2nd Rite Reconciliation on Paper

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ajkj

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Hi!

My parish does a 2nd Rite Reconciliation Mass before Easter and Christmas every year. There is a communal part of the mass first, liturgy of the word. Then we write our sins on paper, line up to go to a priest (like during Communion but there are many priests that come assist), the priest then reads our paper with sins written down, no words are spoken, then the priest provides absolution. Everyone comes up and once complete we finish the mass together.

We do this every year but I always question whether this counts as confession if no words are spoken but the priest provides absolution?

Happy to hear thoughts.

Thanks!
 
My understanding is the 2nd Rite of Reconciliation is the communal rite of reconciliation. I am Roman Catholic.

Thanks for the Brisbane link. I have read the link and other parish’s in my area follow similar to that but this one is different. My church is not a different rite of the Catholic church, linked with a standard Australian Catholic School.

Our papers are only short so can’t write war and peace. There are several priests from other parish’s that come. I can ask my priest but I wanted to see other opinions too and if there is any evidence that it’s ok if sins are not spoken but priest says the words of Absolution.

Thanks
 
The description of the confession part of the Second Rite of Reconciliation is:

“INDIVIDUAL CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION
55. Then the penitents go 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 (or at least extends his right hand) and gives him absolution. Everything else which is customary in individual confession is omitted.”

If instead of following this and “hearing the confession” the Priest were to forbid the penitent to talk then there is a problem. The liturgical books are not being faithfully followed in the celebration of the sacraments, as required by Code of Canon Law, canon 846.

Another problem relates to the “sacramental seal”. The idea that what is confessed is secret. As it has in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, n. 1467: “This secret, which admits of no exceptions, is called the “sacramental seal,” because what the penitent has made known to the priest remains “sealed” by the sacrament.” So why are the penitents being asked to put this extremely confidential information into documentary form? What happens if the document is stolen or photographed? Why require the penitent to take this additional risk?

The first post has: “Everyone comes up and once complete we finish the mass together.” I understand “Mass” to mean a celebration of the Eucharist, with the Eucharistic Prayer being said. It would be wrong if this happened in this ceremony. It is true that the ceremony ends in a similar way to Mass, with a concluding prayer of thanksgiving, a blessing and a dismissal. But the Second Rite of Reconciliation is not a Mass.

More information on it is from the Introduction to the Rite of Penance at http://www.liturgyoffice.org.uk/Resources/Penance/Penance-Intro.pdf page 6, n. 22 under the heading “
B. RITE FOR RECONCILIATION OF SEVERAL PENITENTS WITH INDIVIDUAL CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION”.

[Excerpt from the English translation of the Rite of Penance © 1974, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.]
 
Shouldn’t Rite II stand on its own and not take place during Mass??

And confession has to be oral unless one cannot speak. This is not licit.
 
Apologies my mistake it was a liturgy not a mass

And yes we did not say the confession orally and the confessions are ripped up and will be put through a shredder but good point about not documenting

Thank you for the link to the document that is helpful.

The liturgy was last nigh and we had about 100 people come. Which is most of our small parish. I have been advised that they have been doing it this way for 10 or so years. Individual confession is also available every week as usual. I don’t want to be judged I just wanted more clarity on this type of rite. I will talk to my parish priest too. Thank you
 
My advise is to simply go to the regular confession times. As has been said above, unless you have a disability where you cannot speak, you must say your sins out loud.
 
ajkj said:
Apologies my mistake it was a liturgy not a mass

And yes we did not say the confession orally and the confessions are ripped up and will be put through a shredder but good point about not documenting

Thank you for the link to the document that is helpful.

The liturgy was last nigh and we had about 100 people come. Which is most of our small parish. I have been advised that they have been doing it this way for 10 or so years. Individual confession is also available every week as usual. I don’t want to be judged I just wanted more clarity on this type of rite. I will talk to my parish priest too. Thank you
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You can always go to a Form II rite, which usually includes an examination of conscience, to prepare yourself to go to Confession at the regular time. There is no obligation to actually go the priest with your written sins.
 
Anytime I’ve been to one of these liturgies, there were several priests available to hear individual confessions viva voce. It is required for valid absolution except in the case of grave need (e.g. general absolution on a sinking ship where there’s no time for individual confession).
 
I attended a 2nd Rite this last Sunday. We always called it a penance service.
 
Usually we have a Rite II celebration during Lent but we didn’t this year. Instead, tonight we had a mini retreat on Confession, followed by Adoration while private Confession was available. After those who wished to avail of the sacrament had done so we had Benediction.

Two priests were available, our parish priest and another priest from our diocese who’s here on his way to celebrate the Triduum in our Mission, a parish that at this time of year can only be reached by plane or snowmobile.
 
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