Question: What is a penance? What are examples of penance?
Quick Answer: Penance is a deed or a set of actions done in repentance for sins committed. Penance can take many forms: apologizing to a wronged person, healing transgressions within our families, fasting during the Lenten season, or increasing prayer for a dedicated time. Penance essentially means a commitment to reconciliation with God through confessing our wrongdoing and working to rectify ourselves with our neighbor, church, and Heavenly Father.
"Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance." (Luke 15:7)
Table of Contents
- Penance Definition and Meaning
- Examples of Penance
- Christian Practices of Penance
- Penance and Repentance
- Bible Verses about Penance
Penance Definition and Meaning
The word penance derives from Old French and Latin paenitentia, both of which derive from the same root meaning repentance, "the desire to be forgiven." It is also an alternate name for the Catholic, Lutheran, Eastern Orthodox, and Oriental Orthodox sacrament of Reconciliation or Confession.
According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of penance includes:
1. An act of self-abasement, mortification, or devotion performed to show sorrow or repentance for sin. I.e., "He did charitable work as a penance."
2. A sacramental rite practiced in Roman, Eastern, and some Anglican churches consists of private confession, absolution, and a penance directed by the confessor.
3. Something (such as a hardship or penalty) resembling an act of penance (as in compensating for an offense).
Examples of Penance
In the Christian life, three primary forms of penance (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving) assist believers in reconciling themselves with God and others.
Prayer: A penance may include a more intense prayer regime, praying more often and longer. One can pray for help against a particular sin they are struggling to overcome.
Fasting: Fasting can be used in penance to help overcome the flesh's carnal desires and conquer them to the will of the spirit.
"Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matthew 26:41)
Almsgiving: Almsgiving can be done in penance to overcome our selfish desires and cultivate a love for others. It is important to remember that almsgiving should not be done for earthly praise or rewards but out of love for God and neighbor.
"Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:2-4)
Christian Practices of Penance
Protestantism: Many Protestant churches do not practice the sacrament of penance, but instead encourage their members to practice penance throughout their lives. In Protestant teachings, the attitude of penance or repentance can be demonstrated through self-imposed acts, which are called penances. Self-discipline, such as devoting time to prayer or reading spiritual books, can be used as a token of repentance. More difficult acts of self-discipline include fasting, abstaining from alcohol or tobacco, or other forms of deprivation.
In Catholicism, the term "penance" is used in various contexts by the Roman Catholic Church. These contexts include (1) as a moral virtue, (2) as a sacrament, (3) as acts of satisfaction, and (4) as specific acts of satisfaction assigned to the penitent by the confessor in the context of the sacrament. The common thread among these contexts is the notion that the person who commits a sin must repent and, to the best of their ability, make amends to Divine justice.
Penance is a moral virtue whereby the sinner is sincere in hatred of their sin as an offense against God and intends to amend and reconcile.
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification."
Orthodoxy: Penance is typically known as the Sacred Mystery of Confession in the Eastern Orthodox Church. In Orthodoxy, the intention of the sacramental mystery of Holy Confession is to provide reconciliation with God through means of healing. The penitent venerates the Gospel Book and the cross and kneels. This is to show humility before the whole church and before Christ.
As the penitent approaches their confession, the priest reminds them that Christ is invisibly present and urges them to open their hearts and confess their sins without fear or shame. The penitent then confesses their sins as best as they can. The priest listens attentively and asks gentle questions to encourage the penitent to confess all their sins without withholding any due to fear or guilt. Once the confession is complete, the priest provides guidance and counsel. As a penance, the priest may modify the penitent's prayer rule or prescribe a new rule to help the penitent overcome their most challenging sins. Penances are given with a therapeutic intent, so they usually correspond in degree to the sin committed.
Penance and Repentance
In general, the relationship between penance and repentance (very similar words) can be described as "penance is what a person does to demonstrate their sincere repentance."
Repentance essentially means turning away from our love of the world and love of ourselves and turning toward God, loving Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind. "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment." (Matthew 22:36-38)
Penance is putting your repentance into action, demonstrating your commitment to God in deed and truth. "Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18)
Bible Verses about Penance
1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
James 5:16 - Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Luke 15:7 - Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
1 John 1:8 - If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Romans 2:4 - Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Matthew 3:8 - Bear fruit in keeping with repentance.
Proverbs 28:13 - Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
Photo credit: Getty/ArtPlus
Sources:
Wikipedia, "Penance"
NewAdvent, "Sacrament of Penance"
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