Didn't Francis have to beat his to get the vermin out? We're gettin' lax guys. I think the rule should be 'when it stands up on its own then it needs a wash'.
There is definitely the correlation between humility and cleanliness (or lack thereof) in the early church. St Simeon Sytlites was famous (notorious) for his lack of hygiene. There are many stories of him being so pungeant that the other monks of his order couldn't eat around him, hence his finding a nice solitary pillar to camp out on. Another story which makes me furrow my brow is that he was fond of pulling maggots out of his beard to give as gifts to people, which would "miraculously" turn into pearls.
To me, there is vanity and there is hygiene. I can see banning hair products or mustache wax but keep them soapy suds a comin.
Faithful, or even just thoughtful criticisms are always welcome. Uninformed rudeness to other posters or to the Lord and His Church is not.
I also reserve the right to reject comments promoting things like private revelations and fringe points of view, if it seems to me like they are being presented in a misleading way.
If you raise a disagreement with something I say but I do not respond, please do not feel slighted or insulted, or imagine that this automatically means I disagree or agree with you. It's just that I don't find the comment box to be a constructive medium for certain forms of debate.
Please please tell me that it is a joke. Will send laundry detergent, fabric softner and quarters if needed....
ReplyDeletePlease say it isn't so.
ReplyDeletePerhaps wearing a habit for such a long time is a form of mortification us ordinary people haven't taken up yet!!! :)
ReplyDeleteI have found that in the Eastern church...it is unfortunately not a joke.
ReplyDeleteDidn't Francis have to beat his to get the vermin out? We're gettin' lax guys. I think the rule should be 'when it stands up on its own then it needs a wash'.
ReplyDeleteBr Tom - can I just say...eeeek. : )
ReplyDeleteThere is definitely the correlation between humility and cleanliness (or lack thereof) in the early church. St Simeon Sytlites was famous (notorious) for his lack of hygiene. There are many stories of him being so pungeant that the other monks of his order couldn't eat around him, hence his finding a nice solitary pillar to camp out on. Another story which makes me furrow my brow is that he was fond of pulling maggots out of his beard to give as gifts to people, which would "miraculously" turn into pearls.
To me, there is vanity and there is hygiene. I can see banning hair products or mustache wax but keep them soapy suds a comin.