Statue of a weeping penitent outside the historic St. Elizabeth's Church on Auraria Campus in Denver. Click on it to make it larger, and to purge yourself of sin.
The Devil inside
The Devil inside
Every single one of us
The Devil inside
~ Devil Inside, INXS
Lucifer was said to be the brightest angel in heaven—so powerful that the Old Testament says he dared to challenge God’s authority and was punished by being cast into the black abyss along with a host of his fallen angelic followers.
The New Testament describes Satan as “the ruler of this world,” and Christians have long blamed much of the world’s evil as well as their own personal failings on him. Many medieval monks, for example, brutally whipped themselves in an attempt to identify with Christ’s suffering, purge their bodies of sin and escape the devil’s clutches. The 11th-century zealot Dominicus Loricatus was one of the earliest flagellants, and once repeated the Psalter 20 times in a week, accompanying each psalm with a hundred lashes to his back. He went on to become a Catholic saint.
The Flagellant movement caught on and spread rapidly throughout Europe in the 12th and 13th centuries, especially among Catholics, and particularly at times of hardship like famine or plagues. The faithful made their self-mortification public, organizing processions, singing special hymns, wearing uncomfortable clothing like hair shirts, and practicing various forms of painful self-discipline, including throwing themselves onto rocky ground. Sometimes, onlookers who refused to join in were accused of being in league with the devil and beaten or tortured.
Pope Clement VI officially condemned self-flagellation in 1349. But it still persists today, with some practitioners going so far as to crucify themselves. Even the beloved Pope John Paul II apparently beat himself with a belt and slept on a bare floor to bring himself closer to Christ.
It’s seems like peculiar behavior to me. Much of what’s wrong with the world and ourselves has nothing to do with the devil, and everything to do with our own selfishness, greed and mean-spiritedness.
But in a way, I guess even the best of us often have a devil inside. One we wish we could get rid of so fervently that we’d be willing to severely punish ourselves it if we truly believed it would work.
——————————————-
And so we’ve more or less reached the end of 30 Days of Photographs, our only reward the satisfaction of knowing…well, there is no satisfaction, really. Participating in the meme is less fulfilling and more like having birds viciously peck your eyes out. Because that’s what birds do. They peck your eyes out.
Still, while I’m happy to have free time again — not that time is ever free — it always collects a toll — Ziva and I feel a little sad about the challenge coming to an end. So we were thinking, why not expand it, just a little bit?
We know you’ve all taken tons of photos, desperate to make them work for the themes. And if you’re anything like us, you have about a million of them you never used because you followed the rules and posted only one photo a day, or because they didn’t quite fit. Some of those rejected photos might even be good. We’d like to invite you to take a final look through your photos, and, if you like, post a few of the outtakes tomorrow to give them the attention they deserve.
Meanwhile, Ziva and I are going to go through everybody’s photos soon and pick our favorites from the 30 or so each of you submitted. Please feel free to do the same, if you’d like.
Thanks for playing along, and for clearly agreeing by common, if largely silent, consent that I won this non-competitive foray into photography. I appreciate your support very much. Actually, both your support and your refusal to let Ziva win. Like you, I get tired of Finland’s domination of the world, and believe we need to stand arm-in-arm to resist the Finnish incursion.
–Michael
Pleave visit my fellow participants in this meme, many of whom aren’t fellows at all:
Ziva
Nicky and Mike
Mo
Meleah
John, aka nonamedufus
Bryan, aka Unfinished Person
Mariann
Malisa
Nora
Laughing Mom
Tanya
Elizabeth A.
00dozo
Kristen
Cheryl
Katherine
One thing that I just couldn’t get down with this challenge was putting 250 words together with the photo. I think one of the “challenges” for me was that I knew my 250 words never would be as good as yours in accompanying a photo. Today’s post is a perfect example and a perfect ending to the challenge.
As for doing this again tomorrow, are you effing kidding me?!!!?
Seriously, though, I already was thinking along those lines with posting a slideshow of the outliers, so to speak. I know I didn’t use the term right, but I don’t care. I think one thing I learned from this challenge is to go with my own interpretation, right or wrong. 
Thanks again to you, Ziva and Mo for having this challenge. Let me know when y’all do it again, but not next month as I’m booked — with not doing one of these frakkin’ things. 
I like the fact my name slotted in there…seriously though, other than chatting with Ziva and saying that yes, she and Michael should do this again, I had nothing to do with it, they get all the plaudits and I thank them for it
Hey, I thought my 250 words were really good.
And Mike cheats. He goes places…like outside…in order to take photos…and not once did he brave the wandering alligators after midnite in Wetumpka, Alabama to get a blurry-ass photo of a bridge they used in a Tim Burton film that only three people remember ever watching.
