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Mortification in Christian theology refers to the subjective process of Sanctification. It means the 'putting to death' of sin in a believer's life. ( Colossians 3:5) Reformed theologian J.I. Packer describes it in the following way: "The Christian is committed to a lifelong fight against the world, the flesh and the devil.
Mortification of the flesh is an act by which an individual or group seeks to mortify or deaden their sinful nature, as a part of the process of sanctification. [ 1 ] In Christianity , mortification of the flesh is undertaken in order to repent for sins and share in the Passion of Jesus . [ 2 ]
The Roman Catholic Church has often held mortification of the flesh (literally, "putting the flesh to death"), as a worthy spiritual discipline. The practice is rooted in the Bible: in the asceticism of the Old and New Testament saints, and in its theology, such as the remark by Saint Paul, in his Epistle to the Romans, where he states: "If you live a life of nature, you are marked out for ...
Throughout Christian history, the mortification of the flesh, wherein one denies oneself physical pleasures, has been commonly followed by members of the clergy, especially in Christian monasteries and convents. Self-flagellation was imposed as a form of punishment as a means of penance for disobedient clergy and laity. [4]
In the Bible, Saint Paul writes: [5] "I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified" (1 Corinthians 9:27 NRSV). [ 5 ] [ 6 ] Christians who use the discipline do so as a means of partaking in the mortification of the flesh to aid in the process of sanctification ; [ 7 ] [ 8 ] they also ...
[16] [17] In the New Testament, John the Baptist wore "a garment of camel's hair" as a means of repentance (Matthew 3:4). [18] [17] As such, adherents of many Christian denominations have worn sackcloth to repent, mortify the flesh or as a penance, especially for sins relating to lavishly adorning oneself (cf. 1 Peter 3:3, [19] 1 Timothy 2:9). [20]
Flagellants are practitioners of a form of mortification of the flesh by whipping their skin with various instruments of penance. [1] Many Christian confraternities of penitents have flagellants, who beat themselves, both in the privacy of their dwellings and in public processions, to repent of sins and share in the Passion of Jesus. [1]
The means stated above are applied with more or less diversity according to the stage which the Christian has reached. In the purgative way, when the appetites and inordinate passions still possess considerable strength, mortification and self-denial are to be practised more extensively.
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