_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].
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