Penance time restriction

[Lorrie]

Hello everyone,

I went to confession the other day, the priest gave me a penance but I was unable to complete it immediately. I’m wondering what the time restriciton is on fulfilling the penance? Common sense is telling me that if one can’t do it immediately then make sure you do it before going to mass (receiving communion, etc.).

Any thoughts?

 

[Pug]

I think it depends on the penance and what is in your heart for delaying it. Say the priest told you to read the entire new testatment. I don’t think his intent is that you stay away from communion until you finish, unless he told you that specifically.

Say the priest told you to say three hail mary’s. Well, there is little reason to delay this. Do it right away.

If it ever seems like you did not do your previous penance and you end up at your next confession, tell the priest and he will help you make it right, if anything needs to be made right.

 

[marty1818]

The penance should be none as soon as you can. If you cannot do it right after confession and then forget it then remember it later, complete it as soon as you can, and do not put it off only because you don’t feel like it or want to at the moment. You should not stay away from communion if you are unable to do the penance at this time. Just do it at the as soon as possible.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Note that your sins are forgiven immediately when the priest gives you absolution. thus there is no reason to avoid communion.

As an unwritten general rule perform the penance as soon as possible, and usually before your next Confession, but there is nothing written on this. You don’t want to delay so long that you forget to do it, and one would prefer not to die with it incomplete - it will be waiting for you , with interest, in Purgatory.

 

[pnewton]

Pug:

I think it depends on the penance and what is in your heart for delaying it.

I have sometimes been given a penance with a general time from, as in, “Sometime this week do …”

 

[Lorrie]

Thanks for the replies you guys! It helped me to understand a little better.

 

[Livnlove55]

Lorrie:

Hello everyone,

I went to confession the other day, the priest gave me a penance but I was unable to complete it immediately. I’m wondering what the time restriciton is on fulfilling the penance? Common sense is telling me that if one can’t do it immediately then make sure you do it before going to mass (receiving communion, etc.).

Any thoughts?

Lorrie, as others have pointed out, there is no need to put off receiving Communion until after you have done your penance, even if “common sense” would seem to suggest that. Your sins are forgiven the moment the priest says the words of absolution and you walk out of the confessional in a glorious state of grace. The penance is given to help you satisfy the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven, not as a condition for forgiveness.

In general, I have heard that your penance should simply be done “as soon as possible” and most definitely before your next confession.
In His love,
Rhonda

 

[Lorrie]

Livnlove55:

Lorrie, as others have pointed out, there is no need to put off receiving Communion until after you have done your penance, even if “common sense” would seem to suggest that. Your sins are forgiven the moment the priest says the words of absolution and you walk out of the confessional in a glorious state of grace. The penance is given to help you satisfy the temporal punishment due for sins already forgiven, not as a condition for forgiveness.

In general, I have heard that your penance should simply be done “as soon as possible” and most definitely before your next confession.
In His love,
Rhonda

Thank you Rhonda, your reply (and all the others) are immensely appreciated!