Ideas for Penance, please

[Zeno11]

I have often felt that the penance given to me by the priest in confession is very light compared to the sins I have committed in the past. I would like to do some sort of penance but I’m not quite sure what. Any ideas gratefully received!

 

[JaKael02]

I have often felt that the penance given to me by the priest in confession is very light compared to the sins I have committed in the past. I would like to do some sort of penance but I’m not quite sure what. Any ideas gratefully received!

1.) Buy a cilice. $10. Use 1 hr on the thigh. It doesn’t hurt, it’s not medievil. It reminds you to not sin and feels uncomfortable. It’s comparable to sackcloth.

2.) Do a chore that is not a routine chore. It is an act of love.

Thoughts?

 

[losh14]

Service to others is not only penance but discipleship. It removes your heart from selfish things and makes you more Christ-like.

If there is some aspect of a past sin that deserves reparation - and not for the purpose of satisfying the penalty of sin, but rather for restoring someone harmed to fullness, consider that. If, for example, you had previously shoplifted from a grocery store, pick up some fruit that’s priced per item, go to the self-checkout, and tell the self checkout you are buying twice the number of items. Or if you made fun of an unwed expectant mother, send a donation to a maternity home.

 

[Inquiringperson]

Service to others is not only penance but discipleship. It removes your heart from selfish things and makes you more Christ-like.

If there is some aspect of a past sin that deserves reparation - and not for the purpose of satisfying the penalty of sin, but rather for restoring someone harmed to fullness, consider that. If, for example, you had previously shoplifted from a grocery store, pick up some fruit that’s priced per item, go to the self-checkout, and tell the self checkout you are buying twice the number of items. Or if you made fun of an unwed expectant mother, send a donation to a maternity home.

That messes up with inventory though.

 

[thistle]

1.) ** Buy a cilice. $10. Use 1 hr on the thigh. It doesn’t hurt, it’s not medievil. It reminds you to not sin and feels uncomfortable.** It’s comparable to sackcloth.

2.) Do a chore that is not a routine chore. It is an act of love.

Thoughts?

Never advise anyone to do things like this.

 

[Dhugz]

I have often felt that the penance given to me by the priest in confession is very light compared to the sins I have committed in the past. I would like to do some sort of penance but I’m not quite sure what. Any ideas gratefully received!

Help your parish, you can participate actively, always pray the rosary.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

You can do combined penances. Ie: Pray the rosary on your knees with your arms out to the side. You get the mortification of kneeling and holding out your arms to the side, plus the prayer from the rosary. You can also prostrate yourself on the floor with your arms either tucked under your face, or out to the side while reciting some litany.

These are just some of the types of penances my confessor has suggested to me.

 

[englishredrose]

Talk to the priest and ask him for something more meaningful rather than what you are assigned. The current priest we have does seem to be a man of action certainly when it comes to penance for me and found them relevent. One was a whole book though very appropriate and I do still try to use what I learned from the book at times.

By asking for penance ideas on here isn’t really a penance is it if being frank with you as such. You could have a fine box and every time you knowingly comit sin you could put in the equivalent to a £1 and donate it anonymously to your church once a month? That way your sins are helping the church and your penance is that you have less money to spend on luxuries?

But seriously, talk to your priest because he will be your best guide as he knows how you sin and perhaps more suitable penances to guide you. Penance is partly about bringing you back to God so whatever it is, it has to put you gently back in God’s Presence

 

[JaKael02]

Never advise anyone to do things like this.

If I may kindly ask, how come?

 

[lizaanne]

I have often felt that the penance given to me by the priest in confession is very light compared to the sins I have committed in the past. I would like to do some sort of penance but I’m not quite sure what. Any ideas gratefully received!

And since when do we suppose that we know more than our priest when it comes to such things? Seriously??!!! You think it’s ok to just over ride your priest’s direction regarding a sacrament? Where does this sort of thinking and presumption come from??

Sorry - but I’m continually amazed at the boldness of some folks on this forum sometimes. If you have questions about your penance, ASK YOUR PRIEST — not a bunch of people on an internet forum. For cryin’ out sideways.



~Liza

 

[Oneofthewomen]

If I may kindly ask, how come?

No one should practice any type of “corporal mortification” unless they are under
the supervision of a spiritual director/priest.
One must be very careful that one is doing such things for the “right” reasons.

Edited to add:

@ Lizaanne-

 

[robertericleech]

I’ve had this problem too…feeling that I was ‘getting off too easily’ with regard to my assigned penance. I usually do some extra prayer in addition to my regular daily routine. I don’t think hitting yourself is generally something God wants.

Another thing I find is that sometimes God places people and situations in our daily life that try our patience and can be seen as involuntary penances. Whenever I ask God to give me patience, He invariably puts me in a long line at the store, or I meet a person who won’t stop talking, or something happens with a friend or family member that just drives me up the wall. Daily life can be full of penances if you know where to look, haha!

 

[JaKael02]

No one should practice any type of “corporal mortification” unless they are under
the supervision of a spiritual director/priest.
One must be very careful that one is doing such things for the “right” reasons.

Edited to add:

@ Lizaanne-

I agree. Corporal mortification can be used for the wrong reasons. Such as fasting as a cover for anorexia. Physical mortification for pleasure, or to attract attention.

A cilice, in my opinion, and the opinion of Opus Dei doesn’t seem to be a serious form of corporal mortification. It’s light form of mortification and has a negative stigma associated with the practice.

