The defense, he said is penance, the offense, mortification. These are the two basic elements in conversion. Penance involves saying "I'm sorry," asking for forgiveness, and, most importantly, cleaning up the mess, the collateral damage that sin causes. Mortification entails preparing oneself not to sin again. Prayer, fasting and almsgiving are the main components of mortification. By these means we keep the end (our death and judgment) in mind, and access the strength of grace against our proclivity to sin again.
So there is a force of good that we can invoke against the violence of the dark powers directed against the kingdom: Penance and Mortification. Let's use it!
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The ways to be one with God are the spiritual practices of prayer, almsgiving and fasting. As we persist in these practices we turn more and more to God, we become more and more aware of our errors, our sinfulness, and become more and more like little Christs. Through these practices we clear out that space in us that God created for his residence. We clear out all the attachments and addictions and false selves we accumulate during our finite existence and make space for the visions of the infinite life that Christ promises to his faithful.
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