Controversies About Opus Dei - Corporal Mortification

Corporal Mortification

Much public attention has focused on Opus Dei's encouragement of the practice of mortification.

In spite of the clarification made by Opus Dei over the issue, many remained hostile to the community and carried on with the rumours after the descriptions in the novel The Da Vinci Code. According to some critics who accuse Opus Dei of promoting "Corporal Mortification", they believe that Opus Dei Numeraries, Numerary Assistants, and Associates practice several forms of mortification. Critics also believe that some more extreme forms exist. One of the more-controversial forms of mortification involves the use of a cilice — a small metal chain with inwardly pointing spikes that is worn around the upper thigh. The cilice's spikes cause pain and may leave small marks, but typically do not cause bleeding. Numeraries in Opus Dei generally wear a cilice for two hours each day. However, according to a statement released by the Prelature of Opus Dei members of Opus Dei have never been required to practise corporal mortification, stating that "Opus Dei members do not do this (corporal mortification)". Opus Dei encourages all the faithful Catholics to practise one area of mortification, beneficence to the needy, instead of corporal mortification.

Mortification has had a long history within the Catholic Church and involved many different areas, e.g. being beneficent to the poor, fasting on certain days with prayers, etc.. Corporal mortification, however, is a rare practise of Catholics, limited largely to a historical content of Christianity. Opponents have tried to mingle up the concept of "mortification" as a collective term and Corporal Mortification, accusing Opus Dei of promoting Corporal Mortification. Opus Dei points out Mortification was practiced by many highly revered individuals such as Mother Teresa, Óscar Romero and Padre Pio. Opus Dei members accuse the secularised world of accepting physical pain and sacrifice in other domains (such as athletics, business, and personal beautification), but objecting to beneficent acts when done for a religious purpose.

Critics have called mortification a questionable and startling practice since they perceive mortification (as a collective term) as equal to corporal mortification. They mistake the terminology of mortification in Catholicism as limited to "Corporal Mortification" only and spread the poorly received message around, causing misunderstanding of the faithful community. Critics say the practice borders on masochism, and opponents of Opus Dei often criticize Escriva's maxim on suffering: "Loved be pain. Sanctified be pain. Glorified be pain!" This is due to the twisted interpretation of the word pain when used in religious context can be referred to as sacrifice of material needs for the poor.