Doing penance for sin has long been an important element of Catholic spirituality, both for the Church as a whole and for individuals. But in the course of my lifetime, this practice has diminished greatly.

And sadly, it is not spoken of or taught enough.

We might first remind ourselves of why penance is necessary in the first place. After all, if we simply tell God we are sorry, is that not enough?

Pope John XXIII addressed this point saying, “Doing penance for one’s sins is a first step towards obtaining forgiveness and winning eternal salvation. That is the clear and explicit teaching of Christ. … No individual Christian can grow in perfection, nor can Christianity gain in vigor, except it be on the basis of penance.” (Paenitentiam Agere, July 1, 1962, N.1).

Pope John’s point is that receiving God’s forgiveness does not come first. Rather it follows on the conversion of the sinner who has offended Him. Penance means setting our hearts right before God by renouncing our past sins and resolving not to return to them. Then we must strive to repair as best we can the damage we have done, in our love for God and for others.

The explicit embrace of acts of penance is deeply rooted in the plan of God for us. Throughout the Old Testament, the prophets routinely called the people of Israel to acts of penance before God. Every Ash Wednesday, we read at Mass the Prophet Joel urging the people of Israel, “Yet even now … return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning (Jl 2:12).

John the Baptist called the people to prepare to meet Jesus by doing penance and receiving the baptism of conversion. The Lord also began His public ministry saying to the crowds, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mt 4:17).

Penance is more than an attitude. It also involves actions. So we might well consider what might be the appropriate acts of penance in our modern world?

According to Pope John, we must begin internally. The sinner must first actively detest sin in his heart. That must be followed by a good confession and by going to (or returning to) Mass. Unless our heart changes, nothing more will be possible.

The Holy Father then stated that the next step in penance is to accept with resignation and hope, the inevitable sorrows and sufferings of life. Offering these daily trials to God in reparation for sin is a simple way to join oneself to Christ on the cross.

Finally, Pope John urged that we undertake voluntary acts of penance. That might be fasting, for example. Quietly skip or downsize a meal without telling anyone. Or how about other kinds of fasting?
In modern society, some might fast for a specific time from the internet or from the ubiquitous smart phones. Spiritual reading such as the Gospels or the Letters of St. Paul would be appropriate. And seeking out acts of charity for the poor or a needy neighbor will be worthy acts of penance as well.

By doing penance, one develops a personal and spiritual discipline. Penance fights against the kind of anger and excessive emotion of spirit that can lead us to sin. Penance also leads us to as Pope John wrote, to reject “the immoderate quest for earthly pleasure” that is so much a part of our materialistic society. (PA, N. 36).

Time and again in the Scriptures, God tells us of His great mercy and His desire to forgive us. Our faith reminds us that we must do our part to be able to receive that forgiveness. Penance for sins is a part of that life-long spiritual task.