In many monastic rules, the practice of self-flagellation as penance for personal and communal sins was accepted. So it became a very fine line to discern between those orders which performed self-flagellation as part of their penitential rule, and those who would be condemned by the Catholic Church as taking it too far.
The La Penitentes
The majority of heretical Flagellant Sects were popular around the times of the middle ages. However, The ‘La Penitentes’ of Colorado were a modern version of one of these types of Flagellant Sects.
They emerged much later in the 19th century and were also condemned by the church although they settled most of the San Luis Valley, a huge southwestern territory of Colorado. And they are credited for bringing the Catholic Church to these remote locations.
Flagellant Sects of the Middle Ages
Flagellation was the imposition of the use of ropes and other devices to either whip oneself or another as penance for sins or breaking with the rule of the order.
Sometimes, flagellation occurred in large groups among medieval laypersons. Such things were more likely to occur during difficult historical times, i.e. plagues.
One such group termed the disciplinati was organized by a hermit. These people would engage in public whippings. Many of these public displays included the singing of hymns and prayer, which drew large numbers of people
The practice of self-flagellation was actually made unlawful in 1261 A.D. They were banned in large part because of the public displays.
Self flagellation was originally intended in the monastic orders to be a private matter, done quietly and alone. Although history would prove to make even the private practice of this unusual penance quite controversial.
Many well loved saints were known to engage in self-flagellation such as St. Teresa of Avila and St. Catherine of Siena. The Church has had a difficult time explaining these medieval practices accepted in their time to the modern world.
Heresy According to the Early Church Fathers
The Early Church Fathers had a hard time discerning between those who engaged in lawful penance and those who crossed the line and became grouped into the Flagellant Sects. “It is incumbent to obey the presbyters who are in the church – those who, as I have shown, possess the succession from the apostles. These men, together with the succession of the bishops, have received the certain gift of truth, according to the good pleasure of the Father.” (Ireneaus) A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers – Edited by David W. Bercot
Other interesting Heresies in the Catholic Church include the Ebionites and the Fraticelli.
Sources:
Encyclopedia of Heresies and Heretics - By Charles S. Clifton
A Catholic Dictionary - By William E. Addis and Thomas Arnold, M.A.
Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma - By Dr. Ludwig Ott
A Short History of Christian Doctrine: From the First Century to the Present - By Bernhard Lohse
The Church in Crisis: A History of the General Councils, 325 - 1870 - By Philip Hughes
A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs: A Reference Guide to More than 700 Topics Discussed by the Early Church Fathers – Edited by David W. Bercot
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