page_title: Controversies about Opus Dei
section_title: Corporal mortification
hierarchical_section_title: Controversies about Opus Dei / Corporal mortification
context_page_description: Opus Dei is a personal prelature within the Roman Church that has been the subject of numerous controversies.
context_section_description: Much public attention has focused on Opus Dei's encouragement of the practice of mortification, especially after descriptions of the practice appeared in the popular novel The Da Vinci Code.
  According to some critics who accuse Opus Dei of promoting "Corporal Mortification", Opus Dei numeraries, numerary assistants, and associates practice several forms of mortification.  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.  According to them, 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 practice corporal mortification, stating that "Opus Dei members do not do this (corporal mortification)". Opus Dei encourages all faithful Catholics to practice one area of mortification, beneficence to the needy, instead of corporal mortification.
  Mortification has had a long history within the Catholic Church in many different areas, e.g. being beneficent to the poor, fasting on certain days with prayers, etc. Corporal mortification, however, is a rare practice for modern Catholics. Opponents have tried to amalgamate the concepts 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.
  The Church and Opus Dei both make it clear that mortification of the flesh must only be performed under the permission and supervision of a priest and generally is in the form of a woolen cilice which does not cause physical pain but rather a constant discomfort which is then supposed to be offered to God.
caption: Closeup of a cilice—a small metal chain with inwardly pointing spikes
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