Miscellaneous Blog Topic I : Mary Kate Curry

It was made known in the recent publication of a new biography of Pope John Paul II that the late pontiff was an adherent of self-flagellation. Indeed, on all his travels, he brought with him a leather belt that he would hang next to his vestments. He also chose (on occasion) to sleep on wooden floors, eschewing comfort and warmth in order to bring himself closer to Christ.

Now, to our modern sensibilities, this is all wrong! Even some Catholics are having problems reconciling these practices to the portrait of a pope seen as more unifying, tolerant, and modern-thinking than his predecessors. How medieval—to whip oneself, or to deny simple comforts. It conjures up images of those ignorant peasants in The Seventh Seal, killing themselves to try to gain heaven. How backwards! What learned man would continue such horrifying practices? Our loving Chris of the New Testament would never demand the self-harm of any of his children; but rather, wants our glorification of him to be made through our love of others, our compassion, in living our lives justly and well. Mortification is selfish; trying to cleanse only one’s own body, instead of comforting the sick around us. Beyond spiritual ramifications, it’s psychologically sick! What healthy person would willingly whip or starve himself?

But, John Paul II’s motives appear not to have stemmed from the medieval practice of mortification as a means of self-control or punishment; but rather, from his great love for others. The biographer makes careful note that the flagellation would be most inflicted on the eve of ordinations of priests and deacons. John Paul II was not purifying himself. He was emulating Christ’s own suffering; understanding full well the difficulties and trials that the newly ordained would face, he attempted to carry the Crosses of those about to receive Holy Orders. If one is a Christian, is this not the most beautiful of charities? Offering up a true sacrifice, not for the remittance of one’s own sin, but instead as a remittance for others?

Through voluntary suffering and discomfort, man makes himself closer to the Christ who made the choice to suffer and die for man’s sins. In JPII’s own words, “In bringing about the Redemption through suffering, Christ has also raised human suffering to the level of the Redemption. Thus each man, in his suffering, can also become a sharer in the redemptive suffering of Christ" (Salvifici Doloris, On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering).

A non-Christian, I find the actions of John Paul II almost overwhelming—what sheer love to do such a thing! To willingly take on something so repugnant to man’s rationality; to voluntarily carry someone else’s cross. I suppose though; that this is the way one is supposed to feel about Jesus Christ.