Penance question

  • Thread starter Thread starter KD8TZC
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
K

KD8TZC

Guest
I went to a retreat this past weekend, and we were blessed with having about 30 priests who came and did confession during the lunch. When the goof Father gave me my penance, he said “if you are able to do this, this will be your penance” and he asked me for the last two Friday’s in lent to fast and just eat bread and water only. I told him that I am a diabetic and I would not be able to do that. He then just said that I must find something that I could do for the next two friday’s, but it needed to be something that would be somewhat difficult or a big sacrifice.

Can you all help me come up with some ideas? I had a few idea’s but I thought them to be really lame. My ideas are:
  • No internet (except if I MUST use it for work… I work in IT, so I may have to use the internet, but only for work related activities.)
  • no iPhone games
  • No TV
I’m not too sure what else I could do, so if anyone could provide some good idea’s, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

John
 
I think that’s a weird penance.

Perhaps do something additional instead of giving up-- maybe say a rosary, do an hour of adoration (may be difficult in that you have to rearrange your schedule or go early/late after work) or do some sort of work for charity.

But, any of the things you already listed are perfectly fine.
 
I’ve actually had stranger ones given. One time a priest told me to build a model (like an airplane or ship)… BTW, I was confession an issue I was having with being patient. I unfortunately had to go back to confession because I threw the model across the room when I lost my patience with it. I told the good Father this, and he asked what kind of model I was building and I told him I was building a ship in a bottle. He just shook his head and told me all he said was to build something simple. He then told me to do a whole slew of prayers, which I was okay with.

I was thinking about the rosary but didn’t think that was all that difficult to do. Meaning, if my body would allow me to fast a whole day, that would be a really tough thing to do in comparison. I know I would have a really hard time with it.
 
Take the time to seek out a place with Perpetual Adoration and do that on those two Fridays for an hour or two.
Benefits you and the world at large. He wants you to step out of your comfort zone.
Not so weird. Repentance sometimes takes a great effort. For all of us. Peace.
 
I like the perpetual adoration idea…but I don’t know if that will even be possible on Good Friday. I’m fairly certain after Holy Thursday, the adoration chapel will be closed until Easter.

On Holy Thursday, I always lead a holy hour after the evening Holy Thursday mass, but I don’t feel this could be used as I always do this anyhow. Maybe staying for an extra hour would work though? For the main hour, I always lead the group in prayer and reflection, so it is more active on my part. It would be nice if I could just sit in adoration though and not have to “work”.
 
KD8TZC said:
I’ve actually had stranger ones given. One time a priest told me to build a model (like an airplane or ship)… BTW, I was confession an issue I was having with being patient. I unfortunately had to go back to confession because I threw the model across the room when I lost my patience with it. I told the good Father this, and he asked what kind of model I was building and I told him I was building a ship in a bottle. He just shook his head and told me all he said was to build something simple. He then told me to do a whole slew of prayers, which I was okay with.

I was thinking about the rosary but didn’t think that was all that difficult to do. Meaning, if my body would allow me to fast a whole day, that would be a really tough thing to do in comparison. I know I would have a really hard time with it.
Click to expand...
Ok…this was funny…I could so see myself doing just that!
 
Idea:

If you have any artistic ability and can do this, it would be a sacrifice:

Purchase with your own money the things you need to create the artwork. For instance, your canvases, paints, paint brushes, etc. Begin your artwork and after it is done, donate it to your local church guild for their yearly art and craft sale. Many churches have the yearly sales to benefit the parish. In our parish we have it in the fall for Christmas giving. The ladies who work on these things all year don’t have to buy their materials since they are donated. But to achieve what you do, you would probably have to purchase your own things.

When you give them the artwork, don’t expect them to praise you for it because they
probably won’t. But if you have this ability you can do that. Also you could create your own line of beaded jewelry for them. Putting jewelry together is fun, but can also get tedious. Again, use your own resources to do this and don’t expect a lot of praise for it. It can get expensive to buy these things, but you could do without something else in order to get on with your projects.

That could be a penance and also a good learning experience. Building something would work as well. Some people have built major buildings with toothpicks.
 
What’s harder than giving up food? For me, sleep.

An equal sacrifice would be getting up two hours early and using that time to pray and then being tired the rest of the day, instead of hungry. Don’t know if that will work for you…
 
nodito said:
What’s harder than giving up food? For me, sleep.

An equal sacrifice would be getting up two hours early and using that time to pray and then being tired the rest of the day, instead of hungry. Don’t know if that will work for you…
Click to expand...
My body probably wouldn’t let me get away with it.

Fortunately, my confessor isn’t into severe physical penances.

OP: If, as seems likely per your statement, the Eucharistic chapel will be unavailable during Good Friday, you could sacrifice the time instead to attend the GF liturgies. This would count as penance, if you normally don’t attend them.

ICXC NIKA.
 
KD8TZC said:
I went to a retreat this past weekend, and we were blessed with having about 30 priests who came and did confession during the lunch. When the goof Father gave me my penance, he said “if you are able to do this, this will be your penance” and he asked me for the last two Friday’s in lent to fast and just eat bread and water only. I told him that I am a diabetic and I would not be able to do that. He then just said that I must find something that I could do for the next two friday’s, but it needed to be something that would be somewhat difficult or a big sacrifice.

Can you all help me come up with some ideas? I had a few idea’s but I thought them to be really lame. My ideas are:
  • No internet (except if I MUST use it for work… I work in IT, so I may have to use the internet, but only for work related activities.)
  • no iPhone games
  • No TV
I’m not too sure what else I could do, so if anyone could provide some good idea’s, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,

John
Click to expand...
Those 3 sound pretty difficult to me. I gave up Facebook especially this week and next week. You could go to the Stations of the Cross Friday and maybe on Good Friday if you’re not working maintain silence from 12 to 3 pm, in addition to attending services. It’s amazing the penances they give sometimes. Once I was told to remember why I married my husband!!! Anyway giving up social forums is much worse than giving up chocolate though I’m doing that too.
 
Some great ideas so far… some I can do, others I couldn’t for various reasons.

The Stations I can’t do because we are already doing that each Friday. I do believe there is a veneration on Good Friday, but I don’t know that would be all that hard.

Get up an extra hour or two might be a good one though. I also still like fasting from the internet and iPhone games. I love to search the web and read news stories and the what when I can, so this would be difficult for me.

Also, I do help at a soup kitchen on some Thursdays. I could do this, but again, I already do it, so I don’t know if that would be a fair substitution.

Personally, I love these different penance offerings over just saying some prayers. I think it really makes us remember why we are doing these things and demonstrates our love for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
 
KD8TZC said:
Some great ideas so far… some I can do, others I couldn’t for various reasons.

The Stations I can’t do because we are already doing that each Friday. I do believe there is a veneration on Good Friday, but I don’t know that would be all that hard.

Get up an extra hour or two might be a good one though. I also still like fasting from the internet and iPhone games. I love to search the web and read news stories and the what when I can, so this would be difficult for me.

Also, I do help at a soup kitchen on some Thursdays. I could do this, but again, I already do it, so I don’t know if that would be a fair substitution.

Personally, I love these different penance offerings over just saying some prayers. I think it really makes us remember why we are doing these things and demonstrates our love for God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Click to expand...
I don’t know why giving up the Internet is so hard, but it is for me. Another thing, if you like music try stopping that. Gave up listening to my IPOD ( all Lent) and very hard. if married do something extra for your spouse that may be hard. Will pray for your discernment too.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top