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I do not understand exactly what penance is in the catholic church. Where in the Bible it is commanded? What does it do? Could someone, preferably catholic, explain it to me.

2007-09-06 14:48:46 · 12 answers · asked by Bible warrior 5 in Society & Culture Religion & Spirituality

Let me add I am not catholic. I happen to be pentecostal. I am just trying to understand others beliefs.

2007-09-06 14:53:30 · update #1

tebone0315 -Thank you for answering part of the questions. But for the rest what I am looking for is where does the Bible command penance. And yes I know catholics are not fond of sola scriptura but I want to know where in the Bible is penance commanded.

2007-09-06 14:58:26 · update #2

CatholicGal -actually the word that you put there as penance is translated repent in the KJV. In the original the word translated there is repent. Not do penance. I may be wrong but there seems to be a vast difference between repenting and doing penance.

Also as just an addition. The version of the Bible you are using is one specifically written to combat the reformation. Therefore it might not be the best one to rely on fro doctrine.

2007-09-06 16:54:30 · update #3

CatholicGal - Let me add I did take a look at that Bible. Everywhere that the word repent or variations of that word are used. They replace it with do penance.

2007-09-06 17:04:06 · update #4

12 answers

I am a Catholic

When you sin, you not only sin against God but also against his Church. Penance is the restitution you do to "un-do" the break in the communion you once had before the sin. Penance is temporal with spiritual effects. If the priest hearing my confession assigns me a penance to do it is to re-build the bonds I broke with my fellow humans.

Paul insisted that the sin of Adam effects ALL of us. OUR wrong-doing does the same.

Yes, of course Jesus forgives sins. However, if I profane your name in the workplace, I have sinned against God, my action has no doubt affected you AND probably your co-workers as well. God does forgive me -- but I need the humility to ASK God for it -- rather than being presumptuous that it is mine. I also need to ask YOUR forgiveness -- and to try to somehow make it up to you. I would then take it a step further and apologize to your co-workers and attempt to re-build the trust, the "communion" that was broken. Trust is earned -- and so, how can I earn their trust? Depends on those who were hurt and to what level the hurt was. Did I embezzel money? Sleep with the HR person to get a promotion? Bribe the new top client so that I get the fat new account -- and recognition?

My penance is not required by Jesus -- but in order to re-establish harmony in the work place I need to acknowledge my wrongdoing, seek forgivess and then EARN back their trust. My penance repairs the HUMAN component of the harm my sin caused.

My "penance" in the work place may be suspension without pay; a demotion, or other action(s). You may indeed forgive me -- but I still have to re-establish the peace.

I may break your driver's side window with my careless tossing of a football near your driveway and you do forgive me -- doesn't mean YOU should have to pay for a new window -- right? Paying you cash for the window IS my penance. I make things right with you and your family who can then enjoy the use of the car again -- and maybe your carpool members and others who rely on you and your car. Sins have far-reaching effects.

How do I heal what my actions broke years ago with someone who is now deceased? Acts of penance. Prayer. Donate to a charity in their name. We are ALL connected spiritually -- agree or not; like it or not.

2007-09-06 15:20:45 · answer #1 · answered by The Carmelite 6 · 2 0

I went to Catholic school my entire life and after confession you would be given a penance. Depending on the severity of your sins, the priest would determine your penance. It was usually a few prayers like the "Our Fathers" and "Hail Mary's". The main purpose of penance is to wipe away your sin and truly feel bad for what you have done. You have to truly feel sorry for your sins when you do your penance. Prayer is how we communicate with God, and by taking that penance seriously, God can forgive you. If you do not take it seriously, than you are not truly sorry and it defeats the purpose. Hope this helps.

2007-09-06 21:56:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Here's where it is in the Bible, like you asked. Both Jesus and John the Baptist called the people to do penance for their sins. Here's Matt 4:17
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say: Do penance, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
And Matt 3:1-2
1 And in those days cometh John the Baptist preaching in the desert of Judea. 2 And saying: Do penance: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

And here's the explanation in my Douay-Rheims Bible
2 "Do penance"... Paenitentiam agite. Which word, according to the use of the scriptures and the holy fathers, does not only signify repentance and amendment of life, but also punishing past sins by fasting, and such like penitential exercises.

If you want to see more Bible verses about penance go to the Douay-Rheims online http://www.drbo.org/cgi-bin/s just type in the word penance. There are a lot of verses!
Hope that helps!
God bless you.

