Lent

Reconciliation includes two commonly used rites

By Andrea Sabor

	A Lenten series on Reconciliation

Harold goes to confession at least once a month before Saturday afternoon Mass.

Margaret regularly attends the parish Penance Service during Advent and Lent.

Jimmy prepares to celebrate his First Reconciliation with his family.

These Catholics know that the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is a wonderful opportunity to meet Jesus and receive his love and compassion, so that we can be reconciled with God, our brothers and sisters at home and in the community.

	L e n t
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In 1973, Pope Paul VI approved the revised rite for the Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, which offers three ritual forms for the sacrament. They each are appropriately celebrated during the season of Lent (Rite of Penance, no. 13):

1. Rite of reconciliation of individual penitents,

2. Rite of reconciliation of several penitents with individual confession and absolution,

3. Rite of reconciliation of several penitents with general confession and absolution (not widely used in the United States).

Harold participates in Rite One when he goes to confession on a Saturday afternoon. He has prepared by examining his life in light of the Ten Commandments and the Beatitudes, and has prayed for the forgiveness of his sins.

He enters the inviting Reconciliation Room where he sits with his pastor who welcomes him with the Sign of the Cross and invites him to listen to the Word of God or to offer a passage he may have chosen from the Bible.

Penitential
For more on the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation, including a Q&A and directions on receiving the sacrament, go to: www.usccb.org/liturgy/penance.shtml. Catholic Update has posted an article, "Ten Tips for Better Confessions," at www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0890.asp.

He may choose whether to sit face-to-face with the priest or kneel behind a screen.

Harold then confesses his sins and talks with the priest about his difficulties in leading a Christian life. His pastor suggests ways to overcome these difficulties through prayer and by making better choices. Harold is given a penance as a way to make amends or satisfaction for his sins.

Harold offers an Act of Contrition, a prayer that he memorized as a child. But he could have chosen another prayer of contrition from the cards provided by the parish. After the prayer, the priest extends his hands over Harold's head and prays the Prayer of Absolution, which is a powerful sign that mercy and forgiveness have been granted. After Harold answers, "Amen," he is sent forth with a sign of peace.

Margaret and Jimmy both experience the second rite called the Rite of Reconciliation with Several Penitents, which is a communal penance service with individual confession and absolution.

Upon entering the church they see the lit candles and hear quiet background music. The children and their families are invited to sit in the front since this is a special celebration for them.

	The gift of reconciliation
	The whole church, as a priestly people, acts in different ways in the work of reconciliation which has been entrusted to it by the Lord. Not only does the church call sinners to repentance by preaching the Word of God, but it also intercedes for them and helps penitents with maternal care and solicitude to acknowledge and admit their sins and so obtain the mercy of God who alone can forgive sins. Furthermore, the church becomes the instrument of the conversion and absolution of the penitent through the ministry entrusted by Christ to the Apostles and their successors. (Rite of Penance, n.8)

The Penance Service begins with a hymn chosen for the occasion. The Presider welcomes everyone and prays the Opening Prayer. The Presider then invites everyone to hear the words of Scripture: a First Reading followed by a Responsorial Psalm and a Second Reading (optional) followed by a Gospel.

The homily focuses on the theme of the readings, which is to return to God with your whole heart. Everyone is invited to listen to the reading of an Examination of Conscience, to pray silently a prayer of sorrow, and to join in praying the Our Father, followed by an exchange of the sign of peace.

The Presider then introduces the priests who will be assigned places around the church for individual confessions. The penitents go to the priest of their choice. After their private confession of sins, each penitent is given an act of penance and is absolved of sins with the prayer of absolution.

The Rite concludes with a prayer of thanksgiving, a blessing, and a closing hymn. Young and old alike leave the church with a sense of renewal and peace.

Rite 3, the rite of reconciliation of several penitents with general confession and absolution, is only for extreme situations and "cannot be imparted in a general manner unless: 1) the danger of death is imminent and there is not time for the priest or priests to hear the confessions of the individual penitents; [or] 2) a grave necessity exists, that is, when in light of the number of penitents a supply of confessors is not readily available to hear the confessions of individuals in an appropriate way within an appropriate time, so that the penitents would be deprived of sacramental grace or Holy Communion for a long time through no fault of their own; it is not considered sufficient necessity if confessors cannot be readily available only because of the great number of penitents, as can occur on the occasion of some great feast or pilgrimage" (Code of Canon Law #961). In these cases, individual confession should be received at as soon as possible.

Only the diocesan bishop can permit general absolution.

(Sabor is the Adult Faith Formation Director for the Green Bay Diocese's Department of Education.)