Penance Service?

[FromTheAshes777]

Greetings all,

I have been studying the Catholic Faith and occassionally attending Mass and prayerfully considering starting RCIA at my local parish. Anyways, I was looking around on local parishes’ websites for Christmas Eve Mass times and have noticed that many parishes are having “Penance Services” during Advent.

With everything I have read and experienced about The Church, I have yet to encounter or hear about a “Penance Service”. Can someone explain exactly what these are? I’ve never seen them referenced in anything about the Church that I’ve read so far.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[baltobetsy]

How wonderful that you’re coming close to the Church!

There are three forms of celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Penance). The first, and most common, is individual confession and absolution. It can be in a confessional box or a reconciliation room, either face to face or with a screen between the priest and penitent.

The second way is probably what is being planned for Advent in the parishes near you. It is a service that gathers all the penitents together in the beginning for prayers and an examination of conscience, perhaps a homily and some hymns, before having individual confession and absolution. Usually there are several priests, including the regular parish priests and some guests, to handle what is usually a large crowd. Many Catholics (sadly) only go to these services, usually one in Advent and one in Lent. Although celebrating the Sacrament of Penance is not strictly required more than once a year, it’s much easier to make spiritual progress going more often.

The third form is for emergency situations, like sinking ships and soldiers going into battle. It usually involves a large number of penitents and one priest, and consists of an expression of sorrow by everyone and general (meaning to everyone at once) absolution by the priest. If the people survive the emergency, they are required to confess their serious (mortal) sins in the normal way.

Hope this helps.

Betsy

 

[FrDavid96]

Greetings all,

I have been studying the Catholic Faith and occassionally attending Mass and prayerfully considering starting RCIA at my local parish. Anyways, I was looking around on local parishes’ websites for Christmas Eve Mass times and have noticed that many parishes are having “Penance Services” during Advent.

With everything I have read and experienced about The Church, I have yet to encounter or hear about a “Penance Service”. Can someone explain exactly what these are? I’ve never seen them referenced in anything about the Church that I’ve read so far.

Thanks,
Josh

It’s actually quite simple. It means that there will be a number of priests hearing Confessions (or maybe just one) at a given time, and to help people prepare for Confession, there will be a time of communal prayer and reflection.

It’s just an invitation to take part in communal prayer in addition to the actual Sacrament of Confession.

 

[Phemie]

There are 3 forms to the sacrament of penance:

Form 1 sees a penitent going directly to the priest (confessional or reconciliation room) and confesses his/her sins. That’s usually the way weekly confession is done in parishes.

Form II sees penitents gather for a Liturgy of the Word (readings from Scriptures, a homily, Prayers of the Faithful), an Examination of Conscience, a penitential rite (I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters that I have sinned…). Then they see the priest for private confession and absolution, then, when all have gone to confession they gather again for final prayers. This is common in Lent and Advent.

Form III is General Absolution. This form is only to be used during disasters (or war) or when there are so many penitents that one priest couldn’t manage to hear everyone’s confession in a reasonable time.

 

[FromTheAshes777]

ok, so basically this is a small prayer service during or at the end of which more priests are available for people to recieve the Sacrament of Reconciliation? or maybe just all of the priests are there that minister at that particular parish?

this still involves people making individual confessions one on one with a priest correct? this sounds like a very good thing to encourage people to take advantage of the Sacrament.

thanks again

 

[FrDavid96]

ok, so basically this is a small prayer service during or at the end of which more priests are available for people to recieve the Sacrament of Reconciliation? or maybe just all of the priests are there that minister at that particular parish?

this still involves people making individual confessions one on one with a priest correct? this sounds like a very good thing to encourage people to take advantage of the Sacrament.

thanks again

Yes. Important point–the actual celebration of the Sacrament is still done on an individual basis. No one will be confessing sins out loud (let’s hope not!) and the people who attend will not miss the opportunity to confess individually to a priest. Anyone who chooses not to go to individual confession will have attended a nice little prayer service, but will not come away having been absolved of any sins.

