Sacrifices: Staying In the Fight

(1,165 words, 6 minutes read time.)

That’s still a thing?

You still fast on Fridays?

Yes. The Church still honors Fridays because they commemorate the death of Our Lord on Good Friday.

Many Catholics abstain from meat and may also fast.

They may also pray the Stations of the Cross, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, or other devotions.

Some may attend Mass on this day, if able.

Have you heard of what the saints did?

In terms of penances?

The saints of long ago, and perhaps some devout souls of today, wore hair shirts to conquer the sins of the flesh. A hair shirt was a garment woven from coarse animal hair (often goat hair) and was extremely uncomfortable to wear. It was used as a form of penance to help conquer temptations and unite suffering to the Lord for the salvation of souls.

Always consult a wise spiritual director for drastic penances.

St. Francis of Assisi even threw himself into a thorn bush to combat temptation and cool bodily passions.

Some saints wore a rope around their bare waist to resist the flesh.

Some used a “discipline,” which was a light whip.

It goes to show that most of us have never resisted sin to the point of shedding blood, like our crucified Lord Jesus.

When we face strong temptations, we are called to battle like soldiers.

We need a game plan detailing our near occasions of sin, the virtues to strive for in opposition to our vices, and practical steps we can take daily to build up resistance and walk heroically.

It does not necessarily require drastic penances.

Regular penances can go a long way in the battle.

Perhaps a cold shower once a week, if not too much.

Drinking water instead of flavored beverages.

Skipping coffee and stimulating supplements on some days.

Avoiding seasoning some meals.

Exercise is an excellent penance!

Using apps that keep us accountable or restrict our use of devices.

In the lives of Carmelite saints—St. Teresa of Avila’s meditation on Christ’s Passion helped awaken a deeper conversion and love for the Lord. From that point forward, she grew steadily in prayer and eventually received the extraordinary graces of infused contemplation.

We, too, can benefit greatly from meditating on the Stations of the Cross, the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, other devotions centered on Jesus’ Passion, or simply gazing upon an image or statue of Him. It brings deep contrition and love and motivates us in ongoing conversion.

 *** Small Sacrifices, Great Love ***

St. Thérèse of Lisieux approached sacrifice differently from many saints of earlier centuries. Because of her delicate health and temperament, she focused less on extraordinary penances and more on hidden acts of love. She patiently endured annoyances, refrained from defending herself, accepted misunderstandings, cheerfully performed unpleasant tasks, and made countless small sacrifices throughout the day. She often denied herself small comforts, practiced custody of her tongue, and sought to show kindness to those she found difficult. Her “Little Way” teaches us that holiness is found not primarily in great penances but in great love. Every small sacrifice offered with love becomes precious in God’s sight. She is a wonderful saint for those with chronic illnesses or weaker constitutions.

As one with multiple debilitating chronic illnesses, I find it very helpful to do small things like fasting from sweets or my favorite snacks on set days of the week. It works great during Lent and Advent, and I vary it throughout Ordinary Time.

Again, a wise spiritual director knows us best and can advise us accordingly.

Growth in holiness comes in baby steps.

There will be falls as we progress.

Little by little, the Lord builds us up.

It may feel like we’re regressing or getting nowhere.

But the Lord knows the desire of our hearts.

The very desire for holiness is already a sign of His grace at work within us.

Imagine yourself years from now—stronger in virtue, steadier in trials, and walking more faithfully with the Lord.

Ponder the immense fruit that can pour into your own soul and then flow through you to others because your heart clings to the Lord.

When we are frequently falling into the same faults, we are not yet firmly established in virtue, and it can be harder to become the instrument God desires us to be.

The book Soul of the Apostolate explains how we need powerful lives of prayer and union with God to become immense channels of grace in ministry—even the everyday ministry of sharing the Lord with those we encounter or those already in our lives.

Let us both keep striving to become grace-filled instruments in God’s hands. This little one has to keep working at it, day by day.

Because this life is not just about us and our salvation. Each of us is called to holiness, and each of us has charisms for reaching others in the world.

But we all have a beginning, and today it may simply be to conquer our vices and persevere in mental prayer (meditation on the Gospels), the Examen, and the Sacraments.

I believe some people can get into helping others too early on, and they risk collapsing a house not yet built on rock.

It is important to bring our discernment to a wise spiritual director.

Some are still raising small children, and that is their primary vocation at the moment.

Some are still trying to establish themselves in their careers, and that is essential for stability and for providing for future responsibilities.

Each soul is unique and needs individual prayer and discernment.

Let us both continue the fight, day by day. Holiness is not built in a moment but through countless acts of fidelity. The Lord is patient with us. When we fall, He calls us to rise again. When we grow weary, He strengthens us. When we persevere, He gradually transforms our hearts.

May we wholeheartedly seek His will, embrace the crosses He permits, and offer Him our daily sacrifices with love. It may begin with one small “yes” and grow into a lifetime of yeses that lead us ever deeper into His Sacred Heart and our Blessed Mother’s heart.

Let us pray for one another, for we are brothers and sisters following the one true Shepherd.

Amen.

A Moment to Reflect:

How do you practice small sacrifices in your own spiritual life? Has the Lord used ordinary acts of self-denial to help you grow in virtue or deepen your love for Him?

Is there one vice or attachment that He may be inviting you to surrender more fully? What “little yes” can you offer Him today?

I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences in the comments. Let us encourage one another as we continue striving for holiness, one faithful step at a time. Please keep me in your prayers, and know that I will be praying for you as well.

Used with permission from www.AdoreHim.com (C) 2018-26 Lindsey Grace Mariella