JPII "whipped himself in remorse for sins" [CNAU]

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I got to admit, this is really the only religious practice (that is entailed by the saints) that seems odd to me. I know plenty of saints have employed its use, but something just keeps me from seeing it as an acceptable practice, and I can’t ever see a priest recommending this for someone.

I saw a documentary on Shia Muslims, that showed them doing this on the Day of Ashura, and it certainly seemed “strange” to me then. I don’t really understand how the Church defends this practice.
 
Nov 23, '09 5:00 pm
The Vatican investigation into sainthood for Pope John Paul II reportedly heard the late pontiff regularly whipped himself in a sign of “remorse for his sins”.

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It seems to be coming close to self mutilation. Seems strange to me.
 
I’m still wondering if only 5 years gives enough time for investigation into sainthood. I think he was a good pope, but think that this push for sainthood is premature. Call me skeptical, but I think it is more because he was popular and not really based on his merits. 🤷
 
Just because a reported nun from his household says it, doesn’t make it true. Some people will view it as a sign of devotion, most others will think it’s proof of the strangeness and harshness of Catholicism or the act of an unbalanced person.
 
Frankly Scallop, I don’t give a clam. 🤷

Not to attack you, Zundrah, because I think you would agree with me about the following. I would think it would behoove us not to criticize holy people if this be one of their practices. I surely would not, as I am in NO position to do so. Maybe a little more self-mortification in this world would do us some good. I’d have to say that many of us Catholics in the developed world have grown a little soft. I know I am. Maybe we all need a little spiritual toughness.

Does it make the Church look a little…oh…radical? Most certainly. But there is nothing wrong with that. The world is supposed to see us as radically holy. If not, there is something wrong. Our faith becomes pablum. Our message becomes dust.

…:hmmm: In light of this article…I think I’ll be kicking the St. Philip’s Fast penances up a notch.
 
Things like this are not understood by many people but to post stuff like this is in very poor taste

JPII was the stuff which most of us will never become…He belonged to a different generation and his holiness is something most of us can’t even begin to fathom

Posting things:( like this is like peeking in someones windows…
 
redrosetea said:
Things like this are not understood by many people but to post stuff like this is in very poor taste

JPII was the stuff which most of us will never become…He belonged to a different generation and his holiness is something most of us can’t even begin to fathom

Posting things:( like this is like peeking in someones windows…
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I agree, mostly. He was definitely awesome. However, his self mortification is an example to us all. It inspires me to, at the very least, stop whining about things and to be more thankful to God. It also kind of breaks my heart, in that I’m sure JPII was doing penance for all of us. 😦 I have confidence that he still prays for us.
 
lumenorientale said:
Frankly Scallop, I don’t give a clam. 🤷

Not to attack you, Zundrah, because I think you would agree with me about the following. I would think it would behoove us not to criticize holy people if this be one of their practices. I surely would not, as I am in NO position to do so. Maybe a little more self-mortification in this world would do us some good. I’d have to say that many of us Catholics in the developed world have grown a little soft. I know I am. Maybe we all need a little spiritual toughness.

Does it make the Church look a little…oh…radical? Most certainly. But there is nothing wrong with that. The world is supposed to see us as radically holy. If not, there is something wrong. Our faith becomes pablum. Our message becomes dust.

…:hmmm: In light of this article…I think I’ll be kicking the St. Philip’s Fast penances up a notch.
Click to expand...
redrosetea said:
Things like this are not understood by many people but to post stuff like this is in very poor taste

JPII was the stuff which most of us will never become…He belonged to a different generation and his holiness is something most of us can’t even begin to fathom

Posting things:( like this is like peeking in someones windows…
Click to expand...
Hey now, don’t turn this on me! I was gob-smacked when I saw this in the newspaper today! So I thought I would get a link and show catholics on CAF to get some kind of explanation for it! I for one am mortified that he did this to him self! He must have been depressed or somehting?
 
rep140 said:
It seems to be coming close to self mutilation. Seems strange to me.
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I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this either. I loved Pope John Paul, but he shouldn’t have done that to himself. Everytime I look at his pictures now, I feel sad. He must have been in constant pain and agony because of this.
 
It is not up to any of us to criticize the spiritual life of the Pope…As far as turning it on you had you not posted in a manner of trying to sensationalize this , but asked a question in a sincere way about why people mortify themselves I might believe you

As it is, you look like you couldn’t wait to post a bit of a persons private struggle

As for you saying he shouldn’t have done this…Who are you to judge?
 
Corporal mortification isn’t new. St. Francis of Assisi, St. Catherine of Siena, St. Thomas More, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Jean Vianney, Padre Pio, etc.
 
Corporal mortification under the guidance of a spiritual director is perfectly legitimate. It may not be done without the guidance of a director. John Paul II had a spiritual director, it was one of our brothers. One should never engaged in this practice without the permission of oen’s director, not even a pope.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
saskatoon said:
I’m still wondering if only 5 years gives enough time for investigation into sainthood. I think he was a good pope, but think that this push for sainthood is premature. Call me skeptical, but I think it is more because he was popular and not really based on his merits. 🤷
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Five-years can be more than enough, if you have all the iformation that you need to prove that the person led a heoric Christian life. Our own founder was canonized 18 months after his death and St. Clare a year after her death. Neither were every beatified. The two popes involved dispensed with all of the requirements, because they knew them personally. They canonized them on their on knowledge of their heroic faith.

No one knows John Paul II better than Benedict XVI. He worked for him for several years and was his confidant. The study has now been sent to the Holy Father. If he approves, the studies are over. There is no turning back. It will be recorded in Church history that John Paul II lived a truly heroic Christian Life and will be known as Venerable. After that, the waiting begins for the first miracle for beatification. What is taken to the test, is not the life of John Paul, but the miracle. Some people don’t know this. After the beatification, there is another miracle that has to be studied.

However, any pope can infallibly canonize without an investigation and without miracles. Canonizations are an faith of faith from the Chair of Peter that must be accepted by all Catholics, East and West. FYI, East means Eastern Catholics. Eastern Orthodox are free to reject the canonization wihtout impunity of sin.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
 
JReducation said:
Corporal mortification under the guidance of a spiritual director is perfectly legitimate. It may not be done without the guidance of a director. John Paul II had a spiritual director, it was one of our brothers. One should never engaged in this practice without the permission of oen’s director, not even a pope.

Fraternally,

Br. JR, OSF 🙂
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I’ve always thought it made sense, but I’ve never tried it for the very reason you mention - I don’t have a spiritual director. We all practice ‘ascetism light’ during Lent, but more significant forms surely require supervision.
 
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