Penance

[passerby]

I know what it is, but what happens if I am unable to complete it. Say, for example, I was told to go to weekday Mass 3 times in one week but am unable to because of schedule, etc. Is this a sin? Should I go to 3 weekday Masses as soon as I can, or is there something else? Basically, is it a sin not to complete penance?

[cappie]

If you decide to "do" a penance for Lent but through no fault of your own you can't complete it then there is no sin attached. The penance we do is not an end in itself but another way into a greater communion with God.

You should be realistic in what you can do, start from a small base and work up, rather than start with grand works, remember Jesus told the story about the man who would build the tower but could not finish......