 |
|
| |
|
Check out what NEW at
St. Francis!
|
|
|
|
Paragraphs 1420-1498 in the Catechism of
the Catholic Church explain the Sacrament of Reconciliation and
Penance in detail.
 First
Form: Private Confession
- The penitent should prepare to receive the Sacrament of Penance
with a careful
Examination of Conscience, recalling the
Commandments of God, the
Precepts of the Church and the duties of a particular state of
life. Silent Reflection should be accompanied by prayer, especially
to the Holy Spirit, and Scripture reading. One should recall and
regret all of the sins committed since the last Confession.
- After the penitent has recalled all of the sins to be confessed
and mentally expressed genuine sorrow for them, the confessional or
other place set aside for the celebration of the Sacrament is
entered.
- After being welcomed by the priest, the penitent makes the sign
of the cross saying: "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and
of the Holy Spirit. Amen."
- The priest may read a short Scripture passage, then the penitent
states the time since the last confession and confesses the
sins recalled during the examination of conscience, including
all mortal sins.
- After the sins are confessed, the priest counsels the penitent
and asks the penitent to do a penance, usually some prayers or a
charitable work. The penitent accepts the penance.
- The penitent expresses sorrow for sin in his or her own words,
or by saying an
Act of Contrition, or by saying short psalm of sorrow.
- The priest then gives absolution saying:
"God the Father of mercies, through the death and resurrection
of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy
Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the
ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I
absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit."
- The penitent replies, "Amen."
- The priest then says, "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
- The penitent replies, "His mercy endures forever."
- The penitent is then dismissed by the priest in the peace of
Christ.
Second Form: Communal
Confession
- Communal Penance Services are usually held in most parishes. The
people gather in Church to prepare for the sacrament by listening to
the Word of God, reciting or singing penitential psalms and hymns
and participating in community prayer. The priests will help those
present to examine their conscience, the penitents will then
approach one of the priests. Each penitent individually confesses
his or her sins. This would include all mortal sins and any others
he or she wishes to confess. You then accept a penance from the
priest and receive absolution. Some parishes may, after everyone
going to confession, rejoin again for community prayer in
thanksgiving for the reconciliation.
Third Form: General
Absolution
- This third form is to be used only in cases of emergencies or in
cases where people would have to wait a long time to receive the
sacrament. These conditions do not normally exist in the United
States.
- The priest has the main responsibility for this form of penance.
Time permitting, each penitent should make an examination of
conscience and be sorry for all the sins committed.
- The priest absolves everyone.
- Each person who has received general absolution must confess all
mortal sins individually to a priest at the next opportunity.
- In normal circumstances, Catholic should not make use of this
form of the sacrament. However, the Church allows the use of this
form in extraordinary circumstances so that no one would be deprived
of the mercy of God.
|
|
|
 |
 |
