Q On Penance

[Anastasia13]

1494 The confessor proposes the performance of certain acts of "satisfaction" or "penance" to be performed by the penitent in order to repair the harm caused by sin and to re-establish habits befitting a disciple of Christ.

 

Are there any guidelines on what penance is appropriate or is it just case by case and person by person?

[cappie]

 I have used a book called "The Good Confessor" by Gerald Kelly S.J. 1951 as a guide also The Rituale Romanumn from 1964 prior to the reforms of the Sacrament of Penance still offers good advice for confessors.

 

Penance - General Rules

 

19 Finally, he shall impose a suitable and salutary satisfaction, as Wisdom and prudence will dictate, keeping in mind the state of the penitents and various considerations such as their sex, age, and disposition. But let him be careful not to impose too light a penance for grievous sins, and by such possible connivance become a party in another's sins. The confessor must bear in mind that satisfaction is not intended merely as a means for betterment and remedy for weakness, but also as a chastisement for past sins.

 

20. Therefore, he should strive as far as possible to enjoin as penances practices which are opposed to the sins confessed, for example, almsgiving in the case of the avaricious, fasting or other mortifications of the flesh for the dissolute, acts of humility for the proud, exercises of piety for the lax. In the case of persons who come to confession irregularly or very seldom, as well as such who fall back readily into sin, it will be most advantageous to counsel frequent confession, about once a month or on occasions of special feast days. Likewise he will advise them to communicate that often, if this is practicable.

 

21. A confessor must not enjoin a penance which would be remunerative to himself, neither may he exact nor accept anything at all from the penitents in return for his services.

 

22. He must not impose a public penance for sins that are secret, no matter what their enormity.

[CatherineM]

When it comes to penances, I think a good relationship with your confessor helps. I had one who used to assign me things like picking up cigarette butts in the parking lot or trimming hedges outside the rectory. He told me that he did that because I was so hard on myself that a physical "punishment" made me feel like I'd really worked off my sin, plus I could be mad at him instead of being mad at myself.