Asking for MORE penance?

[dje101]

Hi all,

I went to my first confession the other day and the priest told me that my penance was to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I felt bad for my sins and was thinking, is it wrong to ask the priest for MORE penance if I feel convicted? If I feel that I am getting off a little easy, is it appropriate to ask the priest for more penance?

Just curious…

Thanks,

Derek

 

[YoungTradCath]

You can absolutely ask for a different penance, although many people don’t know that. I would guess that, by extension, you could request more penance as well.

 

[EasterJoy]

You’re not under the impression that the penance in some way “pays for” how bad your sin was, right? You’re getting off for free and you always do, you do know that, right? The penance you are given after you confess is required, and yes it is an act of reparation, but it more like a physician’s prescription than payment on a debt. It gives you an act of love and a way to express your desire and resolution to amend your life that the physician of your soul chooses for you.

As it turns out, doing penance ought to be part of our regular spiritual diet. If you feel you ought to be making more of these acts of self-sacrifice as acts of love and reparation and a desire to reconcile yourself and all of humanity…do it!

 

[LilyM]

You can absolutely ask for a different penance, although many people don’t know that. I would guess that, by extension, you could request more penance as well.

Obedience is a virtue though, so it’s not a good idea to go chopping and changing penances on a whim.

Of course if you’re given a penance that you really think you won’t be able to do for some reason (eg a prayer you don’t know or a book to read that you might not be able to get a copy of) then you certainly should request something else.

 

[YoungTradCath]

Obedience is a virtue though, so it’s not a good idea to go chopping and changing penances on a whim.

Of course if you’re given a penance that you really think you won’t be able to do for some reason (eg a prayer you don’t know or a book to read that you might not be able to get a copy of) then you certainly should request something else.

How is it disobedient to ask for a different penance?

 

[LilyM]

How is it disobedient to ask for a different penance?

Because his imposition of a penance on you is an exercise of his spiritual authority over you. A challenge to the penance he imposes is a challenge to that authority and a criticism of his judgement in the exercise of that authority.

For what reason do you ask for a harder or different penance? Generally a sense that one knows better than the priest what penance is appropriate. In other words spiritual pride. Or else one doesn’t fully trust that one’s sins are forgiven unless one has a tough penance. The sin of despair. Or else a desire to advertise oneself to the priest as being eotehr especially holy or an especially bad sinner. Yet again both are different forms of spiritual pride.

All betray something of a rebellious spirit, an inclination to not docilely accept the legitimate commands of authority.

Not that such can never be done, but it is more excellent to accept the authority and the penance if it is not too difficult to do. One can always add extra or different penances outside the confessional if desirous.

 

[Steady_Eddy]

Because his imposition of a penance on you is an exercise of his spiritual authority over you. A challenge to the penance he imposes is a challenge to that authority and a criticism of his judgement in the exercise of that authority.

For what reason do you ask for a harder or different penance? Generally a sense that one knows better than the priest what penance is appropriate. In other words spiritual pride. Or else one doesn’t fully trust that one’s sins are forgiven unless one has a tough penance. The sin of despair. Or else a desire to advertise oneself to the priest as being eotehr especially holy or an especially bad sinner. Yet again both are different forms of spiritual pride.

All betray something of a rebellious spirit, an inclination to not docilely accept the legitimate commands of authority.

Not that such can never be done, but it is more excellent to accept the authority and the penance if it is not too difficult to do. One can always add extra or different penances outside the confessional if desirous.

Hello there,

Nice answer you gave, very well said indeed. If you can’t accept the penance there’s a chance you might not accept the absolution, then where would we be? Or to put it another way “If you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime”

2 Cor 13:13
Eddy Barry

 

[joshua_b]

We are free, and even encouraged, to do regular penance of our own volition. Usually, requesting a different penance in the confessional is out of concern one not being able to complete the penance prescribed by our confessor, thus rendering the absolution invalid.

Personally, I would trust that the penance given was sufficient, and let the confession stand on its own. If you are compelled to offer penance outside of that, you certainly can do so. Our penance does not need to be tied specifically to the confessional.

Just be careful to avoid scrupulousness. I once heard it said that we should take great caution not to judge ourselves more harshly than God judges us.

 

[Jennet]

You’re not under the impression that the penance in some way “pays for” how bad your sin was, right? You’re getting off for free and you always do, you do know that, right? The penance you are given after you confess is required, and yes it is an act of reparation, but it more like a physician’s prescription than payment on a debt. It gives you an act of love and a way to express your desire and resolution to amend your life that the physician of your soul chooses for you.

Amen to this!

You can ask for more penance, if you must, but also remember that penance does not have to be prescribed for you to do it! I was told that the penance given to us in the confessional is basically a “bare minimum” and, after it is complete, we should joyfully and humbly seek additional ways to continue in this spirit of penance and amendment of life.

 

[TrueLight]

Hi all,

I went to my first confession the other day and the priest told me that my penance was to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I felt bad for my sins and was thinking, is it wrong to ask the priest for MORE penance if I feel convicted? If I feel that I am getting off a little easy, is it appropriate to ask the priest for more penance?

Just curious…

Thanks,

Derek

I think that’s a pretty big penance as far as penances go. My very first penance was to say an Our Father.

 

[vz71]

You’re not under the impression that the penance in some way “pays for” how bad your sin was, right? You’re getting off for free and you always do, you do know that, right? The penance you are given after you confess is required, and yes it is an act of reparation, but it more like a physician’s prescription than payment on a debt. It gives you an act of love and a way to express your desire and resolution to amend your life that the physician of your soul chooses for you.

