Open ended penances - what do YOU do?

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baltobetsy

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I’ve been to a new priest for confession a couple of times. Both times he gave a penance to “continue praying for…so and so.” Now both of these “so and so’s” are people I pray for every day anyway, so I prayed for them a little extra for a few days and went back to the normal daily prayers for them after that.

So, I’m curious - what do you do with a penance like that?

Betsy
 
I haven’t received a penance like that–usually the priest will tell me to say a certain number of prayers for the specific intention. I think I would do what you describe–maybe say the extra prayers for a week or say a novena for the person or intention and then go back to my usual prayers. Perhaps you can ask Father to be more specific next time he gives you a penance like that.
 
I actually had that happen to me once…I told him, “I already pray for that person every day!” And he replied…“Well, don’t you have some kind of super whammy prayer that you can do?” 😃

I think something like that is generally left to the penitent’s discretion…I opted to offer an hour of adoration for the person as my penance.
 
Tell him they are individuals who are already on your prayer lists. Ask him if there is a specific intention or prayer that he would have you pray for on their behalf.
The monsignor at a local parish will mention an individual (not by name) who has a problem related to an issue expressed in confession. For instance, if the sin centers on sibling rivalry, he might mention two young brothers who need prayers. If money causes problems, he might mention a homeless family that needs prayers.
This is a good way to pray anyway. It leads away from self-pity when we pray for somebody else having problems similar to our own.
 
When given such a penance, “Pray for…” or “Read some of…” or counsel such as “Remember that…” I think it is our chance to bring the sense of the Holy Spirit’s guidance into the equation. Sometimes it is stronger than others, and that penance may last for weeks (generally I’d figure I’m truly absolved before weeks have passed, but the counsel that may be buried in the penance continues to yield fruit). Sometimes a few brief prayers seem to satisfy my soul’s sense of the intended penance. And counsel of "Remember that…"followed by something like “God cares for you always” or some similar phrase can be a great reminder even years after the particular Confession.
 
I would do something more than the normal prayers I would do for them.

Kind of on topic: At my last confession, my penance was to pray specifically for someone I know who was away from the Church that they may come back. It really gave me pause to think and I have been continually adding special prayers for them each day.
 
Never was asked for prayer for a specific person but at times have been asked to reflect on all the unemployed or sick or homeless or families that are being attacked in these times.Also was given the amount of time I should spend before the Blessed Sacrament for these intentions.
 
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