**Isn’t it stunning that Roman Catholics believe they must suffer self-inflicted pain in order to be indwelt by the Holy Spirit?**
I will pray for you since it appears that you do not fast from food or other vices — even during Lent.
Do you ever go to an Ash Wednesday Mass and then wear the ashes on your forehead for the remainder of the day? It is a sign of self-moritification. I have been teased unmercifully by classmates because I had the ashes in the form of a Cross on my forehead.
But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." -- Matthew 6:5-8 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.