Biblical Foundations

Roman Catholic tradition regarding the Pillar of the Scourging arises from the Gospel accounts of the Passion. All four canonical Gospels recount that Jesus was arrested, tried, and—upon the orders of Pontius Pilate—scourged before being led to his crucifixion (see Matthew 27:26, Mark 15:15, Luke 23:16, and John 19:1). The Gospels do not specify the presence of a pillar, but the practice of binding those to be scourged to a column or pillar was common in

Roman punishment.

Matthew 27:26, Douay-Rheims: “Then he released to them Barabbas: and having scourged Jesus, delivered him unto them to be crucified.”

John 19:1: “Then therefore, Pilate took Jesus, and scourged him.”

Early Christian Tradition and Artistic Depictions

The earliest extra-biblical references to the Pillar of the Scourging emerge from apocryphal writings and early Christian commentaries. The idea that Jesus was bound to a column or pillar became widespread in the patristic era, finding visual expression in Christian art as early as the fourth century. In mosaics, frescoes, and illuminated manuscripts, Christ is often depicted tied to a short pillar or column, hands above his head, as Roman soldiers wield whips.

Liturgical and Devotional Significance

The Scourging at the Pillar is one of the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, meditated upon during prayer. Saint Bridget of Sweden (1303–1373), a mystic and visionary, provided detailed descriptions of Christ's Passion in her “Revelations,” emphasizing his sufferings during the scourging. Her visions influenced late medieval piety and the development of devotion to the instruments of the Passion, including the pillar.

In the Catholic liturgical tradition, the memory of Christ’s scourging is commemorated especially during Holy Week, with the Stations of the Cross (the second station often depicting the Flagellation) and various Passion plays.

The Relic: Location and Pilgrimage

The most venerated physical object identified as the Pillar of the Scourging is housed in the Basilica of Santa Prassede in Rome. According to tradition, Saint Helena, mother of Constantine the Great and a renowned collector of Christian relics, brought the column from Jerusalem to Rome in the fourth century.

The relic is a short, porphyry column about 63 centimeters high and 13 centimeters in diameter, set within a side chapel richly decorated with mosaics. The Pillar’s veneration as a tangible connection to the Passion is longstanding.

Pilgrimage and Indulgences: During the medieval period, the relic became a focus of pilgrimage. Papal decrees sometimes attached indulgences to visiting or venerating the pillar, demonstrating its importance in the spirituality of the Church.

Historical Descriptions and Accounts

Medieval Pilgrims and Chroniclers

Medieval pilgrims who visited Jerusalem frequently mentioned seeing a column or pillar at the site identified as the scene of Christ’s scourging, in or near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Notably, the “Itinerarium Burdigalense” (Bordeaux Pilgrim, ca. 333 AD) and later accounts such as those by Egeria (late 4th century) describe the places associated with Christ’s Passion, though references to the specific pillar emerge more distinctly later on.

Jacobus de Voragine’s “Golden Legend” (13th century)

The “Golden Legend” popularized the story that the pillar was the very one to which Christ was bound, and described its miraculous powers. “Then they brought Christ into the Praetorium and bound him to a column, and there they scourged him.”

Art and Iconography

Artists such as Fra Angelico, Caravaggio, and others rendered the scourging scene with a pillar—sometimes short and stubby, sometimes taller—serving as the focal point of Christ’s torment. The physical characteristics of the pillar in art tend to follow the Romanesque and Gothic traditions of the locations in which the artworks were created.

Theological Meaning and Symbolism

Catholic theologians and mystics have reflected on the Pillar of the Scourging as a symbol of Christ’s obedience and redemptive suffering. In the “Summa Theologica,” St. Thomas Aquinas references the Passion as a whole, noting the significance of each torment Christ underwent, including the scourging, as acts of atonement (cf. III, q.46, a.6).

The pillar itself became a symbol of patient endurance and spiritual steadfastness, inspiring devotional practices such as the veneration of the Sacred Wounds and the Instruments of the Passion.

Modern Catholic Devotion

Today, the Pillar of the Scourging remains an object of veneration, especially in Rome. Pilgrims visit Santa Prassede to pray before the relic. Throughout the world, churches depict the Flagellation at the Pillar in stained glass, sculpture, and painting, continuing the tradition of meditating upon this moment in Christ’s Passion.

Christ Have Mercy!