 

[FromTheAshes777]

Thank you all for the good answers. I remember seeing that on the calendars of several websites and going huh? what’s that?

you can imagine my speculation about what these were when had never heard of them before

would a non-Catholic enquirer such as myself be able to attend one of these with a Catholic relative or friend if they were going? I have a Catholic friend that usually goes to these when they are held at her parish.

obviously I know I couldn’t recieve the sacrament yet and would wait quietly while everyone else did their private confession.

thanks again.

 

[benedictgal]

There are 3 forms to the sacrament of penance:

Form 1 sees a penitent going directly to the priest (confessional or reconciliation room) and confesses his/her sins. That’s usually the way weekly confession is done in parishes.

Form II sees penitents gather for a Liturgy of the Word (readings from Scriptures, a homily, Prayers of the Faithful), an Examination of Conscience, a penitential rite (I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters that I have sinned…). Then they see the priest for private confession and absolution, then, when all have gone to confession they gather again for final prayers. This is common in Lent and Advent.

Form III is General Absolution. This form is only to be used during disasters (or war) or when there are so many penitents that one priest couldn’t manage to hear everyone’s confession in a reasonable time.

However, the second part the explanation of Form III does not really hold much ground. Recall back in the year 2000, the Australian Bishops Conference got the papal raking over the coals because that was how they were using General Absolution.

The result was the Circular Letter on the Integrity of the Sacrament of Penance which clearly states that:

1. In giving consideration to the authenitic discipline of the Church concerning “general absolution”, the recent interdicasterial meeting of the Roman Curia with a representation of Bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Australia noted that:

. . . communal celebrations have not infrequently occasioned an illegitimate use of general absolution. This illegitimate use, like other abuses in the administration of the Sacrament of Penance, is to be eliminated.

The teaching of the Church is reflected in precise terms in the requirements of the Code of Canon Law (cf. esp. canons 959-964). In particular it is clear that "A sufficient necessity is not … considered to exist when confessors cannot be available merely because of a great gathering of penitents, such as can occur on some major feastday or pilgrimage" (canon 961, § 1, 2°).

The general absolution would then not work in this case. A sinking ship, persecution, war, natural disaster and a life-threatening emergency are all legitimate grounds for general absolution. Too many people waiting in line is not grounds for this.

 

[FrDavid96]

Thank you all for the good answers. I remember seeing that on the calendars of several websites and going huh? what’s that?

you can imagine my speculation about what these were when had never heard of them before

would a non-Catholic enquirer such as myself be able to attend one of these with a Catholic relative or friend if they were going? I have a Catholic friend that usually goes to these when they are held at her parish.

obviously I know I couldn’t recieve the sacrament yet and would wait quietly while everyone else did their private confession.

thanks again.

Of course, by all means you can attend and participate (except the confession part, as you already know). Don’t hesitate at all.

 

[Phemie]

However, the second part the explanation of Form III does not really hold much ground. Recall back in the year 2000, the Australian Bishops Conference got the papal raking over the coals because that was how they were using General Absolution.

The result was the Circular Letter on the Integrity of the Sacrament of Penance which clearly states that:

The general absolution would then not work in this case. A sinking ship, persecution, war, natural disaster and a life-threatening emergency are all legitimate grounds for general absolution. Too many people waiting in line is not grounds for this.

But the Canon does say:

Can. 961 §1. Absolution cannot be imparted in a general manner to many penitents at once without previous individual confession unless:
1/ danger of death is imminent and there is insufficient time for the priest or priests to hear the confessions of the individual penitents;
2/ there is grave necessity, that is, when in view of the number of penitents, there are not enough confessors available to hear the confessions of individuals properly within a suitable period of time in such a way that the penitents are forced to be deprived for a long while of sacramental grace or holy communion through no fault of their own. Sufficient necessity is not considered to exist when confessors cannot be present due only to the large number of penitents such as can occur on some great feast or pilgrimage.

I think the situation of a large community where a priest flies in for a day to say Mass every couple of months and where without general absolution the penitents will not be able to receive Communion or have to live in a state of mortal sin until the next visit is the reason for this Canon.

