What to say at the end of confession?

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ameliepoir

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What am I (the penitent) supposed to say at the end of confession? We really didn’t go over this in RCIA (more on that in a bit) and online guides tend to vary depending on what the priest says. The last time I went, the priest said some things and ended with “Thanks be to God”. How should I have responded? Are there different responses depending on what he says?

The main thing our priest emphasized about confession during our RCIA meetings was that after Vatican II, penitents are supposed to begin the confession by reciting a bible verse, and if they failed to do that then the priest is supposed to provide one. He said almost no one does this but that’s the way it should be done. None of the online guides say that, and I’ve never done it (although I probably would if I ever went to him for confession). I guess because I don’t want to do anything unexpected or confusing. Has anyone done this or heard of this?
 
Response in the rite of penance is then: His mercy endures for ever.
 
What am I (the penitent) supposed to say at the end of confession? We really didn’t go over this in RCIA (more on that in a bit) and online guides tend to vary depending on what the priest says. The last time I went, the priest said some things and ended with “Thanks be to God”. How should I have responded? Are there different responses depending on what he says?
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After my priest absolves my sins and says at the end…“and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit”, I respond “Amen”.

After this, He has said different things at different confessions but his final words always include “Go in Peace”, to which I respond, “Amen”.

I always say, “Thank you, Father” before leaving the confessional. And if my confession was face to face, I shake his hand.
The main thing our priest emphasized about confession during our RCIA meetings was that after Vatican II, penitents are supposed to begin the confession by reciting a bible verse, and if they failed to do that then the priest is supposed to provide one. He said almost no one does this but that’s the way it should be done. None of the online guides say that, and I’ve never done it (although I probably would if I ever went to him for confession). I guess because I don’t want to do anything unexpected or confusing. Has anyone done this or heard of this?
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I’ve never recited a Bible verse before confession. After making the sign of the cross, I always say, “Bless me Father for I have sinned. It has been (x) weeks since my last confession.” Then I tell the priest my sins.

Here is a link from EWTN about reciting a text from the Bible before confessing your sins:

READING OF THE WORD OF GOD (OPTIONAL)
  1. Then the priest may read or say from memory a text of Scripture which proclaims God’s mercy and calls man to conversion.
A reading may also be chosen from those given in nos. 72- 83 and 101-201 for the reconciliation of several penitents. The priest and penitent may choose other readings from scripture.

ewtn.com/library/CURIA/CDWFORMA.HTM
 
ameliepoir said:
What am I (the penitent) supposed to say at the end of confession? We really didn’t go over this in RCIA (more on that in a bit) and online guides tend to vary depending on what the priest says. The last time I went, the priest said some things and ended with “Thanks be to God”. How should I have responded? Are there different responses depending on what he says?

The main thing our priest emphasized about confession during our RCIA meetings was that after Vatican II, penitents are supposed to begin the confession by reciting a bible verse, and if they failed to do that then the priest is supposed to provide one. He said almost no one does this but that’s the way it should be done. None of the online guides say that, and I’ve never done it (although I probably would if I ever went to him for confession). I guess because I don’t want to do anything unexpected or confusing. Has anyone done this or heard of this?
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It really depends. There’s supposed to be the “Order” of confession but I seriously doubt anyone really uses it to the letter. I have always stuck to the traditional “Bless me Father for I have sinned.” It works well, always has, always will. There is no Bible reading, sermon or anything of the sort.

At the end, most priests I have ever confessed to says “Go in peace” and occasionally, he may add, “and pray for me, a sinner”, in which case a sufficiently good answer is “Thanks be to God” and/or simply “Thank you, Father.”

The response V. “His mercy endures forever” is said only in response to R. “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” I have NEVER heard it said. Ever.
 
porthos11 said:
The response V. “His mercy endures forever” is said only in response to R. “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” I have NEVER heard it said. Ever.
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I hear it and say the response every week…
 
porthos11 said:
It really depends. There’s supposed to be the “Order” of confession but I seriously doubt anyone really uses it to the letter. I have always stuck to the traditional “Bless me Father for I have sinned.” It works well, always has, always will. There is no Bible reading, sermon or anything of the sort.

At the end, most priests I have ever confessed to says “Go in peace” and occasionally, he may add, “and pray for me, a sinner”, in which case a sufficiently good answer is “Thanks be to God” and/or simply “Thank you, Father.”

