What Did Wearing Sack Cloth Mean in the Bible? (Genesis

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"What is the importance of all the sack cloth?"
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Previously aired on the Official Bible in a Year Facebook group ( / ascensioncatholic ) on July 1st, 2021.
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[@mrs.k7381]

Why do some people whip themselves when they go on a retreat? Is this even a catholic thing? Is it okay to do it? What’s the story behind it? I heard people go to Mexico on retreats and they whip themselves??

[@NaruIchiLuffy]

The same concept as the hairshirts that are uncomfortable to wear all day long and/or fasting from food, it is a form of mortification of the flesh and/or penance which also helps to work out our repentance. A form of seeking to die to self (Mt. 16:25).
Concupiscence which is one of the wounds we inherit from original sin inclines us towards self-love, seeking pleasure and comfort above truth, goodness, and virtue (1 John 2:16).
The scourging is a form of penance through which they seek to be united to Our Lord's Passion, the second sorrowful mystery of the Rosary, the scourging of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Since Our Lord was scourged and went through the Passion for our sins (Isaiah 53:4-5) - "Surely he hath borne our infirmities and carried our sorrows: and we have thought him as it were a leper, and as one struck by God and afflicted. *But he was wounded for our iniquities, he was bruised for our sins: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and by his bruises we are healed* and the Word of God and many Saints have pointed out that it is by His Passion that we were saved and thus it is the Passion we should meditate on and contemplate most.
Scourging is a valid form of penance that many Saints have practiced in the past. But which if judged by pagan modern standards/prevailing ideologies (i.e. materialism, hedonism, etc.) or even by poorly catechized Catholics will be seen and labeled as foolish, insane, etc.
One could argue about its effectiveness as a form of penance, and thus one should be careful to engage in it for the right reasons and with the guidance of a spiritual director.
It can easily become something you do for the sake of being seen or noticed by others which is not the spirit of the Gospel.
There are many forms of penance one can engage in but the important thing to keep in mind is that they are solely *means to an end* ,
and that end is a more perfect union with the will of God (Uniformity with God's Will - St. Alphonsus Liguori).
To fast, wear a hairshirt, or scourge oneself is almost pointless, possibly even spiritually dangerous (spiritual pride);
if it is not leading you towards closer union with the will of God.
There's a short article called "Modern Mortification: Beyond Hair Shirts and Flogs" that might give you a bit more perspective if my comment did not help clarify well enough.
And I'm sure you can find further talks here on YT about the virtue of mortification, Fr. Ripperger is a good one.

[@b8akaratn]

...Today, i find that neglecting to use moisturizer 🧴 may be an itchy, adequate equivalent... Or maybe wear a new wool sweater without an undershirt... 🤔🤭💙❣️