Stiffest Penance?

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Lux_et_veritas:
I told Father this when we first sat down - “I need a Father, not a friend.” He obliged.

Hmmmm…sounds like another topic for an article - friend vs. father.
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Interesting thought but I don’t believe it has to be either/or. I see no reason why it can’t be both/and, although possibly at different times. 😉
In His love,
Rhonda
 
Just wanted to add this to my previous post… I went to confession on Saturday, before Mass, and was told to read 10 minutes of the Imitation of Christ every day for the next seven days, and to add on a day if I forgot. It’s going well thus far, and I really like it. It also helps to avoid sin. :yup:

That tops my normal rosary penances!
 
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Penitent:
I have a confessor whom I believe is really inspired by the Holy Spirit at all times and especially when giving penance. A few times I’ve been really taken aback and then later see how they were issued straight from Jesus Himself.

I have had a decade of the Rosary once and the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy once, but the one that I remember most vividly was when my penance was something I had to do that I really, really, really (do you catch my drift) didn’t want to do. When the priest said it, I actually was shocked and became quite upset, which sort of upset him. He began to fervently tell me why I needed to do this, but I was upset enough that only a few words sunk in. I left the confessional (thank goodness it was a scheduled appointment with no line waiting outside) in shock and nearly dreading the penance…but out of the corner of my eye, I saw him exit the confessional, enter the nearest pew and drop to his knees. I knew that he was either praying for me or adding his prayers to my penance.

I now see that penance and how greatly it pushed me ahead in my interior life and will always be grateful to my confessor for listening to Jesus so closely and not being a wimp.

Penitent
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I was just wondering… did you ever let him know that it ended up “ok”?
 
I was told to sit in a park adjacent to the main boulevard in sack cloth and ashes… holding a sign that said, “This is my penance - Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”.
 
James_2:24:
I was told to sit in a park adjacent to the main boulevard in sack cloth and ashes… holding a sign that said, “This is my penance - Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”.
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What century was this in?
 
James_2:24:
I was told to sit in a park adjacent to the main boulevard in sack cloth and ashes… holding a sign that said, “This is my penance - Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”.
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You have got to be kidding me!

Noooooooooooooo :nope: - say it ain’t so. :banghead:

If that is true, that has got to be the stiffest penance of the “Stiffest Penance” thread.

:bigyikes:
 
James_2:24:
I was told to sit in a park adjacent to the main boulevard in sack cloth and ashes… holding a sign that said, “This is my penance - Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”.
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Did you do it?
 
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cargopilot:
I guess they can pile it on, when they need to.http://forums.catholic-questions.org/images/icons/icon12.gif
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*I have certainly gotten off light in for the confessions I have made. Especially the first one after 20 years. I was living extremely far away. I have had a variety of penances from brief variations of formal prayer, scripture readings, carrying out a particular action, silent prayer and more, but saying a rosary was the max for me. The Lord who works through our priests is so merciful. I would have been willing to do more. But I trust in the God who gave the apostles the authority to forgive or retain sins and whatever comes after in the form of penance I trust is what was prescribed by that same Holy Spirit. *
 
James_2:24:
I was told to sit in a park adjacent to the main boulevard in sack cloth and ashes… holding a sign that said, “This is my penance - Jesus, son of God, have mercy on me a sinner”.
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*I am sure this was tough, but quite a witness I would think. *
*If I were to walk by and see this when I was agnostic I would have thought it strange, but it would have made me think/had an impression (and/or planted a seed). *

If I were to walk by now, I would “get it” and be very humbled.
 
I must admit, the last time I went to confession I had to say 3 Rosaries - talk about stiff!! Usually I get a penance of 10 Hail Mary’s, 10 Our Father’s and 10 Glory Be’s.
 
hahaha, yes i’m sorry guys… i meant to say this was a joke a long time ago… but i am in the hospital after surgery and forgot about this thread 👍
 
James_2:24:
hahaha, yes i’m sorry guys… i meant to say this was a joke a long time ago… but i am in the hospital after surgery and forgot about this thread 👍
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*I wondered if your response was in jest. It was the sack cloth and ashes that made me wonder:) . Still if I were to see someone doing this it would have the same affect on me as I mentioned in my response before. *

Hope your recovery is going well.
 
