Confession - Latin

[chevalier]

I don’t know the answer to your question, however I thought you might be interested to know that I have had three confessors (out of several dozen) who regularly gave the absolution in Latin. Two of them were visiting priests who’s English was not good, but one, just last week, was a young Australian priest, who chose to use Latin. It is beautiful to hear the words “Ego te absolvo”, under the sign of the cross!

I was stupefied once when that happened and it actually was not in the Latin mass. The father was of very respectable age but I’m not sure he actually was grey and certainly was not a foreigner to the country. The Church was not known for Traditionalist inclinations. I have no idea why that happened.

 

[holyfamily1]

*** Does the Priest say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”??***

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

*** Does the Priest say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.”??***

No.

 

[Prie_dieu]

Why is this more beautiful than hearing the words “I absolve you”? Or is there a difference in the rite (thus “under the sign of the cross”) in addition to the words of absolution that make it more beautiful?

‘Ego te absolvo’ are the very same words that countless saints heard every time they frequented the Sacrament of Penance. It carries a sense of immemorial connection between ones self and the generations of our forefathers in the Faith.

Edit: Furthermore I would add that receiving absolution in Latin has an additional impact. When we confess we are accusing ourselves of our sins and pleading for absolution and forgiveness. In the confessional the minister is not solely a representative of God. But he is also a representative of the Church. In confession we are reconciled to God and His Church through Their minister the priest.

In the Latin Church it seems appropriate that when being formally reconciled to Her, the minister would use her official language in doing so,

Ad Jesum per Mariam!
Prie-Dieu.

 

[Brendan_64]

Does it matter?

You go to confession, you make a humble and honest confession, Christ gives you absolution through the priest. Is the absolution any better as a result of the priest responding in Latin? All he needs to say is “I absolve you”.

Perhaps getting too concerned about what language the priest use to grant you absolution at confession in or what he wears when he does so, is focussing on the wrong priorities?

Why does it matter what language he uses or whether he wears a stole or not? So long as a humble confession is made, absolution is absolution.

 

[Joannm]

Does it matter?

You go to confession, you make a humble and honest confession, Christ gives you absolution through the priest. Is the absolution any better as a result of the priest responding in Latin? All he needs to say is “I absolve you”.

Perhaps getting too concerned about what language the priest use to grant you absolution at confession in or what he wears when he does so, is focussing on the wrong priorities?

Why does it matter what language he uses or whether he wears a stole or not? So long as a humble confession is made, absolution is absolution.

 

[petronus]

I wouldn’t be the one speaking Latin, Father would be.

If you are so bothered about Latin , then when not speak Latin and confess your sins in Latin ?

 

[Prie_dieu]

If you are so bothered about Latin , then when not speak Latin and confess your sins in Latin ?

This sounds very much like one that scoffs at those with a preference for the Latin Mass by asking why they don’t listen to the homily in Latin as well. The Sacrament of Confession, like the liturgy, has differing variables at play. The Liturgy is addressed to God Himself. The homily is addressed to the people.

When one is accusing his or herself of their sins in the confessional they are doing so to the priest and it is a dialogue. It is appropriate that this is done in the vernacular and it has always been done so. Latin should only be employed in this situation if a penitent and a confessor speak two different vernaculars and have Latin in common. The Act of Contrition should generally be said in the vernacular because although this is directed towards God it is also an act of letting the priest know that you are truly sorry for your sins and the use of the vernacular would generally facilitate this.

But the absolution is not a dialogue. It is a judicial act by the priest reconciling you with God and the Church. A priest with all the appropriate faculties is there on behalf of God and the Church and acts as minister for both. For instance that is why absolution for certain sins are reserved to the bishop and Rome. However this reservation can be delegated to one of their representatives. It would certainly be appropriate for a priest of the Latin Church to use the same Church’s official language as they reconcile you to the Church.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!
Prie-Dieu.

 

[petronus]

This sounds very much like one that scoffs at those with a preference for the Latin Mass by asking why they don’t listen to the homily in Latin as well. The Sacrament of Confession, like the liturgy, has differing variables at play. The Liturgy is addressed to God Himself. ]

Liturgy of the Word ?

