JESUIT NOVITIATE CUSTOMS

DURING THE NOVITIATE PRIOR TO THE SECOND VATICAN COUNCIL,
VARIOUS PENANCE PRACTICES WERE ENCOURAGED, AND ONE PRACTICE
WAS KNOWN AS THE "DISCIPLINE." THE DISCIPLINE WAS SELF-
WHIPPING WITH A SMALL FLOGGING INSTRUMENT. NOVICES WERE
ENCOURAGED TO FLOG THEMSELVES EACH EVENING FOR THE LENGTH
OF AN "OUR FATHER" AS A FORM OF PENANCE, AND THERE WAS A HIGH
DEGREE OF CONFORMITY DUE TO PEER PRESSURE.

Submitter comment: THIS PRACTICE IS NO LONGER ENCOURAGED.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT