Proper verb for reconciliation

[LisaSojo]

I’ve run into this problem a couple of times now. Each time I try to talk about reconciliation I get stuck on whether a priest ‘says’ or ‘does’ confession. For instance, right now I’m trying to write a letter asking a priest to come and ‘do’/‘say’ confession for a service we are giving. Is there a proper verb for this? I feel like that’s important to get right because it has theological significance… Any help would be great!

 

[YoungTradCath]

The process of “reconciliation” consists of priests “hearing” confessions, “granting absolution” through the “formula of absolution,” which imparts God’s “forgiveness.”

Reconciliation, confession, absolution, forgiveness are all different things.

 

[LisaSojo]

The process of “reconciliation” consists of priests “hearing” confessions, “granting absolution” through the “formula of absolution,” which imparts God’s “forgiveness.”.

That makes sense then. It depends on what I’m talking about. If I’m asking priests to come to our school for a reconciliation service I’m asking them to come and ‘hear’ confessions. Within that they ‘grant’ absolution.

Thanks so much for the clarification!

 

[FrDavid96]

That makes sense then. It depends on what I’m talking about. If I’m asking priests to come to our school for a reconciliation service I’m asking them to come and ‘hear’ confessions. Within that they ‘grant’ absolution.

Thanks so much for the clarification!

You got it.

Ask the priest if he can make himself available “to hear Confessions” and that would be just fine.

 

[Aelred_Minor]

Well, you’ve already got your basic answer: “hear” confession, “grant” absolution. Another term could be “offers” confession, in other worlds offers the opportunity to go to confession at a certain time. Thus you could ask your priest if he could offer confession at a certain time.

The whole situation is complicated by the fact that a priest who hears confessions is called a “confessor.” You would think the confessor would be the person doing the confessing (confessing his or her sins to the priest), but no, it’s the person hearing the confessions. It makes no sense, but languages just aren’t always logical.

 

[PacoG]

I thought the person confessing was called the “penitent.”

 

[Vico]

Confessor:

One who confesses; one who acknowledges a fault, or the truth of a charge, at the risk of suffering; specifically, one who confesses himself a follower of Christ and endures persecution for his faith.Websters]

A priest who hears the confessions of others and is authorized to grant them absolution.Websters].

websters-online-dictionary.org

 

[FrDavid96]

I thought the person confessing was called the “penitent.”

Correct.

The person “confessing” is called the penitent.
The priest “hearing and absolving” is called the confessor.

 

[PacoG]

Correct.

The person “confessing” is called the penitent.
The priest “hearing and absolving” is called the confessor.

As I was always taught to be respectful to the clergy…

Thank you, Father.