Communal Reconciliation Approach - from the Church?

[catechizeme]

This is how we have been instructed in our parish to approach Communal Reconciliation Services. Is this the approach recommended by the Church for communal services. Has anyone ever heard of this ‘formula’. No Church document was cited.

Communal Reconciliation

The communal reconciliation service provides a unique
opportunity for Catholics to confess sins and find forgiveness. In
the past, people often stood in a long line while waiting their
turn for private confession. Today they have another option: the
communal service.

The communal celebration has certain advantages. The
parish may celebrate one service with individual confessions
instead of a sequence of private services. People confess their
sins; they support and pray for other penitents; they are
nourished by the proclamation of the word and spiritual song;
and they receive the support and prayer of others. Communal
reconciliation reminds us that our sin affects others and that
others will forgive the wrong we’ve done.

When you take part in a communal celebration of
reconciliation, your confession takes a slightly different form.
You perform some parts of the service as a community, not as
individuals. Therefore, when you go individually to the priest in
communal services:

• You need not make the sign of the cross.
• You need not say, “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.”
• You need not say how long it has been since your last
confession unless this information would be helpful.
• You may say hello.
• You may say something about yourself that will help the
priest extend God’s mercy to you.
• You should confess your sins.
• You need not say the act of contrition.
• You should expect very little conversation and advice from
the priest because others are waiting.
• You should arrive on time and stay for the end.

 

[Doudell]

Do some attend Communal service without personal confession, or does everybody individually confess to receive absolution? Thanks

 

[Phemie]

That’s the way it is for Form 2 of the Rite of Reconciliation: a communal celebration and then individual confession. In the communal celebration you’ve already made the sign of the cross, expressed your sorrow in the penitential rite, heard readings from the Bible and a homily. Once you get to the individual confession part, you get to the point.

 

[Phemie]

Do some attend Communal service without personal confession, or does everybody individually confess to receive absolution? Thanks

I always go to the communal service – I may or may not proceed to individual confession at that time. Sometimes I will wait and ponder what I’ve heard and confess at a later time or, if my boss is the only confessor available, I’ll wait until another priest shows up a few weeks later and go to private confession then.

Unless the priest is being disobedient you have to go to individual confession to receive absolution.

 

[Doudell]

It sounds like some priests expect everybody to continue to personal confession.D

 

[Phemie]

It sounds like some priests expect everybody to continue to personal confession.D

It’s the only way to receive absolution.

That said, we had a communal service on Tuesday and I think only one person went to private confession afterwards – the priest was on his way back to the rectory 15 minutes after the service ended.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

No Church document was cited.

The church document you’re looking for is the Rite of Penance.

There are different forms available including the rite of individual penitents (perhaps what you’re most accustomed to) and the rite for several penitents or a communal reconciliation service.

In the communal service, most things are done as a group – the introductory rites, Liturgy of the Word, and an examination of conscience. Then people go individually to priests for the actual confession of sins. There’s no need to repeat the parts that have already been done as a group.

 

[John_Lilburne]

This is how we have been instructed in our parish to approach Communal Reconciliation Services. Is this the approach recommended by the Church for communal services. Has anyone ever heard of this ‘formula’. No Church document was cited. …

Yes, basically this is a description of the Church’s ceremony. To cite the Church document: Rite of Penance, Chapter II, Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution. It is in The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, pages 549-559.

A part of the description I would be a little uneasy about is where it is saying expect little advice from the priest because others are waiting. The priest should be providing advice as necessary, regardless of whether it is the first rite or the second rite of penance.

Another ceremony described in the liturgical book, Rite of Penance, is a “Penitential Service” (n. 36-37). The book also calls it a “Penitential Celebration” (Appendix II). This has no confession or absolution and does not require a priest.

 

[catechizeme]

I guess I’m surprised the Church actually says things such as “You don’t need to make the sign of the cross” and “You may say hello”. It seems like something very ‘bare bones’.

 

[SuscipeMeDomine]

I guess I’m surprised the Church actually says things such as “You don’t need to make the sign of the cross” and “You may say hello”. It seems like something very ‘bare bones’.

The rite doesn’t include those sentences. Apparently your pastor thought more explanation would be helpful to his parishioners.

 

[Walking_Home]

I guess I’m surprised the Church actually says things such as “You don’t need to make the sign of the cross” and “You may say hello”. It seems like something very ‘bare bones’.

---

No — It does not sound like this is coming from the Church.

 

[jpjd]

It is permitted. Our parish has done it this way on occasion. It is a way for the priests to handle a large group for Confessions without it taking all night. It is OK for the Church to try to accomodate parishoners and priests alike by allowing things to proceed in a more timely manner.

