The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-03-22
THE SPIRIT OF SELF-CENIAL--
REAL MEANING is THE CURLING
OF POWER OF BODY OVER THE
SOUL.

SOOL.
We should all enter into the spirit
Of Lent. 1t is necessary to enter into
the spirit of all the seasons set apart
for particular purpose by the Church.
Christmas time, for example, is a sea-
son of rejoicing. We should thrill
with JOY at the glorious tidings an
nounced to man. We should then
come into closer contact with Jesus
Christ. So each season of the litur-
gical year has it's own special sig
nificance.
This Lenten time is the season of
modification and self-denial Not
that we should not always during the
entire year practice modification but
at this particular season of the year
the Church brings it home to our
minds that it's influence may keep this
duty fresh in our memories during the
remainder of the year.
Modification or self-denial is losing
its place even among Catholics. Of
course outside the Church in the ma
terial world which lives to pamper
and satisfy it's appetites, there is no
self-denial
Do we practice self-denial?
Self-denial means the curbing of the
appetite. 1t is the old story of the
struggle between the body and the
soul, between appetite and reason, the
flesh and the spirit. The soul must
obtain a mastery over the senses.
Reason must dominate over the appe-
tites. The spirit must conquer the
flesh. We must not cajole and flatter
| the appetites. In a nutshell this is
the whole doctrine of self-denial 1t
means self-control, mastery over the
appetites. The body is held in obedi-
| ence to the soul. The man in us
| rules the animal.
The body is constantly carrying on
a warfare with the soul. 1t is continu-
| ally attacking the soul and the soul
is always yielding. Some are ever
| seeking their own comfort and ease.
| Their god is their belly. They are al
ways grumbling and complaining no
matter how beautiful the day is or
how fine their surroundings. They
are impatient and dissatisfied with
everything because they lead unmor-
titled lives.
The will is made strong to resist
the appetites only by constant prac-
tice of self-denial. We need strength
of character for the storms of life.
If we wish to build q ship which will
| be seaworthy we select stout oak
planks and strong iron that it may
successfully breast the pillows and
storms of the sea.
Some say they cannot fast on ac-
count Of their health. If one cannot
fast, some other acts of modification
may be practiced. Take the troubles,
crosses and rebuffs you meet with as
acts of self-denial. 1t would be most
| ways went just to suit u.s. If we had
nothing to complain about we would
| be quickly habituated to lives of
sloth, ease and idleness. There would
| be nothing to stimulate us or move us
on to do anything for ourselves,
others, or God
We should therefore practice some
acts of self-denial especially during
Lent. We do not have to undergo
| the Negotiations of the old spiritual
heroes and saints. Let us initiate
| their spirit. They were brave and
| heroic disciples of Christ who denied
| themselves and took up their crosses
| and followed Him, as some good Cath
olics do still. Although they excelled
one another in particular virtues, they
all had this virtue in common-they
| were all men and women of self
| denial We must prepare ourselves
now to a life of self-denial so that
when the time of trial comes it may
have in store for us triumph and
victory.