Friday Penance

[PeteZaHut]

Can you pretty much do anything you want for Friday Penance? The other day, I did 50 push-ups and 50 sit-ups, and I hate exercising. Is that okay?

 

[LilyM]

Unusual choice, certainly. But if you’re doing it out of love for God and a desire either to do something that you find difficult for His sake, or to look after your body because it’s His gift to you and His instrument and temple, and not just plain old vanity, then go for it.

 

[thistle]

Can you pretty much do anything you want for Friday Penance? The other day, I did 50 push-ups and 50 sit-ups, and I hate exercising. Is that okay?

Your priest could tell you if that is okay or not but see below what the Catechism says. You should be looking more at spiritual exercises rather than physical exercise.

CCC 1438 The seasons and days of penance in the course of the liturgical year (Lent, and each Friday in memory of the death of the Lord) are intense moments of the Church’s penitential practice. **These times are particularly appropriate for spiritual exercises, penitential liturgies, pilgrimages as signs of penance, voluntary self-denial such as fasting and almsgiving, and fraternal sharing (charitable and missionary works). **

 

[BobP123]

Unusual choice, certainly. But if you’re doing it out of love for God and a desire either to do something that you find difficult for His sake, or to look after your body because it’s His gift to you and His instrument and temple, and not just plain old vanity, then go for it.

With all due respect, you shouldn’t be giving this kind of advice on CA. The OP has obvious concerns in the definition of “equivalent of what constitutes meat abstinence” and only he (or she) can make that determination for himself after careful reflection of his own spiritual state. He needs to go to someone qualified in Canon Law or moral theology or get several opinions if he wants to perform a penance he’s comfortable with. Otherwise he’s going to continue to have scruples as your rationalization can just about fit any discomfort level and he’ll see it as such eventually.

I agree with thistle.