“No pain, no gain!” We apply that to athletes, but what about saints? How should we act if we want to be totally dedicated to Jesus? Should we be willing to suffer to the nth degree. St. Rose wanted to be like St. Catherine of Siena and imitate her actions and acts of suffering. To that end she fasted often and sometimes made herself vomit after meals, which we would regard as bulimia. She frequently beat herself with a little whip! To make herself unattractive and unmarriageable she would rub pepper on her face. Eventually, she took a vow of virginity and became a third-order Dominican, like St. Catherine. She died in 1617 and was canonized about 50 years later, the first person in the Americas to be recognized as a saint.
Some of these actions are quite severe, although self-mortification is seen as a way of imitating the suffering of Christ. St. Rose of Lima found her way to God through such actions. But it was not without love or prayer or service to others. Today, we see athletes undergo severe suffering and admire their discipline and willingness to go beyond what others do. “No pain, no gain!” And yet, we shy at such a willingness to suffer for Christ.
God may not call us to undergo severe mortifications as St. Rose of Lima did. However, he does call us to pick up our cross and follow him. Being a disciple of Christ is not always easy and not always fun. But Jesus also said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt. 11:29-30) The key is to follow Christ as he calls us.
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