[quote]dollarbill44 wrote:
Loose Tool wrote:
dollarbill44 wrote:
Loose Tool wrote:
Adding something positive is not penance.
I’m not sure why you are saying this. The sacrament of reconciliation is comprised of confessing your sins and performing penance. The penance is prescribed by the confessor (the priest hearing the confession). Usually, the priest will prescribe a list of prayers for penance. But it isn’t uncommon for priests to prescribe donation of time or money to charity as part of penance.
If someone decides to do the stations of the cross once a week to make up for a lack of piety during the year, why is this not considered penance?
In past years I have given up the trinity of alcohol, chocolate and swearing, which makes for a very difficult period. This year, I am giving up swearing and chocolate only.
DB
I’m saying it because reading Canon 1249, 1250 and 1251 in its entirety, penance requires more than just piety and charity, it requires abstinence.
Well, since you’re quoting Canon law, read 1245:
“Can. 1245 Without prejudice to the right of diocesan bishops mentioned in ⇒ can. 87, for a just cause and according to the prescripts of the diocesan bishop, a pastor can grant in individual cases a dispensation from the obligation of observing a feast day or a day of penance or can grant a commutation of the obligation into other pious works. A superior of a religious institute or society of apostolic life, if they are clerical and of pontifical right, can also do this in regard to his own subjects and others living in the house day and night.”
You see, these can be tailored by any clergy down to the level of pastor. By “granting a commutation of the obligation into other pious works”, people can undertake other positive activities in lieu of abstinence.
Like any legal document, the Canon Law contains lots of “out” clauses. While I don’t profess to know much about the Canon Laws, I trust that the members of the priesthood who advise me do know something about it. About every other year, the concept of adding something positive in the place of abstinence is advised in the Ash Wednesday sermon.
DB
See also, Can. 1253-The conference of bishops can determine more precisely the observance of fast and abstinence as well as substitute other forms of penance, especially works of charity and exercises of piety, in whole or in part, for abstinence and fast.[/quote]
There are exceptions to the general rule, like Canon 1245, where exceptions can be made for an individual for just cause. But Canon 1244 Sec. 1 applies when it involves the Universal Church:
Canon 1244 Sec. 1: Only the supreme ecclesiastical authority can establish, transfer or suppress holydays or days of penance which are applicable to the universal Church, without prejudice to the provisions of Can. 1246 Sec. 2.
Bishops can also give special dispensation.
I really don’t have a dog in this fight. I’m lapsed. For those who follow the rules, the church requires penance during Lent. My read of the rules is that penance requires, prayer, piety, charity and abstinence. Abstinence includes fasting and meatless Fridays. Exceptions can be made on an individual basis.