Confession in Latin

[IrishAm]

Well, it was a first. I went to confession during the lunch hour here in DC and a young priest I had not seen before was hearing them. After the usual greeting, confession, spiritual direction, Act of Contrition, he proceeded to give Absolution in Latin. It was lovely. Of course, I didn’t have a clue what was being said (of course, I had a CLUE, just as I would had he responded in Polish , but recognized the final blessing and said Amen. Next time, I would like to be prepared. Can someone direct me to the approved text of a confession in Latin? I would like to understand and respond to what Father is saying – and maybe have my Act of Contrition in Latin as well.

Your help is appreciated.

 

[lak611]

Here it is.

Before the Second Vatican Council, and still practiced in traditionalist parishes, absolution was given in Latin, followed by another Latin prayer by the priest:

Absolution: “Dominus noster Jesus Christus te absolvat; et ego auctoritate ipsius te absolvo ab omni vinculo excommunicationis (suspensionis) et interdicti in quantum possum et tu indiges. [making the Sign of the Cross:] Deinde, ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti. Amen.”

Translation: “May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you; and by His authority I absolve you from every bond of excommunication and interdict, so far as my power allows and your needs require. [making the Sign of the Cross:] Thereupon, I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Post-absolution prayer: “Passio Domini nostri Jesu Christi, merita Beatae Mariae Virginis et omnium sanctorum, quidquid boni feceris vel mali sustinueris sint tibi in remissionem peccatorum, augmentum gratiae et praemium vitae aeternae. Amen.”

Translation: “May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the saints and also whatever good you do or evil you endure merit for you the remission of your sins, the increase of grace and the reward of everlasting life. Amen.”

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolution

 

[lak611]

Well, it was a first. I went to confession during the lunch hour here in DC and a young priest I had not seen before was hearing them. After the usual greeting, confession, spiritual direction, Act of Contrition, he proceeded to give Absolution in Latin. It was lovely. Of course, I didn’t have a clue what was being said (of course, I had a CLUE, just as I would had he responded in Polish , but recognized the final blessing and said Amen. Next time, I would like to be prepared. Can someone direct me to the approved text of a confession in Latin? I would like to understand and respond to what Father is saying – and maybe have my Act of Contrition in Latin as well.

Your help is appreciated.

The Act of Contrition was never recited by the penitant in Latin. The only difference is the Absolution and prayer afterwards in Latin. Everything else (confession, Act of Contrition, penance) were always in English.

 

[Joan_M]

I don’t know if you will get everything, but try

preces-latinae.org/index.htm

You will certainly get an Act of Contrition. Each prayer has the latin and the English translation.

 

[AJV]

Well, it was a first. I went to confession during the lunch hour here in DC and a young priest I had not seen before was hearing them. After the usual greeting, confession, spiritual direction, Act of Contrition, he proceeded to give Absolution in Latin. It was lovely. Of course, I didn’t have a clue what was being said (of course, I had a CLUE, just as I would had he responded in Polish , but recognized the final blessing and said Amen. Next time, I would like to be prepared. Can someone direct me to the approved text of a confession in Latin? I would like to understand and respond to what Father is saying – and maybe have my Act of Contrition in Latin as well.

Your help is appreciated.

Was this the Traditional rite of Confession or the NO?

Here it is.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolution

If the Traditional rite, before these two prayers, the priest would have also said the Misereatur and Indulgentiam.

Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus et dimissis peccatis tuis perducat te ad vitam aeternam.

May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and lead you to eternal life. Amen.

and

Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem peccatorum tuorum tribuat tibi omnipotens et misericors Dominus.

The almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon, absolution, and remission of your sins. Amen.

 

[lak611]

I don’t know if you will get everything, but try

preces-latinae.org/index.htm

You will certainly get an Act of Contrition. Each prayer has the latin and the English translation.

I have never heard of anybody saying the Act of Contrition in Latin. My parents knew the Pater Noster and Ave Maria in Latin, but they always said the Act of Contrition in English in the traditional confession.

 

[IrishAm]

Was this the Traditional rite of Confession or the NO?

NO. (I guess . . . up until the Latin there were no surprises.)

 

[lak611]

Was this the Traditional rite of Confession or the NO?

If the Traditional rite, before these two prayers, the priest would have also said the Misereatur and Indulgentiam.

Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus et dimissis peccatis tuis perducat te ad vitam aeternam.

May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and lead you to eternal life. Amen.

and

Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem peccatorum tuorum tribuat tibi omnipotens et misericors Dominus.

The almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon, absolution, and remission of your sins. Amen.

Yes. This is correct.

 

[Pax_et_Caritas]

Was this the Traditional rite of Confession or the NO?

If the Traditional rite, before these two prayers, the priest would have also said the Misereatur and Indulgentiam.

Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus et dimissis peccatis tuis perducat te ad vitam aeternam.

May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and lead you to eternal life. Amen.

and

Indulgentiam, absolutionem et remissionem peccatorum tuorum tribuat tibi omnipotens et misericors Dominus.

The almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon, absolution, and remission of your sins. Amen.

Are you sure? I don’t think I have ever heard that in confession. That is what he says in Mass after the Confteor.

 

[lak611]

Are you sure? I don’t think I have ever heard that in confession. That is what he says in Mass after the Confteor.

I did notice that. I just looked it up in my Missal.

 

[Pax_et_Caritas]

I did notice that. I just looked it up in my Missal.

I’m pretty sure AJV is wrong. What you gave in post #2 is the absolution given in confession.

 

[AJV]

NO. (I guess . . . up until the Latin there were no surprises.)

