Chastity and Corporal Mortification

Arrested emotional development, according to psychologists, may result in disordered affections which tend toward sexual sins. That defect may be corrected by prayer and penance.

As Christ says in one rendition of the Gospel, there are certain demons which are expelled only by prayer and fasting. Cf. Mark 9:28 Fasting is a fundamental Christian act of piety. Basically, it is a form of corporal mortification, which is deliberately going against one's physical appetites by foregoing licit pleasures and suffering physical pain for the sake of Christ and His Cross, fulfilling the Gospel injunction of our Lord:

If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life, shall lose it; for he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, and cast away himself? Luke 9:23-25

Having said that it is important to note two things, the supernatural and the natural element. Repentance and sacramental absolution through the ministry of the Church brings salvation at once, entire spiritual integrity of the person making him fit for heaven. But the acquisition of the virtue of penance is the work of an entire lifetime: therefore "Watch ye, and pray that ye enter not into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh weak." Matthew 26:40-43

Our Popes and Bishops, Cardinals, Religious Superiors, Monsignors, Rectors of Seminaries, Pastors, indeed all Priests, Deacons and men and women of faith, need to discipline themselves in the body for Jesus' sake. It was corporal mortification which made the difference between Sodom and Ninive. Ninive was saved be cause the people did penance, physical penance.

And the men of Ninive believed in God: and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least. And the word came to the king of Ninive; and he rose up out of his throne, and cast away his robe from him, and was clothed with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. And he caused it to be proclaimed and published in Ninive from the mouth of the king and of his princes, saying: Let neither men nor beasts, oxen nor sheep, taste any thing: let them not feed, nor drink water. And let men and beasts be covered with sackcloth, and cry to the Lord with all their strength, and let them turn every one from his evil way, and from the iniquity that is in their hands. Who can tell if God will turn, and forgive: and will turn away from his fierce anger, and we shall not perish? And God saw their works, that they were turned from their evil way: and God had mercy with regard to the evil which he had said that he would do to them, and he did it not. Jonah 3:5-10

Corporal Mortification
On Diets and Fasting
Ember Days
The Traditional Lenten Fast