Penance before Absolution

[hooveam]

Sometimes during my lunch break I go to confession. Often times, it’s the same priest who gives the same penance. Since there usually a line, sometimes I am unable to do my penance after confession before heading back to work. I like to do it as soon as possible.

If I know what my penance will be, is it permissible to begin it before I have confessed?

 

[Bookcat]

Sometimes during my lunch break I go to confession. Often times, it’s the same priest who gives the same penance. Since there usually a line, sometimes I am unable to do my penance after confession before heading back to work. I like to do it as soon as possible.

If I know what my penance will be, is it permissible to begin it before I have confessed?

no…

Such would be good of course. But it will not be the penance from confession.

 

[smswife]

I don’t know any official answer but I would think that you may, as you are presumably doing it intentionally as a penance and with sorrow for your sins.

At our Lenten parish penance service for the past 2 years, prior to our lining up for individual confession, our pastor has given us all the penance of reading the Gospel for Good Friday (St. John’s passion) and we are invited to do so while waiting to confess.

Of course the individual priests are free to give a different penance and you may also find that sometimes you are given a penance different from the one you expected. I have told my young son (too young to read that passage) to ask his confessor for a different penance.

Also, of course, you can do your penance later when you have time. Absolution does not depend on performing the penance.

 

[Bookcat]

I don’t know any official answer but I would think that you may, as you are presumably doing it intentionally as a penance and with sorrow for your sins.

At our Lenten parish penance service for the past 2 years, prior to our lining up for individual confession, our pastor has given us all the penance of reading the Gospel for Good Friday (St. John’s passion) and we are invited to do so while waiting to confess.

Of course the individual priests are free to give a different penance and you may also find that sometimes you are given a penance different from the one you expected. I have told my young son (too young to read that passage) to ask his confessor for a different penance.

Also, of course, you can do your penance later when you have time. Absolution does not depend on performing the penance.

One does the penance one receives in the Sacrament…not before…but after.

As to the last line…if one say …rejects the penance…yes I think that can thus effect absolution. If one accepts the penance…but just later decides not to do it…that will be a new sin!!

 

[Joe_Kelley]

One does the penance one receives in the Sacrament…not before…but after.

I agree.

As to the last line…if one say …rejects the penance…yes I think that can thus effect absolution. If one accepts the penance…but just later decides not to do it…that will be a new sin!!

One may ask for a different penance if one anticipates a problem in performing it.

Or if one later finds it difficult or impossible to perform, one may ask it be changed at ones next confession - not necessarily with the same confessor.

 

[Little_One0307]

One may ask for a different penance if one anticipates a problem in performing it.

I used to have a priest who had a standard penance that he would give to everyone in his confessional. The parishoners called it the 10, 10, and 10. 10 Our Fathers, 10 Hail Mary, and 10 Glory Be’s. I would anticpate this penance, and asked if he would give me a different one and he did comply.

Now my penances are different and I cannot anticpate them.

God bless.

 

[Bookcat]

I agree.

One may ask for a different penance if one anticipates a problem in performing it.

Or if one later finds it difficult or impossible to perform, one may ask it be changed at ones next confession - not necessarily with the same confessor.

I agree too

 

[Mommy2adc]

Penance is NOT an essential part of the sacrament of confession. If your forgiveness is dependent on your penance, then the priest cannot infact say “Your sins are forgiven, go in peace.” Because if your sins are not truly forgiven in that moment, then the priest is in a sense lying when he says “Your sins are forgiven, go in peace.” Penance is good, and it is important to try our best to do our penance and to have a heart and intention of doing our penance, but your forgiveness is NOT dependent on doing your penance.

Remember that to truly be absolved from your sins, there must be real sorrow for having commited your sins. Forgiveness comes from God alone, through the priest in the sacrament of confession. Only you and God know if you are sorry for your sins, and to reconcil your relationship with God, doing penance is a great thing…but again your forgiveness is not dependent on your penance. The moment you make a valid and sorrowfull confession, and hear the words from the priest that your sins are forgiven, they are forgiven.

The church I attend the penance usually given is to say a certain prayer, or do a charitable act. They are usually simple penances, but ones that have great meaning and attempt to bring each of us closer to God. The joy and peace that is received from the sacrament of confession leaves me with such a great desire to draw closer to God, who paid the ultimate price for our sins. I leave with a desire to do my penance and to spread that joy and love of our God, whether in private prayer or through charitable acts.

The forgiveness of sins through Christ is an amazing, loving, and merciful act. Being called the children of God we should want to draw closer to our loving God, and should never take this sacrament for granted or rush through it. Take the time to give a good confession and set the time aside to do your penance. Don’t rush through the sacrament because remember God knows what’s in your heart.