Priest does not give penance working4christ2

day, 5:18 am

Heinshweiz  Observing Member   Join Date: August 12, 2013 Posts: 3 Religion: Catholic

Priest does not give penance Although this is an issue i have seen previously here I could not find an answer to my specific doubt. There is a priest in my town, to whom I have confessed a few times, and, for what I recall, he does not impose any penance (at least for me he didn't). Knowing that there is a need for a penance as a "repair" (sorry if that's not the proper word) for the sins I commited, is it wrong if I go to confession with this priest again? Should I look for another priest to make a confession?

#2    Today, 6:19 am

ClearWater  Regular Member   Join Date: April 30, 2011 Posts: 4,938 Religion: Roman Catholic revert

Re: Priest does not give penance Quote: Originally Posted by Heinshweiz  Although this is an issue i have seen previously here I could not find an answer to my specific doubt. There is a priest in my town, to whom I have confessed a few times, and, for what I recall, he does not impose any penance (at least for me he didn't). Knowing that there is a need for a penance as a "repair" (sorry if that's not the proper word) for the sins I commited, is it wrong if I go to confession with this priest again? Should I look for another priest to make a confession? A lot of priests here don't give confession. Some don't give confession, and sometimes, since they are so overburdened, I think they just forget. __________________  “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Søren Kierkegaard http://www.comepraytherosary.org/

#3    Today, 6:33 am

acadiANNA  Regular Member   Join Date: January 9, 2012 Posts: 832 Religion: Roman Catholic

Re: Priest does not give penance Once the priest did not impose a penance, so I did my own. If it was a regular practice of a priest not to give a penance to do, I would have to ask him about it.

#4    Today, 6:44 am

UpUpAndAway  Regular Member Prayer Warrior   Join Date: March 11, 2010 Posts: 5,396 Religion: Latin Rite Catholic

Re: Priest does not give penance Quote: Originally Posted by Heinshweiz  Knowing that there is a need for a penance as a "repair" (sorry if that's not the proper word) for the sins I commited, is it wrong if I go to confession with this priest again? Strictly speaking, it's not wrong. IIRC the absence of assigned penance does not invalidate the confession. Quote: Originally Posted by Heinshweiz  Should I look for another priest to make a confession? That's a question only you can answer. I prefer confessors who assign penance, but if I am comfortable with a particular priest otherwise (ie. he gives valuable counsel that helps overcome sin) I wouldn't let the lack of penance stop me from confessing to him. As acadiANNA said, if the priest doesn't give penance you can perform a penitential act of your own choosing. Quote: Originally Posted by ClearWater  A lot of priests here don't give confession. Some don't give confession, and sometimes, since they are so overburdened, I think they just forget. I imagine that every time you said "confession," you actually meant "penance"...?  __________________ Per fidem intrepidus Just as God's will is creation and is called "the world," so his intention is the salvation of men, and it is called "the Church."  - St. Clement of Alexandria

#5    Today, 6:46 am

Neofight  Regular Member   Join Date: December 28, 2011 Posts: 1,009 Religion: Roman Catholic

Re: Priest does not give penance Maybe its not as bad as it seems...I have been to confession and the transgressions I brought before the priest were absolved and no penance was given, but in the course of our discussion, the priest told me my sins I brought were not mortal. So, I'm thinking, his absolution was for my venial sins which could have been accomplished through many other means including mass, prayer, the Eucharist, which would serve as penance. Reconciliation can still offer sacramental grace even if you are not in the state of mortal sin.

#6    Today, 6:51 am

ClearWater  Regular Member   Join Date: April 30, 2011 Posts: 4,938 Religion: Roman Catholic revert

Re: Priest does not give penance Quote: Originally Posted by UpUpAndAway  Strictly speaking, it's not wrong. IIRC the absence of assigned penance does not invalidate the confession. That's a question only you can answer. I prefer confessors who assign penance, but if I am comfortable with a particular priest otherwise (ie. he gives valuable counsel that helps overcome sin) I wouldn't let the lack of penance stop me from confessing to him. As acadiANNA said, if the priest doesn't give penance you can perform a penitential act of your own choosing. I imagine that every time you said "confession," you actually meant "penance"...?  Of course. __________________  “There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” ― Søren Kierkegaard http://www.comepraytherosary.org/

#7    Today, 6:54 am

UpUpAndAway  Regular Member Prayer Warrior   Join Date: March 11, 2010 Posts: 5,396 Religion: Latin Rite Catholic

Re: Priest does not give penance Quote: Originally Posted by ClearWater  Of course. Just checking. I don't like to assume anything.  __________________ Per fidem intrepidus Just as God's will is creation and is called "the world," so his intention is the salvation of men, and it is called "the Church."  - St. Clement of Alexandria

#8    Today, 6:59 am

Bookcat  Forum Elder   Join Date: January 14, 2009 Posts: 17,810 Religion: Christian! Catholic! Disciple of Jesus of Nazareth!

Re: Priest does not give penance Penance is to be given as part of the Sacrament (Canon 981). If he is not imposing a penance - I would look for another Priest. __________________ VIVAS IN DEO IHCOY XPICTOY

#9    Today, 7:24 am

Neofight  Regular Member   Join Date: December 28, 2011 Posts: 1,009 Religion: Roman Catholic

Re: Priest does not give penance Quote: Originally Posted by Bookcat  Penance is to be given as part of the Sacrament (Canon 981). If he is not imposing a penance - I would look for another Priest. But then again, a non-trained and certified canon lawyer can only cite Canon Law, and not interpret it, and surely not enforce it. There may be truth to the basic statement that Penance is given as part of the Sacrament, according to CL, but like Constitutional Law, and other Law, CL is not always straight forward, and clearly black and white. That's why there are canon lawyers. What needs to be remembered about CL, is that it is not designed to just say what is right and what is wrong, to keep the clergy or laity in line, but rather it is to protect the faithful. So, in this case, Canon 981 "MAY" (I say "may" again, to emphasize that as a non-canon lawyer, I can only speculate on the accepted Church interpretation of the law) reassure the person who received the sacrament without penance of the validity of the sacrament despite the possibility of an unlawful indiscretion of a priest. In this way, we see the Code of Canon Law protecting one of the faithful, by declaring the validity of a possibly illicit (by incompletion in this case) sacrament, and the opinion of the Church that because of the honest contrition of the individual, they received absolution and the graces offered by the sacrament, and left reconciled with God, no longer in the state of mortal sin. Peace and all Good!

#10    Today, 7:40 am

JM3  Regular Member   Join Date: July 9, 2010 Posts: 2,887 Religion: Catholic

Re: Priest does not give penance Quote: Originally Posted by Heinshweiz  he does not impose any penance (at least for me he didn't). Sin of detraction. __________________ "Faith is required of you, and a sincere life, not the height of understanding, nor diving deep into the mysteries of God." Thomas a Kempis - The Imitation of Christ "God will judge us by our fidelity to His Church and our obedience to Peter." Br. Jason Richard, FFV