How do I complete my penance?

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PiousTemplar

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Hello.

Roughly 15 days ago I went to my first confession. The penance I received was ‘a few acts of kindness’ If I remember correctly. Sounds easy, but I seriously have no Idea if I have completed it or not… am I supposed to be nicer to people?

What should I be doing? Sorry I’m confused…
 
Open the door for someone, tell a coworker she looks nice, call some you haven’t spoken to in a long time, give some money to the veteran collecting outside the supermarket, bring some Easter candy to the Parish Outreach office, let someone go ahead of you on a line…there are so many little acts of kindness you can do each and every day. It doesn’t have to be something dramatic.
 
Joannm said:
Open the door for someone, tell a coworker she looks nice, call some you haven’t spoken to in a long time, give some money to the veteran collecting outside the supermarket, bring some Easter candy to the Parish Outreach office, let someone go ahead of you on a line…there are so many little acts of kindness you can do each and every day. It doesn’t have to be something dramatic.
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👍

Feed a parking meter for someone whose time is about to expire, pay for the cup of coffee for the person behind you in line at the Sunday donut gathering or throw in a donation for him/her along with your donation, bake cookies or pick a tray up in the grocery store (but that is pricey) and deliver them to the fire station, police department, local ER, mow the lawn for an elderly neighbor, leave your change in a vending machine so the next person gets a nice surprise, drop a dollar in the school lobby to make a kid’s day, pay the toll for the person behind you, take your old magazines to a local nursing home for the residents to read, smile at and greet a total stranger, compliment a stranger.

Ideas are endless. 🙂
 
Start a conversation with someone and be pleasant, cheerful, postive, and smile.

In the car, give someone room to change lanes if it is possible.

Pray for someone - perhaps 3 Hail Marys.
 
PiousTemplar said:
Hello.

Roughly 15 days ago I went to my first confession. The penance I received was ‘a few acts of kindness’ If I remember correctly. Sounds easy, but I seriously have no Idea if I have completed it or not… am I supposed to be nicer to people?

What should I be doing? Sorry I’m confused…
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I was going to say buying coffee to the one behind you…but someone beat me to it…offer a flower to someone…

Or offer a prayer of forgiveness for the world…be it a rosary…a divine mercy chaplet…
 
Wow, I could never come up with so many ideas. Problem though, I’m practically a hermit, I dont go out much (I don’t find it very enjoyable unless your buying something you like). I’m also only a teenager and I can’t drive yet. Thanks though, it brings up some ideas for me.😃
 
PiousTemplar said:
Hello.

Roughly 15 days ago I went to my first confession. The penance I received was ‘a few acts of kindness’ If I remember correctly. Sounds easy, but I seriously have no Idea if I have completed it or not… am I supposed to be nicer to people?

What should I be doing? Sorry I’m confused…
Click to expand...
Congratulations on your first Confession!!

Everybody has been giving some really great suggestions, but I didn’t see an answer to your core question…how do you know when you’ve completed your penance?

Usually assigned penances should be something concrete…three Hail Marys, or pray a family Rosary, etc. The advantage here is that there’s no question when you’ve done it! Yours is more vague. Your responsibility is to do what you were asked to the best of your ability.

So if your recollection is that you were to do it a ‘few times,’ then your penance is complete when you have done a few acts of kindness (I would say 3 or 4; maybe do 5 to be sure ;)). You don’t need to be overly concerned about doing it flawlessly…if the Priest intended you to do 5, and you do 4, you’ve done fine…as long as your *intent *was to do what you were instructed.

Having said that, you should keep doing good deeds anyway even after your penance is completed 😉 which is probably part of what Father is trying to get across to you.

For the future, if you aren’t sure what Father means when he assigns a penance, don’t be afraid to ask! If he says, ‘do a few acts of kindness,’ you have every right to ask, ‘How many, Father? How will I know when I’ve completed the penance?’ It’s not supposed to be riddle!

Congratulations again on your first Confession. It’s a wonderful Sacrament! Make use of it regularly! God bless you.
 
achmafooma said:
Congratulations on your first Confession!!

Everybody has been giving some really great suggestions, but I didn’t see an answer to your core question…how do you know when you’ve completed your penance?

Usually assigned penances should be something concrete…three Hail Marys, or pray a family Rosary, etc. The advantage here is that there’s no question when you’ve done it! Yours is more vague. Your responsibility is to do what you were asked to the best of your ability.

So if your recollection is that you were to do it a ‘few times,’ then your penance is complete when you have done a few acts of kindness (I would say 3 or 4; maybe do 5 to be sure ;)). You don’t need to be overly concerned about doing it flawlessly…if the Priest intended you to do 5, and you do 4, you’ve done fine…as long as your *intent *was to do what you were instructed.

Having said that, you should keep doing good deeds anyway even after your penance is completed 😉 which is probably part of what Father is trying to get across to you.

For the future, if you aren’t sure what Father means when he assigns a penance, don’t be afraid to ask! If he says, ‘do a few acts of kindness,’ you have every right to ask, ‘How many, Father? How will I know when I’ve completed the penance?’ It’s not supposed to be riddle!

Congratulations again on your first Confession. It’s a wonderful Sacrament! Make use of it regularly! God bless you.
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👍👍👍

Congratulations on your first Confession!
 
Say a sincere Thank You with a smile to people! Include your family when considering who to thank.

Awesome, your first confession! 👍
 
PiousTemplar said:
Wow, I could never come up with so many ideas. Problem though, I’m practically a hermit, I dont go out much (I don’t find it very enjoyable unless your buying something you like). I’m also only a teenager and I can’t drive yet. Thanks though, it brings up some ideas for me.😃
Click to expand...
That’s ok I’m a recluse also. Do something around the house without being told.
God bless
jesus g
 
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