The words of absolution ?

The Liturgy of Baptism ?

Etc. Etc. Etc. ?

Are these addressed to God himself ?

 

[Zekariya]

Liturgy of the Word ?

The words of absolution ?

The Liturgy of Baptism ?

Etc. Etc. Etc. ?

Are these addressed to God himself ?

They are pronouncements. The absolution is not said to the penitent. The absolution is a pronouncement that says that the sins are absolved. In baptisms (many of which are for infants), do you think it necessary for them to hear the vernacular? The priest isn’t talking to them.

 

[petronus]

The absolution is not said to the penitent. .

I absolve YOU .

Of course the absolution is said to the penitent .

 

[Zekariya]

I absolve YOU .

Of course the absolution is said to the penitent .

It is a statement. Whether done in Latin or in the vernacular, “ego te absolvo…” causes the absolution of sins. I am not at all against the vernacular. I do prefer to have most of the prayers of the Mass/Divine Liturgy in English. I am defending the use of Latin and the fact that the absolution is a statement. Why else does one pray the Act of Contrition while the priest is quietly saying the the absolution?

 

[petronus]

It is a statement. Whether done in Latin or in the vernacular, “ego te absolvo…” causes the absolution of sins. I am not at all against the vernacular. I do prefer to have most of the prayers of the Mass/Divine Liturgy in English. I am defending the use of Latin and the fact that the absolution is a statement. Why else does one pray the Act of Contrition while the priest is quietly saying the the absolution?

What you say does not verify what you said earlier that the words of absolution are not addressed to the penitent . Of course they are .

What you describe here is bad practice . The penitent should pray the act of contrition , and then , afterwards , the priest should say the words of absolution .

 

[Zekariya]

What you say does not verify what you said earlier that the words of absolution are not addressed to the penitent . Of course they are .

What you describe here is bad practice . The penitent should pray the act of contrition , and then , afterwards , the priest should say the words of absolution .

This practice I described is the Western Catholic practice before Vatican II. I’d say that it is a pretty good source to defend that the priest isn’t speaking to the person.

 

[petronus]

This practice I described is the Western Catholic practice before Vatican II. I’d say that it is a pretty good source to defend that the priest isn’t speaking to the person.

Who is he speaking to then ?

 

[MarkThompson]

It is a statement. Whether done in Latin or in the vernacular, “ego te absolvo…” causes the absolution of sins. I am not at all against the vernacular. I do prefer to have most of the prayers of the Mass/Divine Liturgy in English. I am defending the use of Latin and the fact that the absolution is a statement.

“Ego te absolvo” is not a statement; it is a performative utterance. But it is indeed addressed to the penitent, not to God.

Why else does one pray the Act of Contrition while the priest is quietly saying the the absolution?

You probably don’t want to be told this, but the reasons are (1) because people did not understand what he was saying, so they felt no great desire to listen to it, and (2) to speed things along.

 

[Deo_Gratias42]

What you say does not verify what you said earlier that the words of absolution are not addressed to the penitent . Of course they are .

What you describe here is bad practice . The penitent should pray the act of contrition , and then , afterwards , the priest should say the words of absolution .

Technically, the priest does say the words of absolution after the penitent finishes saying the Act of Contrition. He doesn’t actually pronounce the words of absolution until after the penitent says the Act of Contrition.

 

[Zekariya]

Technically, the priest does say the words of absolution after the penitent finishes saying the Act of Contrition. He doesn’t actually pronounce the words of absolution until after the penitent says the Act of Contrition.

This is the description of post Vatican II, OF practices. The EF still has the priest say the absolution while the penitent is praying the Act of Contrition which is how it was in the West before Vatican II.

 

[Prie_dieu]

This is the description of post Vatican II, OF practices. The EF still has the priest say the absolution while the penitent is praying the Act of Contrition which is how it was in the West before Vatican II.

I believe even then that the priest was still meant to pause before saying the actual words of absolution until the penitent finished their Act of Contrition. Though in practise I do not believe many gave much thought to it.

Per Jesum ad Mariam!
Prie-dieu.