I personally have had the misfortune of being one of the last to confess at a penance service. And this with 4 priests hearing confessions. I did not like having to wait well over an hour for my turn. After that experience, I have made it a point not to go to a penance service. There are plenty of other times the priest is available to hear confessions, and after all the point is going to Confession, not going to a penance service. So now I go on my own.

 

[Walking_Home]

Because it has been done in some parishes does not necessarily mean it is in accord with the Church. Seems – what is happening is the introduction of some sort of hybrid between – individual confession and communal (general).

 

[Elzee]

I’m sure the Rite as written in the document Mr. Lilburne cited reads well, but the ‘extra words of explanation’ added to this particular explanation really seem to trivialize the sacrament. It sounds like the priest, I hate to say it, doesn’t want to be bothered and is making each confession as short as it could possibly be. Understandable if the priest/penitent ratio is huge, I guess…maybe. I don’t know, I still think it sounds awfully close to a drive-by confession.

 

[Phemie]

I’m sure the Rite as written in the document Mr. Lilburne cited reads well, but the ‘extra words of explanation’ added to this particular explanation really seem to trivialize the sacrament. It sounds like the priest, I hate to say it, doesn’t want to be bothered and is making each confession as short as it could possibly be. Understandable if the priest/penitent ratio is huge, I guess…maybe. I don’t know, I still think it sounds awfully close to a drive-by confession.

Not really when you’ve already had a service that encompassed readings, penitential rite and all. You’ve actually had much more than you would if you went to regular confession. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never experienced private confession where there was scripture reading. In recent years I’ve never even experienced private confession where I’ve had to say an Act of Contrition. Once you’ve done all these things in the communal service you go do the actual confessing and absolution.

 

[benedictgal]

It is permitted. Our parish has done it this way on occasion. It is a way for the priests to handle a large group for Confessions without it taking all night. It is OK for the Church to try to accomodate parishoners and priests alike by allowing things to proceed in a more timely manner.

I personally have had the misfortune of being one of the last to confess at a penance service. And this with 4 priests hearing confessions. I did not like having to wait well over an hour for my turn. After that experience, I have made it a point not to go to a penance service. There are plenty of other times the priest is available to hear confessions, and after all the point is going to Confession, not going to a penance service. So now I go on my own.

There is something about the way that the OP described this proposed communal penance approach that is a little unsettling. Inasmuch as the format is there as a second option, it just doesn’t quite pass the smell test.

In the year 2000, because of a situation that developed within the Austrialian Conference of Bishops, Pope John Paul II had the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issue a document called “Circular Letter Concerning the Integrity of the Sacrament of Penance”. This is what part of that letter says:

1. The Holy Father has pointed to the personal nature of sin, conversion, forgiveness and reconciliation 17 as the reason why the Rite of Reconciliation of several penitents with individual confession and absolution “demands the personal confession of sins and individual absolution”.18 Since individual and integral confession of sins is not only an obligation "but also an inviolable and inalienable right"19 of the faithful, any innovation which would interfere with their fulfillment of this obligation, such as when penitents are invited or otherwise encouraged to name just one sin or to name a representative sin, is to be eliminated.
2. As an aid to a more fruitful reception of the Sacrament of Penance and in the hope of fostering the spirit and virtue of penance among the faithful, the Rite of Penance includes material for “Penitential celebrations”, which are described as gatherings of the people of God to hear the proclamation of God’s word.20 “Care should be taken that the faithful do not confuse these celebrations with the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance”,21 in particular, by making clear to them that such celebrations are preparatory in nature and do not include the sacramental forgiveness of sins. It is to be borne in mind that such penitential celebrations may not make use of the sacramental formula of absolution, nor should they employ the concluding formula from the Penitential Rite at Mass, nor any other formula which could be misconstrued to be an absolution from sin.

Now, I’m not saying that this was anywhere indicated in the OP; however, other parishes have been known to get rather creative with the sacrament, as the Aussies did (to the point that the Holy Father had to take them to the liturgical woodshed).

I am little concerned about the business of saying “hello” and omitting the formal greeting. The omission of the Act of Contrition is also a bit unsettling. Now, my old parish in Austin was known for being rather progressive; however, when it came time for individual confession after the communal penance service, no such instructions were given to us. We were simply told to proceed as a normal confession.

Why reinvent the wheel, guys?

 

[Phemie]

Because it has been done in some parishes does not necessarily mean it is in accord with the Church. Seems – what is happening is the introduction of some sort of hybrid between – individual confession and communal (general).

No, there are 3 forms to the penitential rite:
Form 1 is the regular confession with which a lot of us of the older generation grew up with. Go in, “Father I have sinned, it’s been x days/weeks/months/years since my last confession, etc.” It’s supposed to include scripture reading but I’ve never in 47 years experienced that happening.