Here’s a question…what do you do if the priest doesn’t give you a penance? I have never had this happen before. I just got back from confession and I realized that he didn’t give me one and I was feeling so blessedly relieved I made it through my confession that I didn’t think to ask!

Anyone have any advice???

As for my most serious…I have had 3 Hail Marys. I don’t know why I haven’t had more serious penances. I have had very “traditional” or “conservative” confessors in my time…anyway…an answer about the lack of a penance would be greatly appreciated.

Michelle
 
Michelle in KC:
Here’s a question…what do you do if the priest doesn’t give you a penance? I have never had this happen before. I just got back from confession and I realized that he didn’t give me one and I was feeling so blessedly relieved I made it through my confession that I didn’t think to ask!

Anyone have any advice???

As for my most serious…I have had 3 Hail Marys. I don’t know why I haven’t had more serious penances. I have had very “traditional” or “conservative” confessors in my time…anyway…an answer about the lack of a penance would be greatly appreciated.

Michelle
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Others have inquired of this same thing. Either the priest didn’t feel you needed a penance, or forgot. If he absolved you, even without Penance, it is valid. Personally, I would do a penance just out of consideration that he may have forgotten. The Lord would probably look kindly on you. Also, you can always mention it in confession next time - if you want more penance.

:rotfl:
 
Just to change the subject a little…

Has anyone ever requested a stiffer penance?
 
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maria2334:
Just wanted to add this to my previous post… I went to confession on Saturday, before Mass, and was told to read 10 minutes of the Imitation of Christ every day for the next seven days, and to add on a day if I forgot. It’s going well thus far, and I really like it. It also helps to avoid sin. :yup:

That tops my normal rosary penances!
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Maria, Did you ever continue reading Imitation of Christ?

I truly believe some sneaky confessors give us penances that will have us continuing something. Case in point: I recently got a penance to say the Fatima Angel’s Prayer three times. Father told me I could easily find it on the web. Sure enough, here it is:

**
Fatima Angel’s Prayer
*Oh Most Holy Trinity,
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
I adore Thee profoundly.
I offer Thee the most precious Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity
of Jesus Christ, present in all the tabernacles of the world,
in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges and
indifferences by which He is offended.
By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
and the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I beg the conversion of poor sinners. *
Amen.
**
I was not well versed in the details of Fatima, but I had to look this up to understand how it came about. How interesting I found it to be. That reminds me. After reading this history (see link), I was planning to add it to my daily prayers:

fatima.org/essentials/facts/1916appar.asp
 
I was once given a penance to read “The confessions of Saint Augustine” - the priest who gave me the penance laughed and gave me the oppurtunity to ask for a difference penance, but I kept that one.
 
Did you finish the book? How long did it take to get through it?
 
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Lux_et_veritas:
Did you finish the book? How long did it take to get through it?
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😃 I figured someone would ask that. I got close, however its very difficult to read. I struggled through the parts I made it through and was left mostly confused. Honestly, St. Augustine, like Mark Twain is someone I love to quote, but do not love so much to read.
 
Without getting too detailed, a little background info is needed.

15+ years ago, after trying to help my DH’s brother many, many times, we ended up testifying against him in court. After the trial he physically threatened me and my kids.

After serving his time he left the area for another part of the country. All these years have passed with nary a communique from him. Life was good and peaceful and quiet.

That was until last week, when he decided to come back for a surprise visit. Of course that sent my whole life into a tailspin. My blood pressure went through the roof, my nerves were stretched to within snapping, and I was completely stressed. In short, I became a witch to live with.

I explained to Father that I had tried to forgive, but I was finding it hard to turn this over to God and to be more Christ-like in forgiveness. After much discussion, Father’s penance to me was to say four prayers of my choosing.

Sounds simple enough right? Wrong, I could have said 4 Our Fathers or 4 Hail Mary’s, whatever, and in essence been done with it. Ironically, I still haven’t fulfilled the penance because I’m looking for four specific prayers to help me in dealing with being able to forgive and being more charitable and Christ-like. I have found three to reflect on while I wait for the fourth one.

Father’s penance is making me examine myself, which is not always an easy thing to do. So, this is probably the hardest/stiffest penance I’ve ever received, but one I’m glad to have.
 
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