I didn't do my penance this week

[ssa_fellow]

I didn’t fulfill my penance this week.

The priest, who I’ve been to a few times before. Gave me a penance of sacrificing something small each day this week. Because I have habitually struggled with masturbation and pornography, I immediately thought, before I even left the confessional, that I would sacrifice time on the internet. That, I’d limit using it to 2 hours a day, and only do the things I absolutely needed to do online.

Well, that didn’t work. I really spend a lot of my time on the internet. Anyways, I couldn’t start fasting on Sunday, bc there were leftovers that had to be eaten that day from an expensive restaurant. So… then I decided, that I’d just abstain from pornography (which I should do anyways). Well, of course, that fell through come Tuesday…

And by then, I’d basically failed to fulfill my penance.
I fasted from food today. And, I thought about cutting my hair real short this week (when I do cut my hair, I like to try and incorporate that in some way to be a reminder to work on something, related to my holiness).

Anyways… I’m about to go to confession to Saturday tomorrow. Probably will have to be at a different parish, due to my schedule. But, what do I do? Should I just tell the priest all of this?

Am I obligated to tell the sins that I confessed last confession?

This is probably the first time I didn’t do my penance. Sometimes I forget, but I guess this was probably the strictest penance I’ve ever gotten… and, I failed to do it.

P.S.
I think I’m having problems being sacrificial in general. For instance, Lent is coming up, but I’ve been dreading it for like a month, because I have no idea what to give up. There’s not really any foods/ drinks which I indulge in. Frankly, I need all the calories I can get, and I’m eating a lot less now than I used to. I can’t give up the internet bc its my only means of communicating with my friends. And… there’s not really any obvious luxuries that I could give up. I thought about giving up meat, but my mom cooks a lot for me, and she wouldn’t be able to prepare non-meat alternatives. So…

Idk, I thought I’d throw that in, bc its relevant…

 

[RitasKid]

Your sins were forgiven when you received absolution. You must be willing to do the penance, but absolution does not depend on performing it. Don’t reconfess sins that are forgiven. The new ones will be enough. It is OK to discuss/negotiate the penance before leaving the confessional.
Lent. Wow. Tough for me too. Try giving up complaining. Or give up the snooze on your alarm. Or try daily mass a time or two a week. Maybe less cussing?
Thanks for your post, I now have some ideas. Lent will be here before we know it.

 

[tabycat]

For Lent, how about duing a good deed a day? Like saying ‘thank you’ to the bus driver when you get off. (just an idea)

 

[esieffe]

You could do a novena, that is what I am doing right now. Of course I am doing it to ask for survival in a desperate situation, but what is salvation if not a desperate situation? Give some thought to that!

You try, you make effort. You are here asking about the fine print on confessions and penance. Your heart is in the right place. Don’t let go and you will be fine, but don’t rely on the “human condition argument,” if you slip, it should be confessed and dealt with. I guess what I am trying to say is, there are no loopholes, not when it comes to the effort of communion with Christ and his church. At the same time, when you do fall, don’t give up. That is the adversary wishes for us.

Keep the faith!