The Sainty for Most Bizarre Mortification

Deny thyself, take up thy cross and follow me...yes yes mortification is all well and good however there are some saints that make you...uhm...shall we say...gag a bit?

Anyway, the Sainty for the most bizarre mortification goes to...

ST. ROSE OF LIMA

for

RUBBING HER FACE WITH LYE

St. Rose of Lima did not want to be pretty.  Out of a desire to protect those around her from the sin of lust, she rubbed lye all over herself, particularly her face.  She also did other WTF acts of penance such as holding her hands in a fire, sleeping on a bed of bricks, she also once cut off all her hair and rubbed pepper in her eyes to distract her suitors.  Well, at least she's comfy now.  The sainty for the most bizarre mortification is all yours, Rosey!

p.s. if you want to know what your skin would look like if you rubbed lye on it, click here.  I wouldn't gross all of you out by just leaving it out in the open.  YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED THOUGH ITS NASTY.

The Sainties: Category 6 Voting

The Sainty Awards is a little theme week here at Saint Kitsch in honour of our favourite Saints that make us swell with happiness God hasn't asked us to be them.

CATEGORY

Most Bizarre Mortification

And The Nominees Are...

• St. Rose of Lima

Rubbing lye (i.e. flesh rotter.) on her face to make herself less attractive

• St. Simeon Stylites

Living, standing, on top of a pillar for 39 years to "get away from it all"

• St. Ignatious of Loyla

Weighted chain around the private parts (I suppose for obvious reasons.)

• St. Macarious the Egyptian

Six months in the desert naked, stung perpetually by flies as penance for killing a flea.