No act of penitence?

[Monkey1976]

At my parish, I’ve noticed that after the priest asks us to, “call to mind our faults and imperfections”, we don’t say any form of the Confetitor, but go straight into a prayer/response version of the Kyrie, e.g.: “Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world. Lord, have mercy”, “Lord have mercy”. Is this a normal, acceptable practice, or something I should bring to our priests’ attention?

 

[Vox_Borealis]

It is a legitimate option, and sadly (in my opinion) one that is all too commonly chosen. I much prefer the confiteor, but it seems these days we don’t like to talk about our sins and faults, only about being granted blanket forgiveness.

 

[Monkey1976]

Anyone have a suggestion on how I can gently let our priests/liturgical council know that I would like to see the return of the Confetitor as a separate prayer from the Kyrie? I’m already known as a bit of an agitator for the use of latin, and I don’t want to give the impression of knowing more about how to celebrate than the priests.

 

[Brendan]

Anyone have a suggestion on how I can gently let our priests/liturgical council know that I would like to see the return of the Confetitor as a separate prayer from the Kyrie? I’m already known as a bit of an agitator for the use of latin, and I don’t want to give the impression of knowing more about how to celebrate than the priests.

How about that the First Form of the Penitential Rite is the fullest sign of making peace with our brothers, as commanded in Matt 5:23-24

Redemptionis Sacramentum

1. The practice of the Roman Rite is to be maintained according to which the peace is extended shortly before Holy Communion. For according to the tradition of the Roman Rite, this practice does not have the connotation either of reconciliation or of a remission of sins, but instead signifies peace, communion and charity before the reception of the Most Holy Eucharist. It is rather the Penitential Act to be carried out at the beginning of Mass (especially in its first form) which has the character of reconciliation among brothers and sisters.

A lot of these parishes are really big on offering both species of the Eucharist because the Vatican has labeld that to be a “fuller sign”

So why not be consistant

 

[drafdog]

The celebrant asked you to call to mind your sinfulness and then beg God’s mercy. That sounds penitential, doesn’t’ it?
Look at the Mass book in the pew and you will find that it is a standard format in the Roman Missal.
Pray the Confiteor on your own, if you wish.

Matthew

 

[Brendan]

The celebrant asked you to call to mind your sinfulness and then beg God’s mercy. That sounds penitential, doesn’t’ it?
Look at the Mass book in the pew and you will find that it is a standard format in the Roman Missal.
Pray the Confiteor on your own, if you wish.

Matthew

But the Vatican has said that the Confiteor is the fullest sign of reconcilliation with our brother (as commanded by Mt 5).

Under what circumstances should a parish not use the fullest sign, and should this extent to the fuller sign of both species of the Eucharist?

 

[Vox_Borealis]

The celebrant asked you to call to mind your sinfulness and then beg God’s mercy. That sounds penitential, doesn’t’ it?
Look at the Mass book in the pew and you will find that it is a standard format in the Roman Missal.
Pray the Confiteor on your own, if you wish.

Matthew

While technically correct, I wonder if the overwhelming use of this option in some parishes isn’t practically (if not theologically) dangerous. We are not like some Protestant denominations who believe that so long as we confess to God in our minds or hearts, then we are saved. Such true sorrow is of course necessary, but the Church also requires that we confess our sins to another person–the priest, through whom God grants absolution. There is something quite powerful about having to confront your own sinfulness out loud, to another person, rather than just thinking “I’m sorry, Jesus.” That’s the way humans function psychologically, and the Church founded by Christ is composed of such flawed and very human persons.

The first option for the Penitential Rite seems to build on this reality, by asking us not only to call to mind our sins, but to ask confess and forgiveness–to actually say “I confess…” At least in the second option (Option B), we say “Lord we have sinned against you.” Of course, I have NEVER seen this option used. But the third option (Option C) at no point compels us to make an external or public statement of confesssion–it is essentially a completely “internalized” form of penitence.

I imagine that Option C was envisioned for use with briefer daily masses, or perhaps some extraordinary circumstance. But Option A was presumably envisioned as the normative rite, and there is no reason why it should be substituted out so frequently during during Sunday masses in many parishes.

 

[tcraig]

I have read that many priests choose not to use the first form because they don’t want parishioners to confuse it with the Sacrament of Reconciliation, thinking that they have already confessed and therefore don’t need to go to confession. Perhaps this is why your priest chooses to use one of the other legitimate options. Yes, it’s true that good catechesis can help, but not everyone is a rocket scientist and confusion does occur.

While I have a big problem with priests “doing their own thing” if yours is merely doing something that is allowed, please try and remember that it isn’t your own personal show.

 

[briang72]

At my parish, I’ve noticed that after the priest asks us to, “call to mind our faults and imperfections”, we don’t say any form of the Confetitor, but go straight into a prayer/response version of the Kyrie, e.g.: “Lord Jesus, you are the light of the world. Lord, have mercy”, “Lord have mercy”. Is this a normal, acceptable practice, or something I should bring to our priests’ attention?

I’ve noticed that we do this occasionally in our parish. It seems that it only happens at our parish when one priest is doing all 5 masses that weekend. It seems that some shortcuts are taken to give the priest’s voice a break. We usually recite the Confeitor.

 

[puzzleannie]

Anyone have a suggestion on how I can gently let our priests/liturgical council know that I would like to see the return of the Confetitor as a separate prayer from the Kyrie? I’m already known as a bit of an agitator for the use of latin, and I don’t want to give the impression of knowing more about how to celebrate than the priests.

with all due respect, the only liturgist in the parish is the priest. He determines the choice of Eucharistic prayer, the choice of which penitential rite, memorial acclamation and other prayers that admit a choice. Not a liturgy committee, not parish council, not parishioners giving advice ad hoc. If you are invited to give an opinion, by all means do so, and include the exellent reasons you have already given, but do not state it as personal preference because that is not a factor.