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Dear Father Angelo,
I would like to ask you a simple question (but not so simple in reality…): what exactly does penance consist of for a Christian?

I send you a hug and a prayer

Serena

Priest’s answer

Dear Serena,
1. instinctively we understand that penance must be made in  reparation for an evil done.
The very word ‘penance’ comes from poenan tenere, to give oneself a penance.

2. It is good to remind oneself that in Greek “penance” is “metànoia”, a word signifying a change of feelings, awareness of having done wrong together with the will to make amends. It is the so-called regret.

3. It should also be noted that the word penance in the Christian context has different meanings. It can indicate the virtue of penance, which is what you are enquiring about.
It can indicate the sacrament of penance, that is, confession. Finally, it can indicate the work commanded by the priest confessor in reparation for the sins committed. It is also called “satisfaction”, in the precise sense of this word (satis facere): one does what one has to do.

4. Let’s now consider the virtue of penance.
As the Roman Catechism of the Council of Trent reminds us, without “this inward penance of the heart, which we call a virtue, […] exterior penance will avail them very little” (§ 241).

5. The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church answers the question: “what is inward penance” in this manner: “It is the movement of a “contrite heart” (Psalm 51:19) drawn by divine grace to respond to the merciful love of God. This entails sorrow for and abhorrence of sins committed, a firm purpose not to sin again in the future and trust in the help of God. It is nourished by hope in divine mercy” (CCC, 300).

6. The expression “movement of a contrite heart drawn by divine grace” should be noted.

The virtue of penance is a response to the love of God that moves towards conversion and reparation for the evil done.
In this respect, penance is first and foremost a grace of divine mercy that touches the heart.

On the part of the man who corresponds is penitent love.

At the same time it is also an act of faith because man moved by grace is enlightened by God and through faith tends towards God, repairing the evil done.

It is equally also an act of hope in divine mercy and it is also a healthy act of fear of God.

7. Penance does not appear as a distinct virtue in the list of theological virtues or even of the cardinal ones.
It is a virtue that involves many other virtues: charity, faith, hope, justice, temperance…
Saint Thomas writes: “Although penance is directly a species of justice, yet, in a fashion, it comprises things pertaining to all the virtues” (Summa theologiae, III, 85, 3, ad 4).

8. The Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church to the question: “In what forms is penance expressed in Christian life?” answers: “Penance can be expressed in many and various ways but above all in fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. These and many other forms of penance can be practiced in the daily life of a Christian, particularly during the time of Lent and on the penitential day of Friday.” (n. 301).

9. Penance is not optional in the Christian life, but it is necessary.
Jesus said about the 18 people who died under the collapse of the tower of Siloam: “do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” (Lc 13,4-5).
Saint Thomas says: “It is impossible for a mortal actual sin to be pardoned without penance, if we speak of penance as a virtue” (Summa theologiae, III, 86, 2).
The reason is that sin is essentially a distancing from God. This is remedied by returning to him through conversion and detestation of sin, that is, through penance.

10. Since it is not possible to have a penitent heart without the grace of the Holy Spirit who reveals to the world the meaning of sin (Jn 16,8-9) it is necessary to ask for it as a grace that comes from heaven.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: the Holy Spirit “brings sin to light is also the Consoler who gives the human heart grace for repentance and conversion” (CCC, 1433).
It is by virtue of the blood of Christ that God offers the world the grace of conversion.

With the hope of an ever deeper purification of the heart so that it is worthy of God, I bless you and remember you in prayer.

Father Angelo