Dammit!
I have to go outside, because I’m homeless. Thanks for making fun of me, Mariann. Homeless people are people, too, you know. Really gross, smelly people, sure. But people just like you.
Well, the women homeless people, anyway.
Yea! You finished the challenge. Great job, Mike!
I’m so tired……
I must say I have enjoyed all of you for the last 30 days. Michael, it is your site that I found one day and has taken me on this early morning ride. Most of the pictures I take at this time of my life are of my grandchildren and quilts that I make, and trips with friends. I felt like I knew that beaver by the end of the 30 days. I know I have seen him somewhere before. I think everyone did a great job. Thank You and Ziiva for making this happen. Nancy
A stalker!!!! I love stalkers, Nancy. But gee, you should’ve joined us. We like quilts. I even sleep under one. I don’t like grandchildren, though. Or children. They’re noisy and demanding. Awful things.
Oh wow! You naturally have an amazing post and picture for the last day!! You are a wealth of knowledge and an amazing photographer. I’m glad I came along for the ride.
Of course you win!!! Just don’t tell Nicky that I said so.
I can READ you, you know!! I’m right here! Sheesh.
That must be some OTHER Nicky. Pretend you don’t know her.
What? I thought you said I won? People will start calling you Mitt if you don’t quit flip flopping!
Well, you didn’t have to insult me like that. You could’ve just called me a Nazi or pedophile.
Mikey, knock that off. Do I have to fly out there and beat you? Do I? You know I will. But with a soft item such as a feather.
What’s the point of that?
Can’t keep a secret, can you?!?
Oh, saying this to my saintly brother is truly hilarious. If anyone has a kind heart, it is Mike. In fact, just thinking about him compared to me makes me want to, well, beat myself with a leather strap.
I’m not kind or saintly. I’m mean and hateful. Spiteful, even. Don’t believe my sister.
I’m glad this is over. Good photos though. I don’t know about that dude crying blue paint . I mean is he sad because he sinned? Sheesh, why not just quit sinning if it makes you cry? Or is he crying blue paint because of the devil? I don’t get it. The devil has made me do a few things a few times but I never cried about it. The devil made me buy that dress but you didn’t see me moping around praying or crying about it.
Is it even possible for humans not to sin? I don’t think it is. I mean, we can make choices, but all of us make mistakes. A word flies out, we want to take it back, we fail to notice someone is really hurting because we were at the mall or something. Oh, I am just in a mood. Never mind me. Now I am off to the spa.
Linda, I don’t know why he’s sad, actually. I think it’s because it was cold that day.
Anyway, I’m glad to finally know who the Devil in the Blue Dress is. I’ve always wondered.
Totally-super-fabulous photo, MWJ. Love it.
And I had a WONDERFUL time with this photo challenge, even though I am totally-super-exhausted from it.
PS: I cannot and will not chose between you and Ziva. That’s too much like the movie Sophie’s Choice.
Isn’t it tiring? I’m exhausted. All I want to do is sleep.
Let’s all take a nap tomorrow!
P.S. — This isn’t Hollywood. Choose me.
Wow! I love how the cross is really a window. It makes my mind reel to consider all the metaphors.
I hope you don’t get dizzy and fall over on the metafloor.
(Best I could do, NoName.)
Are you frakkin’ kidding me???? Post more photos tomorrow that have something to do with these gawd-forsaken prompts? I’d rather engage in self-flagellation than even try to do that.
Great photo and interesting write.
There were 18 bloggers. Why is it that this is somehow a contest between you and Ziva? Did you just need some outliers to get more comments and attention?
(My post will be up by 8:00 a.m EDT.)
The thing is, Cheryl, that I don’t mind if you beat me, or if anyone else beats me, you are all worthy of the win. But I cannot and will not ever admit to Michael beating me, even if he might technically be the better photographer.
It’s a contest between me and Ziva because we have the biggest egos in the room. Also, I have a really long lens, longer than her longest lens by far. I mean, it’s fucking huge, you understand?
So I win.
(Okay, okay. Maybe you won, too. But it pains me to admit it.)
This one was very powerful. Me likey a lot. Good job, Mike.
You love me long time, then?
Mate I want to post outtakes, not sure if I’ll get the time to get it up tomorrow, but we’ll see…
However, regarding your photo today I really like it. It feels slightly odd seeing a curved wall framed like that, the effect is really cool.
I love the penitent statue. I agree with you on the (paraphrased) notion that much of what is wrong is hardly the devil, and the self-flagellation thing freaks me out, but the statue itself I really appreciate, looking up with the cross behind.
