Penance Services

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I am just wondering what are some opinions on these services.

We are a large parish with only one priest and he chooses to do at least two penance services during the Advent and Lenten seasons (but no individual confessions are offered afterward). I have my own opinion about them, but I am wondering if any other parishes out there utilize the Penance service using the Third rite of the Sacrament of Reconciliation: involves general confession and absolution. It does not replace individual confession but maybe used in cases involving danger of death or in places where confessions would be overheard.*** It may also be used if there are large numbers of penitents and an insufficient number of confessors*** or if people would otherwise be deprived of reconciliation or reception of the Eucharist for a long time. The common absolution does not relieve the penitent of the obligation to observe the precept of the Church that requires individual confession to a priest of all grave sins at least once a year. -

The bold is my emphasis and the reason we are given for its use.

Reference: disciplesnow.com/articles/26/index.html#sthash.njvTR9cn.dpuf
 
I’m pretty sure that mortal sins have to be individually confessed in order to gain absolution. A general penance service would not suffice
 
Since the priest is there every week and is, in fact, available for individual confessions, this sounds like an abuse to me. He should try to get other priests to help with penance services, if he feels he must have them during these times of the year. We have three priests in our parish but still ask other priests in the deanery to come and help with penance services - we usually end up with 6-8 priests when this happens.

Mortal sins ARE absolved during communal penance services but the penitent still has the obligation to go to individual confession as soon as possible afterwards.
 
The only time general absolution may be imparted is if a large number of penitents cannot go to Confession within 30 days.
 
Yukky. That’s my opinion of Penance services. I’ve gone to several.

The very first was when I was a brand spankin’ new Catholic and it actually was beautiful. The Church was decorated nicely and there were chants and meditative music playing softly over the sound system. The lights were low. The Church itself was pretty full too with many there, women old and not so old, men and children, obvious families had come together and singles as well. It started with a nice homily first by the Pastor. In it he discussed openly and clearly the types of sins which we might be guilty of and what was needed to be absolved of them. He talked about sorrow for sin and the need of amendment even after Confession, that we needed to at least intend to not do those things again for our contrition to be genuine. He concluded his homily by guiding us in praying a prayer for Contrition and proper dispositions and grace to amend our sins that was actually an older prayer. I found that out later. When he was done, the Church then filled up with about twenty or so priests who would be hearing Confessions all over the Church, both face to face or with your back turned so he didn’t see you or the traditional Confessionals were still available. They all had stoles on and some even were in Cassocks and surplices. None were in plain clothes. We all got in lines all over the Church. There were actually about several hundred of us there. The whole thing took over two hours and there were still folks waiting to make their Confessions when I left at a few minutes after 10 P.M.

I thought all Penance services were like this one and boy did I get a shock the next one I went to. It wasn’t anything like the first although I have to admit, there was more than one priest. (a whole whopping total of three plus the Pastor). He gave what I learned later on was a General Absolution and said that for those who didn’t want it (the General Absolution) they were free to stay and Confess directly to the volunteers or himself, but they would be hearing them in the pews, very openly and face to face with no alternative and no going into the Confessionals. There was more that was wrong, but I won’t go into it.

Most recently I went to a retreat where a General Absolution service was planned and carried out attended by about a hundred of the retreatants. I was extremely saddened by this last as the whole point often of going on retreat IS to make a good Confession with lots of time and spiritual guidance to prepare! I walked out just as the Priest was about to give his “absolution.” The Act of Contrition was said by all together as part of the service. All of it was written down in a program that we were supposed to follow. It was really horrid and the worst part was that I know now how wrong all this was.

I was hoping this particular retreat was going to be different than some I’ve been on. I had no clue when I became a Catholic that so much was done that was blatantly wrong by so many. I have no idea why some do as they do. I’m sometimes heart sick about it. I’ve never been to another Penance service like that first one. Looking back it was as if God wanted me to experience how it is done right before He showed me how it can be done wrong.

I pray every day for our priests. Some really are very mixed up. I know that in time God will provide the education they need to get back on track and will once again find discipline and obedience the virtues they need in their hearts to be happy. But for now we all have to be charitable and patient. I do not withhold either my prayers or my love for any of the priests in my life. I know they need it.

Glenda
 
For a decade or more our parish had Penitential Services with General Absolution every Advent and Lent. That stopped in 2002 after an ad limina visit to Rome. The Penitential Services continued but with private confessions (form 2). Where we usually had 100+ penitents with form 3, form 2 – which is a lovely way to have reconciliation – drew only a handful who often didn’t avail of the sacrament. They may well have been using it as a preparation for later confession but there really was no evidence of that. At the time there was no regularly scheduled Confessions.

Now the new Pastor offers weekly Saturday Confession and is available before Mass. He has discontinued the use of form 2. I must admit I miss it.
 
General Absolution is illicit, unless the penitents could not confess in the period of about a month. I’d consider politely and charitably with your pastor, and if he is obstinate, to inform the Ordinary.
 
dgreyes said:
I am just wondering what are some opinions on these services.
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There’s nothing wrong with the service, per se – after all, it’s part of the ritual of the Church! – but it must be utilized as the Church envisions, and not according to the stylings of the parish priest…!
We are a large parish with only one priest and he chooses to do at least two penance services during the Advent and Lenten seasons (but no individual confessions are offered afterward).
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It does not replace individual confession but maybe used in cases involving danger of death or in places where confessions would be overheard.*** It may also be used if there are large numbers of penitents and an insufficient number of confessors*** or if people would otherwise be deprived of reconciliation or reception of the Eucharist for a long time.
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You seem to be quoting John Paul II’s motu proprio Misericordia Dei. Yes, there are more requirements than a “large number of penitents”; and yes, this rite is intended for emergencies, not for regular usage.
 
Yes, Canon 961 in the Code of Canon Law does say that, but it also continues with this statement: A sufficient necessity is not, however, 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.
 
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