Penance help and encouragement needed

[Pia]

If anyone is around to read this, I could do with some help!

I haven't been practising any penance above and beyond the obligatory Friday fast for some time now. Although I have a cilice, I haven't used it much at all, and haven't use my discipline for at least a couple of months. I seem to have lost my reason for doing so, and my enthusiasm with it

I think part of the reason has been ill-health, feeling generally fragile and having to go into hospital in the very near future. I feel my body has enough to deal with at the moment without taking on any more.

I apsire still to practise the inner mortifications as a way of dealing with "self", and was wondering if others felt that there are times when this this has to be enough in itself? To be honest, I probably find the inner mortifications harder than the externals!

Exterior penance/mortification is something I feel is on hold for a while, but I am open to embracing it again at a time when I feel strong enough, but that time isn't now.

Any helpful thoughts?

Pia
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[Pia]

Does anyone want to reply?

I am feeling physically much better since I posted the previous message, and have fully recovered from surgery, so I feel now is the time to begin to take up some form of penance again, especially as Lent fast approaches. I would appreciate your help

Pia
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[Blue Tit]

Dear Pia, ask Our Lord what He wants for you for the coming Lent : for sure, if He wants you take up some form of penance again, He'll give you the desire of it and the courage to conquer yourself !

[disciple012005]

Dear Pia, if your body is recovering from serious surgery you should not undertake self-flagellaion or other strenuous penances until you have regained your normal health. God will understand and tell you when and if he wishes you to take up the scourge up again.
Pray regularly and eventually you'll learn what he needs from you.
But the season of Lent is upon us and there are many mortifications we all can still do.
Here are one or two ideas:
Mortify your food: Fast in occordance with Church rules not only on designated fast days but on all the days that you can and your health will withstand. If abstaining from food is not acceptable because of health reasons,eat only foods you dislike as far as possible. Also where practical drink only cold tap water.
It also goes without saying that you should restrain yourself indulging any weeknesses that you have in the way of tasty snacks between meals and abstain from sweets and chocolates for the full duration of Lent.

Fast from daily pleasures: Reduce or eliminate your viewing of Tv or listening to the radio. Fill the time saved with spiritual reading, or extra prayers and meditation.

Cold Water: wash only in cold water,where possible. Not nescesarily in the shower or bath (this may be injurious to your health) but just when washing your face and hands.

Prayer: Continue your prayer routine but do it in circumstances harder than usual, such as kneeling on a hard surface, with arms extended and so forth. Even if you have to sit for long periods as a result of your illness, you can still sit on a hard surface rather than a cushion for some of the time.
Just a few ideas.
God bless Ian.