1 Corinthians 9:27
“No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” New International Version (©1984)

More recently: John Paul XXIII, Paul XI, and John Paul II all mentioned that Christians should practice corporal mortification.

I personally wear one, and I find it helpful.

A spiritual director/priest is very important, but is it necessary just to wear a cilice? How do you view my comments?

Kindly - James

 

[Zeno11]

Remember there is “no getting off too easily” which sometimes is hard for us to wrap our minds around. We live in the world and are used to punishments that “fit the crime” so to speak with our legal system…so it is understandable that many of us feel this way including myself at times! Jesus Christ PAID the price for my sins once and for all!

I cannot, ever ever ever make up for my sins. The priest could tell me that I had to spend the rest of my life on my knees in prayer for penance and STILL that would not be enough to make up for my many sins! Penance is a way for us to grow closer to God and to help us avoid sins in the future and invites grace.

I have heard of a priest that gave one “Hail Mary” as penance to everyone. Not out of laziness but as a point to show that it was not our penance or prayers but God’s mercy that gave us eternal life. Now of course very often priests will give out certain penances that somehow “fit” our sins but that should be to help get us on the right track it is not to make-up for anything.

To the original poster: there is no such thing as a light penance, because they are ALL light! This took me a while to appreciate but when I did my love for the beauty of the Sacrament of Reconciliation increased by leaps and bounds. Hope this helps.

Thank you, this really does help put it in proper perspective. Thank you

 

[Oneofthewomen]

Again, not something you should be doing on your own.
Talk to your priest.
I cannot speak to anything regarding Opus Dei, but I really cannot imagine that they would suggest the use of a cilice without the supervision of a priest, and if they are, that is a huge red flag, IMHO!

I agree. Corporal mortification can be used for the wrong reasons. Such as fasting as a cover for anorexia. Physical mortification for pleasure, or to attract attention.

A cilice, in my opinion, and the opinion of Opus Dei doesn’t seem to be a serious form of corporal mortification. It’s light form of mortification and has a negative stigma associated with the practice.

1 Corinthians 9:27
“No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” New International Version (©1984)

More recently: John Paul XXIII, Paul XI, and John Paul II all mentioned that Christians should practice corporal mortification.

I personally wear one, and I find it helpful.

A spiritual director/priest is very important, but is it necessary just to wear a cilice? How do you view my comments?

Kindly - James

 

[Zeno11]

And since when do we suppose that we know more than our priest when it comes to such things? Seriously??!!! You think it’s ok to just over ride your priest’s direction regarding a sacrament? Where does this sort of thinking and presumption come from??

Sorry - but I’m continually amazed at the boldness of some folks on this forum sometimes. If you have questions about your penance, ASK YOUR PRIEST — not a bunch of people on an internet forum. For cryin’ out sideways.



~Liza

I never once considered that I knew more than my priest. I only felt that more penance could only be a good thing. I was not being ‘bold’ or presuming anything. And how is doing penance in any way over riding a priest? I still have a personal relationship with my Creator, and it is from that relationship that I felt the urge to do more penance, so that’s where my thinking came from. And I was unaware that I couldn’t discuss such topics on a Catholic forum. Maybe you were just in a very bad mood, but I don’t appreciate being spoken to like that.

 

[JaKael02]

Again, not something you should be doing on your own.
Talk to your priest.
I cannot speak to anything regarding Opus Dei, but I really cannot imagine that they would suggest the use of a cilice without the supervision of a priest, and if they are, that is a huge red flag, IMHO!

Thank you for responding. I’ll reflect on your comments. Kindly - James

 

[Angelsflight]

And since when do we suppose that we know more than our priest when it comes to such things? Seriously??!!! You think it’s ok to just over ride your priest’s direction regarding a sacrament? Where does this sort of thinking and presumption come from??

Sorry - but I’m continually amazed at the boldness of some folks on this forum sometimes. If you have questions about your penance, ASK YOUR PRIEST — not a bunch of people on an internet forum. For cryin’ out sideways.



~Liza

Yeah…this was pretty harsh…its replies like these that make me never want to post on forums at all… people can be awful blunt here.

 

[robertericleech]

Remember there is “no getting off too easily” which sometimes is hard for us to wrap our minds around. We live in the world and are used to punishments that “fit the crime” so to speak with our legal system…so it is understandable that many of us feel this way including myself at times! Jesus Christ PAID the price for my sins once and for all!

I cannot, ever ever ever make up for my sins. The priest could tell me that I had to spend the rest of my life on my knees in prayer for penance and STILL that would not be enough to make up for my many sins! Penance is a way for us to grow closer to God and to help us avoid sins in the future and invites grace.

Very well put, and very true!

There’s a story I heard this one priest tell, trying to explain God’s free gift of grace and mercy; I’m not sure if it’s true or not, but apparently this soldier deserted Napoleon’s army, and was sentenced to death. His mother went and somehow managed to get hold of Napoleon, and begged for mercy on her son. Napoleon said ‘I’m sorry, but your son knew the punishment, I’m not obligated to show him mercy.’ The mother said ‘If you were *obligated *to show him mercy, it wouldn’t be mercy.’

 

[thistle]

If I may kindly ask, how come?

Any kind of self mortification should not be undertaken without the advice of a priest or spiritual director.
We are not supposed to seek out suffering but rather accept it if it comes our way.

There are many kinds of penance that may be performed without resorting to self mortification.

Are you a member of Opus Dei by any chance?