2007-09-06 23:32:18 · answer #3 · answered by Catholicgal 2 · 1 0

It is the belief of the catholic alone. it is not biblical. Catholics are making their own doctrine about religious matters.
This is s the meaning of that word: which is not true to a true religion which was founded by Jesus Christ

penance

pen·ance [pénnənss]
noun (plural pen·anc·es)
1. self-punishment for sin: self-punishment or an act of religious devotion performed to show sorrow for having committed a sin
2. duty imposed by priest: a duty or religious devotion imposed by a priest during the sacrament of confession in some Christian churches
3. Christian sacrament of reconciliation: a sacrament in some Christian churches in which a person confesses sins to a priest and is forgiven after performing a religious devotion or duty such as praying or fasting


transitive verb (past and past participle pen·anced, present participle pen·anc·ing, 3rd person present singular pen·anc·es)
impose penance on somebody: to make somebody do penance for a sin


jtm

2007-09-06 21:57:36 · answer #4 · answered by Jesus M 7 · 1 1

The Sacrament of Penance

Penance is a sacrament of the New Law instituted by Christ in which forgiveness of sins committed after baptism is granted through the priest's absolution to those who with true sorrow confess their sins and promise to satisfy for the same. It is called a "sacrament" not simply a function or ceremony, because it is an outward sign instituted by Christ to impart grace to the soul. As an outward sign it comprises the actions of the penitent in presenting himself to the priest and accusing himself of his sins, and the actions of the priest in pronouncing absolution and imposing satisfaction. This whole procedure is usually called, from one of its parts, "confession", and it is said to take place in the "tribunal of penance", because it is a judicial process in which the penitent is at once the accuser, the person accused, and the witness, while the priest pronounces judgment and sentence. The grace conferred is deliverance from the guilt of sin and, in the case of mortal sin, from its eternal punishment; hence also reconciliation with God, justification. Finally, the confession is made not in the secrecy of the penitent's heart nor to a layman as friend and advocate, nor to a representative of human authority, but to a duly ordained priest with requisite jurisdiction and with the "power of the keys", i.e., the power to forgive sins which Christ granted to His Church.

Reconciliation (also known as Confession and Penance): Penance is a Sacrament in which the sins committed after Baptism are forgiven.
Biblical references: Matt 9:2-8; Jn 20:22-23; 2 Cor 5:17-20; James 5:13-16;
Matt 18:18; 1 Jn 5:16

2007-09-06 21:55:53 · answer #5 · answered by tebone0315 7 · 1 0

Penance usually involves praying, where you're asking for forgiveness for your past acts and guidance for your future actions. It can involve using the rosary, where you'll be saying the Hail Mary prayer many times and I think puts you in a reflective mood as to what you've done and how Jesus would have responded in the same situation.
And yes, I am Catholic.

2007-09-06 21:56:20 · answer #6 · answered by seadog 5 · 2 0

I admire your attitude;-} it's refreshing to hear.
There is much opinion given here as fact.
We are told to confess our sins before God.
This is a matter of discipline, not doctrine.
First, this was done publicly, then to other persons, but
created scandal & gossip, so it was confined to priests.

Penance is just an act that we do to express our sorrow.
In other words, it is a physical sign of our repentance.
Usually it consists of saying a prayer or reading a psalm.
Reparation would be done for a more serious offence.
It's now called sacramental reconciliation.

2007-09-06 22:04:43 · answer #7 · answered by Robert S 7 · 0 0

I am an ex Roman Catholic and I can assure you that penance has no value before God whatsoever. It is just a ritual of duty that the Catholic feels he needs to get done, be done with God and then get on with his godless life. It leads to the endless ritual of sinning, confessing, sinning, confessing, ad infinitum. It provides a false balm to the conscience and no real heart-repentance. It is real, heart-felt godly sorrow that leads to repentance and to Christ. Trusting in Christ, who has taken the penalty of our sins on Himself, is the only "work" that has value in the sight of God the Father. (John 6:29).

2007-09-07 04:09:37 · answer #8 · answered by jael 2 · 0 1

It is purely un-Biblical. Salvation is by grace and that through faith. This is what Luther discovered in his Bible when he was doing some serious penance.

To do penance is to say that Jesus did not do enough by dying for our sins. It is, essentially, to negate the work on the Cross. There is nothing in the Bible that says we have to do penance, or any other form of self punishment. All it says is that when we do sin, we can repent and ask forgiveness from God, who "is faithful and just to forgive us our sins".

2007-09-06 21:57:23 · answer #9 · answered by TroothBTold 5 · 1 3

Penance - the means by which the pope's agents continue to brain-wash you into the catholic ways and strengthen their bank account.

2007-09-06 21:52:29 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

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