Flagellation

(Maybe I'm losing my mind...)

I am absolutely allergic to pain, but will -- today -- take up flagellation with a belt while praying for repentance. And I will make it hurt.

Would you also consider this? Anonymous poll.

 

Hmm, I don't know how to respond. I'd say no, I don't plan to, but I'm not opposed to the idea in general. I just know for me personally, I'm often barely coping with the stress and hardships of caring for my small children on insufficient sleep and I think hurting myself would not be prudent.

I do think that God usually prefers a humble heart and patient acceptance of the sufferings God sends us than our own efforts to purposefully suffer. So in my opinion, flagellation is probably only pleasing to God in rare circumstances. Your intentions must be so pure and humble...and you probably should be already very patient with the sufferings and irritations of day-to-day life. I'd also ask a trusted priest if it's a good idea.

 

Thank you, PF. Totally understandable in your situation.

That would certainly be doable, but not as practical.

I don't mind. The strokes were a stinging pain, and until my right arm got tired.

I'm aspiring to be a Medieval Saint as well, so this fits the bill.

 

Words of Jesus to St.Faustina Kowalska (Diary 369) : "An hour of meditation on my painful Passion has greater merit than a whole year of bloody scourging; the Meditation of My painful wounds is of a great benefit to you and gives me great joy".
Therefore, you already know what you have to do. It is easy. And it is not painful. And Jesus receives a great joy.

 

I remember that Pope John Paul II included some corporal punishment in his penance. I believe it depends on your personal spiritual make-up. I base this discernment when considering three core sins:

(1) pride - exaggerated view of oneself, indispensable, knowing what's best, lack of willingness to concede, judgeful of others

(2) vanity - worrying what others think, refusing to call others out when needed, going along with the crowd, procrastination (concerning responsibilities)

(3) sensuality - bodily temptations: not just sexual issues; but comfort, over-eating, laziness, procrastination (concerning physical effort)

If (3) is one's core sin one might consider physical pain a source of penance. But adding a demanding exercise regimen (while offering it up) might serve that function, too. Maybe (1) also because the prideful would think very much that flagellation would be beneath them.

St. Joseph, pray for us!

 

I think there used to old Monks in the Monastery used to do this. I know because by accident I saw such an instrument one time. I know there are people who still undertake such things, not so much in the West but in the East. Though one time they were common place in the West.

I think in the first place I would not undertake such a thing without the specific knowledge and agreement of a Spiritual Director. If so, have at it I suppose.

Personally I prefer the ways of Spiritual Masters like St Therese of Liseaux, her, 'Little Way', (not extraordinary things but ordinary things done extraordinarily well)

But everyone is different. But you really should get the consent of a Spiritual Director, you really, really should.

Better I think an hour in front of the Blessed Sacrament than ten hours whipping away at yourself..

 

I will admit the whole Medieval thing appeals to me and I do see merit if you are plagued by physical temptations, however I wouldn’t pursue this without having a spiritual advisor. If you choose to continue without direction, please be careful!

 

Thank you all, for your sincere concern and comments.

 

Yeah, I think it's best used as a method of counteracting sensuality.

 

Thank you for emphasizing the need for spiritual direction, Brian!

 

Some of the Garabandal seers wore a belt for penance and the Blessed Mother told them to take them off. The following is from the book "Miracle at Garabandal" by Harry Daley:

For penance someone once gave us these sorts of belts to wear around our waists. (A cilice [a wire-type belt with sharp metallic points to irritate the skin.] It was a priest who gave them to Conchita, Mary Loli and Jacinta, but not Mari Cruz, because he felt that she was smaller and frailer than the others. Reportedly, Jacinta's mother would not allow her to wear the belt. It was designed for discomfort and the girls wiggled in it to draw the Virgin's attention. Conchita admits that the Virgin said, "This is not what I mean by penance." See further references to penance in Chapter 10.)
During this apparition, we were pulling at our waists so that the Virgin would realize that we were uncomfortable. The Virgin told us to take the belts off, that we should do our chores and accept the problems of everyday life.​

 

There is one kind of Penance I would recommend and I discovered it in the book, 'The Road Less Travelled', by the psychiatrist , the late Dr. Scott M. Peck.

A lady Business Exec visited Dr Peck because she was totally bored with her job and life generally. After hours and hours of Therapy Dr. Peck was getting nowhere and about to give up. The lady had a top, dream job which should been very satisfying and her salary could give her a life style of a Queen. But she was bored to the point of hopelessness.

On impulse the Doc asked her when she ate a cherry cake if she ate the cherry first? She affirmed that she did.

On checking the way she preformed her work and life generally she always did the most interesting things first and left the boring stuff to the end.

Dr Peck spoke to her about delayed gratification. Of saving the best to last and this transformed her life. He calls this, 'Delayed gratification.'

I have found this very helpful as a Penance in my own life, always saving the best for last. So during the day I always save my favourites to last. I always do the housework and chores first. I love getting the post but when I do so I put it to one side to open later. If I have something difficult that I don't like to do I like to charge in and do it at once.

The things I do do I try to do as best I can (without getting obsessed by perfection).

I found this very good not only in a Spiritual way but a human way too.

Also not to give into desires at once. I notice coming into work the young ones are always at the machines buying treats and drinks. They give into desires at once. So they are no longer treats but necessities.

Self Discipline, Delayed Gratification, is a wonderful form of Penance.

 

Such good advice.
Holding back and exercising caution before speaking is another good discipline. It will save a whole lot of trouble.

 

No. Truly not. For all the reasons stated here. There are so many other hardships you could undertake that just involve daily duty and exercising charity. Life brings us many opportunities. Accept them as gifts from God and offer them in union with Jesus's sufferings.

 

Thanks, Carol55 and AED.

Fortunately I've got that one down.

Padraig: "Dr Peck spoke to her about delayed gratification."

Been working on that.

 

Face Book is a murder picture. Especially for poor people who post about friends and relatives when drunk. When it is posted it is out there. It cannot be taken back apologise as people like.

Awful.

 

I am old and anyway disinclined but I won't beat myself up about it. (Couldn't resist).