Then it was:

Deus, Pater misericordiarum, qui per mortem et resurrectionem Fílii sui mundum sibi reconciliavit et Spiritum Sanctum effudit in remissionem peccatorum, per ministerium Ecclesiae indulgentiam tibi tribuat et pacem. Et ego te absolvo a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.

The approved English translation is

God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the 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.

 

[AJV]

I’m pretty sure AJV is wrong. What you gave in post #2 is the absolution given in confession.

Yes. But the Misereatur and Indulgentiam were said before it. It’s in the Rituale Romanum. The priest is to raise his hand over the penitent while saying the Indulgentiam.

The Rituale does however allow that these two prayer (Misereatur and Indulgentiam) may be omitted “Justa de causa”)

 

[lak611]

I’m pretty sure AJV is wrong. What you gave in post #2 is the absolution given in confession.

That’s what I thought, after checking more thoroughly. It’s been a while since I’ve been to traditional confession. I have been going to the newer confession recently.

 

[Pax_et_Caritas]

Yes. But the Misereatur and Indulgentiam were said before it. It’s in the Rituale Romanum.

I am pretty sure you are wrong. I’m not fluent in Latin, but I am very familiar with the Misereature and Undulgentiam, and I have never heard these in confession. I hear them twice at Mass, but not before in confession. Granted, I am usually saying my act of contrition, but I still don’t think you’re right. I’m too familiar with those prayers not to have noticed them.

 

[AJV]

I am pretty sure you are wrong. I’m not fluent in Latin, but I am very familiar with the Misereature and Undulgentiam, and I have never heard these in confession. I hear them twice at Mass, but not before in confession. Granted, I am usually saying my act of contrition, but I still don’t think you’re right. I’m too familiar with those prayers not to have noticed them.

That may be because the Rituale allows it to be omitted “justa de causa” as I noted in the previous post.

 

[Pax_et_Caritas]

That may be because the Rituale allows it to be omitted “justa de causa” as I noted in the previous post.

That might exlain it, but I don’t think I have ever heard those prayers at any confession I’ve been to - and, due to my travles, I’ve been to a lot of different Churches.

Do you have a link so I can verify that you are correct? I usually assume that you are right on these things, but would like to check in this case. If it turns out you are wrong, I’ll stop assuming that you are right on liturgical matters.

 

[AJV]

That might explain it, but I don’t think I have ever heard those prayers at any confession I’ve been to - and, due to my travels, I’ve been to a lot of different Churches.

Do you have a link so I can verify that you are correct? I usually assume that you are right on these things, but would like to check in this case. If it turns out you are wrong, I’ll stop assuming that you are right on liturgical matters.

I wouldn’t advise assuming it in any case, even if I’m right in this case. You can go through my past posts to see how many times I’ve landed up with egg on my face. Many eggs, actually.

You can see in the Rituale Romanum, it is mentioned. If you’ll give me a minute, I’ll link to the one at EWTN. Thoguh that was 1964, so I’ll have to check, but I think it was same.

Editing: ok here it is.

CHAPTER II

THE COMMON FORM FOR ABSOLUTION

1. As a priest is about to absolve a penitent (after having enjoined a salutary penance on him and the latter accepting it) he begins by saying:

May almighty God have mercy on you, forgive you your sins, and lead you to everlasting life. R.: Amen.

1. Next he raises the right hand toward the penitent and says: May the almighty and merciful Lord grant you pardon, absolution, + and remission of your sins. R.: Amen.
   [This is incorrect: the Rituale calls for only one cross, which is later]

Form for Absolution

May our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you. And I by His authority release you from every bond of excommunication (suspension) and interdict, in so far as I am empowered and you have need. And now I absolve you from your sins; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. R.: Amen.

1. If the penitent is a layman the word suspension is omitted. A
   bishop in absolving makes the threefold sign of the cross.

Prayer of Indulgence

May the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the blessed Virgin Mary and the saints, and all the good you do and the suffering you endure, gain for you the remission of your sins, increase of grace, and the reward of everlasting life. R.: Amen.

1. For a good reason it suffices to say the form “May our Lord,” etc., and the other prayers given above may be omitted.

1. In case of urgent necessity such as danger of death, the priest may use the short form:

I absolve you from all censures and from your sins; in the name of the Father, and of the Son, + and of the Holy Spirit. R.: Amen.

Editing 2: The Catholic Encyclopedia says:

The form in use in the Roman Church today …is divided into four parts as follows: —

• (1) Deprecatory prayer. “May the Almighty God have mercy on you, and forgiving your sins, bring you to life everlasting. Amen.” Then, lifting his right hand towards the penitent, the priest continues: “May the Almighty and Merciful God grant you pardon, absolution, and remission of your sins”.
• (2) “May Our Lord Jesus Christ absolve you, and I, by His authority, absolve you from every bond of excommunication [suspension, in the case of a cleric only] and interdict as far as I can and you may need.”
• (3) “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” (While repeating the names of the Trinity, the priest makes the sign of the cross over the penitent.)
• (4) “May the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the merits of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of all the Saints, what good you have done or what evil you have suffered be to you for the remission of (your) sins, growth in grace and the reward of everlasting life. Amen.”

In the decree “Pro Armenis”, 1439, Eugene IV teaches that the “form” of the Sacrament is really in those words of the priest: “Ego absolvo te a peccatis tuis in nomine Patris” etc., and theologians teach that absolution would be valid should the priest use, “Absolvo te”, “Absolvo te a peccatis tuis”, or words that are the exact equivalent (Suarez, Disp., XIX, i, n. 24; Lugo, Disp., XIII, i, nn. 17, 18; Lehmkuhl, de Pœnit., 9th ed., 199).