Confession and Penance

[Treybor]

So today I went to a private confession with a priest and after the confession the priest told me to say a few prayers as my penance. So I walked out of the room we were in (part of the building connected to the church) and proceeded to go home and as I walked home I said the penance. Does this suffice or must prayers of penance be done in church?

 

[RosaryFan]

So today I went to a private confession with a priest and after the confession the priest told me to say a few prayers as my penance. So I walked out of the room we were in (part of the building connected to the church) and proceeded to go home and as I walked home I said the penance. Does this suffice or must prayers of penance be done in church?

It is not a necessity that your penance be done in Church. Sometimes for penance, we’re told to perform an act of charity. If charity can be done outside of Church (and hopefully it is), then so can your prayers of penance.

 

[Edmundus1581]

Did he tell you to say the prayers in the church?

So, your penance is legally fulfilled.

I would personally recommend that in future you attempt to say the prayers in the church, or in a time and place set aside for prayer.

Occassionally, if my penance - such as a meditation, or a prayer - is suitable for a quiet, outdoors place, or being said in an alternative way (eg. in a group) then I consciously do that. However, in general, I aim to use the preferred places for prayer.