JPII Used Corporal Mortification

I wonder how much publicity this is going to get.

Sister Sobodka said: "Several times he (Pope John Paul) would put himself through bodily penance.

"We would hear it – we were in the next room at Castel Gandolfo. You could hear the sound of the blows when he flagellate himself. He did it when he was still capable of moving on his own."

The flagellation is also confirmed by another bishop who has given testimony. Emery Kabongo was a secretary for Pope John Paul.

Of all Catholic traditions, this one is among the most misunderstood. Dan Brown's crap hasn't helped. I've already encountered talk of how this might hurt the Pope's cause, what with it showing him to be crazy and all. It brings us back to a point that we've mentioned here before. How many of the blessed in heaven would be institutionalized if they were around today?

But back to the article. Here was the most interesting part, I thought:

"He would punish himself and in particular just before he ordained bishops and priests," he said.

I've said before that John Paul II had a weakness when it came to promoting the right guys to the episcopate. Sure, there are some good ones, but boy, we sure do hear a lot about the whackjobs out there. I wonder if he acknowledged this in himself and was working to get passed it.

In case anyone is wondering, I have no real opinion on the Pope's canonization process. If it happens, it happens.