Today the priest talked about mortification and denying oneself. But he didn't give any examples. What does it mean for one to mortify oneself in this day and age, for the layperson? Something mild? Severe? Arbitrary? Inconvenient? Denial of luxuries? Denial of food? The unwilling volunteering of one's time?

There is a kind of naive, selfish giving that I like best--the extravagant, often anonymous Random Act of Kindness. Trouble is, I don't find these opportunities much these days--I am often preoccupied with things, and I rarely mingle with people.