Is penance a method of healing, an attempt to correct a person, or divine punishment? What is the goal of penance, and who has the right to impose it? Let's try to figure it out.
Penance: what is it?
Penance (translated from Greek as "penance" - "punishment according to the law") is the voluntary performance by a believer of one or another corrective action. It can be a long fast, a long prayer, alms to the needy, etc. A confessor can impose penance, it does not carry with it any truncation of the believer's rights. It is spiritual healing, in other words, it is a lesson that is assigned with the goal of deliverance from sin, which engenders the desire for achievement in the name of God.
Prayers and good deeds, which are appointed as penance, must be completely opposite to perfect sin. An intemperate person may be assigned a longer post, someone who is fond of worldly affairs - frequent going to the temple, intensified prayers, subject to the passion of silver love, merciful deeds are assigned.
Penance is not a punishment
According to the clergy, penance is a special obedience that can heal the soul of a sinner, but not punishment. Unfortunately, today we do not have a single penance practice. Many priests either do not give penance at all, or appoint too heavy, sometimes excessive for a person, which instead of building leads to the suppression and destruction of man as a Christian. There is no single rule for determining the "size" of penance. Sometimes people come to church who are very far from spiritual life, but they sincerely repent of their sins and claim that they need penance for adultery or for some other sinful act. Hegumen Nektarii claims that it would be wrong to appoint such a person to read the Penitent Canon daily, because he would not understand a word in him. It will be much more effective to offer him the simplest penance, for example, daily prayers with bows will give a much greater result.
Penance types
Since penance is the will of God transmitted through the priest, one must take it seriously. Within the established time frame (usually 40 days), you need to complete everything that is prescribed, if possible, adhering to a firm schedule. Possible types of penance:
- alms;
- long post;
- reading home prayers;
- abstinence from the performance of conjugal duty ;
- bowing during worship, etc.
If the repentant for some reason cannot fulfill the penance, he should turn to the priest who imposed it for advice on how best to do in this case and receive his blessing. If the sin of the penitent is very serious (murder, betrayal of the spouse), then in addition to the basic rules, a ban on communion for a certain period of time can be additionally appointed.
Penance for infanticide
Abortion is a serious sin, the responsibility for which lies with both spouses, especially if they consider themselves believers and are aware of the severity of this act. Penance for aborted children is usually sent by the Lord himself. This sin can be forgiven if a person is ready through all his life to humbly bear the punishment for an act committed. For this, problems with children, illness or difficulties in family life can be sent. It is important for a person who has suffered a penance to understand that everything that happens to him was sent for earlier abortions, all this must be accepted unquestioningly, repent, ask God for forgiveness and, of course, never repeat this in life.
To say the word, penance is something that can only be imposed by a spiritual mentor. No outsider priest can fully understand the situation of a person, as one who has been observing a believer for a long time knows all the subtleties of his life. Therefore, at confessions on pilgrimage trips, you should not ask the monk for penance, because with all his spiritual experience and adequacy, he will not be able to fully understand the current situation.
The sin of fornication
The seventh commandment of the word of God states the prohibition of all adultery, that is, any violation of marital fidelity and other illegal, lascivious relationships. It is impossible to say in advance with accuracy what kind of penance can be imposed, it all depends on the particular case, the will of the person to atone for sin and the decision of the mentor himself.
So what actions are sins against the seventh commandment? This is an intimate relationship between men and women who are not in a legal union approved by the church. Penance for fornication can be imposed with a 7-year excommunication. Adultery (betrayal to a legitimate husband or spouse), debauchery, homosexuality and lesbianism, temptation in a dream - all these are great sins, but this is not a complete list of them.
It is worth listening to the words of the priests who say that if the spiritual mentor does not give penance, the Lord himself appoints her. If a person understands this and accepts, the result will certainly be effective. However, this is a much more difficult way than reading the canon for a certain time, appointed by the priest.