As it turns out, doing penance ought to be part of our regular spiritual diet. If you feel you ought to be making more of these acts of self-sacrifice as acts of love and reparation and a desire to reconcile yourself and all of humanity…do it!

 

[jja619]

I think that’s a pretty big penance as far as penances go. My very first penance was to say an Our Father.

ha. Every time I go to confession at our University Center, I’m pretty sure my penance is either say an Our Father or a Glory Be. Unless a priest not from here is visiting.

 

[Itari]

Funny my penances do seem a bit lenient. Often it is just a few prayers. Come to think of it, there is some justification for a lenient penance. I think its easy to fall into a bartering system with God. For x sin i have 10 hail maries, for y 15 and one our father. and so on. I think that this could lead to the illusion that the penance can actually repay what is being done in the sacrament. Its like the parable of the two debtors the one owing a ridiculous sum getting off scot free. Its like that. From a death sentence we are freed and given a new life.

Now some sins carry extra special consequences which have the niceties of being a burden for life some may say that those consequences alone are penance. But it is good to perform more. Sometimes it even is good to prevent falling in sin. I have heard a number of people receive an interesting penance that is to help with falling into sins of masterbation and pornography. It pretty much goes like this. The first time you fall you fast one night and sleep on the floor. The second time, twice. The third, three times, and so on. So by the end you really think twice before being anything unchaste. So i think what i am getting at is that we need to know what we need, and measure our own penance in life accordingly. If you feel the need to say twice the prayers then go right ahead, but it is not to repay what is being done in confession, but for you to find in God mercy and forgiveness.

The lord rewards those who seek him and desire to be one with him. In humility, simplicity and praise may our hearts turn to him, acknowledging our guilt and ask for forgiveness and rest in the tenderness of the lords love for us.

 

[dje101]

I think that’s a pretty big penance as far as penances go. My very first penance was to say an Our Father.

Really? Hmm, I didn’t think it was that bad. When he said that was my penance, I actually thought, “oh, that’s it?” because I love praying the chalet. Maybe it had something to do with the fact that I went to confession before mass on Divine Mercy Sunday.

 

[dje101]

Amen to this!

You can ask for more penance, if you must, but also remember that penance does not have to be prescribed for you to do it! I was told that the penance given to us in the confessional is basically a “bare minimum” and, after it is complete, we should joyfully and humbly seek additional ways to continue in this spirit of penance and amendment of life.

Thanks for pointing this out, the fact that the confessional penance is the “bare minimum”. Its a good way of looking at it.

 

[porthos11]

Hi all,

I went to my first confession the other day and the priest told me that my penance was to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. I felt bad for my sins and was thinking, is it wrong to ask the priest for MORE penance if I feel convicted? If I feel that I am getting off a little easy, is it appropriate to ask the priest for more penance?

Just curious…

Thanks,

Derek

I think you could but I don’t think you should. For one, this is a wide open door to scrupulosity and you don’t want that. Accept the penance as is, perform it and consider it closed. Then you are free to perform further non-imposed penances for the intention of atoning for your sins.

It’s also an exercise in obedience to your confessor, insofar as you are accepting what he imposes without your own preferences.

 

[dje101]

Obedience is a virtue though, so it’s not a good idea to go chopping and changing penances on a whim.

Of course if you’re given a penance that you really think you won’t be able to do for some reason (eg a prayer you don’t know or a book to read that you might not be able to get a copy of) then you certainly should request something else.

I never really thought about how it could be disobedient in asking for more penance. I never considered it from the priest’s point of view though. Thanks for bringing this up. The last thing I want to do is make a mistake that could lead to problems with the priest. I’m a brand new Catholic…don’t wanna start making stupid mistakes like that.

 

[dje101]

I think you could but I don’t think you should. For one, this is a wide open door to scrupulosity and you don’t want that. Accept the penance as is, perform it and consider it closed. Then you are free to perform further non-imposed penances for the intention of atoning for your sins.

It’s also an exercise in obedience to your confessor, insofar as you are accepting what he imposes without your own preferences.

Could you explain “scrupulosity” please? I’ve heard this term thrown around, but haven’t really figured out what exactly it is referring to.

 

[porthos11]

How is it disobedient to ask for a different penance?

It’s not disobedience, but it is virtuous to accept whatever Father gives you because then you acknowledge the authority he is exercising regardless of our own personal preferences.

I think the only time one ought to ask Father for another penance is if there is a physical or moral impossibility of fulfilling it.

 

[Luna_Lovecraft]

Because his imposition of a penance on you is an exercise of his spiritual authority over you. A challenge to the penance he imposes is a challenge to that authority and a criticism of his judgement in the exercise of that authority.

For what reason do you ask for a harder or different penance? Generally a sense that one knows better than the priest what penance is appropriate. In other words spiritual pride. Or else one doesn’t fully trust that one’s sins are forgiven unless one has a tough penance. The sin of despair. Or else a desire to advertise oneself to the priest as being eotehr especially holy or an especially bad sinner. Yet again both are different forms of spiritual pride.

All betray something of a rebellious spirit, an inclination to not docilely accept the legitimate commands of authority.

Not that such can never be done, but it is more excellent to accept the authority and the penance if it is not too difficult to do. One can always add extra or different penances outside the confessional if desirous.

I like this. I like this a lot.

There’s a certain amount of humility involved in accepting and doing a penance.

Luna