Cilice Usage

[silas]

hi.

i used my cilice for the first time last night it is by far the most efective penance that i have used so far. and has any one ever slept in one it makes for a VEARY LONG NIGHT!!!!

[BrMichael]

I wear my cilice every day with few exceptions - and on occasion, I have slept in it. It does make for a long night as you said.

I find that I begin the next day with my mind very focused and alert to God. That makes it well worth it.

Very recently I completed a penance in which I wore my cilice continuously for 3 days. I moved it to different parts of my body, but I didn't leave it off at any point during the 3 days. It was an intense experience, but I believe that it was a good experience as well.

[Pia]

Onne day last week, I wore my cilice for the last hour at work and then to journey ohome in, which involved quite a long walk. I have learned how to walk without limping whilst wearing it, which causes a great deal of pain. By the time I got home the pain was excruciating, but I was focusing on Jesus the whole time. The act of walking caused the cilice to move, and as a result I had a number of deep scratches on my leg from the spikes, some of which had punctured the skin. I now have faint scars. I'm not sure if I will do this again, but for that one time, it was necessary, I think!

[JohnTheUndone]

Okay so hello everyone, I'm new and I had a question about cilice usage...

I have a full leg cilice and I've been having trouble deciding which link to link the latch on (I hope that makes sense). I ended up grabbing a sharpie marker to put some marks on the cilice. I put three black lines on the link I can attach the latch to at the very tightest (could not possibly be any tighter on my leg). However that one is so tight I can barely stand up straight. So I put two black sharpie lines on the link just below that one. With these marks I have a sort of Normal and Intense setting for my leg cilice. Normal is still plenty tight, and I feel like using Normal makes me appreciate the Intense setting more.

I was wondering if anyone had done something similar with their cilice.
Any thoughts or suggestions?

[sisterPenitnce]

I wore my cilice for two hours yesterday, and found it a very effective penance. No matter how I sat, stood, or moved about, I was aware of it being there, and a constant level of pain which directed my thoughts to Christ's Passion. Although it did hurt, it only left red marks on my skin, and didn't pierce it, or draw blood. After I removed it, I also used the discipline for the time it took me to recite the Miserere. I felt close to God throughout both penances, and it was a privilege to suffer for Christ in this way, and to offer my penance for the conversion of someone close to me.

Pia <><

I found this to be a very beautiful post.