Doing Penance

[DL82]

Is it still possible to do one’s own penance? I have heard it said that the penances offered by most priests today are lighter because of the ‘merits’ of the Church bulit up through the prayers of the saints and the merits of pious men and women in the Church’s history.

Reading the other post about Our Lady of Akima and the message to Fatima too, I can’t help wondering if that ‘treasury’ of merit is running a little dry. After all, it seems there are far more of us in the Church sinning far more today than there ever were pious saints in the past.

Partial indulgences used to have numbers of days on them that represented the numbers of days’ penance they were worth. It’s not worth doing these days because penances tend to be a couple of prayers and that’s your lot.

Would it be possible to ask my confessor, for example, “what is the real weight of my sins in days of penance” and get him to prescribe a number of days/months/years of fasting in proportion?

I have heard that 7 years of fasting was the standard for masturbation in the middle ages, for example.

I want to be giving, not taking, from the merits of the Holy Church.

 

[Andruschak]

Is it still possible to do one’s own penance? I have heard it said that the penances offered by most priests today are lighter because of the ‘merits’ of the Church bulit up through the prayers of the saints and the merits of pious men and women in the Church’s history.

I want to be giving, not taking, from the merits of the Holy Church.

You are not alone. There exists two small but active lay groups for those who desire a life of joyful penance and conversion.

Confraternity of Penitents

penitents.org/

Brothers and Sisters of Penance

bspenance.org/

Very much the same, they ask for a 4 year formation period. At the end of four years you will be living a quiet life of joyful penance with the support and encouragement of your fellow penitents. You can join for a year at a time, or for life.

The programs are quite flexable to cover all life situations and health problems.

Feel free to check them out and ask questions. You will be under no obligations or committments whilst inquiring

 

[PhilotheaZ]

We are all called to do penance every day. But we should do it in the way the Lord asks us. I would urge you to read #1430–1439 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for guidelines. It tells us that we should

not aim first at outward works, “sackcloth and ashes,” fasting and mortification, but at the conversion of the heart, interior conversion. (#1430)

It also reminds us that the practice of charity “covers a multitude of sins.” (#1434)

Fasting and corporal mortification have their place in the spiritual life, but should be exercised with prudence. Nothing unusual should be undertaken without the permission of a good spiritual director.

 

[Andruschak]

Fasting and corporal mortification have their place in the spiritual life, but should be exercised with prudence. Nothing unusual should be undertaken without the permission of a good spiritual director.

You are absolutely correct!

Both of the organizations I mentioned REQURE that a penitent have a Spiritual Director, with at least monthly meetings.

In my case, being age 62, I also made sure that I was cleared by my Physician before undertaking the fasting and abstinance requirements.

 

[puzzleannie]

Is it still possible to do one’s own penance? I.

who else would be doing your penance if you don’t do it yourself? I don’t get this whole post. Confession is meant to instill obedience and humility, building upon our contrition. Why would the penitent presume to judge the priest and improve on what he has suggested? sounds like spiritual pride to me. If you mean, can you do more than the suggested, exceedingly minimal penitential practices prescribed by the Church for Lent, Fridays etc. of course you can, that is the whole point of the relaxed discipline, that we choose these things out of love rather than out of duty.