Changes to confession and absolution coming this Lent

Changes are coming to a confessional near you, as new language for the Order of Penance will take effect during Lent.

As part of a multiyear project to better render the Mass and other liturgical rites into English from Latin, a slight change in the prayer of absolution will be made. The essential words of absolution – “I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen,” have not changed, according to Monsignor Richard Hilgartner, pastor of St. Joseph in Cockeysville and former executive director of the Secretariat of Divine Worship for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. However, part of the rest of the prayer the priest says will change, slightly.

The revised rite also includes some new options for the Act of Contrition by the penitent, Monsignor Hilgartner said.

The new version can be used Ash Wednesday and is mandatory by Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16.

Monsignor Hilgartner said the earlier version of the Order of Penance has been used for about 50 years, since implementation of the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council, most notably the translation of the Mass from Latin into vernacular languages.

In 2011, revised texts of the Order of Mass were introduced to better align English and other translations with the original Latin.

“The idea is that the words that we pray in the liturgy have meaning, and we don’t want to lose the meaning and lose the significance and lose the richness simply by using a translation that’s not accurate,” he said.

The plan also called for retranslations of other sacramental rituals during the past several years including baptism, matrimony and confirmation. Coming soon will be a revised Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (now known as the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, or RCIA).

The primary change to the prayer of absolution changes just a few words.

“The longer form of that has two word changes simply to give a little bit more richness to the language,” Monsignor Hilgartner said.

Instead of saying that God has “sent the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins,” the new wording says, “poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins.” 

Also, instead of the current wording “may God give you pardon and peace,” the word give is changed to grant. 

Monsignor Hilgartner said the richness of the new language is helpful. “God’s granting something that we don’t deserve, and that’s what forgiveness is. It’s something that we don’t earn or deserve.”

He said implementation – during Lent – was chosen specifically because Lent is a penitential season, when many people make an extra effort to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation or attend a reconciliation service.

“I suspect that some people might come out of curiosity as we begin to announce this,” he said. “Certainly, parishes offer more opportunities to celebrate the sacrament and the long-standing tradition of the church is that the season of Lent becomes a time to acknowledge sinfulness, to place ourselves in God’s mercy.”

The process of conversion is an ongoing way that Catholics celebrate during Lent, with the tradition and statute of the church – known as the Easter duty – to celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation to be properly disposed to receive Communion at some point during Easter time. 

“There is always already kind of a heightened sense of awareness of the sacrament of reconciliation (during Lent),” Monsignor Hilgartner said. “I think this change gives us another opportunity to promote, to invite and to encourage” people to come to confession. 

He said the challenge in the short term will be making the minor changes to the text accessible and available to people. He said he plans to provide printed cards with the new Act of Contrition for his parishioners. 

He added that in this digital age, many people come to confession with an app that helps them with their examination of conscience and confession, such as IConfess, MyParish App or another app that has prayers and devotions. Parishioners should check each app to be sure it is populated with the new text.

Monsignor Hilgartner said the sacrament of reconciliation should not be like a counseling session, though in some cases, it can be more akin to spiritual direction. But those who are looking to confess their sins, receive encouragement, admonishment to do better and absolution, an extended conversation may be more than they need.

“Especially during crowded times, people might not experience a long, drawn-out conversation, but often people do come and seek some advice or encouragement. ‘How can I get over this (sin)?’ … Some people might be put off by the idea of some extended conversation and simply want to unburden themselves and know that God is merciful. That’s the ultimate point of what we’re doing,” he said.

He said he often hears people who have been uplifted and relieved after the sacrament of reconciliation, especially if they have been away from it for a long time. 

“Inevitably, people say, ‘I feel so much better. I feel like a burden has been lifted,’ because that’s what’s happening. God is casting behind his back all our sins, taking them away from us in a way that we don’t know how to do for ourselves,” Monsignor Hilgartner said. “I hear often about how people feel literally unburdened by this happening. And it’s the great gift – that the Lord’s taking this upon himself. For us, this is what the cross is all about, that he takes all of our sins to the cross so that we don’t have to.”

Email Christopher Gunty at editor@CatholicReview.org

Listen to Catholic Review Radio for a discussion of the sacrament of reconciliation, featuring conversations with Monsignor Richard Hilgartner and Claudia Cangilla McAdam. The show will be broadcast Feb. 19 on these stations: WMET 1160 AM and 103.1 FM, DC area plus parts of Anne Arundel, Howard and Frederick Counties – 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.; WSJF 92.7 FM in Sykesville/Eldersburg – 11:45 a.m. and 4 p.m.; WVTO 92.7 FM in Southwest Baltimore – 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Available as a podcast the following day.

Changes in the Order of Penance

Act of Contrition (old text):

My God, 

I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. 

In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, 

I have sinned against You, whom I should love above all things. 

I firmly intend, with Your help, 

to do penance, to sin no more, 

and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. 

Our Savior, Jesus Christ, suffered and died for us. 

In His Name, my God, have mercy. 

Amen.

Act of Contrition (new text):

O my God,

I am sorry and repent with all my heart

for all the wrong I have done

and for the good I have failed to do, 

because by sinning I have offended you,

who are all good and worthy to be loved above all things.

I firmly resolve, with the help of your grace,

to do penance,

to sin no more,

and to avoid the occasions of sin.

Through the merits of the Passion of our Savior Jesus Christ,

Lord, have mercy.

Amen.

Prayer of Absolution (old text)

God, the Father of mercies, 

through the death and resurrection of His Son, 

has reconciled the world to himself 

and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; 

through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, 

and I absolve you from your sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, X and of the Holy Spirit.

Prayer of Absolution (new text)

God, the Father of mercies, 

through the Death and Resurrection of His Son, 

has reconciled the world to himself 

and poured out the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; 

through the ministry of the Church may God grant you pardon and peace. 

And I absolve you from your sins, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, X and of the Holy Spirit.

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