Question on the wording of Penitential Rite

[buckythelibrarian]

I have a question about the wording in the penitential rite / confiteor as a non-Catholic. In the penitential rite one does not ask explicitly for forgiveness, while in the Anglican tradition (and maybe others, that’s just the one I’m familiar with) one does. Why is that? Does the priest ask for forgiveness on the person’s behalf?

 

[Spyridon]

The full penitential rite here:

1. Then follows the Penitential Act, to which the Priest invites the faithful, saying:

Brethren (brothers and sisters), let us acknowledge our sins,

and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.

A brief pause for silence follows. Then all recite together the formula of general confession:

I confess to almighty God

and to you, my brothers and sisters,

that I have greatly sinned,

in my thoughts and in my words,

in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,

And, striking their breast, they say:

through my fault, through my fault,

through my most grievous fault;

Then they continue:

therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,

all the Angels and Saints,

and you, my brothers and sisters,

to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The absolution by the Priest follows:

May almighty God have mercy on us,

forgive us our sins,

and bring us to everlasting life.

The people reply:

Amen.

As you can see, one of the last things we pray is for God to “forgive us our sins”.

The priest prays that out loud for us as Christ the Head, then we the Body of Christ affirm the prayer with our Amen.

 

[buckythelibrarian]

Thanks for the response. My follow up question is this: why does the priest (and not the congregation) ask for forgiveness? Is the priest asking on behalf of the congregation?

 

[Kei]

I’m pretty sure we’re all praying and asking for forgiveness for each other.

 

[Spyridon]

Yes, as I said the Priest prays for the congregation in the person of Christ the Head.

The Congregation follows and affirms the prayer in the person of Christ the Body.