The response V. “His mercy endures forever” is said only in response to R. “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” I have NEVER heard it said. Ever.
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I’ve heard it once a couple years ago and I responded “and his love endures forever”. I had no idea it was part of the official rite.
 
twf said:
I’ve heard it once a couple years ago and I responded “and his love endures forever”. I had no idea it was part of the official rite.
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I’ve had a priest say this to me a couple times “Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.” I always responded “Thanks be to God.” Apparently not the right response – but after all he just told me to give thanks! 🤷 🙂
 
porthos11 said:
It really depends. There’s supposed to be the “Order” of confession but I seriously doubt anyone really uses it to the letter. I have always stuck to the traditional “Bless me Father for I have sinned.” It works well, always has, always will. There is no Bible reading, sermon or anything of the sort.

At the end, most priests I have ever confessed to says “Go in peace” and occasionally, he may add, “and pray for me, a sinner”, in which case a sufficiently good answer is “Thanks be to God” and/or simply “Thank you, Father.”

The response V. “His mercy endures forever” is said only in response to R. “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.” I have NEVER heard it said. Ever.
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Thirty years ago our beloved Monsignor used to say this. Haven’t heard it since.
I do like it though.
 
Bookcat said:
I hear it and say the response every week…
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I’ve only had it a few times, though I have had it for my last two confessions, and I’m starting to hear it more.

I sometimes forget the response “His mercy endures forever” because I’m not used to the priests ending with “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good.”

If the priests does not end with “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good,” I will end my confession with “Thank you & God Bless You Father.”
 
Perhaps this is the old way, but priests have not said anything about it. I was taught when you were finished to say: “For these and all the sins of my past life (and if there is one for which you are particularly sorry, you may insert it here), I ask pardon of God and of you, Father, penance and absolution.”
 
SignumCrucis said:
Perhaps this is the old way, but priests have not said anything about it. I was taught when you were finished to say: “For these and all the sins of my past life (and if there is one for which you are particularly sorry, you may insert it here), I ask pardon of God and of you, Father, penance and absolution.”
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I believe the OP is asking about after that. After you have received your penance, prayed the Act of Contrition, and received absolution.
 
porthos11 said:
No, you don’t. This is not what Confession is about.

“Thank you, Father” if all else fails.
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? I don’t mean that I will be nervous or on edge if that’s what you’re suggesting. I already always smile and thank Father at the end. I mean that the respondents have confirmed that there is variation in what priests say after absolution and thus variation in appropriate responses. So I’ll take my cues from him.
 
ameliepoir said:
? I don’t mean that I will be nervous or on edge if that’s what you’re suggesting. I already always smile and thank Father at the end. I mean that the respondents have confirmed that there is variation in what priests say after absolution and thus variation in appropriate responses. So I’ll take my cues from him.
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Exactly, in closing you really only have two responses to end depending on what the priest says.
  1. “His mercy endures forever”
  2. whatever you feel comfortable saying after his dismisses you.
 
Since my first Confession the Priest has always ended with, “Go in Peace”. My response has always been; since my first Confession; “Thank you Father”. That’s how the Nuns taught us back then.
 
tawny said:
Since my first Confession the Priest has always ended with, “Go in Peace”. My response has always been; since my first Confession; “Thank you Father”. That’s how the Nuns taught us back then.
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Yes, I too always said that and over the years saying thank you to Father for hearing my Confession and absolving me of my sins has become real gratitude expressed personally deep from the heart. Sometimes it is a kind of feeling where you feel like reaching out to him to hug him. Of course one is unable to do that in a Confession situation but it still is a measure of how profound the forgiveness of God has on us. 👍
 
I’ve been hearing “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good” more recently (at a Steubenville, a conent, and once in Italy) and the answer is “His mercy endures forever”. We teach the kids that if the priest says “Go in peace” (ours do) they say “Thanks be to God”. Also I usually tell the priest I’ll pray for his intentions.
OP most priests aren’t hung up on these details though so don’t be too nervous, I’ve never had a bible verse at the beginning though the textbooks I use to teach Sacramental prep all mention it as an option.
 
ameliepoir said:
What am I (the penitent) supposed to say at the end of confession? We really didn’t go over this in RCIA (more on that in a bit) and online guides tend to vary depending on what the priest says. The last time I went, the priest said some things and ended with “Thanks be to God”. How should I have responded? Are there different responses depending on what he says?

The main thing our priest emphasized about confession during our RCIA meetings was that after Vatican II, penitents are supposed to begin the confession by reciting a bible verse, and if they failed to do that then the priest is supposed to provide one. He said almost no one does this but that’s the way it should be done. None of the online guides say that, and I’ve never done it (although I probably would if I ever went to him for confession). I guess because I don’t want to do anything unexpected or confusing. Has anyone done this or heard of this?
Click to expand...
The Act of Contrition
 
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