It had long been rumoured that the Polish-born pontiff, who died five years ago, engaged in acts of penance and self-flagellation. 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…”
Har!
Self flagellation is the mark of mental illness, not that being Pope isn’t proof enough. Need more to be a Saint.
Self flagellation must be a Catholic thing. I find it strange since Jesus took all the beating and suffering that we will ever need when he was beaten by Roman soldiers and crucified for the sins of the world. Why anyone would need to whip themselves when Jesus covered all that for us.
“But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5
As for sainthood, all Christians are saints according to Protestants. According to Wikipedia:
“In many Protestant churches, the word “saint” is used more generally to refer to anyone who is a Christian. This is similar in usage to Paul’s numerous references in the New Testament of the Bible.[25] In this sense, anyone who is within the Body of Christ (i.e., a professing Christian) is a ‘saint’ because of their relationship with Christ Jesus. Because of this, many Protestants consider prayers to the saints to be idolatry or even necromancy. Dead Christians are awaiting resurrection, and are not able to do anything for the living saint.
Within some Protestant traditions, “saint” is also used to refer to any born-again Christian. Many emphasise the traditional New Testament meaning of the word, preferring to write “saint” to refer to any believer, in continuity with the doctrine of the priesthood of all believers.”
Big deal. I self flagellate all the time. I don’t use a belt but I do make a considerable amount of noise. Does that mean I get to be a saint? Maybe if I flagellate even more then I … what? Really? I thought it …
Never mind.
#3 Be careful or you will go blind.
Self flagellation, Without sex in your life the only sexual outlet is wet-dreams or Self flagellation. The will typically beat themselves till ejaculation, this way you get your sex fix and your guilt out of the way at the same time, And can be called a saint.
There must be a sound business opportunity here. Something for Catholics in the same vein as rubber snakes for Southern Baptists.
Got it, set up a cart outside the biggest cathedral in your town offering replica leather belts. Pope-lashers. “You, too, can be as sanctified as John-Paul!”
Whatever turns your crank. Just remember, this is the same guy that thought he had the authority to tell women what they could do with their bodies.
Faith is good. Religion, however, is so easily twisted.
Another religious crazy woo hoo moment, brought to you by the IBF (imaginary being followers).
Linking to a copyrighted video. How appropriate!
#7 Also the guy who helped bring down the Berlin wall, but who cares about that, right?
#4: The Pope just did it till he needed glasses.
If there’s a God, he’s probably shaking his divine head at the things people do because they’re weird.
Seriously, the Catholics contain small religious groups who flagellate themselves as “penitents.” The Spanish name for these religious groups is “penitentes,” but these groups are are not just found in Spanish speaking areas. The practice of whipping oneself in general is just wrong…
Why “Har”?
#8–qb==that must be that early training you can’t shake. Care to inform us of that fine distinction between faith and religion? As in===what other fields are faith relied on rather than informed observation? That early childhood twisting is a bitch ain’t it?
#10–Pedro==more info please. How did the Pope “help” to bring down the wall? Same way he helped releave world hunger?
#12–Jim==”Har” is how to represent laughing at comedic material. What else would you call anyone flagellating themselves? A deeply felt moment of faith and conviction???===HAR!!!!!!!!
I’ll stop at 3 comments so as not to wander into PedroLand.
Self-flagellation? Hey, I didn’t vote Obama.
RBG
#13 Look it up, it’s history. You should be better informed.
Benjamin, do you really believe there was a Jesus Christ? do you also believe in Santa Claus, the Easter bunny and leprechauns?
The whole story of Christ is a tale that had been repeated countless times for ages before they repeated it again but replaced the main character…again. It’s a fairy story.
#16–Now Father==if Pedro can believe TODAY that the Pope played any “real” role in the removal of the Berlin Wall, you can’t hardly blame Benji for being retarded. Look at his role models.
In fact, I think Benji should be a saint too given the depth of his historical appreciation===just like Pedro. Lets make Pedro a saint too.
Just keep both of them from teaching History.
Lech Walesa, Pope John Paul II, and the fall of the iron curtain
http://tinyurl.com/yh24p88
16. Yes, Father, “there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy.”
The Catholic Church wasn’t satisfied with inventing hypocrisy – they went on to invent the non sequitur.