Australia wasn’t the only country where GA was a regular occurrence. For at least 7 years that’s what I experienced in various parishes in Canada. It stopped in most parishes in 2002. It persisted in some parishes until at least 2004 because it was available at Christmas 2003 when I was visiting my hometown – or at least it persisted in the French parishes because the French dioceses had sent a petition to Rome and weren’t stopping before their petition was addressed. It did create an odd situation in dioceses that had both French and English parishes in the same town. If you spoke French or were bilingual you could avail of G.A. at one end of town but if you were monolingual English you had to go to private confession at the other end of town.

 

[John_Lilburne]

A “Penitential Service” is a ceremony that does not include the sacrament of penance. You could participate in it without being baptised, as a catechumen.

The term “Penance Service” is confusing. “Penance” sounds like it is the sacrament. “Service” sounds like it is not the sacrament.

As I wrote on 9 April 2009, in post #8 of forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5136621 :

"In the Rite of Penance it describes the Penitential Service, but makes these points. “37. Care must be taken to ensure that the faithful do not confuse these celebrations with the celebration of the sacrament of penance.” And: “It is desirable to arrange them especially for these purposes: … - to help the faithful to prepare for individual confession that can be made later at a convenient time;” (The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 542).

So I would not see individual confession as a usual option immediately after the Penitential Service. A priest might not even be part of the Penitential Service, there may not be one available.

Other reasons are given for the Penitential Service: “to help catechumens during their conversion” and “to help children gradually form their conscience …”. So here it is available for those who are not permitted to have the sacrament.

Another ceremony is “Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution”. This is the “sacrament of penance” not to be confused with the “penitential service”.

The term “Penance service” is confusing. “Penance” sounds like the sacrament of Penance. “Service” sounds like the Penitential Service."

 

[baltobetsy]

Another ceremony is “Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution”. This is the “sacrament of penance” not to be confused with the “penitential service”.

The term “Penance service” is confusing. “Penance” sounds like the sacrament of Penance. “Service” sounds like the Penitential Service."

I don’t know how they do things in your neck of the woods, but where I live and in many other places, the common term for “Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution” is “Penance Service.” It may not be ideal, but that’s what’s done.

Betsy

 

[m134e5]

A “Penitential Service” is a ceremony that does not include the sacrament of penance. You could participate in it without being baptised, as a catechumen.

The term “Penance Service” is confusing. “Penance” sounds like it is the sacrament. “Service” sounds like it is not the sacrament.

As I wrote on 9 April 2009, in post #8 of forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?p=5136621 :

"In the Rite of Penance it describes the Penitential Service, but makes these points. “37. Care must be taken to ensure that the faithful do not confuse these celebrations with the celebration of the sacrament of penance.” And: “It is desirable to arrange them especially for these purposes: … - to help the faithful to prepare for individual confession that can be made later at a convenient time;” (The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, page 542).

So I would not see individual confession as a usual option immediately after the Penitential Service. A priest might not even be part of the Penitential Service, there may not be one available.

Other reasons are given for the Penitential Service: “to help catechumens during their conversion” and “to help children gradually form their conscience …”. So here it is available for those who are not permitted to have the sacrament.

Another ceremony is “Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution”. This is the “sacrament of penance” not to be confused with the “penitential service”.

The term “Penance service” is confusing. “Penance” sounds like the sacrament of Penance. “Service” sounds like the Penitential Service."

I’m pretty sure the type of “Penance service” the original poster is referring to is the “Rite of Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution”. I have never encountered a penance service as described in the book you refer to above. Most parishes I know of have the Reconciliation of Several Penitents. They call them communal penance/reconciliation services. That may be an incorrect term, but it’s MUCH shorter and easier to say than “Rite of Reconciliation of Several Penitents with Individual Confession and Absolution”. Technicality often gives way to practicality in this case.

 

[5Loaves]

Our Deanery, four parishes, does it together in one parish. I wish we did it more than just during Advent and Lent. Personally any time I have an opportunity to be in any sort of liturgy that includes a number of priests it’s a treat. We usually have about 10 or 12 priests present for this. It’s also a powerful experience seeing people in various locations of the church engaged in confession.

I have heard of big events like World Youth Day where large numbers of priest will be in public areas hearing confessions for virtually the entire day because people just keep coming. People who aren’t even attending the event see what’s going on and end up coming to confession.

OP I hope you will go. It’s a beautiful experience of our faith, and of the love and mercy of God.