Dear Joe:

I thank God that our essay on fasting was helpful to you.

On Mortification I:

The definition of Mortification from Fr. Hardon's Catholic Dictionary states:

The practice of Christian asceticism in order to overcome sin and master one's sinful tendencies, and through penance and austerity to strengthen the will in the practice of virtue and grow in the likeness of Christ. Natural mortification is a normal part of self-discipline; supernatural mortification, based on faith, seeks to grow in holiness through merit gained by cooperating with the grace of God. (Etym. Latin mortificatio, a killing, a putting to death.)

An excerpt from the Catholic Encyclopedia states:

Mortification, [is] a means of curing bad habits and implanting good ones... What is peculiar to Christian mortification is, that it relies for the attainment of its spiritual objects, not merely on this natural efficacy of its methods, but still more on the aids of divine grace, for which, by its earnestness in self-discipline and the Christian motive which inspires it, it can plead so powerfully with God.

What all this means is that one can practice mortification, that is, denying oneself of something, as a means to cure bad habits and implanting good habits, but not merely just to cure bad habits. Mortification has it motivation in denying oneself for the greater glory of God.  Mortification puts to death the disease of the soul, and by that fact the soul's true life if restored and invigorated. Thus, we do this not just to get over a bad habit, but for love of God, to have life, intimacy, and friendship with Him.

In this context, what you propose is an example of this kind of mortification if your Internet and Xbox activities are bad habits that you need to overcome due to neglect of family, to prayer, or because you need mastery over this activity.

On Mortification II:

There is another kind of Mortification.

The highest form of mortification is to deny oneself of something that is not a bad habit, or a sin, or anything negative. This kind denies oneself that is perfectly okay to do and is otherwise a good thing to do.

In the Daughters of Wisdom, a community founded by St. Louis de Montfort, one mortification is to deny oneself the pleasure of smelling a flower. There is certainly nothing wrong with smelling a flower, but these sisters deny themselves that as a love offering to God.

Mortification Summary:

So mortification can be to deny oneself something as a means to overcome a bad habit and begin a good habit, or it can be a love offering to deny oneself something just because you love God and are showing God that you love Him more than the flower, for example.

The tradition of giving something up for lent is usually the first kind of mortification -- to deny oneself the pleasure of some bad habit.

Thus, to give up your Internet and Xbox on certain days is a mortification that could be of either kind. Essentially, it is showing that you will not have these activities master you, but you will master them. This is the teaching of St. Paul as to what we ought to do as he said to Titus (Titus 1:8) to be master of himself and self-controlled.

St. Paul told the Corinthians (1 Cor 6:12)  "All things are lawful for me," but not all things are helpful. "All things are lawful for me," but I will not be enslaved by anything.

As to Wednesday/Friday Fasting: I do not remember where this devotion originated, but is doesn't matter. The Wednesday and Friday Fast is a personal devotion. Anyone can practice that fast or not practice it as one desires. Fasting is a good thing. Having a devotion of fasting on whatever days one chooses is a good thing -- Wednesdays and Fridays is merely a convenient schedule no matter who came up with the idea originally. You can choose other days if you wish.

On spiritual advisers: Anyone can act as your spiritual adviser, not just a priest or religious. Obviously you need to find someone who is qualified. Qualification is not defined by degrees or formal training. Anyone who is wise, spiritually mature, discerning, compassionate, etc. may be a good choice for a spiritual advisor.

I would advise you check out the book, "Seeking Spiritual Direction: How to Grow the Divine Life Within" by Father Thomas Dubay. Fr. Dubay describes the nature of spiritual direction (what it is and what it is not), what to look for in a spiritual director, and what to do if you cannot find a spiritual director. I highly recommend the book.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary