Penitential practices

With the intention of subjugating the physical body and the desires, a number of penitential practices, whether personal or prescribed to members of a group, have been and are employed. Mortifications include the practice of silence and sleeping on the ground or on bare boards. Other practices which are more violent have been dropped by some orders as they are considered psychologically unhealthy. They are still practised by others, however. Opus Dei, for example, prescribes the use of a cilice, of spiked bracelet around the thigh for 2 hours a day, and self-flagellation once a week.