What can I do to make up for my last Confession?

[keb245]

I went into the confessional feeling fine, but when the priest was talking to me about my sins, I felt very ill and began to feel faint. I think I told him that I was about to pass out, and he skipped straight to the absolution and gave me my penance. I didn’t say the act of contrition and I don’t really remember what he told me to do for penance. I rushed out of the chapel and thank God, only got sick and didn’t faint.
What can I do to make up for this confession, I feel like it was not valid since I couldn’t even do my penance or take all I could from it. I feel terrible.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

You don’t have to do anything. Your confession was complete, if rushed. Reaffirm your plans to amend your life and immerse yourself in the paschal mystery of the next few days!

 

[LilyM]

I went into the confessional feeling fine, but when the priest was talking to me about my sins, I felt very ill and began to feel faint. I think I told him that I was about to pass out, and he skipped straight to the absolution and gave me my penance. I didn’t say the act of contrition and I don’t really remember what he told me to do for penance. I rushed out of the chapel and thank God, only got sick and didn’t faint.
What can I do to make up for this confession, I feel like it was not valid since I couldn’t even do my penance or take all I could from it. I feel terrible.

A penance does not have to be done immediately. Do your penance when you can. I’d you can’t, don’t worry about it, as it was not your fault you were too ill to complete it.

 

[Jeanne_S]

A penance does not have to be done immediately. Do your penance when you can. I’d you can’t, don’t worry about it, as it was not your fault you were too ill to complete it.

Really?

 

[Trishie]

My prayers for your health. Have you checked out what might have caused you to become faint and ill? Please take good care of yourself.
There was nothing willful in the failure that occurred so trust in God’s mercy and go to Confession again when you can. For anything more specific, could you speak to a priest, or that priest specifically, and ask where you stand in relation to what occurred.
May God bless you in all things temporal and spiritual

 

[GRATEFULONEjim]

Really?

Yes, really… A penance must be completed before the confession is valid, but there is no requirement to do it immediately. Many times I have been given a rosary to pray for the poor souls in purgatory or Bible chapters to read for my penance which requires it to be completed at a later time. I know of people who have been given penance to work a shift at the local pantry/soup kitchen as part of their penance. In the OP’s case, seeing as he fell ill and does not recall his penance, he should do something on his own. He can always make another confession before or after Mass. A good act of contrition before communion with the promise of making another confession within the week is also an acceptable option.

 

[Monica4316]

I went into the confessional feeling fine, but when the priest was talking to me about my sins, I felt very ill and began to feel faint. I think I told him that I was about to pass out, and he skipped straight to the absolution and gave me my penance. I didn’t say the act of contrition and I don’t really remember what he told me to do for penance. I rushed out of the chapel and thank God, only got sick and didn’t faint.
What can I do to make up for this confession, I feel like it was not valid since I couldn’t even do my penance or take all I could from it. I feel terrible.

If you said all your sins, was repentant, and received absolution, you are forgiven. As for the penance, maybe you could go back to this priest when he’s in the confessional, and tell him about the situation and that you forgot what your penance was? then he can just give you a new one. I think it’s best to just talk to him about it. Or if you can’t talk to this priest, ask another one in Confession. God bless

 

[domandcarols]

You don’t have to do anything. Your confession was complete, if rushed. Reaffirm your plans to amend your life and immerse yourself in the paschal mystery of the next few days!

Wow, I never knew that

 

[agapewolf]

Yes, really… A penance must be completed before the confession is valid, n.

This isnt’ true.

 

[LilyM]

This isnt’ true.

Correct. Willful failure to complete an assigned penance is a fresh sin that would need confessing. However, unless you decide during a confession and prior to absolution that you will not do the assigned penance, your sins in that confession are validly absolved.