Slight changes to prayer of absolution in confession

By Christopher Gunty
Catholic Review

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 Msgr. 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, Msgr. Hilgartner said. The new version is mandatory by Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16.

Msgr. 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.

Just a few words changing

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,” Msgr. 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.

Msgr. 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.”

Confessions up during Lent

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),” Msgr. Hilgartner said. “I think this change gives us another opportunity to promote, to invite and to encourage” people to come to confession.

He said 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.

Msgr. 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,” Msgr. 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.”

Christopher Gunty is editor of the Catholic Review in Baltimore: [email protected].