I Did Not Receive a Penance
I Did Not Receive a Penance
Question
I am a sinner and have gone astray. I have committed many sins. I confessed and partook of the Holy Mysteries. My father of confession did not give me a penance, and my conscience troubles me because I did not receive a penance so that I might find peace.
Answer
Not all fathers of confession impose penances on those who confess.
Especially if the penitent is deeply repentant and contrite in heart during his confession, these fathers see that the humiliation of his soul from within is sufficient for him.
They set before themselves the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, who said to the woman caught in the very act, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:11).
Likewise, He granted forgiveness to the sinful woman who wet His feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head, without imposing any penance upon her. Rather, He said to her, “Go in peace” (Luke 7:48–50).
What ought to give you peace is the Prayer of Absolution, not the penance.
Since you have heard the word of forgiveness, that is enough… Nevertheless, many sinners feel an inner pain because they have wounded the heart of God by their sins, not because their sins have not been forgiven. After David the Prophet heard the words of forgiveness from the mouth of Nathan the Prophet (2 Samuel 12:13), he returned to drench his bed with tears, weeping over his sins (Psalm 6), even though God also punished him because by his sin he had caused “the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme” (2 Samuel 12:14).
Therefore, since a penance gives you peace, I have two pieces of advice for you:
- Either speak frankly with your father of confession and ask him to give you a penance.
- Or impose a penance upon yourself.
The first penance—and at the same time the remedy—is that you should discipline yourself carefully regarding the sin you committed and keep away from all its causes.
Also, rebuke yourself and deny yourself some of the things you desire. You know well what troubles you, perhaps even more than your father of confession knows about you. But in imposing a penance upon yourself, let it be within reasonable limits and within your ability to bear it. You may also consult your father of confession about this.
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