Penance

[KGM06]

I am mentally and spiritually confused here.

Today I went to confession at a parish I’ve never been to before (time and couldn’t wait until Saturday).
Normally I’m not one to question what a Priest says in the confessional. Do the penance and be joyful.

However, thinking about it afterwards, my penance is one that I do not think that I can fulfill.
I understand why the priest made that particular penance, and it is one that I can agree with (normal circumstances). But it seems to me (with my circumstances) to fulfil the penance I would be throwing away and abandoning the gift that God brought into my life.

What can I do?

 

[laurenzia]

1. go back to the same priest and explain what is bothering you.
2. go to another priest and explain what is bothering you.

i dont think this is something you can ‘get out of’ on your own.

 

[KGM06]

Not something I wanted to ‘get out of’.

Is it acceptable to go to a different priest and tell him my problems? Seems wierd 'cause he may not know the reasoning behind why that particular penance was given.
Guess I track down that parish phone # and try to find out who the priest was and talk to him.

 

[LilyM]

My own thought is that if a penance is do-able you really ought to do it. I’d only question a penance if, for example, I was given a prayer that I didn’t know. If you suffer in some way as a result - well, that’s exactly the point of a penance!

Having said that, if you have problems it really is best to speak to the priest who gave the penance to you. Shouldn’t be too difficult to track down which priest took confessions at which session.

 

[PhilipCal]

I suggest you talk to the Priest who assigned you the penance. It’s quite possible he might modify it. If you are unable to contact that Priest, then it might be advisable to contact another Priest. I suppose the point to be made, and I’m not suggesting you’re doing this, is that “shopping around” to modify a penance is not encouraged by the Church

 

[KGM06]

Update:
I was a little upset when I made this thread. So let me clarify some things.
First, when I went to that different parish, everything just felt wrong, I mean EVERYTHING. My first clue was you had to walk halfway thru the Church to find Holy Water to bless yourself, and that was from the Baptismal. There was no Holy Water near the doors at all. Choir/band practice going on at the same time the confession sacrament set me off. Seemed so very inappropriate and inconsiderate to me, plus the distraction so I couldn’t pray and contemplate before I stepped into the confessional. Made me wonder if I really was in a Catholic Church. The list goes on but think the idea has been presented.

I ended up calling my own Parish and set up a meeting with my Priest. I really just needed a good sounding board and discuss my feelings about the whole matter.

Bottom line after all that, I feel absolved now.
Its just the good feeling you get after confession, like you are a brand new person again, and then not get that feeling afterwards,…
I am just glad all is good again.