(c) The compensation is accepted and performed. This is required for the completeness, not for the essence, of the Sacrament. He who is really contrite desires to satisfy, he who confesses offers to satisfy; and hence, if for any reason he does not actually satisfy, his satisfaction of desire suffices for the validity of the Sacrament, but his omission to perform the satisfaction makes the Sacrament incomplete.
2746. The Effects of Actual Satisfaction.—(a) There is a remissive effect, consisting in the _ex opere operato_ release of a portion or of all the temporal punishment due to sin forgiven.
(b) There is a medicinal effect, consisting in the appreciation of the evil of sin, the caution and vigilance against future relapse, and the removal of evil tendencies, which the penitential works inculcate and promote.
2747. The Conditions for Effective Satisfaction.—(a) For validity (that is, for discharge of the obligation) the penitent must perform the penance as to essentials in the way prescribed by the confessor, and he must perform it personally, unless the confessor permits or enjoins fulfillment by proxy (Canon 887). A penance performed during the actual commission of or with actual affection for sin, is not a satisfaction, but a new offense.
(b) For fruitfulness it is necessary that the penitent be in the state of grace when he fulfills the penance, for the works of His enemies are not supernaturally pleasing to God. Or, more exactly, a penance done in the state of sin, but without affection for sin and under the influence of actual grace, has no strict right either of justice or of friendship to divine acceptance; but it seems fitting that such penance be accepted by the divine liberality in part satisfaction for sins forgiven.
2748. The Obligation of Accepting and Performing a Penance.—(a) _Per se_, the obligation is grave, since the penance belongs to the integrity of the Sacrament, and hence its refusal or neglect is an injury to a sacred thing. (b) _Per accidens_, the obligation may be light, and this is held to be the case when the penance was imposed for free matter, or when the satisfaction prescribed is a light work (such as one or two Hail Marys). A penitent is not bound to accept an unreasonable penance, and he may seek a commutation if such a penance is imposed. As a rule, negligence about the circumstances of a penance (e.g., the time, or posture) is not a grave sin, but exceptionally it may be serious (e.g., if one delays a gravely obligatory penance six months, or so long as to be in danger of forgetting it; if one omits to say a prayer on bended knees when this was chiefly intended by the confessor).
2749. Causes That Excuse from a Penance Imposed.—(a) Commutation.—If there is a just reason (e.g., the over-severity of the penance), the penitent may have his penance changed to something lighter. The confessor who imposed the penance may be asked to change it, even probably after and outside of confession, and after a long time, and though he does not remember the confession. Another confessor may lessen the penance, but only in confession and after he has heard at least a summary repetition of the sins for which the penance was given.
(b) Cessation.—There is no obligation to fulfill a penance in case of impossibility, whether physical (e.g., if the penitent is dying and can neither say the prayers ordered nor ask for a commutation), or moral (e.g., if the penitent has forgotten the penance and cannot conveniently ask the confessor about it).
2750. Requirements in the Minister for Valid Absolution.—(a) The divine law requires the power of Orders, for only priests were appointed by Christ as the ministers of Penance, (b) The natural law requires the power of jurisdiction, since the Sacrament of Penance is exercised in the form of a judicial process, which supposes authority to judge. (c) The law of the Church requires the approval of the Bishop, or his decision that the priest is a fit person to hear confessions. Approbation is always given along with jurisdiction.
2751. Power of Jurisdiction.—The power of jurisdiction is so necessary that without it absolution is null.