“Let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

Bearing Fruit: Cultivating the Garden of Our Hearts

Gardens are an important setting in Scripture. Adam and Eve are created in the Garden of Eden, born out of God’s great love for us (Genesis 2). Jesus prays and suffers in the Garden of Gethsemane before he is arrested and crucified (Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46)—again, out of love for us.

This Lent, the Catholic Women in Business team is meditating on our interior garden, where we can invite God to help us bear fruit. As St. Augustine wrote, “The turn of phrase by which the man is said to work the land, which is already land, into also being landscaped and fertile, is the same as the one by which God is said to work the man, who was already a man, into also being godfearing and wise.”

As I’m approaching what I call the “Hill of Death,” the seemingly never-ending incline near my home, I begin to breathe harder on my run, and the pain begins to kick in. It’s full-on hurting now, and I yell, “For my mom! For all those who are in pain today!”

No one is around me, but if there were someone listening, they’d probably think I’m crazy.

Yet, this has become my routine now: pushing my body through the pain I experience during my workouts as I offer it up for someone. I do it on my outdoor runs or in my home gym, and just as I near the end of my exercise time, I rev up the intensity intentionally.

Dying to Self: The Discovery of Mortifications

If you had mentioned the word “mortification” to me about a year ago, I would have probably thought you were speaking about death and leave it at that. While I would have been correct at some level (the root “mort” comes from the Latin “mors” and “mortis,” meaning death, I was far from comprehending.

In the article “What is Mortification?”, Fr. John Bartunek, LC, explains, “In the spiritual life, therefore, mortification refers to voluntary actions by which we gradually ‘put to death’ all of our vices, sinful habits, and the self-centered tendencies that lurk beneath them.”

Pushing myself on purpose? Creating opportunities for sacrifice? It was a new concept for me. But my mind floated back to a 2019 episode of “Lost in Space.” Judy, the eldest daughter, was training for time on the spacecraft treadmill. She needed to run nearly 15 miles in a restricted amount of time to save her dying father, who was trapped at the bottom of a well. I watched in admiration as the young lady pushed herself through pain, because her goal was a matter of life or death.

Would I be able to do that?

I started reading “Magnify,” a book focused on spiritual disciplines, and it opened me more to the meaning of detachment from worldly or self-driven desires. Kaylene Brown, the author, writes that “voluntary mortifications are ways that we strengthen our ability to carry the involuntary crosses that may come our way.”

I recognized I would have to let my indulgent self die slowly to be able to carry the crosses that would come my way. I decided that incorporating more mortifications in my life would be my new goal for Lent.

Building My Spiritual Muscles

Lent is the season of almsgiving, penance, and fasting—a time for us to give up in order to recognize how much we already have, to turn away from superfluous luxuries and realize there’s only one thing we need: God.

A woman in one of my accountability groups said that the saints are famous for remaining cheerful during suffering. “I want to be like that!” she exclaimed. We all nodded in agreement but recognized the difficulty of this noble disposition. She continued, “I need to work on building my spiritual muscles so I can get to that place.”

Spiritual muscles? I had never heard that phrase before, but I love the concept. I can picture myself building my spiritual muscles through my workout routine, using this time as a way to strengthen my will and my spirit. But I have also become more focused on fasting, giving up my favorite glass of wine after dinner and eliminating the evening social media scroll.

Preparing for Battle

As I prepared my plan for spiritual growth, a new image appeared in my mind: the famous scene in “Rocky” when Rocky Balboa runs up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art in triumph.

We don’t know what life has in store for us, but just like in any sport or life event, we prepare. We set time aside. We put on our game face, we get moving (it hurts), and we keep on moving—one step at a time.

When I think of someone I love during my pain, it doesn’t make the pain go away (sometimes it hurts even more!), but it makes the pain worthwhile. I’d like to think that for those few minutes of suffering, perhaps my prayers going up to heaven might send spiritual hugs to the ones I am praying for.

I am trusting that the more I offer up my pain, the more my spiritual muscles (and physical ones, too!) are benefitting and supporting the growth of my soul.

 “Suffering is a great grace; through suffering the soul becomes like the Savior; in suffering love becomes crystallized; the greater the suffering, the purer the love” (St. Faustina Kowlaska).

Lilia Grundy is University of Portland’s Pamplin School of Business’ Director of Corporate Partnerships with over 20 years of corporate experience (including Kraft Foods, NBC Television, and Telemundo). Lilia launched Catholic Women Professionals to inspire other working women to grow their faith. She is married to her high school sweetie Rob; they have beautiful twin girls who love art, music, and learning about the saints.