Iron Disciplines of “The Church.”
Saint Liguori, the Doctor of the Romish Church, commends the use of Disciplines to the “True Spouse of Christ” thus:—
“Disciplines, or Flagellations, are a species of mortification, strongly recommended by St. Francis de Sales, and universally adopted in Religious Communities of both sexes. All the modern Saints, without a single exception, have continually practised this sort of penance. It is related of St. Lewis Gonzaga, that he often scourged himself into blood three times a-day. And at the point of death, not having sufficient strength to use the lash, he besought the Provincial to have him disciplined from head to foot.”
A. This is a band for going round the body to “mortify the flesh.” It is made of Iron wire, and the ends of each link form Spikes which range in length from the sixteenth of an inch to half an inch.
B. This is a Flagellum, made of strong iron wire. It has five tails to represent the “Five wounds;” and at the end of each tail there is a Spike, about an inch long, to pierce the flesh. It will be seen that the lowermost joints are the heaviest, so as to increase the severity of the blows.
C. This is a Cross resting upon an “I. H. S.”—Jesus the Saviour of Man. It is for wearing on the breast, and is made of iron, as, indeed, all the other articles represented in the engraving are. It is covered over with spikes on the side next the body.
D. This is another Flagellum, commemorative of the “Five wounds.” At the end of each tail there is a kind of Rowel with sharp points. It is impossible to use this without cutting the flesh.
E. This Belt is similar to A, but of stronger material. This belt sometimes becomes imbedded in the flesh of the devoted victim of “the Church.”
F. This Flagellum has Nine tails, to represent the nine months during which “The Word was made flesh.” The “Cat-and-nine-tails” and the “Incarnation”!!
G. This Flagellum is a modification of B, D, and L.
H, J, P. These are Bands for the limbs, and, like A and E, are covered with spikes.
I. This is a Cross similar to that resting upon the “I. H. S.” above.
K. This is a Cross and Heart to be worn over the seat of the affections, to show that all “natural affection” is to be crucified. This was painfully illustrated in the case of a young lady who had left her home and entered one of these Conventual Establishments to the great grief of her parents. Her father called at the convent to see her. She was brought to him, and on his expostulating with her, and soliciting her return home, he observed that she pressed her hands against her breast, and seemed to suffer excruciating pain. After a little, blood oozed through her dress, and she was then withdrawn by the “Sisters.”
L. This Flagellum may be called the Mother Superior’s “Wild Cat.”
M. This Flagellum has Seven tails, to represent the “Seven Dolours” of the Virgin; and a doleful tale they tell.
N. These two Nets of Iron wire, covered over with spikes, are for the most cruel and immodest purposes. We dare not describe them.
O. Each of these two hemispheres, together forming a Nut, has five brass spikes, which are used for imprinting the Stigmata or “Five wounds” of Christ upon the Religious.
Were such cruelties perpetrated upon the Heathen, all our Christian Churches would resound with appeals to the sympathy of the people to come to the help of the sufferers, whether Fanatics or Victims. This would be commendable. Why, then, is the same course not adopted on behalf of Nuns, who, as Rev. Pierce Connelly says, “are not only slaves, but who are, de facto, by a Satanic consecration, secret prisoners for life, and may any day be put an end to, or much worse, with less risk of vengeance here in England than in Italy or Spain!”—Extracted from the Annual Report of the Protestant Evangelical Mission and Electoral Union, January, 1873.