Charles Monnet (1732-1808), The Flagellation of the Penitents. Engraved by d'Ambrun

Towards the end of the eleventh century the church was exhorting ordinary men and women to chastise themselves as a form of penance. Whipping or scourging was becoming increasingly popular, and the clerics were keen that such practices should not remain the prerogative of the inmates of nunneries and monasteries. As we have seen, it was St. Pietro Damian who first organised group flagellation for laymen. In the superstitious and fearful atmosphere of the times we may suppose that many volunteers came forward, a substantial number of whom would have derived sexual satisfaction from a mode of chastisement meant to cure them of carnal thoughts.