Self mortification does not please men. Unless you mean the masochists, who are not normally considered religious mystics.
Self injury or self flagellation was a pagan practice. It was not practiced by the early Christian church. We do not believe the flesh is evil or that beating it brings it under submission . Scripture tells us our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit..
The term "mortification of the flesh" comes from Saint Paul in this quote: "For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live".[1] The same idea is seen in the following verses: "Put to death what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry".[2] "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires".[3]
According to Christian exegesis, "deeds of the body" and "what is earthly", refer to the "wounded nature" of man or his concupiscence, evil inclinations due to forming part of the Fall of Man - humanity that suffered the consequences of the original sin.
Thus, Jesus expected believers to repent from slavery to their fleshes' desires: "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes".
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mortification_of_the_flesh.
Examples from the OT of mortification include Isaiah 22:12 The Lord, the LORD Almighty, called you on that day to weep and wail, to tear out your hair and put on sackcloth. But see, there is joy and revelry, slaughtering of cattle and killing of sheep, eating of meat and drinking of wine! "Let us eat and drink," you say, "for tomorrow we die!" The LORD Almighty has revealed this in my hearing: "Till your dying day this sin will not be atoned for," says the Lord, the LORD Almighty."
Pulling out one's hair is a form of mortification.
Sure it does..it makes them feel that they can suffer for their own sin, pay for it themselves.. They think this is somehow pleasing to God and they like to commend themselves to God ..it is another "work" of the flesh.
To God it is just another menstrual (filthy )rag...unclean and substituting for the work of Christ
The term "mortification of the flesh" comes from Saint Paul in this quote:"For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body you will live".[1] The same idea is seen in the following verses: "Put to death what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry".[2] "And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires".[3]
For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die: but if by the Spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live.
That says the deeds NOT THE FLESH
That is a significant difference...The word translated " mortify.". is thanatoute..meaning TO KILL (think of mortuary ) This scripture is not talking about self flagellation. It is talking about puting to death the sinful deeds of the flesh
There is NO scripture telling men that they should abuse their bodies .. they are told to repent and turn from their sin.. Maybe the pope should have done that instead of beating his body .