Penance Required for Absolution?

[El_PAso]

Hi,

I just recalled a strange experience I had with a confession. Franciscan priest/pastor of church.

I confessed my sins thoroughly and as I recall I was absolved but he did not give me penance. When I asked “what about penance?” he said “What good would it do? You’ll only commit the same sin again!”

At the time is was not even a sin per se but a moral dilemma I was struggling with and survived!

Ever have a confession like that?

EP

 

[El_PAso]

I don’t know what moral dilemma you are talking about. Confessions are wonderful but unfortunately they are not the place for moral discussions about issues that are not sins. That may seem harsh and awful, but a priests role in the confessional is to hear sins and absolve, not to discuss and give counsel. This would be wonderful if they could do this wouldn’t it? However they just can’t and it really isn’t the purpose of the Sacrament. If a person needs deep guidance and wants to discuss they should make an appointment with a priest or spiritual director at another time.

It sounds as if the priest discussed a bit with you and then that was it? I am a bit confused by your post as it seems you expected a penance but it wasn’t a sin. Please be assured of my prayers, God bless.

Sorry my wording was odd.

The confession did indeed list a number of sins of which I do not recall specific but the moral dilemma was more important at the time. It was more along the line of: " I did this sin, this sin, this sin and was tempted with this sin (the moral dilemma)" I’m sure it took less than a minute to lay it all out.

This was a priest I knew but if it was more than the second time saying confession to him I would be surprised. It was a face-to-face and we had no history.

The fact of the matter is it was a strange experience and response of the priest and I was wondering if others had similar issues and if indeed I am absolved if the priest does not offer penance even if requested or basically be flippant about the confession.

Thanks,

EP

 

[lifesoldier]

Hi,

I just recalled a strange experience I had with a confession. Franciscan priest/pastor of church.

I confessed my sins thoroughly and as I recall I was absolved but he did not give me penance. When I asked “what about penance?” he said “What good would it do? You’ll only commit the same sin again!”

At the time is was not even a sin per se but a moral dilemma I was struggling with and survived!

Ever have a confession like that?

EP

What a terrible response! We go to confession to get piece with God and fight sin, not to flert with Devil and wait for temptetions and oportunities to sin!

 

[AXO]

That goes against every doctrine of the Church on penance. By the same token, don’t go to confession, you’ll sin again later… See the nonsense?

 

[Edmundus1581]

There are a couple of issues here which have arisen before in CAF:

1. 
   *]Using your confession for spiritual guidance. I realize (from your second post) that the guidance was only part of the confession, however while some people say that confession is for confession only, others say that confession is also a good time for guidance. It depends on the circumstances (such as how frequently you go to confession, the size of the queue, the nature of the guidance, etc…). Obviously, one does not burden one’s priest with a weekly catalog of every issue you facing in life, but an occasional question is fine.
   
   *]Is absolution valid without a penance? Absolutely! This question arises so often. The priest has forgotten to give a penance; the penitent forgot what the penance was; etc… etc… The answer is always that absolution does not depend on anything which may or may not happen after the confession. So long as you have confessed your sins with sincerity and contrition, and not deliberately witheld a mortal sin, then the absolution is valid. If a penance was given and one were to deliberately fail to perform it then one incurs a new sin - but, even then, the first absolution remains valid.