Pope John Paul II regularly whipped himself as an act of penance
Posted on 01/27/2010 11:35:46 AM PST by JoeProBono
The late Pope John Paul II, who has been put on the fast track to sainthood by the Vatican, regularly whipped himself as an act of penance to feel closer to God, and signed a secret document saying that would step down as pontiff if he became incurably ill, according to a new book.
Why a Saint? by Monsignor Slawomir Oder, the Vatican "postulator" in charge of the canonisation process, says the Polish-born Pope performed self flagellation as a bishop in Krakow and continued to do so in the Vatican after being elected Pope in 1978.
"In his wardrobe, among his vestments, there hung on a clothes hanger a special belt for trousers which he used as a whip," Monsignor Oder says. He said self flagellation was "an instrument of Christian perfection" emulating the sufferings of Jesus Christ....
(Excerpt) Read more at timesonline.co.uk ...
Pope John Paul II regularly whipped himself as an act of penance
Was he listening to DEVO while doing it?
Hope he had a few lashes for not defending children from his pederast employees. Maybe more than a few.
Self-flagellation is a sick and twisted practice - unbiblical.
Ths is the great disagrement I have with my Catholic friends. If Christ died for our sins and completely wiped them away, why does even the former Pope think he needed to whip himself in an act of penance?
Isaiah tells us that “all our righteous acts are like filthy rags”.
St Paul’s letter to the Ephesians tells us: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Why the felt need for self-flagilation? Either the work of Christ was complete or we need Christ plus our good works. This suggests the work of Christ is incomplete and that we can, at least in part, earn salvation.
Am I wrong here?
“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” - Romans 8:1
Something about this “practice” always seems like sexual deviance. Similar to S&M.
This practice has NOTHING to do with Christ,imo.
What is your evidence that by “exercise” he means self-flagellation?
"They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work." - Titus 1:16
That said, nowhere will you find a command from God to beat yourself with a belt like a S&M freak. That's just stupid superstition.
That’s ridiculous.
I don't think this is the right way to look at it. A child molester is not without sin. I would argue that no one is without sin.
Christ died for us and allows us to be saved by grace. As sinners, we do not deserve grace and we cannot earn salvation. But salvation may be given to us even though we do not deserve it.
Now, recognition of sin and repentence for sin is something that all Christians should make part of their relationship with God. I personally do not whip myself, but I think that this is what the Holy Father was intending.
Well he certainly was holy. He was such a nice man. He did so much for the cause of life. We Catholics loved him very much.
Oooooh--you said the "S" word.
no
1 Cor 9:27
I’ve never bought into the suffering=holiness equation.
I don’t want to see the gym abracapocus goes to...
“He’s not talking about aerobics, he’s talking about self-flaggelation. He’s saying it helps a bit. “
I don’t think bodily exercise = self flagellation. Weird interpretation of the text.
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