Pope John Paul 'would whip himself before he ordained priests' | Mail Online

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By Nick Pisa
Last updated at 9:05 AM on 23rd November 2009

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John Paul II

Pope John Paul II regularly whipped himself in a sign of 'remorse for his sins,' Polish nun Tobiana Sobodka has revealed

Pope John Paul II regularly whipped himself in 'remorse for his sins', a nun has revealed.

Pope John Paul, who died in 2005, is being considered for sainthood by the Catholic Church - the ultimate accolade and a tribute to his holiness.

As part of the Vatican's investigation, thousands of documents have been collected and examined by officials from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Among them is the testimony of Polish nun Tobiana Sobodka, of the Sacred Heart of Jesus order, who worked for Pope John Paul in his private Vatican apartments and at his summer residence in Castel Gandolfo near Rome.

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 flagellated 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, who for several years was a secretary for Pope John Paul.

He said: 'He would punish himself and in particular just before he ordained bishops and priests. Before passing on the sacraments he wanted to prepare himself.

'I never actually saw it myself but several people told me about it.'


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Sister Sobodka's leaked statements were published in Italian newspaper La Stampa and are part of new book on Pope John Paul II by its Vatican correspondent.

Self-flagellation is sometimes used by devoted Catholics as it reminds them of the whipping endured by Christ at the hands of the Romans before he was crucified.

It is still common in the Philippines and Latin America, some members of strict monastic orders and some members of the lay organisation Opus Dei - who feature in the Dan Brown blockbuster The Da Vinci Code.

In the film - which was condemned by the Vatican - murderous Albino monk Silas, who is a member of Opus Dei, is seen in a brutal scene whipping his back and drawing blood as he prays on his knees.

A Vatican spokesman said: 'The investigation and documentation is still secret and as such we can make no comment on it until the final report is published.

'I know that the nun in question has returned to Poland and she would have spoken with the Congregation as she was with an order that worked in the apartments of Pope John Paul.'

The Congregation for the Causes of Saints has been investigating the case for Pope John Paul since he died and has approved the late pope's 'heroic virtues' and the paperwork has been sent to his German successor.

The late Polish pope's beatification is expected to take place sometime next year, perhaps in April, to coincide with the fifth anniversary of his death or in October to coincide with his election in 1978.

Beatification is the first step in becoming a saint and, in order to be granted, evidence of a miracle performed by praying to the candidate in question has to be proved and verified by the Vatican.

In the case of Popes, the procedure is usually much longer because the Vatican must examine much more material given the mass of responsibility and decisions taken by them as leaders of the Catholic Church.

However, Pope Benedict XVI has put John Paul II's beatification cause on a fast track, waiving a rule requiring a five-year wait before the start of the process.

Following his death in 2005 the vast crowd that gathered in St Peter's Square carried banners bearing the slogan 'Santo Subito' (Saint Immediately).

New reports of miracles attributed to John Paul II's heavenly intervention are said to arrive in Rome every week.

The key one being examined at the moment is the case of French nun Sister Marie-Simon Pierre, 47, said to have been cured from Parkinson's Disease - the same illness suffered by Pope John Paul II - after praying to him.

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Point of order - when Scripture talks of 'mortifying' the flesh, it does NOT mean to cut yourself deliberately. It is a mis- or poor - translation.

To mortify the flesh, IN CONTEXT, is to see one as dead to self(ishness) and alive to Christ - love your neighbour as you love yourself - putting others FIRST!!

When Jesus told the Pharisees - the 'perfect' holy men of His day, to gouge out eyes and cut off hands to enter the Kingdom of G-d, He was using shock tactics, as Pharisees were both self-righteous (perfect because they followed the WORD of G-d's Law, NOT the Spirit of the Law) and arrogant, twisting G-d's Word for their OWN purposes - the control of people and the acquicision of wealth, all in the 'Name of G-d', as 'modern religion' (since the 3rd Century, at least) does, through fear and threat.

No wonder millions of people refuse to believe!

Read the Bible, properly, everyone, IF YOU DARE, in context of the time it was set in, not with today's PC world-values!

- Chris M, Ventnor, IoW, 23/11/2009 23:47
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This goes to prove that nutters are in charge of the Catholic Church.

All religion is simply brain washing and potentionally harmful to individuals and to the masses.

- Zandranna, Christchurch Dorset, 23/11/2009 23:10
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There is NOWHERE in the Bible that endorses ANY sort of self-mortification!! For all those who denigrate 'religion', which is what the RCC promote, you are correct to do so. 'Religion' is a twisting of the following:-

True Christianity is a faith that is predicated on GRACE - G-d's Riches (blessings, justification, acceptence and unconditional forgiveness) At Christ's Expense (that Jesus was born, G-d as human, to pay a price which, as humans, we cannot hope to pay, for our rebellion/rejection of G-d's perfect Way, and Jesus becoming the Way and the power to live that Way -because He lives it in us, even despite ourselves, if we want it! Also, it is free gift!!).

G-d is not, according to Scripture, remotely impressed with what 'good' or 'self-sacrifice' we do just to 'get into heaven'! So J-P put himself through all that pain for nothing!!

Self-sacrifice ONLY counts if G-d actually ASKS one to do it, for a reason, and only for a while.

Otherwise, forget it!!

- Chris M, Ventnor, IoW, 23/11/2009 23:01
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how sad is he.

- mbourn, gateshead uk, 23/11/2009 21:52
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I bet Tony is knocking at the Vaticans door for the contract i f Popeye intends carrying on with the practice.

- Brian Anderson, Castle Douglas. UK, 23/11/2009 20:52
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This behaviour from an intelligent man someone who could speak how many languages how could this possibly prepare him for anything If I did it I would probably be locked up for self harming.

- Chris, Merseyside U.K., 23/11/2009 19:54
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