ANCIENT CILICE

This wrought iron cilice, from an ancient monastery in northern Spain, is a striking testament to the ascetic practices and rigorous discipline imposed by certain monastic orders. Designed as an instrument of penance, it is composed of intertwined circular links, forming a metal mesh that is both flexible and robust.

Its rudimentary appearance, marked by craftsmanship and the oxidation of the metal, reveals repeated use over time. What immediately catches the eye are the sharp, inward-facing hooks, designed to dig slightly into the wearer's skin. Similar to thigh or arm cilices, these spikes inflicted constant discomfort, transforming every movement into a test of faith and discipline.

This cilice could be worn around the waist, thighs, or arms, depending on the intensity of the penance sought. Each gesture became a physical reminder of Christ's sacrifice, a daily ordeal accepted in a spirit of humility and devotion. Far from being a simple religious object, it was a silent companion to prayer, worn in the shadows of monasteries, out of sight.

The visible wear of the metal suggests that it was passed down through generations of monks, perpetuating a tradition of bodily mortification over the centuries. Its structure, both flexible and rigid, allowed for more or less pressure to be applied depending on its adjustment, thus adapting to the needs of each individual.

Today, this metal cilice remains a poignant vestige of the practices of renunciation and spiritual discipline that marked certain Spanish monasteries. It embodies an era when faith was expressed through suffering and self-denial, when physical endurance was seen as a path to the purification of the soul and union with the divine.

PERIOD : 19th century
DIMENSIONS : 50 cm
SIZE : 20"

A copy of a cilice from the same period is held by the Louvre Museum in Paris, see here

The cilice, a voluntary instrument of bodily mortification, was widely adopted in various Christian communities as a means of spiritual discipline. It was intended to combat temptations while cultivating an identification with the sufferings of Jesus Christ during His Passion and the spiritual rewards that resulted from it.

                                                                                             Learn more about the cilice