>Would mysticism exist without the presence of the flesh?
Blessed souls can enjoy the beatific vision without a body, so yes. Mysticism is primarily spiritual, although not exclusively—IIRC one of the Psalms involves David writing about how his very flesh rejoices in the lord.
And I'm not sure if self-flagellation has been suppressed... St. Pope John Paul II had a discipline which he'd beat himself with, and members of Opus Dei do stuff like that to this day.
But even what is good is not always prudent. American bishops probably tried to suppress the practice because they were worried about the penitentes alienating the WASPS through a practice which admittedly strikes the modern mind as medieval in the worst way, and deeply retrograde. But while jarring (like the veneration of bones), the practice, when not exaggerated, can be a good aid to a person's holiness. Not that I would know from personal experience. But too many saints have sworn by it for it to be a bad thing (not to mention the precedent in scripture: 1 Cor 9:27). Not that it's mandatory either. If I'm not mistaken, the practice is basically unheard of in eastern Christianity (they prefer to fast).
>Would mysticism exist without the presence of the flesh?
Blessed souls can enjoy the beatific vision without a body, so yes. Mysticism is primarily spiritual, although not exclusively—IIRC one of the Psalms involves David writing about how his very flesh rejoices in the lord.
And I'm not sure if self-flagellation has been suppressed... St. Pope John Paul II had a discipline which he'd beat himself with, and members of Opus Dei do stuff like that to this day.
But even what is good is not always prudent. American bishops probably tried to suppress the practice because they were worried about the penitentes alienating the WASPS through a practice which admittedly strikes the modern mind as medieval in the worst way, and deeply retrograde. But while jarring (like the veneration of bones), the practice, when not exaggerated, can be a good aid to a person's holiness. Not that I would know from personal experience. But too many saints have sworn by it for it to be a bad thing (not to mention the precedent in scripture: 1 Cor 9:27). Not that it's mandatory either. If I'm not mistaken, the practice is basically unheard of in eastern Christianity (they prefer to fast).
Very cool! Where did you learn about this?