What do you say after absolution?

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I was wondering what you say after the priest absolves you in confession. I normally say thank you, but is there something more suitable?
 
Amen.

Then my confessor usually says “Go in peace.” and I say “Thanks be to God.” Then I say thank you as I leave.
 
From the Rite of Penance:

"… and I absolve you from your sins
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, +
and of the Holy Spirit.
The penitent answers: Amen.

PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE OF GOD AND DISMISSAL
47. After the absolution, the priest continues:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
The penitent concludes: His mercy endures for ever.

Then the priest dismisses the penitent who has been reconciled, saying:
The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.

Or [93]:
May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and of all the saints,
whatever good you do and suffering you endure,
heal your sins,
help you to grow in holiness,
and reward you with eternal life.
Go in peace.

Or:
The Lord has freed you from sin.
May he bring you safely to his kingdom in heaven.
Glory to him for ever.
R. Amen.

Or:
Blessed are those whose sins have been forgiven,
whose evil deeds have been forgotten.
Rejoice in the Lord,
and go in peace.

Or:
Go in peace,
and proclaim to the world
the wonderful works of God
who has brought you salvation."

The Introduction to the Rite of Penance includes:
“SHORTER RITE
21. When pastoral need dictates, the priest may omit or shorten some parts of the rite but must always retain in their entirety the penitent’s confession of sins and acceptance of the act of penance, the invitation to contrition (no. 45), and the formularies of absolution and dismissal.”

So, it seems to me, the liturgical book always requires one of the five dismissals, given above, for the Rite of Reconciliation of Individual Penitents. Only one of the five has a response from the penitent. There is no response from the penitent after “Go in peace.”

Reference: The Rites Volume One, Liturgical Press, 1990, ISBN: 0-8146-6015-0, pages 536 and 547.
 
John_Lilburne said:
From the Rite of Penance:

"… and I absolve you from your sins
in the name of the Father, and of the Son, +
and of the Holy Spirit.
The penitent answers: Amen.

PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE OF GOD AND DISMISSAL
47. After the absolution, the priest continues:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
The penitent concludes: His mercy endures for ever.

Then the priest dismisses the penitent who has been reconciled, saying:
The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace."
Click to expand...
This is how our priests do confessions.

We have traditional confessionals - behind a screen, kneeling (there is the other side for those who can not kneel). In front of you while you are kneeling there is printed out the Act of Contrition as well as Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
The penitent concludes: His mercy endures for ever. Just so no one forgets. 😉

This is one confessional at our parish - another can be seen to the right through the arches along the long wall:
(photo credit to Diane Korzeniewski, OCDS)

More on the Sacrament of Penance HERE

(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)

~Liza
 
Joannm said:
Amen.

Then my confessor usually says “Go in peace.” and I say “Thanks be to God.” Then I say thank you as I leave.
Click to expand...
me too…

Confession happens in an ordinary confessional (booths) in my church. If you make an appointment, it can be face to face. And during Lent and Advent when there are often extra priests around, confessions also happen in the flower room but there is a screen for those who want it.
 
thanks for clearing that up. By the way your confessional is beautiful! Ours is more modern but I like the traditional ones better, personally!
 
Post #4 John, awesome information! Where did you find that? I am so interested in information like this. I am somewhat obsessed in ensuring that I say prayers and conduct things according to the ‘laws’ for lack of better terms. Let me know,
 
I did my first confession yesterday (was baptized at the Easter Vigil) and after absolution I said “Wow!” :o

Shortly after I caught my breath, I said “Amen.”
 
Whoo, lizanne, as someone who suffers from a tinge of the ol’ claustrophobics, those booths give me the heebeejeebies!

I’ve seen smaller, mind, not that I’ve used 'em.

Makes you feel for poor priests stuck in there, especially when you read stories of St John Vianney or St Padre Pio spending hours upon hours in the confessional.
 
John_Lilburne said:
PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE OF GOD AND DISMISSAL
47. After the absolution, the priest continues:
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
The penitent concludes: His mercy endures for ever.

Then the priest dismisses the penitent who has been reconciled, saying:
The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace.…

So, it seems to me, the liturgical book always requires one of the five dismissals, given above, for the Rite of Reconciliation of Individual Penitents. Only one of the five has a response from the penitent. There is no response from the penitent after “Go in peace.”
Click to expand...
I think that only means that after the priest says, “go in peace” that the liturgical action has been concluded. At the point that the liturgical action has been concluded and we are “at ease”, so to speak, it is then OK to improvise. It isn’t required, but it never hurts to say “thank you”!
 
LilyM said:
Whoo, lizanne, as someone who suffers from a tinge of the ol’ claustrophobics, those booths give me the heebeejeebies!

I’ve seen smaller, mind, not that I’ve used 'em.

Makes you feel for poor priests stuck in there, especially when you read stories of St John Vianney or St Padre Pio spending hours upon hours in the confessional.
Click to expand...
Please pray for the good priests of our parish (and others who do the same) - our Church is not air conditioned. All of our priests wear cassocks. And it gets very hot in there in the summer, but that never stops any of them from hearing confessions for at least a half hour or more before every single Mass. We are truly blessed.

~Liza
 
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