Mar 5 2017, 7:31 PM
Guest1221 (Guest): To make Jesus feel better?
Mar 5 2017, 7:32 PM
Lisa C: God does not need us, so it is hard to think we could console Him
Mar 5 2017, 7:32 PM
Lisa C: If we can I want to
Mar 5 2017, 7:32 PM
VisitationSiste: Jesus is human as well as divine. Saints always talk about pleasing God
3 PM
VisitationSiste: Is that the main purpose of fasting? What else does it do for us
Mar 5 2017, 7:34 PM
VisitationSiste: St Francis said “Fasting and labour both exhaust and subdue the body. If your work is necessary or profitable to God’s Glory, I would rather see you bear the exhaustion of work than of fasting.
7, 7:35 PM
Lisa C: It helps us with control of our body 2017, 7:35 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes, discipline 2017, 7:36 PM
Lisa C: It is also a way to keep our mind on God 7:36 PM
Guest1221 (Guest): fasting is a spiritual discipline which was encouraged by Jesus, Himself, while He was on earth. , 7:37 PM
VisitationSiste: Yes did He not say when the Bridegroom was no longer with us, we would fast? 17, 7:38 PM
Lisa C: Jesus fasted in the desert too :38 PM
Lisa C: Jesus fasted in the desert too
Mar 5 2017, 7:39 PM
VisitationSiste: Today’s Gospel! and He was tempted
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Guest1221 (Guest): Jesus was indicating that fasting would become a necessity when, the bridegroom (Jesus) was taken away. While Jesus, who was God manifested in human form, was still on earth, His followers enjoyed a close fellowship and friendship with Him. Jesus bestowed power and authority on them to the extent that they had limited power to preach, heal the sick, and cast out devils. 7, 7:40 PM
Guest1221 (Guest): Jesus was teaching that after His departure, the entire dynamic would change and the disciples would need a different type of preparation and provision. Fasting was to be a vital part of this new preparation.
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Lisa C: We were told in school that above a certain age people no longer should fast….do not remember the age, but it was old. Sick people did not have to fast either. 0 PM
VisitationSiste: Excellent comment- and “food” for thought
Mar 5 2017, 7:42 PM
Guest1221 (Guest): 😊
Mar 5 2017, 7:44 PM
VisitationSiste: Saint Francis says on one hand that it is good for us to go beyond the Church-prescribed fasts, but he also tell us that in certain situations one even has the right to dispense from the Church-prescribed fasts.
What do you think about the two sides of this coin? What situation would allow for someone to eat on a day of fasting?
Mar 5 2017, 7:46 PM
Lisa C: We were told in school that above a certain age people no longer should fast….do not remember the age, but it was old. Sick people did not have to fast either.
Mar 5 2017, 7:47 PM
Lisa C: Fasting or making small sacrifices beyond what we are asked to do, the way St. T of L did is also a gift to help sinners.
Mar 5 2017, 7:47 PM
Lisa C: It also helps atone for our own sins.
49 PM
VisitationSiste: Sickness or weakness might also allow one to eat on a day of fast
Mar 5 2017, 7:49 PM
Guest1221 (Guest): Hi Guest
Mar 5 2017, 7:50 PM
Lisa C: Maybe a brain surgeon should eat before doing surgery
Mar 5 2017, 7:50 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Hi Sister Susan , Lisa , and Guest 1221!God Bless You ! Brian
Mar 5 2017, 7:51 PM
Lisa C: Hi Brian
52 PM
VisitationSiste: Going beyond the Church prescribed fasts might mean fasting every week on more than one day
Mar 5 2017, 7:54 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Fasting and sacrifices help us to have a clearer vision of What God wants us to do and who he may want us to reach out to
7:54 PM
Guest1221 (Guest): St Thomas Aquinas, 3 purposes: (1) to restrain the desires of the flesh; (2) to raise the mind to contemplate sublime things; (3) to make satisfaction for our sins. These are good and noble things, and so fasting is virtuous. 6 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Reminds us to be available to God to serve others , the world is always bombarding us with self ! 7:57 PM
VisitationSiste: The most profound fast and abstinence I ever experiences was at the Hermitage of the Bethlehem laura in NJ
Mar 5 2017, 7:58 PM
VisitationSiste: One day just on bread and water
Mar 5 2017, 7:58 PM
VisitationSiste: Never thought I could do it but after that one day I felt I could LIVE that way!
