What does it mean to do more Penance, and give examples, please

[joymercy]

Outside of doing a penance that Father gives to you after you make your confession, what does it mean to do MORE penance?

How do you do more penance, and why are we doing this?

Can you give examples of how to do more penance outside of confession and why we are doing this?

Is this the same as accepting sufferings and then offering up our sorrow for poor souls in purgatory?

Because penance is paying the price or penalty for sins, right?

Not just for ourselves, but doing penance for others? Give examples please.

We are trying to clean up the residue of forgiven sins by doing penance-above and beyond just after going to confession??

See, I thought that indulgences did that.....but there are so many different terms, I'm frozen.

When I donate food----is that a penance or indulgence?

Help

All the terms are getting very confusing and the answers here might help others as well as they learn the faith.

 

[Michie]

Penance Is Not Punishment

Offering Up Someone Else’s Sufering?

Indulgences

 

[Michie]

Outside of doing a penance that Father gives to you after you make your confession, what does it mean to do MORE penance?

Penance is just a good deed to offset the damage or make up for past sins. This includes prayers.

How do you do more penance, and why are we doing this?

Because it benefits those you wronged as well as yourself. Doing more penance could be anything. Including going to daily Mass for a week if you do not normally go. Adoration... anything.

Can you give examples of how to do more penance outside of confession and why we are doing this?

The consequences of our sins has an effect on others and the world as well as our souls. Penance could be making restitution, doing a good deed. Praying or fasting from something, doing something extra.

Is this the same as accepting sufferings and then offering up our sorrow for poor souls in purgatory?

Not really. We pray for them as an act of kindness and mercy.

Because penance is paying the price or penalty for sins, right?

No Jesus paid that price. Penance is for our benefit and the benefit of others.

Not just for ourselves, but doing penance for others? Give examples please.

Do you mean offering up our sufferings with those of Christ? Because that’s different.

We are trying to clean up the residue of forgiven sins by doing penance-above and beyond just after going to confession??

No. It’s more of a sanctification process being truly remorseful for our sin. The effects it has on us and others.

See, I thought that indulgences did that.....but there are so many different terms, I'm frozen.

Indulgences are granted under certain conditions that we are to meet before they are granted to us. It is believed to reduce the amount of time spent in purgatory for those already saved. Sanctification.

When I donate food----is that a penance or indulgence?

No that’s a charitable act. I guess it could be an act of penance though.

Help

I hope this helps a little.

All the terms are getting very confusing and the answers here might help others as well as they learn the faith.

Looking these things up in the Catechism should help. I know these things can get confusing.

 

[joymercy]

Thank you Michie. I will privately look into this