OK to omit penitential rite?

[Vox_Borealis]

I have a question concerning the penitential rite in the NO. Since Easter the pastor has omitted the penitential rite–is this supposed to be left during the Easter season?

 

[Phemie]

I have a question concerning the penitential rite in the NO. Since Easter the pastor has omitted the penitential rite–is this supposed to be left during the Easter season?

Is it replaced by the sprinkling rite? Is there a baptism taking place with the opening rites proper to it?

 

[Vox_Borealis]

Is it replaced by the sprinkling rite? Is there a baptism taking place with the opening rites proper to it?

Well, that’s a tough question. Since I have attended this parish (4 years), the pastor does a sprinkling rite of sorts at every mass: after the opening hymn but before any of the introductory rite, he walks through the church sprinkling holy water while the quite sings an appropriate asperges hymn. However, during these masses we always do the penitential rite as well (usually confiteor + kyrie).

The last couple of weeks we still had the holy water–again before the introductory rites–but no penitential rites.

 

[Phemie]

Well, that’s a tough question. Since I have attended this parish (4 years), the pastor does a sprinkling rite of sorts at every mass: after the opening hymn but before any of the introductory rite, he walks through the church sprinkling holy water while the quite sings an appropriate asperges hymn. However, during these masses we always do the penitential rite as well (usually confiteor + kyrie).

The last couple of weeks we still had the holy water–again before the introductory rites–but no penitential rites.

The sprinkling is part of the introductory rites. But do you mean that he doesn’t greet with the Sign of the Cross before the Sprinkling?

According to the GIRM:

On Sundays, especially in the Season of Easter, in place of the customary Act of Penitence, from time to time the blessing and sprinkling of water to recall Baptism may take place.

 

[Vox_Borealis]

The sprinkling is part of the introductory rites. But do you mean that he doesn’t greet with the Sign of the Cross before the Sprinkling?

Yes, exactly. In a typical mass at my parish:

The processional hymn is played and the priest and servers process to the altar. The hymn finishes and all servers and the priest are in the sanctuary. The priest (with aspergillum) and one server (with the holy water boat) process down the center aisle sprinkling the laity while the choir sings a related hymn.

Then, the priest returns to the sanctuary and begins with the ‘normal’ introductory rites (sign of the cross, dominus vobiscum), including penitential rites (usually both confiteor and kyrie).

I knew that that this asperges rite was misplaced in the liturgy, and that if the asperges is done then other penitential rites are omitted. However, since the sprinkling occurred sort of before mass started, I saw it as an extra devotion, not a part of the mass (which would explain the use of the confiteor for the penitential).

The last two weeks, though, the priest has continued to do the asperges before the sign of the cross, etc., but has omitted the subsequent penitential rites (no confiteor or kyrie).

So, my question is whether or not the penitential rite can be omitted during the easter season. As far as I know, the answer is no. This means:

1. The asperges the last two weeks has been meant as the penitential rite, but it is not being done according to proper rubrics.

AND

During the rest of the year, the use of both the asperges and the ‘regular’ penitential rite is an abuse, albeit a good intentioned one.

OR

1. The asperges before the sign of the cross is not a true penitential rite but an optional devotion (like a rosary recitation). Therefore, for most of the year the priest follows the rubrics.

BUT

The omission of the penitential rite during the easter season is an abuse.

====

In either case, something is fishy with the way my parish is doing the asperges/penitential rite…or am I mistaken?

 

[japhy]

The last two weeks, though, the priest has continued to do the asperges before the sign of the cross, etc., but has omitted the subsequent penitential rites (no confiteor or kyrie).

The Roman Missal prescribes the Asperges post salutationem – that is, “after the greeting”, which takes place after the sign of the cross (Missale Romanum, Appendix II, Ordo ad Faciendam et Aspergendam Aquam Benedictam, n. 2). It takes the place of the Penitential Rite, and it takes place during the space occupied by the Penitential Rite.

Your priest may be hearkening back to the days of the older missal, when the Asperges was not part of the Mass proper, but was done before the beginning of Mass. However, as far as the current Missal is concerned, it is out of place: he is doing it out of order.