Are we required to say our penance kneeling?

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ProdigalSon1211

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How do we say our penance? Can we do it standing or kneeling? I always had this feeling that we are mandated to say our penance only in a pew while kneeling? I went to confession yesterday during Mass and I said my penance while standing at the front entrance of the Church. I usually kneel in a pew and say my penance after confession but this Church was kinda packed.
 
Unless the priest specifies that you must kneel, the answer is no. The rule of thumb is that your penance is to be said before you leave the church building. However, the priest might give a penance other than prayers to be recited that cannot be immediately performed. For example, performing an act of mercy.
 
My spiritual director loves to give me penances that start out “For the next week, take some time each day and…” I certainly hope I don’t have to kneel in church that entire time!!
 
G_S said:
Unless the priest specifies that you must kneel, the answer is no. The rule of thumb is that your penance is to be said before you leave the church building. However, the priest might give a penance other than prayers to be recited that cannot be immediately performed. For example, performing an act of mercy.
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Do you pray usually while kneeling? You can take that into consideration. I often pray while kneeling, but not always.

Upon my return to the Church after many years away, I was given a certain prayer as a penance. I asked the priest if I could pray it when I got home, as I did not have access to do it there, and he told me that was fine.

Also, to the OP, I’d recommend thinking of it as ‘praying’ instead of ‘saying’ your penance (if it’s Hail Mary, Our Father, Act of Love/Mercy/Faith/Hope, Rosary, etc). I have to remember that myself sometimes.
 
For a confession penance like saying 2 our fathers or 7 hail mary’s etc. I like to do my penance in a pew while kneeling because I have always felt that this was the proper way to do a penance.
 
ProdigalSon1211 said:
How do we say our penance? Can we do it standing or kneeling? I always had this feeling that we are mandated to say our penance only in a pew while kneeling? I went to confession yesterday during Mass and I said my penance while standing at the front entrance of the Church. I usually kneel in a pew and say my penance after confession but this Church was kinda packed.
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Unless the priest tells you to kneel there is no need.
Also depends what the penance is anyway. If the priest tells you to wash your dad’s car it would be pretty hard to do that kneeling!
 
Normally I do my prayer as my penance kneeling as I tend to get prayer penances and the churches have pews & kneelers. But some do sit down to pray but perhaps they have a health reason or age reason that prevents them from kneeling.
 
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