Sorry you won’t be able to get it up tomorrow, Mo. How do you know that in advance?
Mo is tired, Dufus! He knows his limits.
They make medication for that. And this pump thingy I saw advertised on late-night TV. It actually looks like a lot of fun.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed 30 days of Flagellations, and I’m super impressed with how everybody produced content day after torturous day. We’re all a bunch of masochists.
We are.
Mostly Ziva, on account of the whip. I wonder if she also has matching boots?
I’m with CheesyMike – well, not literally; we’re about 120 kilometres apart – on this little exercise being one of self-flagellation some days *Bring out your dead*. And now while I can hardly stand you want me to whip myself again tomorrow? Maybe if Ziva did it. And maybe if Ziva did it she’d win!
Oh, I love your photo today, Mike. Quite striking. I clicked on it and am saved.
Welcome to the fold, brother NoName. Your sins were many. But those who fall the farthest, fly the highest.
Great photo, BonyMike, and interesting take on today’s theme. Besides enduring the suffering of self-flagellation, this guy looks like he was praying to get his eyes pecked out but instead only got shit upon by the Bluebird of Happiness.
Oh, and thanks for the last-minute notification of the outakes but I might have to delay it a few days.
Maybe he’s crying because a bird just pecked at his eyes. I hadn’t thought about that.
I love this photo. It’s “just” a photo of a statue, but the composition is absolutely flawless, and I just cannot get enough of the cross, and the hint of green behind the cross. I can’t say I care much for self-flagellation, though, and I’m in no hurry to get rid of the devil inside of me, we get along quite well.
I am, however, glad that this challenge is coming to an end.. Promise me we’ll think twice the next time we have this bright idea??
Seriously, though, thank you Michael, for being my partner in crime. We make a good team, you and I.
I totally win.
Shhh, Ziva. I told you not to tell!!!
It’s okay, we all know who the real winner. Let her live in her fantasy world like I often do. She’s happier that way.
Not that the photo isn’t great – the statue is kinda creeping me out. Not in the way that the Doctor Who “Weeping Angels” statues creep me out…because that’s one scary ass concept there, but because the face on this thing looks like the faces in that one “Twlight Zone” episode (I believe called) “The Masks”. It’s where the dying old guy gives each family member a contorted mask to wear before he dies – and they have to keep them on until midnite or face being taken out of the will. Then at midnite, one by one, they go to remove their masks…and underneath them…well, one of them looks EXACTLY like this statue!
I’m hiding under my bed now. This is truly frightening.
I don’t think I wanted to know that much about flatulation. Oh, wait…your post is about flagellation. That isn’t the same, is it? I’m bad.
You choose the coolest damn places to shoot your photographs. It’s so nice to live in a city of culture. I have fighting cocks, alligators and racists to photograph and I’m scared of all three! Your photo today is striking. I would love to see this one in person. The tears are amazing. Did you adjust the color on those tears or are they really that color? The depth of the cross plays with my mind a little big. It is an awesome vignette for your camera and your skills.
Thanks again for inviting me! Just as in my youth, I’m ready to do it again!
However, I might need a slight break to rest up a bit. I’m already having a little withdrawal from getting comments from all of these cool people each day. I thank you for pushing me in a creative way. I needed that.
Malisa, I couldn’t be happier that you joined us. You raised the bar in this non-competition, and you were a hoot to boot. As for living in a hick town, I think it’d be fun to photograph racists, alligators and fighting cocks. Maybe especially the latter. I don’t bend that direction, but that’s something I’ve never seen before.
“This guy looks like he was praying to get his eyes pecked out but instead only got shit upon by the Bluebird of Happiness.” Ha ha ha! Brilliant!
That’s the Double-O we all know and love.
Or avoid.
Mostly avoid.
What creeps me out is the history of the Catholic church. Why beat ourselves literally when life does this to us anyway? I don’t know why life is like this. No, we cannot blame Satan. Well, only if we are hearing Satan in our head at which juncture the best course of action is perhaps a PET scan and some psychotropics. But please no leeches. I just hate slimly things. I put spiders outside and I do not squish any insects at all, not even worms. I really like to see birds eating them because I certainly do not want to eat them. However, back to the Catholic church. They are so generous but I find them to be kind of odd. Do Catholics like fried and breaded worms? You’re the historian, Mike. Tell us.
Oh, and thanks for putting the song into my head. Thanks a lot. Now I really do have to fly there and force you to listen to some horrible disco music. I will start with Disco Duck.
Chinese Catholics, and there aren’t many, do eat fried worms. But not usually breaded. Bread is a peculiarly Western food, not often found in Asian meals.