What penance will the priest give?

The penance after confession is usually something small and doable: a few prayers, like an Our Father and three Hail Marys, a short passage of Scripture to read slowly, an act of kindness or a small sacrifice. The priest chooses it to fit you and the sins you confessed (CCC 1460). Do it soon, ideally before you leave the church. If it's something you can't do, tell him, and he'll give you something else.

What kinds of penance do priests give?

The Catechism lists the possibilities: prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service of your neighbor, voluntary self-denial, sacrifices, and above all patiently accepting the cross you already carry (CCC 1460). The priest gives it after you've confessed your sins and before the Act of Contrition and absolution (the full order is in what happens in confession). In practice, most penances fall into a few groups:

• Prayers. An Our Father, a few Hail Marys, a decade of the Rosary, or a psalm such as Psalm 51, the great psalm of sorrow. This is the most common kind.
• Scripture. Read a passage and sit with it, for example the prodigal son in Luke 15. The priest may tell you what to look for in it.
• Acts of charity. Do something kind for a person you hurt, call someone you've neglected, or help someone in need this week.
• A small sacrifice. Skip a dessert, a drink or an evening of scrolling, and offer it to God.
• Time with God. Spend a few quiet minutes before the tabernacle, or thank God for specific good things in your life.

Some priests ask you what you think a fitting penance would be. You can suggest something simple, or say you'd rather he choose.

Why does the priest give a penance?

Absolution takes away your sins. But, as the Catechism puts it, it doesn't fix all the damage sin has done, in you or around you (CCC 1459). Sin leaves habits, wounds and hurt people behind. The penance is the first step of that repair. The Church calls it satisfaction: doing something to make amends and to help you recover your full spiritual health.

A good penance also points somewhere. If you confessed impatience with your spouse, the priest might ask you to do something thoughtful for them. If you confessed neglecting prayer, he might give you ten minutes of it. The penance is meant to match "the gravity and nature" of the sins as far as possible, and to take your situation into account (CCC 1460).

Is penance the price of forgiveness?

No. Your sins are forgiven at the moment of absolution, before you've said a single Hail Mary of your penance. Forgiveness is a gift from Christ, who alone expiated our sins once for all (CCC 1460). Nothing you add could buy it.

Think of it the way a family works after a fight. The apology is accepted and the relationship is restored. Then you go and do the dishes without being asked. The forgiveness is already yours. Love simply wants to set things right, and your penance is that kind of response.

This is also why a light penance after a serious confession doesn't mean your sins were taken lightly. In the early Church, penances for grave sins could last years. Today they're usually short. Christ carried the real weight, and your penance is a small way of joining him. You're free to add more on your own: more prayer, more generosity, more care for the people you've hurt.

What about repairing harm to others?

Some sins wrong another person, and the Catechism says plainly that you must do what you can to repair the harm: return what was stolen, restore the reputation of someone you slandered, pay for damage you caused (CCC 1459). This is separate from the penance the priest gives, and it's a matter of justice.

Sometimes it's complicated. Contacting the person may not be possible or safe, or you may not know how to fix it without causing new harm. Ask the priest in confession. He can help you find a way to make it right that is honest and realistic.

When should I do my penance?

As soon as you reasonably can. If it's a prayer, many people kneel in a pew and pray it before they leave the church. If it's an action, like calling your mother or doing something kind for a coworker, decide when you'll do it, ideally the same day or the next.

You can receive Communion before finishing your penance. Your sins are already forgiven. Just don't let it slide. Penances put off for a week are the ones that get forgotten.

What if I can't do the penance?

Say so right there, before the absolution. Something like "Father, I'm not able to do that. Could you give me something else?" is a normal request. Maybe you don't know the prayer he named, you can't read well, or the penance involves someone you can't safely contact. The priest wants you to be able to do it.

If you only realize later that it's impossible, mention it at your next confession and ask the priest to change it. Don't quietly swap in something of your own choosing instead.

What if I forgot my penance?

It happens all the time, especially when you're nervous. Forgetting isn't the same as refusing, and your confession still counts. We cover what to do in I forgot my penance.

A simple habit helps. As soon as you step out of the confessional, before you think about anything else, do the penance or write it down. If you can't remember everything that happened in there, you'll at least have that.

After the penance

When you've finished, that part is done. You don't need to wonder whether you prayed it well enough. Thank God for his mercy, and get on with your day. If you want to keep the grace of the sacrament going, a short prayer like the prayer after confession and a regular rhythm of going back will do more than any extra worry.