CordOfPenance now offers sisal rope cilices in two sizes and two lengths for everyone who wishes a physical reminder of penitential petitions. You can wear a rope cilice discreetly under most clothing. Worn in this fashion, it will not attract unwanted attention: Simply tie the rope around your waist or wrap it around your thigh, and tuck in the whipped ends.
We offer cilices in two thicknesses, Standard Size 1/4″ sisal and Jumbo Size 3/8″ sisal, with whipped ends. Please refer to the product pictures for comparison. To accommodate different sizes and uses, we offer 1-yard cilices (36″) and 2-yard cilices (72″). If you would like a custom length, please contact us directly.
Wearing a cilice is an ancient way of expression mourning for transgressions – one’s own or those of the whole world – and constitutes a mild form of penance. It can extend otherwise private penitential practices into everyday life where outward expressions of penance are inappropriate or impossible.
Originally, a cilice was a woven shirt or tunic of coarse cloth much like John the Baptist’s “garment of camel’s hair”. Members of various Christian traditions (including the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, and Scottish Presbyterian churches) have used cilices as a self-imposed means of repentance and mortification of the flesh. For general penitential purposes, people often wear it during Advent and Lent. The term ‘cilice’ can refer to hair shirts of various lengths as well as to chains or ropes worn around various parts of the body.
“And the same John had his garment of camel’s hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins: and his meat was locusts and wild honey.” Mat 3:4