Author Topic: Commuting penance? (Read 1973 times)

LaramieHirsch · « **on:** August 15, 2013, 08:04:17 PM »

Ever hear of a priest commuting a penance?

Frances · « **Reply #1 on:** August 15, 2013, 08:50:46 PM »

Yes. If you receive a penance that later or upon attempt proves impossible or extremely inconvenient, another priest, or the same priest who gave it may change or commute it altogether. Two real-life examples: A man is given a penance of fasting. He fasts and becomes faint while driving. The priest changes the fasting from food to fasting from TV.
A woman also receives fasting for a penance. She performs the penance for five days out of two weeks, then finds out she is pregnant and must eat more food than allowed. Her priest commutes the penance.

ggreg · « **Reply #2 on:** August 15, 2013, 10:01:19 PM »

I know many people who view commuting as a penance.

poche · « **Reply #3 on:** August 16, 2013, 12:53:40 AM »

My uncle said that that happenned to him one time.

shin · « **Reply #4 on:** August 16, 2013, 06:47:53 AM »

Used to be penances given were so big, and lasted such a length of time, people would ask for substitute penances that were harder, much harder, but shorter in time. I.e. equivalent in punishment, making up for the less time with more pain.

So you could substitute several years penance for weeks or months doing some very tough activity.

Or you could go the other way and lengthen a difficult one to be easier in parts.

Of course to be allowed this is a mercy that was not always given.

Back in Ireland way back, for example, a substitute penance, or commutation for a black fast for a great crime could be one hundred blows with a scourge.

Here's from an Irish Penitential book:

'An arreum for a black fast on account of a great crime for any one who does not read, viz. 300 genuflexions and 300 honest blows with a scourge; crossvigil at the end of every hundred until the arms are tired; “Oh God I beseech an end, may mercy come to me,” “I believe the Trinity,” this is what he shall sing without ceasing until the arreum shall have come to an end, and strike his breast frequently at it with earnest repentance to God.'

Stubborn · « **Reply #5 on:** August 16, 2013, 07:08:16 AM »

Learned something new again - never heard of it.

TCat · « **Reply #6 on:** August 16, 2013, 08:03:49 AM »

The only penance I was ever given by novus ordo priests was prayer.
It was only the priests who do the TLM who encouraged me to make some reparation ( if I broke something to fix it). The TLM priests also tell you to say more prayers in penance than the novus ordo, and they count more things as sins than the novus ordo. In fact the novus ordo seem to just let you do whatever you want, which is not what serious Catholics want - we want a structure to our lives enforced by rules and consequences for breaking the rules - because it makes us strong.

LaramieHirsch · « **Reply #7 on:** August 16, 2013, 11:25:49 AM »

Quote from: TCat

The only penance I was ever given by novus ordo priests was prayer.
It was only the priests who do the TLM who encouraged me to make some reparation ( if I broke something to fix it). The TLM priests also tell you to say more prayers in penance than the novus ordo, and they count more things as sins than the novus ordo. In fact the novus ordo seem to just let you do whatever you want, which is not what serious Catholics want - we want a structure to our lives enforced by rules and consequences for breaking the rules - because it makes us strong.

I've noticed this too.

"That was a very thoughtful confession. Say one Hail Mary and one Our Father, and now make your Act of Contrition."

shin · « **Reply #8 on:** August 16, 2013, 11:57:25 AM »

I was told once that penance given by the priest for you to do is more efficacious than penance done by your own wish.

So there's another reason to want more than a few drops in the bucket.

TCat · « **Reply #9 on:** August 16, 2013, 12:00:52 PM »

Quote from: shin

I was told once that penance given by the priest for you to do is more efficacious than penance done by your own wish.

So there's another reason to want more than a few drops in the bucket.

It is because you mortify your own will by doing some difficult task at the command of another. It also brings you back into the church most wonderfully by having you practice obedience after sin.

StCeciliasGirl · « **Reply #10 on:** August 16, 2013, 05:59:10 PM »

I've commuted an indulgence for others [conditionally, in Purgatory], and the priest said that was commuting. But commuting a penance ...might that mean doing penance for someone who can't do it? (Or would a priest give you that look for suggesting such a thing?)

I can think of at least one I'd have rather not done

Even after I did it, I wondered about it. But I guess it brought fruits. Later. The hard way.

shin · « **Reply #11 on:** August 17, 2013, 02:29:36 AM »

Quote from: TCat

Quote from: shin
I was told once that penance given by the priest for you to do is more efficacious than penance done by your own wish.

So there's another reason to want more than a few drops in the bucket.

It is because you mortify your own will by doing some difficult task at the command of another. It also brings you back into the church most wonderfully by having you practice obedience after sin.

Yes, a good thought, I have to remember how necessary and valuable the mortification of the will is.