The saints are all wonderful. However, there are some who have become masters in certain areas. Since the subject here is penance, as a professor of Spirituality, I would narrow down the Masters of Penance to:
Excuse me for my forgetfulness, but wasn’t one of these female saints the one who took a string with knots on it, and tied it tight around her waist so it would dig into the skin and cause pain?
Iv always wondered the same. Though more confusion I have about thous who used to whip their backs as a voluntary self-penance.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Teresa of Avila did this, but I don’t know for sure. I never this. I know that she used the Discipline.
Br. JR…Thank you so much for all the information on St. Francis! Please keep sharing! I also am wondering if you could share what is known about St.Francis’ friend, Sr.Jacopa. I have tried to research her, but haven’t found much. Thanks so much!I wouldn’t be surprised if Teresa of Avila did this, but I don’t know for sure. I never this. I know that she used the Discipline.
The Discipline (different from discipline) is a very different kind of corporal penance that should only be used under the direction of someone who is an expert on the care of souls. This would be a spiritual director. Here is where people get it all wrong.
A priest is a shepherd of souls; however, he is not automatically a spiritual director. Spiritual directors spend years studying Spiritual Theology, Spirituality and the Spiritual Life. Most men who belong to religious orders are in formation from 6 - 10 years. They study, at the very least, the spirituality of their order (Carmelite, Franciscan, Augustinian, Benedictine, Jesuit, Dominican, Norbertine or Birdgetine).
Some priests, brothers and sisters will often go back for training in spiritual theology, spirituality and spiritual direction, once they finish their required studies. Some will go for certification and other will go on for doctoral degrees. The latter are people like me, who are going to teach. You don’t need a doctorate to be a spiritual director. You need basic knowledge of spiritual theology, Christian spirituality, and you must have a natural gift for it. Not all the knowledge in the world works, if you’re not a natural at it. A good spiritual director is really a teacher in the spiritual life. I don’ t believe that you can teach anyone how to teach. Methods are good, but in the end, you have a talent for it or you don’t.
If you’re going to use something like the string that you described, which I’ve never heard of, but don’t doubt it or the Discipline, you must work with someone who knows spiritual direction. It is important to do two things:
There are times when a spiritual director may give permission to do such a penance for a time and to a specific degree. There have been stories of people who have broken their flesh and drawn blood doing corporal penances. Their spiritual directors have had to order them to stop. You are not allowed to mutilate the body.
- Separate the penance from the pathology. Some people derive a certain satisfaction out of pain. That’s not good.
- Moderate the use so that it has the intended effect, but does not become an obsession. That would be wrong too.
Unfortunately, people love the sensational and writers love to tell it, because it sells. They include it in their biographical works. The good hagiographer will tell you the whole story, including that the spiritual director disapproved or that the person stopped such a practice. The good hagiographer is not interested in sensationalism. He’s interested in writing the story of a saint.
My three pieces of advice:
There are priests, brothers, sisters and lay people who are trained spiritual directors and some who are naturally gifted. I know such a person. He’s awesome and happens to be a priest too. Some people do a double. They make an appointment for spiritual direction and confession. You can also keep them separate, one person can be your confessor (obviously a priest with faculties) and the other your spiritual director (need not be a priest). Whatever works well for you and your schedule, do it. Try to find someone who knows the spiritual masters, not someone who is a good counselor. Counseling is not the same.
- Never engage in such a practice unless you have the guidance of a spiritual director
- Never take these statements at face value unless a trusted hagiographer writes it.
- Do not assume that every priest is a spiritual director and do not confuse confession with spiritual direction. They are not the same. The confessional is usually not a good place for spiritual direction, because others are waiting in line.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
We know very little about Brother Jacopa. We know that she was an aristocrat and a devoted follower of Francis. She was present at his death, at his request. There were three women in his life whom he asked for as he was dying: Brother Jacopa, Mother Clare, and his mother, Pica. Mother Clare was unable to be at his side to see him die, because of the rules of enclosure. His body was taken to her for her blessing before burial. We don’t know if Pica Bernadone was present at her son’s death.
