No penance given, at Confession?

[MarieVeronica]

Dear Catholic Answers Forum… I was just wondering… how common place is it now, for your priest NOT to give you a penance to say… after Confession?

I am assuming that the absolution is still valid, of course. But… I’m a bit uncomfortable with “no penance”. There is one priest which I usually avoid at Confession… because I know that he will not give me a penance to say. He never does!

But today… he was the only priest hearing confessions. And… as usual, NO penance was given to say. So, afterward… I went before Our Lord and I offered Him my own penance (5 Hail Mary’s… which is what the other priest at this parish usually gives). Do you think that was ok?

 

[CatholicCajun]

Dear Catholic Answers Forum… I was just wondering… how common place is it now, for your priest NOT to give you a penance to say… after Confession?

I am assuming that the absolution is still valid, of course. But… I’m a bit uncomfortable with “no penance”. There is one priest which I usually avoid at Confession… because I know that he will not give me a penance to say. He never does!

But today… he was the only priest hearing confessions. And… as usual, NO penance was given to say. So, afterward… I went before Our Lord and I offered Him my own penance (5 Hail Mary’s… which is what the other priest at this parish usually gives). Do you think that was ok?

Yes I think what you did was ok. If you ever have to confess with this priest again, why not ask him politely, oh, father, I am sorry but I did not hear my penance. I had a friend who asked the priest to give her a more severe penance. God BLess.

 

[bpbasilphx]

Perhaps the best penance is taking what is imposed (even if it’s no penance) in a spirit of obedience. Self-willed penances are exactly that: self-willed.

 

[MarieVeronica]

Perhaps the best penance is taking what is imposed (even if it’s no penance) in a spirit of obedience. Self-willed penances are exactly that: self-willed.

I didn’t think of it that way. I guess I just wasn’t used to not having a penance, and thought that it was required, and that I might be pleasing Our Lord in saying my own penance. Thank you for the reminder of humility. God bless.

 

[thistle]

Dear Catholic Answers Forum… I was just wondering… how common place is it now, for your priest NOT to give you a penance to say… after Confession?

I am assuming that the absolution is still valid, of course. But… I’m a bit uncomfortable with “no penance”. There is one priest which I usually avoid at Confession… because I know that he will not give me a penance to say. He never does!

But today… he was the only priest hearing confessions. And… as usual, NO penance was given to say. So, afterward… I went before Our Lord and I offered Him my own penance (5 Hail Mary’s… which is what the other priest at this parish usually gives). Do you think that was ok?

Its certainly odd not to be given a penance.
However, absolution is not conditional upon a penance being given or a penance given but not fulfilled.

 

[porthos11]

It never hurts to ask for a a penance; the priest may have merely forgotten.

I had this one time, and simply asked him gently. “Oh, and by the way Father, do you have a penance for me?” And he simply answered: “Reflect” (on his advice given, that is).

But yes, I agree though. It’s not in the spirit of humility to ask the priest for a bigger penance, no matter what our thoughts. We may add to it AFTER we fulfill what is imposed first.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I was once told that my penance was to go and have a nice day – which I failed to do … car skidded on some black ice on the way home and I smashed into a row of trees nearly driving off a cliff. Then I had an argument with my spouse over the car accident.

So, did I fail to perform my penance?

 

[porthos11]

I was once told that my penance was to go and have a nice day – which I failed to do … car skidded on some black ice on the way home and I smashed into a row of trees nearly driving off a cliff. Then I had an argument with my spouse over the car accident.

So, did I fail to perform my penance?

Yes. You would have fulfilled it by offering up your inconvenience and joined it with the cross, no matter how your felt emotionally. If you let it ruin your day, your penance was not fulfilled, eh?

But I guess your penance had no time limit, so maybe you can try again.

I’m kinda half-serious, of course.

 

[Sir_Knight]

I don’t remember the exact wording but he indicated to have a good day on that day. Of course, everything went down hill (literally) once I left the church parking lot.

I did, at a future confession confess to failing to perform a previous penance due to unforeseen circumstances beyond my control and the priest gave me a replacement penance in addition to the penance for that confession. So on that confession, I walked out with two penances.

Made me feel better when I was able to complete both of them.