We’re continuing our discussion of the call from Akita, Japan, to commit ourselves to works of prayer, penance, and sacrifice. Since we discussed acts of prayer last week, this week is dedicated to discussing acts of penance.
I would venture that the average Catholic really only thinks of penitential acts as something we do after receiving Confession. It is true that part of receiving Confession is a commitment to performing a small penitential act, usually a prayer of one sort or another. However, performing penance is far more than just that one common situation.
Penance ultimately is the act of following Our Lord’s call to take up our crosses and follow Him. (Matthew 16:24) It is sorrow for our sins and an interior conversion of heart that leads to a turning of our lives away from sin and conversion back to God. While penance begins interiorly, in the depths of our souls, it shows itself through outward works of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
As I wrote last week, the acts of prayer, penance, and sacrifice are connected, so one of the most important forms of penance is prayer. This is why the penance for the Sacrament of Confession is often a prayer or series of prayers. When we take time throughout our day for prayer, we are taking time to reconnect with God and allow Him to bring about that conversion of heart. Prayer itself can also be penitential, such as the Penitential Rosary of St. Padre Pio, with each Hail Mary replaced by an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be.
Fasting is another concept that we generally have a narrow understanding. Mention fasting, and many Catholics will likely talk about giving up something for Lent, or Friday Fish Fries, or fasting from food on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. While these are all forms of fasting, there is more to it than the simple acts of giving things up. Fasting is about self-denial, especially of things that we desire but are not necessarily needs. We can make small acts of fasting throughout our daily lives by denying ourselves something we might enjoy and offer it especially to God in prayer.
Finally, almsgiving is not just a pitch for giving more money to the parish. When we give financially of ourselves to God through almsgiving, we are once again committing acts of self-denial with our goods and money. We are telling God that we want to trust Him more and follow Him with everything, even our finances. This is hard for many of us, as there is a strong drive to keep up with neighbors and family members in particular material goods and prosperity. Almsgiving fights against this temptation.
There is much more that could be discussed regarding penance. I invite everyone to examine the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 1430–1439, for more information.
