What if the priest gives you an impossible penance?

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Mark1124

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Just to be clear, I’m not asking about something that is difficult or that you’re unwilling to do; those have both been answered in other threads. But what if the penance the priest gives you is literally impossible for you to complete?

Here’s the situation that brought on this question: a couple weeks ago, a priest told me for my penance to pray one Our Father for my loved ones who have died. The only problem is, I don’t have any loved ones who have died. Should I have told the priest that at the time? Or did I complete my penance by praying one Our Father for all who have died?
 
I would have told him at the time but I’m sure it was sufficient, although I have no grounds to say it definitely was.

Maybe it’s best to see that priest again and ask him about it to put your mind at ease. I’ve done that for things I’ve wondered about my confessions over the years.
 
Offer it for the holy souls in purgatory in leiu of having any deceased loved ones?
 
Next time you’re at Confession, mention that you weren’t able to do the penance given last time and ask for a different penance. The priest will have the authority to do so. (And to be clear, you would mention it not because it’s a sin [it isn’t] but for the purpose of getting the new penance.)

In the meantime, I’m with others that you may as well still pray an Our Father for someone else.
 
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And I also understand that if you don’t like the penance you are given, or cannot complete it, you may ask for another.
 
I like to pray for “those who have asked for my prayers, for the souls of priests in purgatory, for my friends and relatives who have died, and those for whom I’m most obligated to pray”.

I try to pray for my family tree very regularly, because even though I may only have (had) a relationship with a generation or three behind me, and a generation or so ahead of me, my “family” is far more extensive than that.

So make an effort to pray for your family tree as well, even if you still have all your parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents alive on earth.
 
Just pray it for your ancestors who have died. You may not know them, but they’re still family, and thusly are “loved ones.”
 
You could have asked, but you also could pray for others in need.
It’s not so much the penance as much as it is your act of contrition and your absolvement of sins by the priest.
God bless you!
 
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