I experienced this beating of the chest with a group of pilgrims in Isfahan during Muharram [1], and then again on television in the evening. I remembered it again when I read Romano Guardini's „Von heiligen Zeichen“ [2]. One might be surprised that I am reading an old book by Guardini [3], but I discovered it in a public bookshelf. And on the cover page of the book, it said: „Guardini unfolds the entire beauty of sacred signs. Even in the Protestant Church, signs and symbols should once again receive a living interpretation and appreciation, as we Protestants have become estranged from the pieces of liturgy.“ This was attributed to a paper called „Sonntagsbote“, which I could no longer locate.
Guardini writes: „And every time they utter the word „guilt“ [culpa], they strike their chest.“ And further: „It is a strike, not a delicate gesture.“ „Therefore, priests and people strike their chest when confessing their sins during the Gradual Prayer.“ „Likewise, the believers strike their chest when the host and chalice are elevated during the transubstantiation.“
Striking the chest is a minor means, as in the Middle Ages, there were flagellants in the Christian realm who performed public penance rituals by whipping themselves with whips or other instruments. Even in the 20th century, there was a group of flagellants in Spain known as „Los disciplinantes.“ This is no longer allowed in modern Iran – yes, the Islamic Republic of Iran is a modern state despite all media attempts – but one can still obtain the tools for it, as I have described before [4].
The guardian of a German Capuchin monastery once told me that he was among the first novices who had the choice of whether to whip themselves on Fridays. For this purpose, the refectory was prepared (shutters closed) and they whipped themselves together – we talk about the 1960s. The novices of that time no longer wanted this practice, but I imagine that it still exists in Opus die or similar conservative groups. The participants of the procession that went to Masjid e Jameh in Isfahan struck their chests vigorously, with women being exempted. However, the participants from Afghanistan struck their chests particularly forcefully.
In the evening, I saw a preacher on an Iranian channel reciting verses in front of a red inscription, with a huge hall full of men reciting after him and striking their chests vigorously. The scene was bathed in green. Red symbolizes love for God and devotion to faith. Green is associated with paradise and is considered a particularly positive color in Islam. That's why this arrangement was so impressive. The atmosphere came across perfectly, and one could almost smell the sweat (a little digression on my part).
Bruno Guardini reminds me that people in faith are much closer to each other than the hate preachers of any denomination want us to believe.
Links and Annotations:
[1] https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2018/11/a-procession-at-masjid-e-jameh-isfahan.html
[2] Romano Guardini (17 February 1885 – 1 October 1968) was an Italian, naturalized German Catholic priest, philosopher, and theologian. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romano_Guardini
[3] Romano Guardini: Von heiligen Zeichen (1922–1925) [Of Sacred Symbols]. Matthias-Grünewald-Verlag, Mainz o.J. um 1950, 102.-111. Tausend, S. 19-20.
[4] „Public flagellation, however, is forbidden in Iran. One might see such things at Karbala.“ I've seen this shop in Tabriz. https://rheumatologe.blogspot.com/2018/11/paraphernalia-for-muharram.html
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