Confession

[John_of_Woking]

This question was posed to Fr. Sherpa recently
Recently, when I went to the confessional I remembered the priest giving me absolution but for some reason when I got out I totally forgot the penance. In fact, I didn’t remember if the priest gave me penance …maybe he forgot??! (I admit I have been having some senior moments lately). Not knowing what to do and too embarressed to go back into the confessional I said 3 Hail Marys and 3 Our Fathers. Was this the right thing to do?

Fr. Vincent replied:

Yes that is perfectly fine (or words to that effect)
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The same thing happened to me today I think it was just one Our Father but I can’t be certain if there were any others. I did the same. So I followed this advice. Just prayed several of the usuals

Just two questions 1) i don’t need to say to the next priest in confession that I forgot my last penance right? I probably won’t see that priest again 2) if you did say you forgot your penance would you be required to confess again?

 

[PaulfromIowa]

1. i don’t need to say to the next priest in confession that I forgot my last penance right?

1. if you did say you forgot your penance would you be required to confess again?

No, having a failing memory is not a sin. The validity of absolution does not depend on doing the penance.

 

[amsjj]

I always take a list of what I’m going to say b/c going in or coming out, I used to always forget something! Now I just jot down my penance with a little pencil and then when all’s done, destroy the paper.

By the way, his name is Father Serpa; the Dominicans used to be our priests at the Newman Center.

take care!
amsjj
+++
Jesus, God and man,
imprisoned by love in Thy most holy Sacrament,
have mercy upon us.

• Blessed John Henry Newman, December 22, 1851

Tú y yo sabemos por la fe que oculto en las especies sacramentales está Cristo,
ese Cristo con su Cuerpo, con su Sangre, con su Alma, y con su Divinidad,
prisonero de amor.

• San Josemaría Escrivá, 1 junio 1974

God loves to be resisted in His displeasure, and to be restrained by the humble from inflicting punishment… One saint will often save a nation; so true is it that humble souls are the hinges on which God moves the world.

• Abp. W. B. Ullathorne, The Groundwork of the Christian Virtues, 1882.

 

[Mary_Ellen]

I forgot what my penance from last week was, too! I said the Chaplet of Mercy instead.

My confessors tend to get creative with me so it’s sometimes hard to remember unless I write it down. This week was the Third Luminous Mystery of of the Rosary and pray for a particular intention - which I’ve already forgotten

 

[sirach2v4]

My last confession was slightly more unusual. the priest was really hard on me for the things that I confessed. I got a mini-homily for each thing. I guess I spoke slowly, so he rushed me out of the confessional – two minutes of adoration of the Eucharist in the tabernacle then say the act of contrition out there.

There were about 15 people lined up for confession, and I think he was hurrying me along, a bit.

You know how your teeth can hurt after a vigorous hygiene session at the dentist? Well, it was like that but worse, lasting for about a week.

I always want to go to confession to a priest who does not know me. I like total anonymity, if there is such a thing in the confessional.

I’m reading a commentary on the book of Ezekiel. In this one section,there is a quote from St. John Chrysostom that seems to apply to repentance and confession:

For it is God’s part to give a contrite and humbled heart, sober, self-possessed and awe struck, full of repentance and compunction [anxiety arising from guilt].