The Discipline and Other Physical Mortifications

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So, I’ve been reading a bit about the saints lately, and this practice of physical mortifications keeps something up. Some reference “taking the discipline” ie self-flagellation. Others reference wearing hair shirts, walking barefoot, saying the rosary or the stations outside while walking in their knees, holding their arms outstretched for very long periods of time, etc.

Are these customs still practiced? If so, under what circumstances? How prevalent is this practice? Do you need approval from someone? Is it done under supervision? Do religious orders still do this?
 
In most of the cases I have heard of, excessive self discipline is not beneficial. Many saints were told to ease off on the penance. I believe that the current mainline position is that self discipline should be used to free oneself from the need for certain things. Seeking pain for its own sake is a bad idea. In general, we should make sure we are free from the need for any pleasure, and accept the suffering that comes to us. If you still want to practice self mortification, find a spiritual director and remember that God said “I desire obedience, not sacrifice.”
 
I don’t want to practice physical mortifications, however, I am intrigued by the practice of it. It’s one of those things that is 180 degrees from my Protestant upbringing.
 
Taking the discipline and other forms of self-harm are usually not practiced. When something like self-flagellation is allowed, it is generally done in a monastery and has to be done strictly under the guidance of a spiritual director. I understand Pope John Paul II used the discipline on himself. He would have been formed in an era when it was a more common practice. Nowadays we know quite a bit more about mental disorders that cause people to engage in self-harm and sometimes even enjoy it.

If you visit any major shrine, there will be people doing penance by walking on their knees or climbing steps on their knees. Many of them use knee pads and poles to help them. I attempted to do the “Fatima walk” without knee pads. I got about 2/3 of the way and it took literally all of the skin off my knees, so I had to stop at that point. Knee pads are a must if you don’t do that stuff every day.
 
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Saints have done it, but many of them have been ordered to stop by their spiritual directors. Some mortification can be good, especially to free us from dependence on physical things. I refrain from food between meals in Lent and it gives me a wonderful sense of empowerment.
PS. Welcome home to the Catholic faith!🎆🎇🎆🎇🎆🎇
 
Tis_Bearself said:
I attempted to do the “Fatima walk” without knee pads. I got about 2/3 of the way and it took literally all of the skin off my knees, so I had to stop at that point. Knee pads are a must if you don’t do that stuff every day.
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Wow! I’m impressed you even got that far!
 
I didn’t feel very impressive given that I had to stop a whole bunch of times and rest, which I could do because it was not a busy time with 100 people all using the knee-walk path (which takes you from the big new church at Fatima to Our Lady’s chapel). You look at little old ladies and people with physical disabilities scooting down the knee walk like pros and you feel very physically and spiritually out of shape.
 
I would love to go to the shrine there. I am specially dedicated to Our Lady of Fatima. It was probably good for your humility!
 
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The nature of penance has changed over the centuries. This is reflected in the form of penance given during the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The Church is focussed on the mercy of God much more these days, whereas for example, in centuries past, penance would mean a bread and water fast for as long as a month or more.
If a person today wished to undertake physical mortification, a knowledgeable and competent Spiritual Director would be necessary to guide and focus the individual. Religious Orders vary with some observing much stricter fasting regimes in their Rule.
The early saints were martyred and persecuted in the name of God. I believe physical mortification may have grown out of the discipline, faith and dedication required to be Christian during times of persecution. It would be an interesting history to research.
 
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Ha! As a new Catholic, I know a lot about that kind of humility. I’m not used to kneeling. Kneeling on marble and wood is so incredibly painful for my tender knees, yet everyone else seems to endure it just fine. We won’t even talk about genuflecting. #newcatholicproblems
 
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There are some tricks to kneeling posture that make it easier, but yeah, a lot of it is practice. Since I didn’t do it for about a decade and a half, I’m not great at it.
 
My problem is wanting to genuflect occasionally at Protestant churches… and sometimes theaters. 😅
 
Kneeling for me is a kind of mortification I can make for Christ. I have a systemic arthritic condition along with some other stuff that makes bones and joints hurt. I seem to also have one knee that is getting close to it’s best used by date. However I still kneel fully during the appropriate times at Mass, at adoration, while saying the rosary or any other time kneeling is called for. Genuflecting isn’t easy unless I have something to hold on to to get up.

I will kneel on padded kneelers, non padded kneelers, carpet, stone, gymnasium floor, or pretty much anything else that is flat & smooth. I once knelt for 90 minutes at a youth conference during adoration. I can’t talk to my youth about the importance or reverence of kneeling if I’m not willing to model it.

It takes a little while but one does get accustom to kneeling for long periods of time if one doesn’t give into the temptation to sit back on their bum, or just give up. Outside of those who have legitimate limitations, everyone should take kneeling during Mass a bit more serious. After all we are there for Jesus, not ourselves.
 
Physical mortification is probably still practiced by some but not to the extent it used to be. I think that can be good and bad. I think some physical mortification can be good if it doesn’t harm the body and it is done with good intentions and with permission from a spiritual director. These could include small fasts or taking a cold shower or little sacrifices at meals or sleeping on the floor. Most of the time these won’t harm the body and they can help discipline the body especially against sins of the flesh. Although physical mortifications can be taken to extremes and be unhealthy I also think they shouldn’t be entirely neglected. Especially in a society where comfort and pleasure are so available and important I think some physical mortification or at least denial of some comfortable or legitimate pleasures can be very beneficial.

Interior mortifications and just accepting your cross in life can be very helpful in growing in virtue. These are even more important than physical mortification, but I think you need some of both sometimes.

There are many opportunities that come up life in which you can deny yourself. Mother Teresa made a promise to God under the direction of her director never to refuse God a sacrifice when the opportunity arose
 
IMO it is enough mortification to renounce all passions, to practice patience and to endure those who continually attack you and strive to make you stumble. At least until one makes more spiritual progress. The saints were way ahead in that respect.
 
I wouldn’t say discipline and not every saint underwent physical pain (I am reading Butler’s lives of the saints). But some of them do seem to have willingly suffered much physically.
 
I believe the Church has condemned the Filipino crucifixions. The guys who are into that continue anyway.
As for Opus Dei, their approach to physical discipline is one thing I really dislike about them. There are other things I dislike about them. I try not to mention them here as it usually ends up in an argument with some member of that group who thinks they’re great.
 
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