Deleted
Past Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Sept 3, 2023 21:46:53 GMT -5
I’ve been away from the Sacraments for a number of years, and as a result, aside from keeping the days of abstinence, I’ve completrly forgotten how to do penance. How do I fix this? (I will be bringing this to the attention of my spiritual director, he’s currently otherwise occupied with priestly duties)
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John Lewis
Full Member
Reviewing the Knowledge
Posts: 372
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Post by John Lewis on Sept 3, 2023 23:48:02 GMT -5
Penance is simply turning back to God. Instead of doing what you want to do, turn back to him and do his will for you in that moment rather than what you'd like to do. *gets back to study*
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Post by Voxxkowalski on Sept 6, 2023 11:21:35 GMT -5
Penence of confession? Or General penetential attitude?
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Deleted
Past Member
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Post by Deleted on Sept 9, 2023 2:05:46 GMT -5
Penence of confession? Or General penetential attitude? The latter.
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Post by Voxxkowalski on Sept 9, 2023 5:43:32 GMT -5
That my friend IMO is not a " how to " question....that is a daily cross of prayer to God to grant a penitential heart. I suppose you could look into traditional lay religious orders...but I dont think being penitential is something we " do" but something we aspire to "be" (of course we must do penitental acts ) but Im positive its in the humility of heart that bring fruits to the acts. I dont think checking off a laundry list of actions solves the penitential " problem" I think we must simply have a broken and contrite heart and try to sustain that all day every day. I think gratitude and Thanking God continually...and being aware when we forget to be grateful so as to go right back Thanking Him. Thank you God ...a simple but powerful ejaculation when said with sincerity as many times in the day as it comes to your mind...cannot help but lead you to true penitence. my2cents
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Post by Pacelli on Sept 9, 2023 11:00:10 GMT -5
Hello @dominusvobiscum, In my opinion, a great work in assisting Catholics navigate the spiritual life correctly, avoiding imbalances to either laxity or being too rigorous is the Introduction to the Devout Life, by St. Francis de Sales, linked HERE. On page 162, he explains the correct manner of mortification of the body, and explains among other things the usefulness of fasting, even beyond what the Church commands, but cautions against doing too rigorous fasts. In my opinion, in our society which has normalized overeating, it's become blurred, in my opinion, as to what normal eating is even supposed to look like, never mind fasts. Fasting has many benefits of the spiritual life, and is a penitential act, and interestingly enough, there are many health benefits attributed to fasting, in addition to the spiritual benefits. Beyond fasting, in my opinion, it's good to do some self reflection on other things that we use our time on, not sinful things, as those must be abandoned anyway, and maybe give them up for periods of time, or reduce them as acts of penance, obviously not in an imbalanced way, or a way that conflicts with one's duties. For example, a young man that enjoys video games that are not sinful, but spends tremendous amounts of his time on, could easily offer to reduce this pastime, and offer more time to prayer, or try to get to a daily mass more often. A person that enjoys alcohol, not in sinful quantities, but enough to enjoy it in moderation, may want to give it up for a while as an act of penance. There are many more examples, but I hope you get the point. St. Thomas More, a man who lived in the world and held a high office in the government, and mixed with the leading and powerful social circles of his day, still embraced a very deep spiritual life, and wore hair shirts and even whipped himself, so how difficult really is it for us in the modern world to just embrace some milder penances like sometimes skipping a meal, saying an extra rosary, turning off the tv, not reading the news, skipping a drink, going thirsty for a little while, skipping playing video games, taking days off from social media, giving up sugary foods or drinks or baked goods for a day, or whatever else seems reasonable as ways of making acts of penance, without harming our health or interfering in our daily duties? The Introduction to the Devout Life, in my opinion, should be required reading, so to speak, in our times as it captures the balance between the two extremes, and leads one correctly, with order, to grow closer to God through the spiritual life.
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