Reflection 119- Interior and Exterior Mortifications

Reflection 119- Interior and Exterior Mortifications

From Daily Reflections on Divine Mercy by My Catholic Life!

April 28, 2026 · 3 min

About this episode

This episode discusses the practices of interior and exterior mortifications as a means to grow in holiness and detach from worldly desires.

Read Online Reflection 119: Interior and Exterior Mortifications Mortification is a practice of denying your will so as to grow in greater detachment from the passing things of this world. We must seek to detach from everything but God and His holy Will. It’s not that everything we like or desire is bad, but if we want true holiness, our desire for God must transform every other desire and direct them all. Interior mortification consists of ways in which we deny our own thoughts or will. For example, saying a kind word when we do not feel like it, or holding our tongue when it is hard to hold. Exterior mortification consists of practices such as fasting from foods we like or giving things up for Lent and throughout the year. These practices are essential to the spiritual life if you are serious about your relationship with God (See Diary #565). What are you most attached to? What seems to control you and direct your desires the most? It could be a sinful tendency, or it could be a passion for some natural hobby. Start with your sinful tendencies and look for ways to mortify your desires so as to become strong enough to overcome these sins. Look also at your natural passions and…

Topics covered

  • mortification
  • spiritual growth
  • detachment from worldly desires
  • interior mortification
  • exterior mortification
  • holiness
  • God's mercy

Keywords

  • mortification
  • spiritual life
  • detachment
  • holiness
  • sacrifice
  • God's will
  • fasting
  • sinful tendencies

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