CHAP. XI.
Disciplines of the same wholesome kind have been prescribed for Novices, and such persons as are intended to embrace the Ecclesiastical Life.
THE framers of Rules and Statutes of religious Orders have also extended their attention to the young Men and Novices brought up in Convents; and have ordered flagellations to be inflicted upon them, for the improvement of their morals. In the Rule framed by the holy Fathers Serapion, Macarius, and Paphnutius, which is to be found in the Collection of Holstenius, it is ordered, ‘That if any Novice is found guilty of theft, he shall be lashed with rods, and never admitted to the degree of Clerk.’
St. Pacom, in that Rule which was dictated to him by an Angel, expresses himself in the following terms: ‘Let those Boys who are regardless of the evil consequences of sin, and are so imprudent as not to mind the judgments of Heaven, in case admonitions prove useless, be whipped till they have the fear of God.’
In the Rule of St. Benedict, Art. LXX. flagellations are prescribed as excellent methods of improving the minds of such Boys as are brought up to the Ecclesiastic life; and are more particularly recommended to be used till they are fifteen years of age.
St. Isidorus, archbishop of Seville, observes, that Boys ought not to be excommunicated for their sins, but that this awful mode of correction ought to be supplied, with them, by flagellations.
At the same time, lest those who were to inspect the conduct of the Novices, should suffer themselves to be influenced by passion, in the flagellations they were directed to inflict, an express provision was made in the Rule of St. Benedict, that such Teachers as should be guilty of the above fault, should themselves receive a sound flogging[64].
