What do you do if you forget your penance?

[Onthisrock84]

I’m not sure if this has happened to anyone else before but there have been a few times I have went to confession and after saying the act of contrition and getting absolved, I will walk out only to realize I forgot what exactly the priest told me to do for penance or the number of times! It would be kind of embarrassing if not rude I feel to go back and say " father what was the penance again?" Has this happened to anyone else?

 

[Kaliaa]

I have no doubt that it’s happened to all of us at one time or another. I would talk to the confessor as soon as possible and just tell him what happened. I think he will have heard others come to him with the same thing, more than once. That will give him the opportunity to just assign you another one. Don’t get all upset over this just choose the easiest way to “right” it.

 

[Theban]

That’s happened to me a couple of times. You just have to take it with a smile and tell the Father that you’ve forgot your penance. It’s a little embarrassing, but I don’t think anyone would think it’s rude unless you have an attitude about it.

 

[ElizabethAnn]

Oh yes, it has happened to me more than once.
I will say the rosary then or any other prayers, tell Him I’m sorry I forgot and then carry on with my day.