Form 2 is the Penitential (Communal) Rite with private confession that the OP described

Form 3, is General Absolution, which is forbidden except in times of disaster/war or when the crowds are so large that there are not enough priests to do private confessions in a reasonable time. It’s forbidden to consider the crowds at Christmas & Easter in the equation because there is ample time to celebrate in the weeks preceding the celebrations. Many of us experienced Form 3 for several years in the 90s (in my diocese it stopped in 2002). It was basically Form 2 + General Absolution.

 

[Phemie]

There is something about the way that the OP described this proposed communal penance approach that is a little unsettling. Inasmuch as the format is there as a second option, it just doesn’t quite pass the smell test.

In the year 2000, because of a situation that developed within the Austrialian Conference of Bishops, Pope John Paul II had the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments issue a document called “Circular Letter Concerning the Integrity of the Sacrament of Penance”. This is what part of that letter says:

Now, I’m not saying that this was anywhere indicated in the OP; however, other parishes have been known to get rather creative with the sacrament, as the Aussies did (to the point that the Holy Father had to take them to the liturgical woodshed).

I am little concerned about the business of saying “hello” and omitting the formal greeting. The omission of the Act of Contrition is also a bit unsettling. Now, my old parish in Austin was known for being rather progressive; however, when it came time for individual confession after the communal penance service, no such instructions were given to us. We were simply told to proceed as a normal confession.

Why reinvent the wheel, guys?

Because there is no need to duplicate the things that have already been done. You’ve already been greeted in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and you’ve already done a penitential rite – usually “I confess to Almighty God…”

We are expected to say how long since our last confession, list our sins and do whatever the priest indicates.

 

[benedictgal]

No, there are 3 forms to the penitential rite:
Form 1 is the regular confession with which a lot of us of the older generation grew up with. Go in, “Father I have sinned, it’s been x days/weeks/months/years since my last confession, etc.” It’s supposed to include scripture reading but I’ve never in 47 years experienced that happening.

Form 2 is the Penitential (Communal) Rite with private confession that the OP described

Form 3, is General Absolution, which is forbidden except in times of disaster/war or when the crowds are so large that there are not enough priests to do private confessions in a reasonable time. It’s forbidden to consider the crowds at Christmas & Easter in the equation because there is ample time to celebrate in the weeks preceding the celebrations. Many of us experienced Form 3 for several years in the 90s (in my diocese it stopped in 2002). It was basically Form 2 + General Absolution.

Just for clarification purposes, this is what the Circular Letter I referenced in my previous post says regarding General Absolution:

1. In giving consideration to the authenitic discipline of the Church concerning “general absolution”, the recent interdicasterial meeting of the Roman Curia with a representation of Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Australia noted that:

. . . communal celebrations have not infrequently occasioned an illegitimate use of general absolution. This illegitimate use, like other abuses in the administration of the Sacrament of Penance, is to be eliminated.

The teaching of the Church is reflected in precise terms in the requirements of the Code of Canon Law (cf. esp. canons 959-964). In particular it is clear that “A sufficient necessity is not … considered to exist when confessors cannot be available merely because of a great gathering of penitents, such as can occur on some major feastday or pilgrimage” (canon 961, § 1, 2°).

The bishops will exercise renewed vigilance on these matters for the future, aware that departures from the authentic tradition do great wrong to the Church and to individual Catholics.10

1. With respect to the administration of “general absolution”, the exclusive authority enjoyed by diocesan bishops to determine whether a grave necessity is truly present in a given case in their diocese 11 does not permit them "to change the required conditions, to substitute other conditions for those given, or to determine grave necessity according to their personal criteria however worthy."12 Indeed, the Diocesan Bishop makes "this judgment graviter onerata conscientia, and with full respect for the law and the practice of the Church."13

Y’all can find the entire text of the Circular Letter at:

adoremus.org/6-72K.Penance.html

Regrettably, the local Cursillo Center tried to hold a Communal Penance Service wherein the penitents would simply write down there sins, present them to the priest and then they’d get absolved. Afterwards, they would burn the papers (on which their sins were written). Luckily, the Bishop pulled the plug on that one.

 

[Phemie]

Just for clarification purposes, this is what the Circular Letter I referenced in my previous post says regarding General Absolution:

Y’all can find the entire text of the Circular Letter at:

adoremus.org/6-72K.Penance.html

Regrettably, the local Cursillo Center tried to hold a Communal Penance Service wherein the penitents would simply write down there sins, present them to the priest and then they’d get absolved. Afterwards, they would burn the papers (on which their sins were written). Luckily, the Bishop pulled the plug on that one.

Yeah, I’ve experienced that ‘one sin/burned paper’ baloney at one penitential celebration with General Absolution. Glad it was only once.

Now that we have no General Absolution we have few people show up at a penitential service. Last Tuesday we had about 24 people out of 400+ families. It was the perfect opportunity but nobody took advantage of it. Too many other things happening in town that night. Not to mention the downplaying of the need for confession that we’ve experienced for the last 10 years.