I either forgot my penance or the Priest didn't give me it

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theCardinalbird

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So almost an hour ago I finished my confession. Now after leaving the confessional I realized that I didn’t know my penance. I don’t know if he gave me penance or I somehow forgot my penance. What do I do?
 
Not knowing where you are etc in relation to your priest and whether you went to confession face to face I would offer the following:

If you did go face to face ask him the next time you see him what your penance should be/was

Do the penance that he gave you the last time you went to him (if you’ve gone to him before).

In my experience, I’ve never been given a penance as much as a rosary. If you’ve never had a penance that long, then if you offer up something like a rosary for your penance. My logic here is that that should cover your penance, unless your penance was something like go visit the sick or something.

In any case, I would recommend that the next time you see this priest or go to confession to him you bring it up.

Blessings
 
When a priest says the words of absolution, a penitent’s sins are forgiven. The penance is mostly symbolic of atonement for our sins.

The pastor of my parish does not give penance, nor does he ask for the Act of Contrition. The sacrament is nonetheless valid.
 
Hm? I was pretty sure that penance is like putting in a window you broke, even though you’ve been forgiven the window was still smashed.

Like, isn’t one of the reasons a soul would go to purgatory would be because he did not make penance on Earth so it is a form of penance?

That said, a penance is not necessary for the forgiveness of sins, but it should still be done.
 
The penance is only partial atonement. It does not fully replace temporal punishment in purgatory.
It’s mostly symbolic.
 
Joe1 said:
I’ll just text him. Maybe he will remember
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Not a good idea.

It puts him in a difficult position with regard to the Seal.

Not that he would be violating the Seal by answering you (not exactly, but maybe).

It certainly puts the priest in a difficult place.

If I received such a text, I would delete it immediately and do nothing else; preferring to err on the side of caution.
 
Oh! I didn’t realize that. I should apologize for putting him in a difficult position
 
Ignatius said:
You might just mention it in your next confession.
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Yes. Exactly. (or mention it the next time you see him or any other priest)

Do that, and in the meantime, do some some form of self-imposed penance. Not anything large or complicated. Just something simple; something proportionate to the penance that priest usually gives.
 
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