Self-denial

It should be our principal business to conquer ourselves and, from day to day, to go on increasing in strength and perfection. Above all, however, it is necessary for us to strive to conquer our little temptations... For in this way we shall acquire strength to subdue greater ones.

– St. Francis De Sales


I know a wonderful Priest who is fond of saying that we must strengthen our wills by acts of self-denial...for example by not eating food we like, and eating food we don't like.


By doing these small things and intentionally choosing to do what we don't want to do, we will strengthen our will-power and control over ourselves.

In that way our passions, temptations and sinful urges won't control us...we will control them.

That is true freedom.

If we are able to choose to do small things which are contrary to our will, like not eating food we really like, then we will be able to more easily choose the bigger things in life which really require self-sacrifice....like Christ's cross ("pick up your cross and follow me").

Like every cigarette addict when told to quit, it is easy to say "Oh yeh yeh, I could easily do that if I wanted to..."

But try it...it's actually really quite difficult to deny yourself something.

It doesn't have to be something like denying yourself food....try keeping your mouth shut when someone makes fun of you, and says something untrue about you. That takes strength.

Jesus denied Himself everything for us...He was the Son of God, but He allowed Himself to be mocked, beaten, whipped, lashed, abused, insulted....for us.

He totally died to self, for love of each one of us.

We should try, each day in a little tiny way, to die to our own selves, for love of Him.


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