Is pilgrimage bodily sacrifice OK?

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fabio_rocha

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Some people go on their knees to a church until they bleed. Is this reasonable? Is it OK in the eyes of God? Is there a biblical reference to defend this?
 
I have never seen anyone going on their knees up to the church altar steps in the USA. What you have seen is a “Promise” being fulfilled. It is not called a pilgrimage. The person has prayed for something and told the Lord that if it is granted, he or she will go up to the Altar steps on his or her knees starting at the bottom of the steps leading to the church entrance, or starting at the entrance of the church, etc. Once the person gets to the Altar Steps, s/he stands up and walks to a pew. It is not the person’s intention to hurt their knees nor is it done “until they bleed”. Each person’s knees are different. Women some times make a “Promise” to not have a hair cut for x number of years. It is all right to ask if the long hair is a “Promise”, but it is not all right to ask what was granted.

It is a form of penance like wearing sackcloth during Holy Week – and some do under their regular clothing.

I do not know if there is a biblical reference to this. Maybe someone else can answer that.

Please note: I am not judging if this right or wrong. I am simply stating that it is a devotion/custom in some countries. The Priests see this all the time. These people also have their own Bishops and what is comparable to the USCCB. If the Church there does not stop it, and considers it a devotion – at one time waiting for the person to get to the Altar steps to start the Mass. Then I am not going to say otherwise. 👍 🤷

Hope this helps. 🙂

Luz Maria
 
People should never, ever undergo injurious or detrimental penances such as use of cilice, extreme fasting, or knee-walking without the advice of a spiritual director! I would also advise anyone in less-than-perfect health to consult a medical doctor. It is often required before starting a new diet or exercise regimen to consult your doctor in case it proves to be injurious to your health. I must say that anything intended to make you bleed or starve you to extreme weight loss can also be injurious to health and should be undertaken with strict professional supervision. Anything less could be a mortal sin. To put our own life or health in danger is to disrespect the Temple which God has given us.
 
fabio_rocha said:
Some people go on their knees to a church until they bleed. Is this reasonable? Is it OK in the eyes of God? Is there a biblical reference to defend this?
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Fabio Rocha, in what country did you see this?
Elizium23 said:
People should never, ever undergo injurious or detrimental penances such as use of cilice, extreme fasting, or knee-walking without the advice of a spiritual director! I would also advise anyone in less-than-perfect health to consult a medical doctor. It is often required before starting a new diet or exercise regimen to consult your doctor in case it proves to be injurious to your health. I must say that anything intended to make you bleed or starve you to extreme weight loss can also be injurious to health and should be undertaken with strict professional supervision. Anything less could be a mortal sin. To put our own life or health in danger is to disrespect the Temple which God has given us.
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With all due respect, this is not done at all to cause the knees to bleed. This is not a penance! The “knee walks” are never long and in all my years, I never saw any one bleeding from it. Hurting oneself is not the intention or even the thought! “Walking” on the knees is not difficult at all and usually the ones who do it are younger people – older ones have arthritis! The churches where this is done are not carpeted, which makes it much easier.

Please do not jump to judgment on other culture’s way of doing things. If people in other countries have their own Conference of Catholic Bishops, they also have Priests, and Spiritual Directors who understand their people’s way of life and the way they relate to God. They do know the Faith very well!

Thank you.
 
 
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