:58 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Heard a most wonderful story of how a retired man had realized he should be available to God in all the small interactions of the day 2017, 8:00 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): He said this is his prayer daily and for years God has brought countless opportunities to reach out to others in very small and big ways
Mar 5 2017, 8:00 PM
7, 8:03 PM
VisitationSiste: Often people treat Lent like a heroic, spiritual competition: Am I fasting enough? Am I suffering enough? Am I “giving up” enough? How does the above reflection help us find a balance and prudence in how we embrace the simplicity that the Church calls us to with the observance of Lent? 017, 8:06 PM
VisitationSiste: Lent is about growing in love of Our Lord 017, 8:08 PM
Ruth (Guest): And, I would say, in finding ways to share that love with others.
Mar 5 2017, 8:08 PM
Lisa C: I think St. F is saying that the idea is not so much to fast as to do things for God, fast vs. do work that gives God glory. The point being it is not rigid. It is about what is right and good rather than rules.
10 PM
VisitationSiste: Our culture is not attuned to the great feats of old, for the most part. :10 PM
VisitationSiste: Our culture is not attuned to the great feats of old, for the most part.
Mar 5 2017, 8:11 PM
VisitationSiste: But our spirit can be very attuned to whatever the Lord sends us as a “gift” for Lent, be it suffering or sacrifice, etc
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Lisa C
Guest2334
Guest1221
Ruth
, 8:13 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Today I walked out of church in downtown Buffalo early and a man handed me a handful of money to give to church . I encouraged him to come into church and place in with candle offerings . He said that he couldn’t but that he trusted me to put in offering . I asked him his first name . It was Ron and I said I would pray for him. .I should have prayed right then . I placed the offering. And then prayed for Ron . Afterwards met Joe who called me other day ! Very serious marital problems . He was able to share
5 online
Lisa C
Guest1221
Ruth
Guest2334
:14 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): He shared for two hours and another man sitting across from
Mar 5 2017, 8:16 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Us offered excellent advice . This was after Novena of Grace for Saint Francis Xavier and all received blessing from his relic
Mar 5 2017, 8:18 PM
Ruth (Guest): Wow! good that you were able to be available to Joe for so long.
18 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Thank You All for prayers for Kairos Men last week . Amazing talk delivered by James and everyone shared in incredible way ! Praise God !!!
Mar 5 2017, 8:19 PM
Ruth (Guest): Was this in church, a church meeting hall, a cafe? Trying to picture the situation.
Mar 5 2017, 8:19 PM
Lisa C: God can see that Ron’s heart is with Him, I hope God will make Ron see that He loves him.
Mar 5 2017, 8:20 PM
Ruth (Guest): Yes, Lisa. Ron seems like one of those who think the roof would cave in if ever they set foot in church.
0 PM
Ruth (Guest): They do not know how loving and merciful God is.
Mar 5 2017, 8:21 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Hi Ruth ! You could see in his sharing God was guiding him what to do next ! That’s what good listening does . I struggle with this but God is helping me to see importance of good listening !
2 PM
Ruth (Guest): And it is probably because of some wound or other experienced in church — from parishoners — long ago.
Mar 5 2017, 8:23 PM
Ruth (Guest): Good listening is so important — a way of showing love.
Mar 5 2017, 8:23 PM
Ruth (Guest): And often we are so distracted.
4 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Ron approached me after I left church when I was walking to car on city street . Joe shared at downtown Tim Horton coffee shop where I go and have Bible study most Saturday and Sunday after very early Mass.
Mar 5 2017, 8:25 PM
Ruth (Guest): People are even willing to pay to have someone listen to them — psychologists and psychiatrists, for example. There’d be less need for us if more lay people knew how to listen well
26 PM
VisitationSiste: Can this be a form of fasting- good listening?
Mar 5 2017, 8:27 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): That is soo true Sister!
Mar 5 2017, 8:27 PM
Ruth (Guest): Yes, I think so, Sister. Because it is a way of showing love.
, 8:28 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): Another way is getting know someone at church that is visiting or who you just never introduced yourself to , 8:30 PM
VisitationSiste: Reaching out to the periphery
Mar 5 2017, 8:30 PM
Guest2334 (Guest): We have no idea what people are going through until we get to know them
:31 PM
Ruth (Guest): At the Day of Recollection yesterday there was a talk about doing good deeds in private — even incognito — based on the Scripture — “they have their reward.” But things are so different nowadays. You are more likely to be considered crazy if pray or study Scripture in public, than to win praise.
Mar 5 2017, 8:31 PM
VisitationSiste: My friends, I need to go now. Have a blessed Lenten week