A recent article published by the Telegraph (see below), makes reference to the practice of self-flagellation by the late pope, John Paul II. It is interesting to read the same old defence by Roman Catholics of this practice. One person wrote me using 1 Cor. 9:27 as a “proof text” for the practice. But does that text mean that? Let’s look at it in its context – also looking at the verses just before it.
24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26 I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a
castaway.
Paul is not speaking of whipping his body, or any other action of self-debasement that will somehow merit him any acceptance with God. He is speaking of the Christian life using the analogy of an athlete. While I am no athlete, I have participated in some athletics and have some friends who were and are heavily involved in sports. Not one I have met would “harm’ their body in any way in order to become better at their sport. What they do is control (or discipline) their body, in order to win the prize.
And that is exactly what Paul is speaking of here. A Christian must bring the passions of the flesh under control if he or she is going to run the race well and be useful in the service of the Lord. Solomon put it well in Proverbs 16:32 – He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city”.
It is the “ruling of our spirit” that Paul is speaking of. In other words, “Who is in control? Your carnal desires or your spiritual?
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Here is the news report…
Pope John Paul II regularly whipped himself with a trouser belt that he kept in his wardrobe and signed a secret document saying that would resign if he became incurably ill, a book published today reveals.
It had long been rumoured that the Polish-born pontiff, who died five years ago, engaged in acts of penance and self-flagellation.
But the practice has now been confirmed by Monsignor Slawomir Oder, the Vatican “postulator” who has the task of reviewing John Paul’s life and preparing a case for him being made a saint.
In the new book, “Why he’s a saint”, Msgr Oder writes: “As members of the Pope’s close entourage heard with their own ears, Karol Wojtyla used to flagellate himself.
“In his wardrobe, in between all his robes, a special trouser belt hung on a coat hanger, which he used as a whip. He always took it with him when he went to Castel Gandolfo (the traditional summer residence of the popes outside Rome).”
In November a Polish nun claimed that when she stayed at Castel Gandolfo she often heard John Paul whipping himself.
“Several times he would put himself through bodily penance,” said Tobiana Sobodka, a nun from the Sacred Heart of Jesus order.
“We would hear it – we were in the next room at Castel Gandolfo. You could hear the sound of the blows when he flagellated himself.”
Self-flagellation is used by some Catholics to remind themselves of the agonies endured by Christ on the cross, in particular members of the controversial organisation Opus Dei.
Rest of article here.