The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

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