Continuing penance

[billcu1]

My priest gave me a continuing penance. I’ve never heard of this. Does that mean to be forgiven I have to continue doing something? Or I just need to focus on certain things? That is what he forgave me for which is a purity prayer.

 

[Warandpeace]

Is this a priest you regularly go to? Perhaps he taking on a more “spiritual director” role. To have a spiritual director is a real blessing from God to foster your relationship with Him.

 

[Bookcat]

You mean unending? Are you sure it was meant to be a penance? Sometimes Priests will give you as suggested something along with a penance.

Or for a week or something?

If the first option – one can approach another Priest in confession and seek to have your penance “changed” to have an “end” point.

 

[billcu1]

You mean unending? Are you sure it was meant to be a penance? Sometimes Priests will give you as suggested something along with a penance.

Or for a week or something?

If the first option – one can approach another Priest in confession and seek to have your penance “changed” to have an “end” point.

He said say “A prayer for purity” every morning and evening. And didn’t tell me when to stop. I see him regularly. He said say this every morning and evening. He said it was my penance. He didn’t say when to stop.

 

[Bookcat]

He said say “A prayer for purity” every morning and evening. And didn’t tell me when to stop. I see him regularly. He said say this every morning and evening. He said it was my penance. He didn’t say when to stop.

Well get an “end” time for it. A week…etc.

 

[Bookcat]

He said say “A prayer for purity” every morning and evening. And didn’t tell me when to stop. I see him regularly. He said say this every morning and evening. He said it was my penance. He didn’t say when to stop.

Well get an “end” to it. Since you see him regularly – ask him how long is it your penance. A week? So you can “fulfill” the penance. And then begins to be a recommendation.

 

[Vico]

My priest gave me a continuing penance. I’ve never heard of this. Does that mean to be forgiven I have to continue doing something? Or I just need to focus on certain things? That is what he forgave me for which is a purity prayer.

You confessed with contrition, resolved to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin, and to accept your penance. This is the correct disposition, so the absolution was given.

The question to ask is, “Is intentionally not doing my penance a mortal sin?”

 

[Jennifoo]

I sometimes go to Confession to a certain priest and he’ll give me a more involved penance, such as 3 days of self-denial. He doesn’t dictate what I have to give up- he lets me choose. I really like it. Do your penance and thank God for that priest.

 

[thistle]

My priest gave me a continuing penance. I’ve never heard of this. Does that mean to be forgiven I have to continue doing something? Or I just need to focus on certain things? That is what he forgave me for which is a purity prayer.

Absolution at Confession is NOT conditional upon a penance being done.

 

[St_Hilary]

My priest gave me a continuing penance. I’ve never heard of this. Does that mean to be forgiven I have to continue doing something? Or I just need to focus on certain things? That is what he forgave me for which is a purity prayer.

 

[St_Hilary]

St_Hilary:
I never heard of a continuing penance.

Once the priest absloves you, your sins aREa forgiven. You should have asked him what does he mean?

Because if your penance is not done, you are still in the state of sin.

I am sorry I can’t help you, but when you see your pastor ourside of the confessional, ask hiim want he meant.

God loves you.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

Because if your penance is not done, you are still in the state of sin.

No, this is not true. Absolution is not dependent upon completing one’s penance. That said, if one goes into Confession with the intention of not doing the assigned penance, absolution would be invalid. Also, if one willfully chooses not to do his penance which was given for mortal sins confessed, it is considered grave matter. If it was only for venial sins, it is a venial sin to willfully neglect to do one’s penance.

With regards to this particular penance, I would either go back to the original confessor, or a different confessor and ask for a new penance that can be fulfilled right away while still doing what was originally requested of you for the spiritual benefits of it.

 

[billcu1]

No, this is not true. Absolution is not dependent upon completing one’s penance. That said, if one goes into Confession with the intention of not doing the assigned penance, absolution would be invalid. Also, if one willfully chooses not to do his penance which was given for mortal sins confessed, it is considered grave matter. If it was only for venial sins, it is a venial sin to willfully neglect to do one’s penance.

With regards to this particular penance, I would either go back to the original confessor, or a different confessor and ask for a new penance that can be fulfilled right away while still doing what was originally requested of you for the spiritual benefits of it.

I have emailed him to clear things up. I hope he can clear things up via email.

 

[Zekariya]

He said say “A prayer for purity” every morning and evening. And didn’t tell me when to stop. I see him regularly. He said say this every morning and evening. He said it was my penance. He didn’t say when to stop.

I assume that he figured that praying for (I assume sexual) purity will help out of this dangerous sin. I also think that he didn’t mean it to be continuous to the day you die. He probably forget to set a time frame. Ask him to clarify the penance.

 

[Shin]

I never heard of a continuing penance.

It does happen, but I haven’t heard of it happening much. Not that this sort of anecdotal knowledge is any real measure.

One -can- be given penances that last one’s entire life, or until certain conditions are met.

And certainly one has a duty to pray daily for certain things in any case regardless of the penitential aspects.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

I have emailed him to clear things up. I hope he can clear things up via email.

He can’t because of the seal of the Confession. You have to see him in person or in the confessional… If you go to a different confessor, you must be in the confessional for him to commute your penance to something else.

 

[billcu1]

You mean unending? Are you sure it was meant to be a penance? Sometimes Priests will give you as suggested something along with a penance.

Or for a week or something?

If the first option – one can approach another Priest in confession and seek to have your penance “changed” to have an “end” point.

I talked to him via email. He said consider it a new devotion to say twice a day.

 

[maryjk]

I talked to him via email. He said consider it a new devotion to say twice a day.

But he still didn’t answer your question.

Say it forever?

What if you forget? What if something happens and you can’t.

Is it simply a new devotion that you should say twice a day or is it your penance?

 

[billcu1]

But he still didn’t answer your question.

Say it forever?

What if you forget? What if something happens and you can’t.

Is it simply a new devotion that you should say twice a day or is it your penance?

I don’t know

 

[billcu1]

But he still didn’t answer your question.

Say it forever?

What if you forget? What if something happens and you can’t.

Is it simply a new devotion that you should say twice a day or is it your penance?

He said since I had an ongoing problem in this area. I was to say the devotional/penance twice a day or my confession was no good.