The "new" rite of reconciliation

[AnneTeresa]

I’ve experienced two types of experience in the sacrament of penance: the old style where you list your sins and receive absolution, and the “new rite” where you sit down with the priest and he reads something, then you talk to him about your sins, discuss it, and are absolved. I didn’t know enough until now to really recognize how different these two approaches are.

Is this what people are talking about when they say “behind a screen” vs “face to face”? It seems like it’s way more different than just the form of whether you see the priest or not, which is what I thought people were talking about.

I found this article that explains the “new rite” of reconciliation (it explains why it’s not just “confession” …
americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0386.asp

I’m curious what people think about this. When did this new rite start? Do priests how have a choice which kind of rite they use? Are there people here who’ve done the community type of reconciliation discussed in the article, and how is that experience vs. the old way as far as working toward growing in holiness?

 

[GKCT]

When did this new rite start? I don’t know when it started.

The priest does have a choice, some only want behind the screen as they don’t want to know who is there. But all the priests in my parish know my voice, so there is no point in going behind the screen. And I prefer face to face anyway. We can really have a conversation and get better advice.

I do believe it helps one achieve holiness. Confession humbles us before God.

I’m not sure what you mean by “commity type of reconciliation”. Some churches have this, but we don’t. If you mean at Mass during the introductory rites, some believe that your sins are forgiven during the Penitential (confiteor, May God have mercy, etc.). It’s the word MAY that seems to throw people off. It’s May God forgive us, not God Will forgive us.

The article is very good. I am going to pirnt it out and share it with our parish.

 

[nickybr38]

Hm… I’m not sure it’s a matter of behind the screen or not.

My roommate and I go to confession together. We both sit in booths. We both confess to the same priest. She does the confession where they talk about her sins and basically have a counseling session. I, on the other hand, just list my sins, receive absolution and leave. Short, sweet… the way I like it. The priest seems to adapt to whatever the confessee needs and/or wants. I do not encourage conversation and so he doesn’t provide it, whereas she does so he does…

 

[mburn16]

the above reference to the penitential rite is something I encountered the other day as well.

At the end the Priest said “by the power vested in me, I absolve you of your sins”

ok then.

 

[lauraabarlow]

I miss my old confessor-he was a chaplain at the base chapel-a civilian priest from Nigeria now an American citizen-he was the only priest I was really able to open up to not only in confessing my sins but where he was best able to counsel me due to the fact that he knows my circumstances as a single mom struggling with raising my kids, special needs eg autism, adhd, fibromyalgia, etc… He is still in the area and works at a local hospital-we still stay in touch eg facebook but it’s not the same with him not there. It helps me to confess when the priest is aware of my personal circumstances as this kind Nigerian priest did. I still go to reconciliation and do my best on confessing yet it isn’t the same. Is my situation normal of other catholics? I keep thinking that my situation isn’t normal or typical. I am in the reserves and have adhd and mild aspergers (I was told by the VA counselor) and somehow have difficulty opening up to a typical priest, although I still go to reconciliation on a regular basis. Thanks for any enlightenment on this-I am trying to do the right thing and stay on the right track with God.

 

[NewsTheMan]

the above reference to the penitential rite is something I encountered the other day as well.

At the end the Priest said “by the power vested in me, I absolve you of your sins”

ok then.

lol! Oops. This wasn’t a valid confession if that’s all he said. He needs to use the proper form; which is to say, he needs to use the correct words of absolution which is forgiveness of sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost [you can look up the proper wording].

 

[puzzleannie]

I’ve experienced two types of experience in the sacrament of penance: the old style where you list your sins and receive absolution, and the “new rite” where you sit down with the priest and he reads something, then you talk to him about your sins, discuss it, and are absolved. I didn’t know enough until now to really recognize how different these two approaches are.
?

there is no “new rite”. There are now 3 forms for the rite

1 is individual confession to a priest, as always, and the only difference is the option–the pentitent chooses not the priest, to confess face to face. It has always been part of confession that you tell your mortal sins in kind and number (or frequency) and that the priest and you talk about your sins and he gives pastoral counselling if needed, you express contrition and are absolved. What has changed is the option, not requirement, that the priest share a relevant scripture with you.

