question regarding confession

[TeenageConvert]

Now, I know that when the priest gives the absolution, all my sins are forgiven including unconfessed venial sins, but I was wondering if when I do the penance are all of the affects removed from those sins? Or only the affects of those which were confessed?

Hope I’m not being confusing lol

 

[runningdude]

Penance helps you to grow in faith, so it will help you resist even the un-confessed sins.

However, if you confess those venial sins, the priest might tailor the penance to fit those sins better.

 

[TeenageConvert]

So penance doesn’t have anything to do with temporal punishment?

 

[Will_S]

So penance doesn’t have anything to do with temporal punishment?

It accounts for some of the temporal punishment due. But the effects of sin can (obviously) continue long after confession. For example, if you hurt someone by lying, they may well remain hurt after you apologize, confess and receive absolution.

 

[jmcrae]

So penance doesn’t have anything to do with temporal punishment?

Not really, no. What you want to do, in order to reduce your temporal punishment in Purgatory, is to seek Indulgences. There are several good ones, including reading the Scriptures for 15 minutes, praying five decades of the Rosary, or participating in Catechism classes.

To receive the Indulgence for these actions, go to Confession within 8 days (before or after, doesn’t matter), receive Holy Communion on the same day or as soon as possible, pray an Our Father and a Hail Mary for the Pope’s intentions, and of course, intend to receive an Indulgence at the time that you do the action, as well as completing the action.

You can receive one Plenary Indulgence (the remission of all temporal punishment) per day, as long as you fully intend to repent of all of your sins, and do everything possible to avoid committing them again. (Realistically, you will probably sin again - but the intention to avoid sin is what matters, here, along with doing whatever you can to avoid any kind of temptation.)

 

[TomD123]

So penance doesn’t have anything to do with temporal punishment?

No, it does, the small penance given to us in confession has 3 purposes:

1. to help us overcome our weaknesses
2. to remind us of sin and the need to make up for it
3. to pay for the temporal punishment

The penance given to us in the sacrament has a special value in satisfying for sins in general, but all penance satisfies for all of our sins.
If all sins are confessed properly, a good priest will give a more fitting pennance, therefore, we will have more help with #1,2 and 3

Tom

 

[athenasius]

It is allways good to confes all of your sins that you know. Doing the penance will give you grace which can help in all areas of your life but you would probably get even more graces that you need by just going ahead confessing everything. Hope I helped.

 

[TomD123]

1. Why does the priest give us a penance after confession?

The priest gives us a penance after confession that we may make some atonement to God for our sins, receive help to avoid them in the future, and make some satisfaction for the temporal punishment due to them.

From the Baltimore Catechism,

so I think overall its best (in addition to mortal sins of course) to name all of the more significant venial sins that have either been repetitive or especially harmful in order to receive a penance that is most fitting to make atonement to God for our sins and so that we can grow spiritually,

I hope this is helpful

 

[runningdude]

So penance doesn’t have anything to do with temporal punishment?

Well, temporal punishment can be served on earth or in purgatory. Growing in faith through penance, or sometimes the actions of the penance themselves, can undo some of the damage of sin, relieving the need for temporal punishment.