during carvajal's time with her uncle francisco hurtado, penitential exercises became a habitual practice for carvajal. although in modern times, these penitential practices can appear to be a form of physical abuse and torture, it is important to realize that this mode of devotion was prominent during the 16th century in spain. this form of penitence demonstrated one's devotion to god and the more one practiced this, the more the individual became empowered because they felt they were commemorating the death of christ with their own bodies. although women would punish themselves to mimic christ's passion, in her adolescence her uncle ordered her punishment. these penitential practices influenced carvajal in that later on in her life she would mortify her flesh as a symbol of meditating on christ's passion. here is vivid description by carvajal remembering her time in her uncle's household: