Maxim-ising Our Spiritual Life (9)
Today’s maxim from St Philip probably requires a bit of explanation for most modern readers, since it speaks of a world that, in many ways, no longer exists.
The discipline and other like things ought not to be practised without the leave of our confessor; he who does it of his own mind, will either hurt his constitution or become proud, fancying to himself that he has done some great thing. (11 September)
The ‘discipline’ refers not to the practice of self-control but the knotted cords made popular in the Middle Ages that were used for scourging one’s own back. (Images of desperate penitents whipping themselves often illustrate accounts of the Black Death.) By St Philip’s time, this had become something that was widely accepted as the norm for truly devout people, especially when combined with rather extreme fasts. Fortunately for us, such practices have largely fallen out of fashion again in recent centuries — though the temptation to take on extreme penances can still arise in other forms.
St Philip understood that this kind of outward religious practice risks making us pharisees, performing great works of piety just for show, and neglecting the far more important task of mortifying the intellect. Very often, people want to take on extreme fasts that make them unable to fulfil their ordinary duties, when in fact it would be more helpful to them to spend more time in prayer, to give alms, or simply to try to be more patient with their friends, families and colleagues.
To mortify one passion, no matter how small, is a greater help in the spiritual life than many abstinences, fasts, and disciplines. (31 January)
Common sense and St Philip’s straightforward understanding of human nature underlie his advice. He knew that we are not always the best judges of what is good for us, and the more important virtue of humility can save us from problems of our own creation. Bodily penances can do us real lasting physical harm — so they should be treated with extreme caution.
It is generally better to give the body rather too much food than rather too little; for the too much can be easily subtracted, but when a man has injured his constitution by the too little, it is not so easy to get right again. (26 June)
The devil has a crafty custom of sometimes urging spiritual persons to penances and mortifications, in order that by going to indiscreet lengths in this way, they may so weaken themselves as to be unable to attend to good works of greater importance; or be so intimidated by the sickliness they have brought upon themselves as to abandon their customary devotions, and at last turn their backs on the service of God. (27 June)
St Francis de Sales illustrates this teaching of St Philip with the example of Balaam, the pagan prophet summoned to curse Israel by their enemies (Numbers 22). While riding to perform his curse, Balaam’s donkey stopped three times in an attempt to save its rider’s life. But Balaam beat the donkey each time. Finally, God caused the donkey to speak to Balaam and ask, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?” (Num. 22:28) Balaam punished the innocent donkey for his own faults; we risk punishing the body unfairly in the same way.
It was Balaam who did wrong, but he beat the poor ass, who was not to blame. It is often so with us. A woman’s husband or child is ill, and forthwith she has recourse to fasting, the discipline, and hair shirt, even as David did on a like occasion. But, dear friend, you are smiting the ass! you afflict your body, which can do nothing when God stands before you with his sword unsheathed. Rather correct your heart… Or, again, a man falls often into fleshly sins, and the voice of conscience stands before him in the way, rousing him to a holy fear. Then recollecting himself, he begins to abuse his flesh for betraying him, he deals out strict fasts, severe discipline, and the like, to it, and meanwhile the poor flesh might cry out like Balaam’s ass, “Why smitest thou me? It is you yourself, O my soul, that are guilty. Wherefore do you force me into evil, using my eyes, and hands, and lips for unholy purposes, and tormenting me with evil imaginations? Entertain only good thoughts, and I shall feel no unholy impulses; frequent none save pious people, and I shall not be kindled with guilty fire. You cast me yourself into the flames, and bid me not to burn! you fill my eyes with smoke, and wonder that they are inflamed!”
Introduction to the Devout Life III.23
Bodily penances are not always wrong — Our Lord told us that we will have to fast at times, and it has always been the custom of the Church to do so. But bodily penances can only do so much, and are certainly no shortcut to holiness. The quickest path to sanctity is to face the challenges we are presented with, rather than creating our own, and overcome them for the love of God.