U
Unicyclops
Guest
Hi, I just have a few questions about penance and sin:
I have this really bad habit of making promises to God mentally, and occasionally aloud, which I am unable to fulfill. Usually, these aforementioned promises come about out of a fear that I’ll accidentally promise something contrary to what I actually want/intend, and therefore I immediately promise to do/enact whatever my actual intent is. I’m fully aware I’m putting myself at risk of mortal sin by making such promises, but I feel unable to stop!
A lot of times I’ll promise to eat an extra helping of whatever dinner is, for example, out of fear that I’ll promise fasting, which has happened on multiple occasions. Normally, I’ll try my best to fulfill any promises I make in this manner, but sometimes it’s just not possible or I’ll make so many in one day I forget what my actual obligations are! 
I know this is a horrible habit and results in mortal sin, but I’m unsure of how to break it.
Also, what would be an appropriate confession for such sin(s)? Though I try to follow Catholic doctrine, as well as attend a Catholic school, I was born to an Episcopalian and I am therefore pretty much unable to receive confession (doing so would result in my priest working additional hours, and, as I don’t think she’s particularly fond of me, I don’t feel she’ll welcome the extra time commitment). Consequently, I’ll usually just assign myself a penance for any sins I commit, though I’m fully aware doing so won’t result in absolution, in order to gain some alleviation of guilt. I also might be a little OCD in this regard, which is where my next question comes in. I seem to have decided on forty Our Fathers being an appropriate penance, but have since been procrastinating completing them. This procrastination leads me to think that maybe the penance I gave myself was a bit excessive, or maybe I’m just lazy. Does anyone know some good guidelines as to what an appropriate penance is for various categories of sin? Any help would be much appreciated.
God bless,
Alison
I have this really bad habit of making promises to God mentally, and occasionally aloud, which I am unable to fulfill. Usually, these aforementioned promises come about out of a fear that I’ll accidentally promise something contrary to what I actually want/intend, and therefore I immediately promise to do/enact whatever my actual intent is. I’m fully aware I’m putting myself at risk of mortal sin by making such promises, but I feel unable to stop!
A lot of times I’ll promise to eat an extra helping of whatever dinner is, for example, out of fear that I’ll promise fasting, which has happened on multiple occasions. Normally, I’ll try my best to fulfill any promises I make in this manner, but sometimes it’s just not possible or I’ll make so many in one day I forget what my actual obligations are! I know this is a horrible habit and results in mortal sin, but I’m unsure of how to break it.Also, what would be an appropriate confession for such sin(s)? Though I try to follow Catholic doctrine, as well as attend a Catholic school, I was born to an Episcopalian and I am therefore pretty much unable to receive confession (doing so would result in my priest working additional hours, and, as I don’t think she’s particularly fond of me, I don’t feel she’ll welcome the extra time commitment). Consequently, I’ll usually just assign myself a penance for any sins I commit, though I’m fully aware doing so won’t result in absolution, in order to gain some alleviation of guilt. I also might be a little OCD in this regard, which is where my next question comes in. I seem to have decided on forty Our Fathers being an appropriate penance, but have since been procrastinating completing them. This procrastination leads me to think that maybe the penance I gave myself was a bit excessive, or maybe I’m just lazy. Does anyone know some good guidelines as to what an appropriate penance is for various categories of sin? Any help would be much appreciated.
God bless,
Alison