Effective Scourges

[CatherineTheresa]

Dear Penitents,

I was wondering if any of you have made your own disciplines or scourges? I have been experimenting with different kinds that I have made myself, as I have been unable to afford the ones for sale on the site. The first ones I made were simple industrial rubber lashes with hooks on the end to which I attached metal keys, so that when I would strike my back the metal keys would hurt a bit, but it only left me with bruises and superficial red marks.

The next one I made out of an old leather belt into which I drove two rows of nails sticking out about one inch from the belt. Then I made another one using straightened-out fish hooks, which I also drove through a leather belt, with the hooks extending about an inch past the leather. These were more effective at bringing up the blood, but still not all that effective, as I would have to lash myself (hard) about 200-300 times to have it hurt or bring up the blood to any extent.

Finally, the idea came to me the other day to use little Exacto knife blades driven into a leather belt, with about half an inch of the blade coming through the other side... I only used four of the blades and only lashed myself 100 times, but this was extremely effective at really getting a lot of blood flowing and creating more than just superficial wounds and lashes in my skin.

The only thing is I will need to be careful in tending to my wounds so as to make sure that infections are not the result of imprudence. To this end, I always have on hand a good supply of straight vinegar for cleansing the stripes and wounds.

To the Cross with us!

CatherineTheresa

[Mariepierre]

As I weigh options for penance, I am worried that taking the time and effort to make a hairshirt, devise things to cause discomfort in my shoes, or craft scourges (as described by CatherineTheresa) is in conflict with treating my body as a temple as Jesus instructed. I am trying to figure out a way that I can to serve God in a way that is not so inward focused and selfish. Jesus was scourged but did he injure himself for greater glory? I am also worried that wearing season inappropriate clothing and the lIke is a form of vanity, drawing attention to oneself, not God. Doesn't God want us to be good, seek forgiveness for sins, and serve others? I am somewhat confused and seeking some direction.

[Pia]

Mariepierre, I have come to the same conclusion, after much prayer, reading and discussion with a spiritual director. I no longer believe that excessive physical penance is what is required, but as God says in the book of Micah 6v8:

"He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God."

I have indeed discovered that physical penance increases the focus on self, and detracts from self-forgetting. Rather, I have found it more beneficial to accept life's trials humbly and without concern for self, in the daily course of life. I had neglected to take into account God's infinite love for me, and the fact that He wishes me no harm, and in fact it pains Him when I inflict pain upon myself.

In response to this, I have decided to take St. therese's "Little Way" of inner mortification ~ always having a smile in every circumstance, putting others before myself, humbly accepting criticism, not seeking approval or reward, save knowing that God sees all "in secret"...it will be my "Little Way" from now on.

I feel that my time on this forum is now at an end, but wish you all well.

Pia
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[cecith]

Saint Therese of Lisieux actually did corporal mortifications under obedience of the carmelite rule. Besides that she put her focus on the little things, but she took the usual penitence for granted in religion.

But -and there is always a but- about cilice and discipline and fasting and other forms of corporal mortification: WE MUST NEVER UNDERTAKE CORPORAL MORTIFICATION EXCEPT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF A DIRECTOR! Ty his is really the true key. Not doing so could lead to health problems as well as spiritual pride and an unhealthy masochism.

I'm scourging myself each day during this Lent as well as fasting each day so I don't say anything against any of this holy practices. But I asked permission from my spiritual director first of all. I wasn't allowed to use the cilice and I know that it would be absolutely unwise to try and use it against obedience.

Moderation, humilty, obedience and humble perseverance in the constant practice of corporal penance are the key points that the saints gave us (including JP II)

NON MULTA SED MULTUM

[ClareFrances]

i understand the issues with calling attention to onesself. my penance is directed to the issues i face and have to deal with. i rarely scourge myself, but do many things which require me to be patient (hobbles and so forth) as well as to be humble (seeking out humiliations).

As far as dressing against the seasons, i have taken care to make the hot uncomfortable underclothing for the summer pretty much invisible to any onlooker. In the winter, the thinner clothing is also non-obvious. What the observer sees is a very modestly dressed late middle aged woman who moves slowly.

"Lord Jesus Christ have Mercy on me"

[Mariepierre]

ClareFrances,

What I struggle with is whether the time and effort spent on devising these penances are really in keeping with what Jesus wants, regardless of how it appears to other people. It just seems that He would want that time spent serving others selflessly. It must take time to create the hobbles, the clothing, humiliate oneself, etc and does seem self focused. I talked to my spiritual director and he is helping me understand that Jesus's life was one of service to be emulated, and it is not the humiliation and physical suffering that He endured that is to be reenacted. As you can discern, this is very confusing to me. What does your spiritual director advise?

Mariepierre

[ClareFrances]

MariePierre

i was somewhat troubled by your last post, and thought and considered the points you were making. i have a relative who is cloistered and i arranged to meet with her Superior as well as the Priest assigned to the convent.

What began as a general discussion very soon led to much more and i wound up spending two and a half days at the convent. Much of the time was spent in meditation and prayer, but also both Mother Superior and Father spent long hours with me, together and individually discussing both your points and my issues. The conclusion reached was that i am living more or less as cloistered laity.

Mother Superior agreed to direct me on the condition i took a vow of obedience, which i did.

