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Kathie123
Guest
Can anyone suggest ways to do penance? The message of Fatima seems to advise "
enance, Penance, Penance!" so what should I do?
Thank you!
enance, Penance, Penance!" so what should I do?
Thank you!
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Madia
Guest
I recommend first (if you haven’t already) a devotion to Our Lady. Start with the three Hail Marys in the morning and evening:
catholic-church.org/grace/marian/3-hail-marys.htm
Then read “True Devotion to Mary” by St. Louis De Montfort:
ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM
If you get a hard copy of the book avoid the TAN edition.
Aftewards, make an act of consecration to Our Lady if you are ready.
As for penance as you grow closer to God you may feel called to give up things. If you want to do something yourself I recommend giving up a movie, television show, desert, substituting some food you think is ok for food you like (ie subbing a sprite for coke), etc. Pray for the grace to know how to do penance that is most pleasing to God.
catholic-church.org/grace/marian/3-hail-marys.htm
Then read “True Devotion to Mary” by St. Louis De Montfort:
ewtn.com/library/Montfort/TRUEDEVO.HTM
If you get a hard copy of the book avoid the TAN edition.
Aftewards, make an act of consecration to Our Lady if you are ready.
As for penance as you grow closer to God you may feel called to give up things. If you want to do something yourself I recommend giving up a movie, television show, desert, substituting some food you think is ok for food you like (ie subbing a sprite for coke), etc. Pray for the grace to know how to do penance that is most pleasing to God.
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Flopfoot
Guest
Common methods include -
- Not eating meat on some days of the week. For eg, my dad does Wednesdays as well as Fridays (normal requirement is that you only have to do penance such as not eating meat on Fridays).
- Not eating between midnight and noon some days or every day.
- Going without something you would normally have, which has a fixed cost, and then giving the money you save to charity.
- Extra prayer, eg, go to one extra mass every week, or pray the rosary.
J
Joysong
Guest
Isn’t it interesting that you post this todayhttp://forum.catholic.com/images/smilies/ani/ani_tiphat.gif for I was just watching a program this weekend on EWTN about the Fatima message of penance, and I thought that there was something more I could do also.
What came to mind as I pondered it though, was the little way of St. Therese. The speaker mentioned this, but did not go into details, but some things she wrote in her book were so adaptable by practically everyone.
It seems that nobody was able to find out St. Therese’s favorite foods, for she always ate whatever was served to her without any emotion, silently giving thanks to God. I thought about some recent trips to the restaurant where I complained about my meal not being served to my liking - in fact, I sent it back because it was overdone and scorched. In a spirit of penance, I probably could have eaten it, as she did, and nobody would be the wiser, thinking I actually enjoyed it!
She often sat in a chair without allowing her back to touch it. I remembered how often I slouch on the sofa with pillows and a quilt to watch TV, with a few snacks nearby – all of which could be eliminated!
Many times I stay in bed beyond rising time, and I recalled her discipline to obey the sound of the bell immediately. She refused to finish reading a letter once, deferring it to a later time, because the bell rang.
Or how about practicing loving patience when a clerk busies herself with someone ahead of us in line, and has to look up a price, process a credit card or check, and ever so slowly bags the buyer’s merchandise while they gab about incidentals. Etc., Etc.
These are just a few examples of tiny everyday things common to all of us that could be turned into opportunities to offer God a penitential sacrifice.
Carole
What came to mind as I pondered it though, was the little way of St. Therese. The speaker mentioned this, but did not go into details, but some things she wrote in her book were so adaptable by practically everyone.
It seems that nobody was able to find out St. Therese’s favorite foods, for she always ate whatever was served to her without any emotion, silently giving thanks to God. I thought about some recent trips to the restaurant where I complained about my meal not being served to my liking - in fact, I sent it back because it was overdone and scorched. In a spirit of penance, I probably could have eaten it, as she did, and nobody would be the wiser, thinking I actually enjoyed it!
She often sat in a chair without allowing her back to touch it. I remembered how often I slouch on the sofa with pillows and a quilt to watch TV, with a few snacks nearby – all of which could be eliminated!
Many times I stay in bed beyond rising time, and I recalled her discipline to obey the sound of the bell immediately. She refused to finish reading a letter once, deferring it to a later time, because the bell rang.
Or how about practicing loving patience when a clerk busies herself with someone ahead of us in line, and has to look up a price, process a credit card or check, and ever so slowly bags the buyer’s merchandise while they gab about incidentals. Etc., Etc.
These are just a few examples of tiny everyday things common to all of us that could be turned into opportunities to offer God a penitential sacrifice.
Carole
S
SonOfAMother27
Guest
It might be good to try offering up whatever pain you encounter, whether it’s real physical or emotional pain, or something as simple as the slow cashier that Joysong mentioned, for the intention of reparation for your sins, the sins of others (the world’s sins), and mortification of your own desires (which will help you to sin no more).
Also, sometimes there are things you can do purposefully to deny yourself a comfort or privilege that you otherwise wouldn’t need to give up. Walking around with a rock in your shoe, turning off the A/C at night and sleeping in the heat, or sleeping without a pillow or even on the floor; really anything that requires a sacrifice can be offered as a service to Our Lord, and help the salvation of your soul.
Of course, the favorites are usually the ones that also benefit others in the process, like giving up the morning Starbucks and giving the money to charity, etc.
Also, sometimes there are things you can do purposefully to deny yourself a comfort or privilege that you otherwise wouldn’t need to give up. Walking around with a rock in your shoe, turning off the A/C at night and sleeping in the heat, or sleeping without a pillow or even on the floor; really anything that requires a sacrifice can be offered as a service to Our Lord, and help the salvation of your soul.
Of course, the favorites are usually the ones that also benefit others in the process, like giving up the morning Starbucks and giving the money to charity, etc.
L
Linda_Marie
Guest
You could also visit at your local nursing home or hospital or visit the homebound of your parish. Check out your parish organisations. There might be one you could help out by volunteering. These can also be seen as penances since we have to go out of our way and sacrifice our time to accomplish them.
P
puzzleannie
Guest
go to confession and do what the priest advisesCan anyone suggest ways to do penance? The message of Fatima seems to advise "
enance, Penance, Penance!" so what should I do?
Thank you!
observe the traditional penitential practices of the church–Friday abstinence, fasting during Lent, or if you wish and your health permits, on Fridays or other days.
Acts of charity and service.
Beyond this, best to get the advice of the confessor or spiritual director who knows you.
work on developing one virtue at a time, and on letting go of one harmful habit at a time.
The Little Way of Ste. Therese is the best guide for this.
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