Penance Rite

[keri6789]

This is going to be short and sweet!! The parish I am going to is having a penance rite tomorrow and I have no idea what that is. I tried to find out online but can’t seem to find anything. I get to become Catholic on Easter and I want to go to everything possible during Lent. Can someone please help!

Thanks!!

 

[catholicmessage]

Most likely, it is a service with readings and possibly a homily, followed by an examination of conscience and then individual confessions.

Sometimes these services are abused and general absolution is given. General absolution is where the priest absolves the entire community at once. This type of absolution is reserved for dire circumstances (such as when an airplane is going down). Then if there are any survivors, they must go to individual confession as soon as possible.

Enjoy the service if you go. It can be a very beautiful way to remember our sinfulness during Lent (if it is not abused). Though you will not be able to go to individual confession until you officially enter the Church, you can still meditate on the readings, homily, and examination of conscience.

Congratulations on your approaching entrance into the Church!

 

[puzzleannie]

It is probably a penance service, one of three acceptable variations of the new rite of penance, which involves a liturgy of the word, some kind of group meditation or examination of conscience, followed by individual confessions and absolution, with the group coming together for a closing prayer and blessing. hopefully several priests from surrounding parishes will be available to assist.

the other two acceptable forms are individual confession, or general absolution in times of war or other emergency where individual confession is not possible.