Br. JR.,We do know that Brother Jacopa was one of the first Sisters of Penance, today the Secular Franciscans. Apparently, she seems to have spent her life supporting the poor in memory of her beloved father.
I wish we had more, but sometimes the noblest souls pass through this world in anonymity, but they are well known to God and that’s what matters.
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
Ha ha. Well, I didn’t know why you were referring to her as a him!
No. Franciscans have nuns and sisters. They are all called Sister Sunshine, Sister Moonglow, and Sister Honeydew, etc.
You know how I have always said that many Traditionalists want nothing to do with St. Francis or Franciscans? This is perfect example of why.
Women have never been allowed inside the living quarters of male religious. Lady Jacopa was a very dear friend of Brother Francis. She would bring him cookies.
One time, she came and he was very sick. He could not go outside to speak to her. She was very sad to have to leave without seeing him. The brother who delivered the cookies to Francis’ bed told him that Lady Jacopa was leaving and was sorry not to see him.
Francis responded, “Quickly, run after Brother Jacopa and tell her to return. Then bring our dear brother to me that I may express my gratitude.” The brother ran after Lady Jacopa and brought her to Francis.
From that day forward, she was Brother Jacopa. When she came to bring cookies, medicine, bandages, etc. she was allowed inside the cloister, because she was not to be regarded as a woman, but as another brother.
Francis was very much like Christ. “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” The rules were made for men, not men for the rules.
That’s also why we don’t use Gregorian Chant. There was a rule that if you could not chant, you could not become a religious. It’s still law in some religious communities and I believe that it may be so in the FSSP (not sure on that. I’ll ask). I know that you cannot become a religious in some communities if you can’t chant, because they chant the office and they chant at mass.
Francis was approached by Juniper. Juniper couldn’t carry a tune. He was very sad. Francis looked at one of the brothers who was a theologian and said, “Brother, where does it say in the Gospel that we must chant the Divine Office?” The brother looked at him as if he had just lost him mind.
Francis turned around and said, “From this day forward, the friars shall recite the office and the mass so that no man is ever turned away because he can’t chant.”
There is another famous story about fasting. A novice was very hungry. He cried out that he was dying. It was the middle of the night and it was Lent. Francis get everyone out of bed. It was freezing. He ordered one of the brothers to get food for the entire house, because he did not want the novice to eat alone and feel shame. From that day forward, it was decreed that the friars would fast only on Wednesday and Friday, but that if a friar cannot fast, no one in the house should fast, so that the friar never feels left out of the brotherhood and if the friars are in someone else’s house, even if it’s a fast day or a day of abstinence, they are to eat what is offered, even if it’s meat on a Friday, so that they may never make their benefactor feel uncomfortable. Charity must never be rejected and kindness must be accepted, even at great sacrifice.
He was awesome. :yup:
Fraternally,
Br. JR, OSF
These may appear as frivolous to some, but they were real penances for Francis. They required that he sacrifice things that he wanted to do or ascetical practices that he wanted to follow, all for the sake of charity.
The key to understanding this aspect of our faith is to realize that Jesus’s sacrifice to the Father is ever present to the Father - always present. The Father is not bound by space and time. The sacrifice continues for your sins and my sins today. And will continue. We partake in this Sacrifice in the Holy Mass and God give us the opportunity to cooperate and participate in the suffering of Jesus, just like He did for Simon of Cyrene. What dignity God gives us.
Along with everything that has been said, we must add two ideas.
Read ‘Divine Mercy In My Soul’ by St Maria Faustina, suffice to say it opened my eyes and helped changed my spiritual life.
This is beautifully expressed, Edward. Thank you.
Okay, I will. Thanks.
I understand the idea of suffering with Christ. Now how does one reconcile all this suffering with John 15:11 “have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete”?
Emphasis mine.