Help with pennance

[phoage]

I hope this is the correct forum for this question.

I came back to the Church after a long absence some years ago. I figured that I needed to do some pennance to try to make up for all I had missed (avoided) during the decades I was away. I was already involved saying the rosary as a way of getting back into parayer and being Catholic when I read seveal articles about military chaplains needing rosaries donated for their troops.

This hit a cord. I had been in the Army and had been combat arms. I knew that the normal mission rosaries and civilian rosaries were totally unsuitable for a soldier in a field environment. I had seen the Ranger rosary but I personnaly found a lot of things that I did not like about it. I designed my own that I call (to myself) a field rosary. It has 2 pieces. it is tough, durable, subdued and totally non-metallic. It is also very inexpensive and failrly easy to make.

I found a chaplain who said he loved it and would take all I could make. This has gone on for some years now and he has a much higher demand for them than I can supply.

The problem is, when I first decided to do this, I decided that the expense of producing them was part of my penance. I have since run onto harder economic times and recently went through a spell of 2 months when I had no materials and no money to buy them. The chaplain found out and offered to buy the materials but I am abivailant.

On one had, taking money to buy materials negates that part of the pennance. On the other had, these have become a significant help to his ministry and when I can’t send them, it hinders his efforts.

I would be interested in hearing others opinions of this quandry of mine. I have recieved much good advice on this forum.

May God look after you and keep you all.

Patrick

 

[AJM95]

[BIBLEDRB]Mark 12:42-44
[/BIBLEDRB]

I’d say: take the materials and keep making the rosaries. When you can start buying the materials again, then do it. You are doing all you can at the moment and that’s what God wants! What you are doing is a great thing.

 

[teachccd]

First of all I think that you are confusing penance with almsgiving. When you returned to the Church you should have received the Sacrament of Reconciliation. During the Sacrament the priest offers you a penance and that is sufficient for your particular confession. If you continue to do “penance” that is above and beyond what was given to you then you are perhaps doubting the mercy and forgiveness of our Lord. You may also be unknowingly casting a doubt on the sufficiency of the Sacrament. Was this the penance that the priest gave you? That is very important because if it was not thenthere are no further requirements as far as the guilt of being away is concerned.

Now, if you are making rosaries out of the love that comes from being a Christian then God only requires what you can do. A true Christian will give even if it hurts but not if it takes away from your necessities. There are many ways to offer love that may not take as much money. So many people need comfort in so many ways.

So please take note of the intention of your actions and make sure that you discern them properly. I hope that I was of some help. God bless you…teachccd

 

[PattiDay]

The first thing that came to my mind is humility. Our Lord didn’t try to do everything on His own. He had the Apostles, who helped bring the message of His love to many more than He might have been able to do alone. God bless you.

 

[Netty1]

Whether what you are doing is almsgiving or penance, the thing which stood out for me is that the chaplain offered you only money for materials.

He didn’t offer profit or salary, just running costs. Your labour and time are still being given freely as much as you are able.

From my perspective, I would not feel bad about that. If you so wish you can take back the provision of materials again once you can afford them.

Oh…and welcome home! Another lamb back in the fold is a matter for celebration! :extrahappy:

 

[GEddie]

I hope this is the correct forum for this question.

I came back to the Church after a long absence some years ago. I figured that I needed to do some pennance to try to make up for all I had missed (avoided) during the decades I was away. I was already involved saying the rosary as a way of getting back into parayer and being Catholic when I read seveal articles about military chaplains needing rosaries donated for their troops.

This hit a cord. I had been in the Army and had been combat arms. I knew that the normal mission rosaries and civilian rosaries were totally unsuitable for a soldier in a field environment. I had seen the Ranger rosary but I personnaly found a lot of things that I did not like about it. I designed my own that I call (to myself) a field rosary. It has 2 pieces. it is tough, durable, subdued and totally non-metallic. It is also very inexpensive and failrly easy to make.

I found a chaplain who said he loved it and would take all I could make. This has gone on for some years now and he has a much higher demand for them than I can supply.

The problem is, when I first decided to do this, I decided that the expense of producing them was part of my penance. I have since run onto harder economic times and recently went through a spell of 2 months when I had no materials and no money to buy them. The chaplain found out and offered to buy the materials but I am abivailant.

On one had, taking money to buy materials negates that part of the pennance. On the other had, these have become a significant help to his ministry and when I can’t send them, it hinders his efforts.

I would be interested in hearing others opinions of this quandry of mine. I have recieved much good advice on this forum.

May God look after you and keep you all.

Patrick

if you can’t afford the expense, the physical effort is still a valid penance. By all means, carry on!!

ICXC NIKA