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What is Penance?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Penance is an important part of Christian religious practice, especially in the Catholic tradition. It involves feeling genuine remorse for sins and accepting an appropriate punishment from a designated church official. Traditional forms of penance included corporal mortification and humiliation, but modern penance usually includes less extreme punishments, such as prayer. Penance allows people to reflect on their sins while they endure the punishment, allowing them to be absolved by a priest.

There are several stages to penance in Catholic tradition. In the first place, the penitent must feel contrition, and approach a priest to make confession. After confession, the priest determines an appropriate punishment, and absolves the penitent. Contrition and the punishment are both crucial aspects; a penitent who feigns contrition is not genuinely sorrowful about committing the sin, making prayer or other punishments somewhat pointless.

Prayer is often part of modern penance.
Prayer is often part of modern penance.

Often, the punishment takes the form of a set number of Hail Marys or Our Fathers. A Hail Mary is a Christian prayer used in many traditions to call upon the grace of Mary, Mother of Christ. An Our Father refers to God Himself, and it is also known as the Lord's Prayer or Pater Noster. The penitent may choose to say these prayers in church, entering to pray when services are not in session, or he or she may pray at home. Prayer may also be accompanied by a recitation of the rosary, a traditional Catholic prayer and meditation which is said over a string of sacred beads. While saying the rosary, Catholics also meditate on the mysteries, important themes in Christian faith.

A Catholic might use a rosary for penance.
A Catholic might use a rosary for penance.

Punishments for penance may also include restrictions like fasting or wearing modest clothing. These punishments are decided upon at the discretion of the priest, who makes the judgment on the basis of the sin and sometimes on the history of the penitent as well. A punishment may also be adjusted for a penitent with physical limitations; for example, fasting would not be recommended for penitent with a history of eating disorders.

Prayers may be accompanied by a recitation of the rosary.
Prayers may be accompanied by a recitation of the rosary.

Many religions include some form of penance, allowing the faithful to atone for sins that they have committed as part of their religious faith. The tradition of penance acknowledges that all people commit mistakes at some point, and that these mistakes should be considered and then absolved so that the penitent can move on. Penance is separate from other acts of prayer and faith, which can be carried out at any time by the devout.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a LanguageHumanities researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a LanguageHumanities researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon321661

How is penance important in the catholic tradition?

anon230807

Why are they punishing people for their sins when the Father himself is forgiving us through his son? Humans don't atone for their own sins anymore like our Jewish ancestors who used to do animal sacrifices to atone for their sins. The old sacrificial system is out. The Messiah makes atonement.

Read Hebrews 8 in your scriptures. The messiah became and still is the high priest of the new covenant, atoning for our sins in heaven. Humans "condemning" (deciding punishment) or absolving sin completely negates the role of our Messiah.

anon161018

get out of bad luck if you don't believe in it. just stop thinking about bad luck and it will go away.

anon81542

what does confirmation, penance and reconciliation, anointing of the sick, holy orders and matrimony mean?

anon71084

Do you think I can escape from bad luck?

anon12529

I have been reading a lot on this site and I do have one question. Do people who believe in Buddhism believe that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again for our sins?

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    • Prayer is often part of modern penance.
      By: Brian Jackson
      Prayer is often part of modern penance.
    • A Catholic might use a rosary for penance.
      By: duncanandison
      A Catholic might use a rosary for penance.
    • Prayers may be accompanied by a recitation of the rosary.
      By: Ruggiero Scardigno
      Prayers may be accompanied by a recitation of the rosary.
    • Penance involves feeling genuine remorse for one's sins.
      By: jedi-master
      Penance involves feeling genuine remorse for one's sins.
    • Punishments for penance are decided upon at the discretion of a priest.
      By: gregorydean
      Punishments for penance are decided upon at the discretion of a priest.
    • The rosary necklace has beads and a cross, and both carry much religious symbolism connected to the Hail Mary prayer.
      By: itsmejust
      The rosary necklace has beads and a cross, and both carry much religious symbolism connected to the Hail Mary prayer.