gyónáspenitencia

Gyónáspenitencia, or penance prescribed after confession, is a practice in the Catholic Church whereby a priest assigns acts of penitence to a person who has confessed sins in the sacrament of reconciliation. The penance is not a punishment but a remedy intended to repair the harm caused by sin, express contrition, and strengthen the penitent's resolve to live more virtuously.

After the penitent confesses sins and receives absolution, the priest may indicate a penance such as prayers (e.g., the Our Father, Hail Mary, or other devotional prayers), acts of self-denial, fasting, almsgiving, or works of mercy. The form and duration vary, but the penance is meant to be proportionate to the nature of the sins and feasible for the penitent to perform.

Historically, penances varied in severity; in modern practice the emphasis is on interior conversion and ongoing spiritual growth. The penance reflects the Catholic understanding that reconciliation involves not only forgiveness of sins but also a change of life.

In Hungary, the term gyónáspenitencia is used within the Catholic tradition to refer to this component of reconciliation, though practices may differ by parish and diocese. The concept is distinct from indulgences, which pertain to the remission of temporal punishment through the Church's treasury.

If a penitent is unable to complete a prescribed penance, they should discuss adjustments with their confessor; the absolution remains valid, and the penance serves as a guide for ongoing conversion.