Rite of Reconciliation for Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution 1
INTRODUCTORY RITES
OPENING HYMN
When the faithful have assembled they may sing a psalm, antiphon, or other appropriate song
while the Priest is entering the church.
GREETING
After the song, the Priest greets the congregation:
In the name of the Father,
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit.
The people reply:
Amen.
Then the Priest, extending his hands, greets the people, saying:
The Lord be with you.
The people reply:
And with your spirit.
INTRODUCTION
The Priest invites all to pray, using these or similar words:
We gather here today [tonight]
because we are confident that God is merciful.
We have this confidence because, in every age,
God has shown his justice and his mercy.
When his chosen people erred,
he sent prophets to call them back.
He sent John the Baptist to call sinners to repentance
and to announce the coming of the Savior.
And in his greatest act of merciful love,
God sent his only Son to live among us,
to preach of the Father’s love,
and to set us free from sin and death.
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God continues to save his people
and Christ continues to be present to us,
especially in the Church’s sacraments.
And in this sacrament of reconciliation,
though we cannot grasp the richness of his grace
nor depth of his compassion,
God continues to offer us his mercy.
OPENING PRAYER
The Priest invitees all to pray, using these or similar words”
My brothers and sisters,
God calls us to conversion;
let us therefore ask him
for the grace of sincere repentance.
All pray in silence for a brief period. Then the Priest sings or says the prayer:
L ord,
hear the prayers of those who call on you,
forgive the sins of those who confess to you,
and in your merciful love
give us your pardon and your peace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
The people reply:
Amen.
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THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
FIRST READING Deuteronomy 5:1-3, 5-7, 11-12; 16-21a; 6:4-6
Love the Lord your God with all your heart.
A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.
M oses summoned all Israel and said to them,
Hear, O Israel,
the statutes and ordinances
which I proclaim in your hearing this day,
that you may learn them and take care to observe them.
The LORD, our God, made a covenant with us at Horeb;
not with our ancestors* did the LORD make this covenant,
but with us, all of us who are alive here this day.
I am the LORD your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the house of slavery.
You shall not have other gods beside me.
You shall not invoke
the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
For the LORD will not leave unpunished anyone
who invokes his name in vain.
Observe the sabbath day—keep it holy,
as the LORD, your God, commanded you.
Honor your father and your mother,
as the LORD, your God, has commanded you,
that you may have a long life and that you may prosper
in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
You shall not kill.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear dishonest witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
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Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with your whole heart, and with your whole being,
and with your whole strength.
Take to heart these words which I command you today.
The Word of the Lord.
All reply:
Thanks be to God.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Baruch 1:15-22
R. (3,2) Listen and have pity, Lord, because you are merciful.
Justice is with the Lord, our God;
and we today are flushed with shame,
we men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem,
that we, with our kings and rulers
and priests and prophets, and with our fathers,
have sinned in the Lord’s sight and disobeyed him. (R.)
We have neither heeded the voice of the Lord, our God,
nor followed the precepts which the Lord set before us.
From the time the Lord led our fathers
out of the land of Egypt until the present day,
we have been disobedient to the Lord, our God,
and only too ready to disregard to voice. (R.)
And the evils and the curse
which the Lord enjoined upon Moses, his servant,
at the time he led our fathers forth from the land of Egypt
to give us the land flowing with milk and honey,
cling to us even today. (R.)
For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God,
in all the words of the prophets whom he sent us,
but each one of us went off
after the devices of our Own wicked hearts,
served other gods, and did evil
in the sight of the Lord our God. (R.)
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SECOND READING Ephesians 5:1-14
Follow the way of the love, even as Christ loved you.
A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.
S o be imitators of God,* as beloved children,
and live in love, as Christ loved us
and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
Immorality or any impurity or greed
must not even be mentioned among you,
as is fitting among holy ones,
no obscenity or silly or suggestive talk, which is out of place,
but instead, thanksgiving.