2 is communal penance service, where the scripture reading as in liturgy of the Word, prayer and meditation as a group, like a parish or retreat setting, precedes individual confession, usually with several priests available, but the individual confession is the same

3 is general absolution only in most dire circumstances such as war, civil emergency etc.

the proper form for absolution must be used by the priest in all 3 cases or there is no valid sacrament

 

[AnneTeresa]

there is no “new rite”.

The article states that there is–the old was confession, the new is reconciliation and it explains the differences, one of which is more emphasis on reconciling with the church community in the latter case.

2 is communal penance service, where the scripture reading as in liturgy of the Word, prayer and meditation as a group, like a parish or retreat setting, precedes individual confession, usually with several priests available, but the individual confession is the same

I’ve had this happen in an individual face-to-face reconciliation though -where the priest reads something first. I don’t question its validity–just wondered why some priests do it so differently. And mostly wondered if people find one or the other more helpful in their road to holiness.

 

[cheese_puff]

Ahhh…, so that’s what that was all about.
Oh boy, I blew that then!
My priest has a bit of an accent, one I am unfamiliar with. I went into confession the other month, well, I tought it was confession. I went to kneel at the little window like usual and he instucted me to sit on the chair face to face with him. I kind of shrugged to myself and didn’t really care since sitting was certainly easier on the knees. The problem is half the time I have no idea what he’s saying, so when he started it all I just waited patienly till he stopped then I began my confession as usual. I think he picked up on it (me being clueless) he finished everything like usual and I thought that was great.
The next month I went into confession I thought I’ll take a seat but there was no chair so it was back to kneeling!

LOL I dunno

 

[japhy]

The sacrament is still called Confession or Penance, but also Reconciliation. It is a false dichotomy to speak of the Confession vs. Reconciliation; both are realities of the one sacrament. The sacrament may be celebrated in different ways, though.

You may choose to celebrate the sacrament face to face with the priest, or behind a screen. It’s Confession no matter which you choose. It’s Reconciliation no matter which you choose.

The priest may choose to begin the sacrament with a relevant reading from Scripture, such as the Prodigal Son. It’s Confession if he does or if he doesn’t. It’s Reconciliation if he does or if he doesn’t.

I do not think the article is helpful in associating “confession” with “old” (and “bad”), and “reconciliation” with “new” (and “good”).

 

[Bookcat]

It is all the same Sacrament of Penance. Confession, Penance, reconcilation…all just names for the same Sacrament. If you go face to face or you go behind a screen…same thing basically. One accuses oneself of ones sins, receives perhaps advice etc and a penance …makes the act of contrition and is absolved. One can do so either face to face or behind the screen. There may be more or less “conversation” about ones sins depending on the penitent and the priest either way.

 

[mburn16]

ol! Oops. This wasn’t a valid confession if that’s all he said. He needs to use the proper form; which is to say, he needs to use the correct words of absolution which is forgiveness of sins in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost [you can look up the proper wording].

Oh I don’t doubt that - I’m more wondering if, proper wording aside, it would be valid anyway…since I didn’t actually confess my sins to the Priest, he just “absolved” the entire congregation right then and there.

 

[cheese_puff]

It is all the same Sacrament of Penance. Confession, Penance, reconcilation…all just names for the same Sacrament. If you go face to face or you go behind a screen…same thing basically. One accuses oneself of ones sins, receives perhaps advice etc and a penance …makes the act of contrition and is absolved. One can do so either face to face or behind the screen. There may be more or less “conversation” about ones sins depending on the penitent and the priest either way.

whew!

 

[Alindawyl]

The article states that there is–the old was confession, the new is reconciliation and it explains the differences, one of which is more emphasis on reconciling with the church community in the latter case.

