Bringing you the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and His Church While PROMOTING CATHOLIC Apologetic Support groups loyal to the Holy Father and Church's magisterium
Home About
AskACatholic.com		 What's New? Resources The Church Family Life Mass and
Adoration		 Ask A Catholic
Knowledge base
AskACatholic Disclaimer
Search the
AskACatholic Database
Donate and
Support our work
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
New Questions
Cool Catholic Videos
About Saints
Disciplines and Practices for distinct Church seasons
Purgatory and Indulgences
About the Holy Mass
About Mary
Searching and Confused
Contemplating becoming a Catholic or Coming home
Homosexual and Gender Issues
Life, Dating, and Family
No Salvation Outside the Church
Sacred Scripture
non-Catholic Cults
Justification and Salvation
The Pope and Papacy
The Sacraments
Relationships and Marriage situations
Specific people, organizations and events
Doctrine and Teachings
Specific Practices
back
Church Internals
Church History

Shawn Burns wrote:

Hi, guys —

  • Is it OK for a lay Catholic to wear a hair shirt as a form of mortification?

I noticed that the internet seems to have priests and others lining up on both sides of the fence on this issue.

I understand that the Church does not want anyone to do anything to jeopardize their health yet fasting as a form of mortification can be very dangerous depending on the person and how far they take it.

I am interested in using a hair shirt as a short form of mortification. If I developed a rash or an allergy, I would quit but it seems to me a reasonable form of penance with little health risk as compared to fasting.

Shawn
  { Is it OK for a lay Catholic to wear a hair shirt as a form of mortification? }

Eric replied:

Shawn,

There are no official rules on this. In my opinion, it a judgment call that's best handled by your spiritual director, spiritual father, or Confessor.

If you are pursuing the spiritual life that seriously, it's important to put yourself under the spiritual care and guidance of another who can get to know you and keep you on track.

Just as the law requires a doctor's prescription for powerful drugs, so powerful penances like this, should have the prescription of a priest who has examined you and diagnosed your needs.

Eric
[Related posting] [Related posting]

Please report any and all typos or grammatical errors.
Suggestions for this web page and the web site can be sent to Mike Humphrey
© 2012 Panoramic Sites
The Early Church Fathers Church Fathers on the Primacy of Peter. The Early Church Fathers on the Catholic Church and the term Catholic. The Early Church Fathers on the importance of the Roman Catholic Church centered in Rome.