Help! Forgot Penance

[Sir_Knight]

CCC and Canon Law, good as they are, don’t always provide the deeper ‘why’ behind the regulations of which I’m talking.

They don’t provide the “why” but they DO provide the “what” and in this case it’s the fact that the seal of confession is binding on the priest [1] COMPLETELY (even if his own life is at stake) & [2] OUTSIDE OF THE CONFESSIONAL.

Even if you don’t remember the whole answer, do you remember anything of what Fr DID say about the actual reasoning behind the seal of the confessional?

*No, I’m sorry, I don’t. What I do clearly recall was the poison wine example – that the priest could not use that infomation to save his own life but could require the person to remove the wine and turn himself in but that absolution couldn’t be conditional on the penance being performed.

Seriously, pick up some of his books (I think that he is up to 4 or 5 volumes) if you can. I think that you will enjoy them – all they are, are pages after pages of questions and answers regarding the Catholic faith.*

 

[LilyM]

They don’t provide the “why” but they DO provide the “what” and in this case it’s the fact that the seal of confession is binding on the priest [1] COMPLETELY (even if his own life is at stake) & [2] OUTSIDE OF THE CONFESSIONAL.

No, I’m sorry, I don’t. What I do clearly recall was the poison wine example – that the priest could not use that infomation to save his own life but could require the person to remove the wine and turn himself in but that absolution couldn’t be conditional on the penance being performed.

Seriously, pick up some of his books (I think that he is up to 4 or 5 volumes**) if you can. I think that you will enjoy them – all they are, are pages after pages of questions and answers regarding the Catholic faith.

If you want to use the books of someone who Ive never heard of before and don’t know from a bar of soap as evidence, then you find a copy of them and quote it. I’ve got better things to do than your homework.

 

[Sir_Knight]

Never heard of? Bar of soap?

Father Stravinskas has been discussed on this board in the past. Using the search feature, you’ll see that he has been mentioned (usually very favorably) in close to a hundred (93 to be exact) different threads. His nearly two dozen (20 as of right now) books on the Catholic faith are available in bookstores and on the web.

I have told you what he has stated with regards to the seal of confession as closely as I can recall (I once again apologize that I can not quote him word for word … but I doubt that many people would be able to remember a word for word response that they learned several years ago – what is important is the message … not the exact wording of that message). If you doubt my word, then you need to verify it for yourself. Until then, I’ll take his (and his bishop’s) understanding of church teaching on this matter.

 

[LilyM]

Never heard of? Bar of soap?

Father Stravinskas has been discussed on this board in the past. Using the search feature, you’ll see that he has been mentioned (usually very favorably) in close to a hundred (93 to be exact) different threads. His nearly two dozen (20 as of right now) books on the Catholic faith are available in bookstores and on the web.

I have told you what he has stated with regards to the seal of confession as closely as I can recall (I once again apologize that I can not quote him word for word … but I doubt that many people would be able to remember a word for word response that they learned several years ago – what is important is the message … not the exact wording of that message). If you doubt my word, then you need to verify it for yourself. Until then, I’ll take his (and his bishop’s) understanding of church teaching on this matter.

I never said you didn’t accurately report what he says, but if he put it that way it’s less than helpful and not the information I was after. And it’s a significant omission. You can’t understand something like the seal of the confessional properly without knowing why it exists.

I mean if the priest is COMPLETELY bound by it - ie must at all costs not divulge the penitent’s identity or sins, then why? And how is it not in effect doing so, and breaking the seal, to for him to force the client to give himself up?

From the Catholic Encyclopedia: Canon 21 of the Fourth Lateran Council (1215), binding on the whole Church, lays down the obligation of secrecy in the following words: “Let the priest absolutely beware that he does not by word or sign or by any manner whatever in any way betray the sinner”. That means indirect words or signs or manners (like placing the sinner under an obligation to reveal themselves) as well as direct ones.

Quoted on 90 threads you say? There are probably at least a dozen threads started here every single day. That makes over 5000 just since I joined 18 months ago or so. Average of how many posts per thread - don’t know, make it a dozen. You think I’ve read 'em all? I’m sure you haven’t.

 

[anamchara]

Help! I forgot what the penance that my priest gave me. I think i sort of remember what he said, and I said it. But I don’t know if it was exact. Can I receive communion? I feel horrible.

I’m sure you remember better than you thought. When we get nervous about forgetting something it can often cause our brains to freeze up. I honestly wouldn’t worry about it. I’m sure you did just fine. God understands, we make mistakes. You went to confession and did your best with your penance.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I never said you didn’t accurately report what he says, but if he put it that way it’s less than helpful and not the information I was after. And it’s a significant omission. You can’t understand something like the seal of the confessional properly without knowing why it exists.

I mean if the priest is COMPLETELY bound by it - ie must at all costs not divulge the penitent’s identity or sins, then why? And how is it not in effect doing so, and breaking the seal, to for him to force the client to give himself up?

From the Catholic Encyclopedia: Canon 21 of the Fourth Lateran Council (1215), binding on the whole Church, lays down the obligation of secrecy in the following words: “Let the priest absolutely beware that he does not by word or sign or by any manner whatever in any way betray the sinner”. That means indirect words or signs or manners (like placing the sinner under an obligation to reveal themselves) as well as direct ones.

I do not feel like arguing this point. My position on this subject is based on what a very knowledgable priest has said about the matter – in WRITING and WITH his bishop’s approval. There is also indications that other priests (Philothea53’s priest, for example) beleive the same thing. While possible, I find it a stretch to believe that they are all mistaken with regards to this very fundamenatal point that they would perform weekly, if not daily.

Again, I encourage you to pick up some of and read his replies for yourself. If you disagree, I am sure that he would welcome hearing from you because that is where he gets his material for his future books.Stravinskas’s books

Quoted on 90 threads you say? There are probably at least a dozen threads started here every single day. That makes over 5000 just since I joined 18 months ago or so. Average of how many posts per thread - don’t know, make it a dozen. You think I’ve read 'em all? I’m sure you haven’t.

Without using a calculator, it appears that you have made over 3 times as many posts as I in one-third the time – indicating that you are roughly NINE times more active on this board than me. Given those odds, I just concluded that you had an even higher chance of seeing Father Stravinskas mentioned on these forums. I apologize for my incorrect conclusion on that matter.

 

[CB_Catholic]

This is perfect timing - At a retreat at a local monastery recently
I woke up one morning and remembered - out of the blue - to having taken something from a friend years ago. It was worth maybe $15. I went to confession that day. At the time I thought I might still have the item and the Priest said if I did that I should return it with apology. He really didn’t tell me what to do if I didn’t have the item. When I came home I searched for the item and actually do not have it. What do I do now?

Also, I received Holy Eucharist the day of my confession and some times since. Have I sinned in receiving without completing my penance?

If this is really bothering you, why don’t you either send that person $15.00 or donate $15 to charity if you can’t send the person the money. Then you will have made restitution. You are repentant, you received absolution, and you attempted to carry out your penance, so it doesn’t seem that you have sinned further in this matter. But you might feel better about it if you made restitution.

 

[twin2004]

What if we forget about our penance after confession? Is that a sin in itself? My penance was to skip my next meal (in a sense, fast)in order that I might be able to focus on becoming more chaste. But I forgot and ate anyway. If I fast at my next meal, is the penance still valid? Should I confess it in my next confession? Thanks!

 

[Sir_Knight]

Or, send $15 with an unsigned note apologizing for the action – it is an apology and restitution is being made … which fulfills the penance given.