I can see where some of the misunderstanding here is coming from. You think there’s been a recent change to the sacrament based on a misunderstanding of the article from americancatholic.org which you quoted. Note the source listed at the end of the article. It’s an abridged chapter from a book called Reconciliation: Sacrament With a Future by Sandra DeGidio. It’s not something recent. That book was published 25 years ago.

When Sandra DeGidio wrote about a “new” rite back in 1986, she was referring to the change to the sacrament of penance that happened in 1973 under Pope Paul VI. The three forms of the rite which Puzzleannie mentioned in post 7 are exactly what the “new” rite consists of.

 

[NewsTheMan]

Oh I don’t doubt that - I’m more wondering if, proper wording aside, it would be valid anyway…since I didn’t actually confess my sins to the Priest, he just “absolved” the entire congregation right then and there.

Huh? A priest cannot absolve a congregation for all sin even if he uses the correct form for the absolution since the matter of the sacrament is not there (1 person confessing sins) as far as I understand it. It is only valid if its an emergency and death is near. Otherwise, one on one confession with the correct formula for the absolution is required for the confession to be valid.

 

[mburn16]

Huh? A priest cannot absolve a congregation for all sin even if he uses the correct form for the absolution since the matter of the sacrament is not there (1 person confessing sins) as far as I understand it. It is only valid if its an emergency and death is near. Otherwise, one on one confession with the correct formula for the absolution is required for the confession to be valid.

“Huh?” was the extent of my feelings on the topic…but, listening to the Priest, if you were there, your sins were forgiven en masse.

 

[NewsTheMan]

“Huh?” was the extent of my feelings on the topic…but, listening to the Priest, if you were there, your sins were forgiven en masse.

Well, they objectively they weren’t. The priest did something illicit and harmful to those people since they now believe they’re sins were forgiven when they actually weren’t. They need to go to confession and receive absolution properly.

 

[Bookcat]

Oh I don’t doubt that - I’m more wondering if, proper wording aside, it would be valid anyway…since I didn’t actually confess my sins to the Priest, he just “absolved” the entire congregation right then and there.

Only in cases such as in an emergency can “general absolution” be given…then the those absolved are to as soon as possible confess all their mortal sins in confession…that is if they survive the plane crash…or the ship sinking…

 

[AnneTeresa]

I can see where some of the misunderstanding here is coming from. You think there’s been a recent change to the sacrament based on a misunderstanding of the article from americancatholic.org which you quoted. Note the source listed at the end of the article. It’s an abridged chapter from a book called Reconciliation: Sacrament With a Future by Sandra DeGidio. It’s not something recent. That book was published 25 years ago.

When Sandra DeGidio wrote about a “new” rite back in 1986, she was referring to the change to the sacrament of penance that happened in 1973 under Pope Paul VI. The three forms of the rite which Puzzleannie mentioned in post 7 are exactly what the “new” rite consists of.

Thank you, this explains it then. I had no idea it was changed in 1973 but just knew there were two different things going on.

 

[AnneTeresa]

Ahhh…, so that’s what that was all about.
Oh boy, I blew that then!
My priest has a bit of an accent, one I am unfamiliar with. I went into confession the other month, well, I tought it was confession. I went to kneel at the little window like usual and he instucted me to sit on the chair face to face with him. I kind of shrugged to myself and didn’t really care since sitting was certainly easier on the knees. The problem is half the time I have no idea what he’s saying, so when he started it all I just waited patienly till he stopped then I began my confession as usual. I think he picked up on it (me being clueless) he finished everything like usual and I thought that was great.
The next month I went into confession I thought I’ll take a seat but there was no chair so it was back to kneeling!

LOL I dunno

LOL! This is similar to what happened to me the first time I went to confession when I came back to the church. I sat down and the priest started talking and did a reading and then I had no idea what to do next since all I knew were the old standard words I learned as a child, but had forgotten by then!