Of Bodily Mortification.

Admonition 10.     There are many who if they commit sin or suffer wrong often blame their enemy or their neighbor.   But this is not right, for each one has his enemy in his power,—to wit, the body by which he sins.   Wherefore blessed is that servant who always holds captive the enemy thus given into his power and wisely guards himself from it, for so long as he acts thus no other enemy visible or invisible can do him harm.

Well, it is convenient to blame another for our own shortcomings, children do this.   Coming to maturity we learn to face the consequences of our own actions, be they wise or unwise.   We develop ‘self-control’, we come to know ourselves, ‘warts an’ all’ and as often as we can we do not place ourselves in temptation’s way.   Of course, Francis did not have these little things in mind when he taught about ‘Bodily mortification’.  Francis taught self-sacrifice or even self-harm as aids to sanctification.   Francis referred to his body as ‘brother Ass’   In his way, he taught responsibility for ones deeds, pointing out that the human body, our human body, is within our own control and could be beaten into submission. Such self-inflicted pain making up for the suffering of Christ, aiding the Holy Souls in their procession to heaven, even aiding their own salvation. This must not be our way today, self-control, self-knowledge aided by prayer will keep ourselves safe without doing ourselves harm.   Lent is always an opportunity to reach our goal weight.