Looks like we are traveling a new trail. Cool.
Are there "rules" for priests in doling out penance? Is these some kind of manual for forgiveness? That is one of the reasons why I pointed to Leviticus. In the Old Testament there were clear rules (set in stone so to speak) of what actions needed to be done to clear the slate with God, like restitution, being removed from the camp, punitive damages, sacrifice, etc.
So if I come to the Priest after having committed the sin of gluttony at Claim Jumper, what would be the "official" penance that I should have to do to clear the slate (other than jogging off the excess weight)?
No. The Old Law idea of "this sacrifice for this sin, and that sacrifice for that sin" has been fulfilled in Christ's one Sacrifice for all people, all places, all times. Forgiveness of our sins doesn't come from what we do, it comes from what Christ does.
OTOH, there is pastoral guidance as to what a priest should do ... part of his job is to help the penitent to understand the true horror of sin, and to help him/her find ways to amend his/her life. The idea isn't just to receive (from God) forgiveness for sins already committed but, with the help of His grace, avoid those sins in the future.
If I were a priest, and you confessed a sin of gluttony at "Claim Jumpre" ...
Dunno ... I might "impose" a meditation on the idea that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and deserves more respect than that ... I might suggest avoiding buffets in the future ... Holy Spirit might tell me something else entirely to pass on. I'm not a priest, and this isn't a confession, so the discussion is academic. But I think it provides a good view of what confession has been like, in my experience as an adult.
BTW, “assigning” a reading from Leviticus might not be a bad idea in some cases ... if for no other reason than to help instill a sense of gratitude to Christ for fulfilling all that ... I’m glad we don’t have to sacrifice animals any more.