Be sure of this, that no immoral or impure or greedy person,
that is, an idolater, has any inheritance
in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty arguments,
for because of these things the wrath of God
is coming upon the disobedient.
For you were once darkness,
but now you are light in the Lord.
Live as children of light,
for light produces every kind of goodness
and righteousness and truth.
Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Take no part in the fruitless works of darkness;
rather expose them,
for it is shameful even to mention the things
done by them in secret;
but everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says:
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”
The Word of the Lord.
All reply:
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Thanks be to God.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION John 8:12
Alleluia. Alleluia.
I am the light of the world.
The man who follows me will have the light of life.
Alleluia. Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 13:34-35; 15:10-13
I give you a new commandment: love one another
V. The Lord be with you.
R. And with your spirit.
V. A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark.
R. Glory to you, Lord.
Jesus said to his Apostles:
“I give you a new commandment: love one another.
As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”
“If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love,
just as I have kept my Father’s commandments
and remain in his love.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you
and your joy may be complete.
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
No one has greater love than this,
to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
R. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
HOMILY
The Homily which follows is based on the text of the readings and should lead the penitents to examine
their consciences and renew their lives.
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EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE
This suggested form of an Examination of Conscience should be completed and adopted to meet the needs
of different individuals and to follow local usages.
In an Examination of Conscience before the Sacrament of Penance, each individual should ask himself these
questions in particular:
1. What is my attitude to the Sacrament of Penance?
Do I sincerely want to set free from sin,
to turn again to God, to begin a new life,
and to enter into a deeper friendship with God?
Or do I look on it as a burden,
to be undertaken as seldom as possible?
2. Did I forget to mention, or deliberately conceal,
any grave sins in past confessions?
3. Did I perform the penance I was given?
Did I make reparation for any injury to others?
Have I tried to put into practice my resolution
to lead a better life in keeping with the Gospel?
Each individual should examine his or her life in the light of God’s word.
Reader 1:
How have I failed to worship God
in private and communal prayer?
o Do I pray daily?
o Do I receive the sacraments regularly?
o Do I keep Sundays and holy days sacred?
o Do I fulfill my commitments
as a member of my faith community?
o What is my attitude toward
the sacrament of reconciliation?
o Have I tried to grow in the life of the Spirit through
prayer and the reading of the word of God?
o Do I trust God’s goodness and providence, even in times
of crisis and doubt?
Reader 2:
How have I failed to use the gifts of God in daily living?
o Do I respect my own body as a gift from God?
o Do I control my vices,
including abuses of food and drink?
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o Have I made good use of the gifts God has given me?
o Do I work too hard and too long?
o Do I neglect my family and health?
o Have I been lazy and given too much time
to leisure or entertainment?
Reader 3:
How have I failed in my relationships with others?
o In my household, have I contributed to the well-being
and happiness of the rest of my family?
Am I patient? Am I loving?
o Do I treat my parents with respect?
o Am I ever angry with those I love?
o Have I been faithful in my relationships?
o Have I imposed my will on others without respecting
their freedom and rights?
o Am I intolerant of other’s ideas or needs?
o Have I perpetuated racism, prejudices and stereotypes?
o Do I treat people with disabilities with respect?
Reader 4:
Have I failed to share God’s love with the world?
o Do I share my time and my treasure
with others in need?
o Do I fail to speak out on behalf of the poor
or the oppressed?
o Have I accepted suffering
as a share in the suffering of Christ?
o Have I indulged in reading,
conversation, or entertainments that are contrary
to Christian decency and respect for human life?
o Do I use the earth’s resources wisely?
o Do I purchase a lot of material goods
that I don’t really need?
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RITE OF RECONCILIATION
GENERAL CONFESSION OF SINS
Then, follows the Presidential Act to which the Priest invites the faithful, saying:
Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,
and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.
A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession:
I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
The absolution by the Priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
The people reply:
Amen.
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LITANY OF REPENTANCE
The Priest:
The Lord is merciful.
He makes us clean of heart and leads us out into his freedom
when we acknowledge our guilt.
