Regularity

[Blue Tit]

This afternoon I had a great fight to face with my discipline.

I was in a moderate desolation, my heart was absolutely cold, and my thoughts were everywhere excepted in my prayer. My body refused to be punished, arguing he was tired, and my mind was looking for the courage to have it obey under the scourge.

In this state of doubt, I asked myself this :

What is the thing that pleases God more :

1/ deciding some days for taking the discipline and being regular with them, even if we're in disgust with spiritual exercises, in desolation, etc.

2/ taking the discipline only when we feel the need and desire of it, that is generally during consolation and not desolation.


I think I received an answer for this in my prayer after I took the discipline this afternoon, (hehe, my mind finally won the battle) but I would really like to read your advice before I say you what came to my mind about this important question.


PS : the 3/ would me a mix from 1/ and 2/, I mean : we could observe our days of penance whether we have the desire or not, AND, in addition, discipline ourselves on other days when we feel this desire, but this 3/ doesn't change my question, in fact.

[Pecado66]

What is the thing that pleases God more :

1/ deciding some days for taking the discipline and being regular with them, even if we're in disgust with spiritual exercises, in desolation, etc.

2/ taking the discipline only when we feel the need and desire of it, that is generally during consolation and not desolation.

A tricky question - in my opinion impossible to answer - after all, who are we to know what exactly will please God?

In my opinion,
1/ is definitely the option for the disciplined penitent who is aware of his 'commitment' when making a penance schedule.
2/ is the option for penitents seeing their exercises as a 'praise' lovingly watched by God.

But of course the best option is the mix of 1/ and 2/

Best Wishes
Pecado66

[Scholastica]

What is the thing that pleases God more :

1/ deciding some days for taking the discipline and being regular with them, even if we're in disgust with spiritual exercises, in desolation, etc.

2/ taking the discipline only when we feel the need and desire of it, that is generally during consolation and not desolation.

I think I would say that what matters is our total submission to God's will. Which is all well and good, but how do we discern what that will is?

First of all, by consulting our SD. Having asked his advice, and permission, to set a rule for ourselves. Then, to follow that rule in obedience, however difficult it may be. And part of that obedience is to be without question. As long as you are not asked to break Divine Law, you are not to question.

The more difficult we find it on any particular occasion to be obedient, the greater a blessing it is to us.

Here is part of the reading for today:
I will instruct you and teach you the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Do not be like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
whose temper must be curbed with bit and bridle,
else it will not stay near you.

This teaches us what we need to know on this one. A reluctant or wild animal needs to be controlled with a bridle and a bit, and his temper curbed, or else it will fight and try to run away from its owner. The Lord says, you are not an animal without understanding. I do not need to put a bridle on you, or fight against you; I ask you to submit without fighting, and stay close to me without having to be restrained by me; you offer your own constraint instead.

If we do this, and submit without the fretting and temper, he will instruct us and teach us the way we should go.

[Blue Tit]

Thank you dear Scholastica for these advices...I wait for some other people to answer (but I believe they are REALLY all in holidays!)

As I said, my SD doesn't really care about my penances : he let me free at the condition I don't do something that could harm or be dangerous for my health. I said him that before going to him for guidance, I used to have 2 or 3 times a week the discipline with a 7 tails leather scourge, and he said that if it was good for me, I could go on like this (in fact, he doesn't like to talk about these matters and prefer keeping the same politic as my former SD had with me...)
If I asked him the questions above, he would say I have to ask Our Lord in prayer (already done ! lol).

[Sisterrose]

I am surprised that your SD does not take a more active role in these matters. It seems he may be uncomfortable about the whole idea of physical mortification.

I think you are right that once we make a rule for ourselves, we must be obedient to it, regardless of how we may be feeling at any particular time.

My question would be to ask how others handle their own disobedience if they do disobey their rule. Do you have a punishment system? Do you simply pick yourself up and go on?

Blessings,

Sister Rose


May God Have Mercy On Our Souls

[Scholastica]

My question would be to ask how others handle their own disobedience if they do disobey their rule. Do you have a punishment system? Do you simply pick yourself up and go on?

Punishment for falling short is not appropriate, in my view. It comes too close to perfectionism; an expectation that we are capable of sustained perfect devotion, and perfect obedience.

I think it is more sensible to expect that we will, from time to time, not meet our own rule. When we do, we must accept that failure as a gift from God, the same as our devotion is. Thank him for his patience with us, promise to try again tomorrow, and then turn the page.

If we focus on failure then we will far too easily fall into despair, and become discouraged. Imo, God is not interested in what we get wrong; only in the state of our heart.

[Scholastica]

he doesn't like to talk about these matters and prefer keeping the same politic as my former SD had with me...)
If I asked him the questions above, he would say I have to ask Our Lord in prayer (already done ! lol).

I think we need to be aware of the imagery you are creating in your SDs mind, and that this is something he later has to deal with in private. He would not watch images of people being scourged, and yet you are giving him these images, however innocently.

He is trying to protect his own soul, and even though he is the SD, you still have a duty of care towards him, as well as he towards you.

I suggest you create a code; A;fasting, B;flagellation, C;vigils (or whatever). Write down what these refer to, and give it to him. He can briefly glance, and then put the paper, and the imagery, out of his mind. Then in future discussions, say only I have been doing B three times a week. It may make it easier for him; I hope so.

[Blue Tit]

Oh, I don't want to bother or worry him. He once gave me his permission to take the discipline 2 or 3 times a week, so I don't need to ask more about this. I consider it as an established fact.
As a benedict monk, he scourge himself each friday with his whole community, so I don't think at all he'll consider me as a mad girl ! lol

The very truth is I don't want to perturb him with my questions (you remember ? 1 or 2, what is the best ?), that's why I asked for your advices here.

[Maravillas]

Clearly Number 1 is better, and this is in accord with what St Ignatius says in the spiritual exercises. We should never change our rule or moderate it when in desolation. If, at some future time, we have consolations, then perhaps we may amend the rule, but the best way of handling desolations is to proceed with our rule regardless of how we feel.

[Blue Tit]

Thank you, it was the answer that came in mind too when I asked Our Lord in my prayer. 3/ would be better, I think, if used with discretion (but it's my case, I'm discret at the point of being coward, )