Based on our discussion, and this i am permitted to share, Mother did not think my dressing against the seasons was a problem in that i do not take any time for myself either in shopping for clothes or in deciding what to wear on a daily basis. i am not to undertake any penances she does not assign me, and i may not refuse anything she asks.

Mother made the following changes in my routine:
1. i must change from my winter clothing to my summer clothing on the day after Easter and on December 26th rather than the May and October dates i had been using. There is no reason for this except obedience;
2. i must modify my summer undergarment/jumpers, by adding a layer to burlap to the inside of each of them. Additionally, to the one i must add a given number of needles to increase the discomfort. To the other, i must construct a new outer shell (another layer of beige/white wool) and additionally add a layer of neoprene between that and the basis garment to increase the discomfort in a different way. i am to accomplish this at night, before Easter, in the time which will be dedicated to cleaning the Church after Easter. i must do the sewing kneeling rather than sitting;
3. i am forbidden to wear my habit rosary in public, but i must wear it when i am at home year round (as opposed to my prior habit of May and October only);
4. i may not speak except in prayer. Even communicating with my Husband must be done by writing notes. i am to keep the notes and Mother will review them at our next meeting.

The vow of obedience as well as her agreement to direct me are for one year, to be ended or renewed on Easter Monday 2011.

"Lord Jesus Christ have Mercy on me"

[CatherineTheresa]

Dear All,

Thank you so much for this very interesting discussion. I am so grateful to this forum for providing a place where we can openly discuss such matters. I have given quite a bit of thought and prayer to what you all have said. I, too, was troubled by what Mariepierre said about selfishness and the time it takes to undergo penances. However, after much consideration, I must respectfully disagree for a few reasons. First of all, making the scourges took all of about an hour out of my time and only cost me about $20. This does not seem an inordinate amount of time to be taken out of one’s daily schedule, nor has it taken away from any of the charitable service work that I do on a regular basis. Secondly (and this is just for me personally), I have found that the more corporeal mortifications I do, the more inclined I am to “get outside of myself” and help others. Instead of reinforcing my selfishness, I find that the pain I undergo (which is not at all severe, it is quite moderate, actually), leaves me a feeling of sweetness, serenity, and unity with Our Lord that renders me so much more willing and able to go outside of myself and help others in need. Finally, I believe that most people, even good well-meaning Catholics, misunderstand penance and mortification and are afraid of it based on this misunderstanding.

As my own spiritual director told me the other day, “The trouble with confiding in others about the mortification of the flesh is that people are used by the devil just like people are used of God. That is why I am so discreet about whom I say anything about the mortification of the flesh to. So many good, and seemingly good Catholics we know, when we discuss penance/mortification with are suddenly "worried" about our health, plead with us to "slow down", and to "take it easy", or to "not hurt yourself". The whole purpose in mortifying the flesh is to HURT and to experience PAIN in holy reparation for our sins. However, we live in such a society of luxury and ease so that is why so many people (Catholics) today simply have forgotten (or not taught) that penance and mortification is necessary.”

I also appreciate and admire St. Therese of Lisieux’s “Little Way” of making those seemingly small sacrifices throughout the day, and I have learned that sometimes it is fidelity in small things that is much more pleasing to God that making the more dramatic gestures. I think people are correct in saying that we do need to humble ourselves and be content with ordinary penances, but sometimes I confess I have this suspicion that the more austere penances have fallen out of favor in our modern world due to the general secular, undisciplined mindset of our world, its overall devaluation of the Faith, the falling away from tradition, the undermining of orthodoxy by the post-conciliar liturgical reforms, the prevalence of relativism, modernism, etc. People are always saying “it’s so extreme and weird and old school to want to mortify yourself.” But that’s just not true. There are many penitents who are, under the direction of good confessors and holy priests, practicing austerities even in this depressingly hedonistic age we live in, where many are simply content to take the easy way out and not suffer and not repent, because “God loves us all just as we are…” etc.


“For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.” (Romans 8:13)

“And they that are Christ’s have crucified their flesh, with the vices and concupiscences.” (Galatians 5:24)

[inservice]

What a fascinating discussion. I am new here and new to the idea that we can openly discuss such things. This is wonderful!

I understand what is being said about focusing on the self. I have been selfish through most of my life. Here is what has worked for me:

I made my own cilice, and yes it was time consuming. It took probably 3 or 4 hours. During that three or four hours I was focused on God and Jesus and how I might get closer to them. If I had not been making that cilice, I would have still been spending time on myself, maybe watching tv, surfing the internet, etc. If I had been watching tv or spending time on my computer, I would not have thought much of my God or my Savior. So, in my case, the time it took to make my cilice was time spent in a better way than usual.

The wearing of my cilice has done such wonderful things for me spiritually. It has taught me compassion, a little patience, to spend more time in prayer, to overcome my minor issues so I can focus on the more major issues of others, to be more thankful for my good health, and to trust God even more.

There may come a time when I have learned these things so thoroughly that I no longer need my cilice, but for now, I do need it.

Another nice thing about it is that I tend to work harder while I wear it. I don't know why this is, but when I find myself being lazy and self absorbed, I put on my cilice and I am able to get right to work - cleaning house, checking on friends, answering mail, tending to the little projects and chores that I have put off. It makes me more productive somehow.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents worth.

Thanks for bringing this up,
Marilynn