Time limit on Penance?

[Harsalter]

I was wondering, is there a time limit (to be completed within a period of time) on a penance given at confession? And if it is simple prayers, is there a problem with completing them at home instead of at Church?

I just recalled that I got distracted coming out of the confessional last week, and I may not have completed my penance. So the above question. It may seem silly, but I’ve always completed my penance prior to leaving the building. But not that time.

 

[jpjd]

I usually complete my penance at home. I do that instead of doing my penance at church immediately following confession because, I usually feel like I can’t concentrate after confession. So the drive home gives me a chance to collect my thoughts, and then I am ready to do my penance by the time I get home.

 

[WanderAimlessly]

Went to confession today and got a strange one. An act of Charity for the next 3 days.

Already did mine for today and have thought of what to do for the next two. Just wondering if I can do them all in one day.

 

[MelanieAnne]

My vote is that you do extra penance. Can’t go wrong!

Melanie

 

[LilyM]

I was wondering, is there a time limit (to be completed within a period of time) on a penance given at confession? And if it is simple prayers, is there a problem with completing them at home instead of at Church?

I just recalled that I got distracted coming out of the confessional last week, and I may not have completed my penance. So the above question. It may seem silly, but I’ve always completed my penance prior to leaving the building. But not that time.

If you don’t know that you did it, do it over (assuming its not a huge one). Otherwise it’s a good idea to do it as soon as practically possible.

Yes, it’s possible to get distracted at Church. For me it’s just as easy to get distracted at home - phonecalls, chores, children. At least I find it so. And the longer you wait, the more you run the risk of forgetting to do the penance or forgetting what penance you’ve been given.

 

[Rawb]

Went to confession today and got a strange one. An act of Charity for the next 3 days.

Already did mine for today and have thought of what to do for the next two. Just wondering if I can do them all in one day.

Are you sure you weren’t supposed to say the Act of Charity for the next three days?

“O God, I love you with my whole heart above all things, because you are infinitally good; and for your sake I love my neighbor as myself.”

To the OP, I usually do my penance before the tabernacle, but a few weeks ago I was the last confessor, and so I said my penance as I walked out to the car. Another night I asked a priest to hear my confession after RCIA, and he told me to do my penance as I drove home, so in that case he specifically told me to wait until later.

 

[Mt_28_19_20]

I was wondering, is there a time limit (to be completed within a period of time) on a penance given at confession? And if it is simple prayers, is there a problem with completing them at home instead of at Church?

I just recalled that I got distracted coming out of the confessional last week, and I may not have completed my penance. So the above question. It may seem silly, but I’ve always completed my penance prior to leaving the building. But not that time.

I don’t know, would imagine there is not a strict time limit, and as someone else suggested, my thought is the sooner the better. I have forgetten before, and so complete penance on the way home or once home.

Was so used to being given a certain amount of prayers, so was pleasantly and unpleasantly surprised when the amount was more than doubled. Then I thought I might have lost count, so said them again. More time in prayer was good.

Michael

 

[LilyM]

Are you sure you weren’t supposed to say the Act of Charity for the next three days?

“O God, I love you with my whole heart above all things, because you are infinitally good; and for your sake I love my neighbor as myself.”

To the OP, I usually do my penance before the tabernacle, but a few weeks ago I was the last confessor, and so I said my penance as I walked out to the car. Another night I asked a priest to hear my confession after RCIA, and he told me to do my penance as I drove home, so in that case he specifically told me to wait until later.

You were in fact the last penitent - the confessor is the priest who hears confessions :yup:

 

[Rawb]

You were in fact the last penitent - the confessor is the priest who hears confessions

Oops. I didn’t catch that and my ‘edit’ time is up.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

I was once told that one’s penance should be completed before one next goes to Confession, but have never seen that in writing. One definitely should not let that keep one from going to Confession again, though you might mention that you had not completed your previous penance if that is the case.

There was also a strong recommendation that one perform the penance as soon as reasonably possible lest one forget.

 

[WanderAimlessly]

Are you sure you weren’t supposed to say the Act of Charity for the next three days?

“O God, I love you with my whole heart above all things, because you are infinitally good; and for your sake I love my neighbor as myself.”

To the OP, I usually do my penance before the tabernacle, but a few weeks ago I was the last confessor, and so I said my penance as I walked out to the car. Another night I asked a priest to hear my confession after RCIA, and he told me to do my penance as I drove home, so in that case he specifically told me to wait until later.

I am pretty sure he said “do an act of charity”, but that makes more sense since we are to always do acts of charity. Do could equal say. The priest was in a hurry since it was getting close to Mass. On my way out, he asked me how many more were out there. I told him 2 or 3. He asked me to tell them he could take one more. Another priest was taking confession though much of the Mass.

As for doing penance before the tabernacle, I actually had one penance where I was to pray before the tabernacle.

 

[lak611]

It is ok to complete one’s penance at home. Sometimes it is even necessary. For instance, if my priest tells me to read something from the Bible, and I did not bring it with me to church, I will have no choice but to wait until I get home to complete my penance.

 

[Cari]

I was once told that one’s penance should be completed before one next goes to Confession, but have never seen that in writing. .

Heehee…so I wonder what that means about the penance I got once, to “feel good about” myself, and to realize that God loves me.

I didn’t really feel like feeling good about myself for that long, anyway.