Let us ask him to forgive and bind up the wounds
inflicted by our sins.
Give us the grace of true repentance.
All reply:
We pray, you hear us.
The Priest:
Pardon your servants and release them from the debt of sin.
All reply:
We pray, you hear us.
The Priest:
Forgive your children who confess their sins,
and restore them to full communion with your Church.
All reply:
We pray, you hear us.
The Priest:
Renew the glory of baptism in those who have lost it by sin.
All reply:
We pray, you hear us.
The Priest:
Welcome them to your altar,
and renew their spirit with the hope of eternal glory.
All reply:
We pray, you hear us.
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The Priest:
Keep them faithful to your sacraments
and loyal in your service.
All reply:
We pray, you hear us.
The Priest:
Renew your love in their hearts,
and make them bear witness to it in their daily lives.
All reply:
We pray, you hear us.
The Priest:
Keep them always obedient to your commandments
and protect within them your gift of eternal life.
All reply:
We pray, you hear us.
LORD’S PRAYER
The Priest, with hands joined, says:
At the Savior’s command
and formed by divine teaching
we dare to say:
He extends his hands and, together with the people, continues:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
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CONCLUDING PRAYER
The Priest, with hands extended, says the Concluding Prayer:
L ord,
draw near to your servants
who in the presence of your Church
confess that they are sinners,
through the ministry of the Church
free them from all sin
so that renewed in spirit
they may give you thankful praise.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
At the end of which the people acclaim:
Amen.
INDIVIDUAL CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
Then the penitents go to the priests’ designated for individual confession, and confess their sins. Each one
receives and accepts a fitting act of satisfaction and is absolved. After hearing the confession and offering
suitable counsel, the Priest extends his hands over the penitent’s head 9or at least his right hand) and gives
him or her absolution. Everything else which is customary in individual confession is omitted.
God, the Father of mercies,
through the death and resurrection of his Son
has reconciled the world to himself
and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins;
through the ministry of the church
may God grant 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 answers:
Amen.
PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE FOR GOD’S MERCY
When the individual confessions have been completed, the other priests stand near the one who is presiding
over the celebration. The latter invites all present to offer thanks and encourages them to do good works
which will proclaim the grace of repentance in the life of the entire community and each of its members. It
is fitting for all to sing a psalm or hymn or to say a litany in acknowledgment of God’s power and mercy, for
example, the Canticle of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), or Psalm 135:1-9. 13-14. 16. 25-26.
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CONCLUDING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
The Priest, with hands extended, says the Concluding Prayer:
A lmighty and merciful God,
how wonderfully you created man
and still more wonderfully made him.
You do not abandon the sinner
but seek him out with a father’s love.
You sent your Son into the world
to destroy sin and death by his passion,
and to restore life and joy by his resurrection.
You sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts
to make us your children and heirs of your kingdom.
You constantly renew our spirit
in the sacrament of your redeeming love,
freeing us from slavery of sin
and transforming us ever more closely
into the likeness of your beloved Son.
We thank you for the wonders of your mercy,
and with heart and hand and voice
we join with the whole Church in a new song of praise:
Glory to you through Christ
in the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
At the end of which the people acclaim:
Amen.
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CONCLUDING RITE
The Priest, facing the people and extending his hands, says:
The Lord be with you.
The people reply;
And with your spirit.
The Deacon or, in his absence, the Priest himself, says the invitation:
Bow down for the blessing.
SOLEMN BLESSING
The Priest, with hands extended over the people, says the blessing:
May the Father bless us,
for he has adopted us as his children.
R. Amen.
May the Son come to help us,
for he has received us as brothers and sisters.
R. Amen.
May the Spirit be with us,
for he has made us his dwelling place.
R. Amen.
Then the Deacon, or the Priest himself, with hands joined and facing the people, says:
The Lord has freed you from your sins.
Go in peace.
The people reply:
Thanks be to God.
After making a profound bow towards the altar with the ministers, he withdraws.
