ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Mortification in Catholic theology

Mortification in Catholic Theology means doing things that are hard or uncomfortable to help you become a better person and get closer to God. It's kind of like going to the gym to make your muscles stronger.

In Catholicism, people believe that we should try to control our bodies and our desires, so that we can become more like Jesus. This doesn't mean that we should hurt ourselves or punish ourselves, but rather that we should make small sacrifices every day to become better people.

Some ways that people might practice mortification include fasting (not eating as much food), giving up something they really like (like chocolate or watching TV), or doing something that scares them (like speaking in public). By doing these things, they hope to become more disciplined and more focused on their relationship with God.