Public penance.
Posted by Terry Nelson on Aug 12th, 2007
From the Summa Theologica:
“Some penances should be public and solemn for four reasons. First, so that a public sin may have a public remedy; secondly, because he who has committed a very grave crime deserves the greatest confusion even in this life; thirdly, in order that it may deter others; fourthly, that he may be an example of repentance, lest those should despair, who have committed grievous sins.” - St. Thomas Aquinas
August 12th, 2007 at 7:30 pm
I disagree with the great man. One has to first have a concept of penance; otherwise, it’s nothing but a short-term or long-term punitive thing administered by man. Is Charles Manson getting any better? And no, I don’t want public penance brought back to the Church!
To be punished or to punish ourselves is not penance, tho’ it may be penitential in nature, for some.
August 12th, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Just me - no - this would never be imposed - I’m just preoccupied with the idea of penance.
August 12th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Just imagine what the general judgment will be like, when the whole of humanity knows each sin, great and small, that anyone ever committed.
August 12th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I know! I’ll be pelted with rotten tomatoes!
August 13th, 2007 at 10:04 am
The Lord brings good even from rotten tomatoes –they are relatively soft, and warm, and their acidy wash on you will keep feral cats away. God is good.
Even more seriously, I figure Jesus (and Mary and Peter and every saint we know) did an awful lot of penance for each of us already, and so we ought to just put our noses to the grindstone and do penance for others. We have some idea of how dreadful hell is, but if we knew how agonizing a delay Purgatory is, we’d apply our indulgences to the poor souls, and we’d also do penance for those who are currently heading for hell. We can’t know who they are, but we can presume some indeed are–that much we have right from Jesus’ own words.
Tho’ maybe I misunderstand the word “penance”.. is it only related to personal atoning, only personal purging? I dunno, I’m not good with a great many distinctions, but St. Catherine of Genoa on Purgatory makes even more an impact about all this than does Michael Taylor SJ’s “Purgatory”.