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JD27076
Guest
Can a penance, such as “Fasting from the computer… excluding school”… Is that legalistic and gives too many exceptions? Would a priest give you that penance if you recommended it to him?
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G
Gorgias
Guest
What do you mean by ‘legalistic’?
Also, I’ve never heard of a situation in which a penitent offered a suggested penance to his confessor; typically, it works the other way 'round…
Also, I’ve never heard of a situation in which a penitent offered a suggested penance to his confessor; typically, it works the other way 'round…
J
JD27076
Guest
Haha you’re right! But I believe that a penitent can recommend a penance that better suits his or her spirituality and healing from sin and the priest can impose it.What do you mean by ‘legalistic’?
Also, I’ve never heard of a situation in which a penitent offered a suggested penance to his confessor; typically, it works the other way 'round…
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Ad_Orientem
Guest
The great spiritual teachers tell us that it is more valuable to mortify your will by not choosing the penance, than to choose a penance that “suits your spirituality,” even if the penance you’d chose would be more valuable in itself. If we choose hard penances and carry them out we might grow prideful; and if we choose light ones they may have little value. But there is always value, and humility, in mortifying the will, which is the hardest thing to do.
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Gorgias
Guest
Interesting. My understanding is that a priest cannot impose a penance against a penitent’s will, and therefore, the penitent can reject a potential penance. That would mean that the priest would suggest another alternative, although I’ve never heard that a penitent might suggest the 2nd choice himself…
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babochka
Guest
Well, my husband jokingly suggested a penance for me to my confessor last week. Father said he’d be sure to consider it.What do you mean by ‘legalistic’?
Also, I’ve never heard of a situation in which a penitent offered a suggested penance to his confessor; typically, it works the other way 'round…
Seriously, though. I’ve let my confessor know of penances that he’s given that I’ve found particularly helpful, but I can’t imagine actually suggesting one.
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Avila123
Guest
I am a bit confused. Are people getting penances with an “End by date?”
Without going into detail, during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, having confessed, I receive words of guidance, sometimes there is something I need to do plus the penance which ends with the “sin no more” and I promise not to sin again. The sin no more, is not specific to the detail of the confession and is a life time commitment which I must do my best to follow. Alongside this is another lifetime penance.
Being very imperfect, I do sin again, repent, confess, sin, repent etc etc.
If I chose the penance, I would start with something easy, then get guilty and pick something nearly as hard as never sinning again and fail miserably. I think it is safer to leave it to the priest as he is doing what God tells him to do.
Surely, at the end of the day, the penance should be what God decides as he is love, divine mercy and the best judge.
Without going into detail, during the Sacrament of Reconciliation, having confessed, I receive words of guidance, sometimes there is something I need to do plus the penance which ends with the “sin no more” and I promise not to sin again. The sin no more, is not specific to the detail of the confession and is a life time commitment which I must do my best to follow. Alongside this is another lifetime penance.
Being very imperfect, I do sin again, repent, confess, sin, repent etc etc.
If I chose the penance, I would start with something easy, then get guilty and pick something nearly as hard as never sinning again and fail miserably. I think it is safer to leave it to the priest as he is doing what God tells him to do.
Surely, at the end of the day, the penance should be what God decides as he is love, divine mercy and the best judge.
J
JRKH
Guest
One need not wait for a priest to impose a penance. If you feel that fasting from the computer (except for school) is a good thing then by all means do so.
As for the “legalistic” aspect…that one confused me too a bit.
My first thought was that yes it could be - or become “legalistic” if one becomes too focused on the act itself instead of on the desired effect and benefit of the act. This is true of any penance, any fast, any discipline that we might undertake.
Peace
James
As for the “legalistic” aspect…that one confused me too a bit.
My first thought was that yes it could be - or become “legalistic” if one becomes too focused on the act itself instead of on the desired effect and benefit of the act. This is true of any penance, any fast, any discipline that we might undertake.
Peace
James
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