Trouble remembering my penance

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JellyBeanMuffin

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I try to go to Comfession once a month or every 3 weeks when I can get to it. Normally my penance is to do something kind for someone that week (I go on a Thursday so between that day and the next Thursday) but I always forget to do it!
I usually try to think of something nice to do for my mom or Dad or a friend and then time passes and it slips my mind. Sometimes, I’ll remember it a week later and maybe check in with a friend or like this week, help my mom pick strawberries.
Does this still count? Also, does anyone have any remedies for for not forgetting to do it?
 
Perhaps you could make it a point to do your penance as soon as you get home from confession.
 
I don’t know what time of day we are talking about but let’s assume late afternoon. When you get home maybe your mother is making dinner. There’s your opportunity to help with cooking or setting the table. After dinner you could offer to do the dishes. Do you have younger siblings? What about helping them with their homework or entertaining them before dinner? What about offering to mow the lawn or wash the car? There’s no end of things around the house that your parents might normally do but you could take on for them.
 
Sometimes I text myself what my penance was in the event that it was not prayers I could say right away because I have a terrible memory lately.
 
JellyBeanMuffin said:
IAlso, does anyone have any remedies for for not forgetting to do it?
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Make the act of kindness something simple .

You can give someone a smile as you pass them .

You can say a prayer for someone who is suffering .

You can even come on here and thank someone for a post you like .
 
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Penance after sacrament? Liturgy and Sacraments
This is why I am all for giving SMART penances. Specific: You should know what it is. Measurable: You should know when you’ve finished it. Attainable: You should be able to finish it at all, and within a reasonable time period. Relevant: Not as big a priority, since there’s not much gained by getting cute/creative with penances, as this is where a lot of priests unnecessarily burden people with fluff. Funny how fluff can be such a burden. But if I were to make it relevant, I’d propose a chap…
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Not sure about USA, but in my home town in a Parish in Sydney Australia,
most Priests ask You do Penance at the “before Mass” or side Chapel (before the Mass starts)

A lot of Sydney Parishes have it on “pre” Saturday night Vigil Mass.
I have to get there early !!!

I do see some people who have not prayed the full Penance staying back after Mass .

I also thought it was prerequisite to say The Prayers of Penance immediately after Confession or ASAP just after Mass in same Church. (ie do not leave the door buddy smile ; )…maybe different in USA
 
It really depends on what your penance is. If your penance is something like say an Our Father and a Hail Mary, you can easily do it right after confession. But I’ve received penances that started with during the season of Lent… or for the next week… obviously not something you can do before you leave the church.
 
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