What happens to the sins that penance isn't done for?

[Sir_Knight]

Are your sins forgive if you fail to perform the penance given to you during confession? What happens if you TRIED to do it but just couldn’t?

We have a visiting priest and his penance is always the same – “before the week is over, perform an anonymous act of kindness” … I have a hard time with the ‘anonymous’ part.

When I do something nice for someone, they KNOW that I’m the one doing the act and the anonymous part goes out the window.

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

I’m sure that if you really tried you could do something for someone without expecting anything in return.

 

[Sir_Knight]

… but NOT anonymously.

I fixed my in-laws leaky toilet, puchased a hot meal for a homeless person, etc.; all of these things were done without expecting anything in return but they were not done ANNONYMOUSLY.

 

[mikworld]

One thing you can do is let the priest know how difficult it is for you to perform the act anonymously, and tell him the other acts of kindness you are doing without anonymity.
They are usually understanding if you think you are incapable of doing your penance, and will dialogue with you about what a good penance should be.
God Bless,

Justin

 

[Faithful_2_Rome]

Once the Priest says “I absolve you in the name of”…

Your sins are forgiven 100%… but if you dont do that penance…one must ask…how sorry were/are you?

Divine Mercy forgives our sins…but dont forget about Divine Justice…it must ALWAYS be paid for… penance is kinda like spiritual money we are payng God for recieving that forgivness… and if his Justice doesnt catch up to us in THIS life…ie…some sort of suffering…whether spiritual or temporal…we WILL pay those dues with a harsher purgatory. ALWAYS do your penance and even MORE! Better to overpay in this regard than not!

 

[Funky_Cedars]

Sir Knight:

puchased a hot meal for a homeless person, etc.; all of these things were done without expecting anything in return but they were not done ANNONYMOUSLY.

i think you’re reading too much into the anonymity part. i’m gonna guess that the homeless person doesn’t really know your name and family and all. they may recall you as the guy who bought that meal that night. but not, oh yeah it was Sir Knight who paid that night. i’d suggest clarifying w/ Fr just how ‘unknown’ you need to be.
also, you might find an opportunity to be anonymous by stopping in another church on sunday and dropping some cash in one of the collection boxes.

 

[SHJ-BVM]

I’m coming to this thread a little late, but may I make two suggestions.

First, you could anonymously send a small card with several dollars in it to someone whom you know is out of a job, on sick leave, etc. The only identifying thing would be the postmark from the town in which it was mailed. This very thing happened to me Christmas of '89. I still wonder who sent it and ask God to bless whoever did it.

You could also make up a small food basket and drop it off at Catholic Charities. I live in a very small town, but the organizer for NH Catholic Charities doesn’t know me from Adam. I pick up ‘groceries’ throughout the year (when things are on sale), store them, and then come time for the holidays I make up several baskets and drop them off. As I said, she has no clue as to who I am.

Hope these ideas help. Peace and Godspeed.

Patricia

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

Your probably give a little extra time in Purgatory so you can do that penance.

 

[T.A.Stobie_SFO]

You can say a prayer for someone without telling them about it.

 

[Ivi]

Sir Knight:

Are your sins forgive if you fail to perform the penance given to you during confession? What happens if you TRIED to do it but just couldn’t?

We have a visiting priest and his penance is always the same – “before the week is over, perform an anonymous act of kindness” … I have a hard time with the ‘anonymous’ part.

When I do something nice for someone, they KNOW that I’m the one doing the act and the anonymous part goes out the window.

Read through Paragraph Nos. 1472 & 1473 of the Catechism for the answer. And, if you have time, Nos. 1420-1498 will do a bang-up job with the assistance of the Holy Spirit in showing you the Way.