Punishment or voluntary penance administered by means of a whip, rod, or stick; mentioned in both Old and New Testaments. In the fifth and succeeding centuries it was employed as a sanction in monastic discipline, and in the 13th century canon law recognized it as a punishment for ecclesiastics. Abuse of the practise of self-flagellation gave rise to the sect known as Flagellants.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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