Hi ,
I don’t really understand what works of penance really is, I understand that this is one of the things we could do for the souls in purgatory, can you give me some examples please?
Thanks
I think penance is about sacrifice. A work of penance is to pray: you sacrifice time and devote part of your life to the benefit of others. Your prayer is not symbolic, it’s a real spiritual work of mercy God uses to benefit others.
A work of penance is to give up and give away. A rich man who wanted to follow Francis of Assisi sold everything and gave the money to the poor. Do you really need everything you buy? Can you give up beer, soda, candy, lotto tickets, something, and give that money to hungry people every month?
A work of penance can be humility. You sacrifice your ego and stop arguing about who is right, or reminding Fred he already told that story, or monopolizing conversations. Depends on you, what kind of thing is humbling.
I know a woman who was vain about her hands. One day, as a work of penance, she decided to simply never have long nails again. She cut them short, threw out all her nail polish. It was part of wanting to be less concerned with the world and get closer to God. Might seem silly to us but it was a big deal to her.
Go on a diet or take up exercise. How can that be penance? You
like dieting and jogging? Saint Theresa once had to walk for some health reason that didn’t work and she hated it. She said she was walking for a missionary someplace who just felt like he couldn’t go on.
Clean up a mess you didn’t make. Apologize when you are not wrong. Find ways to say no to yourself.
