...because i might gain God's mercy
RECEPTION OF THE PENITENT AND INVITATION TO TRUST IN GOD
When the penitent comes to confess his sins, the priest welcomes him warmly and greets him with kindness.
Then the penitent makes the sign of the cross which the priest may make also.
In the name of the Father, +
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The priest invites the penitent to have trust in God, in these or similar words:
May God, who has enlightened every heart,
help you to know your sins
and trust in his mercy.
[Deus, qui illúxit in córdibus nostris,
det tibi ut in veritáte agnóscas peccáta tua
et suam misericórdiam.]
The penitent answers: Amen.
Other forms of reception of the penitent may be chosen
READING OF THE WORD OF GOD (OPTIONAL)
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 for the reconciliation of several penitents. The priest and penitent may choose other readings from scripture.
(Sample:) 1 John 1:6-7, 9
If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
Alternative Readings
CONFESSION OF SINS AND ACCEPTANCE OF SATISFACTION
Where it is the custom, the penitent says a general formula for confession (for example, I confess to almighty God) before he/she confesses his/her sins.
I confess to almighty God,
and to you, father
that I have sinned through my own fault
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, father
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
[NTRM:
I confess to almighty God
and to you, father,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.]
If necessary, the priest helps the penitent to make an integral confession and gives him suitable counsel. He urges him to be sorry for his faults, reminding him that through the sacrament of penance the Christian dies and rises with Christ and is thus renewed in the paschal mystery. The priest proposes an act of penance which the penitent accepts to make satisfaction for sin and to amend his life.
The priest should make sure that he adapts his counsel to the penitent's circumstances.
PRAYER OF THE PENITENT AND ABSOLUTION
The priest then asks the penitent to express his sorrow, which the penitent may do in these or similar words:
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.
Or:
Lord Jesus, Son of God
have mercy on me, a sinner.
Other prayers of the penitent may be chosen.
ABSOLUTION
Then the priest extends his hands over the penitent’s head (or at least extends his right hand) and says:
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,
and of the Holy Spirit.
The penitent answers: Amen.
[Latin:
Deus, Pater misericordiárum,
qui per mortem et resurrectiónem Fílii sui
mundum sibi reconciliávit
et Spíritum Sanctum effúdit in remissiónem peccatórum,
per ministérium Ecclésiæ indulgéntiam tibi tríbuat et pacem.
Et ego te absólvo a peccátis tuis
in nómine Patris et Fílii + et Spíritus Sancti.
The penitent answers: Amen.]
PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE OF GOD AND DISMISSAL
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:
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.
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.
When the penitent comes to confess his sins, the priest welcomes him warmly and greets him with kindness.
Then the penitent makes the sign of the cross which the priest may make also.
In the name of the Father, +
and of the Son,
and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The priest invites the penitent to have trust in God, in these or similar words:
May God, who has enlightened every heart,
help you to know your sins
and trust in his mercy.
[Deus, qui illúxit in córdibus nostris,
det tibi ut in veritáte agnóscas peccáta tua
et suam misericórdiam.]
The penitent answers: Amen.
Other forms of reception of the penitent may be chosen
READING OF THE WORD OF GOD (OPTIONAL)
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 for the reconciliation of several penitents. The priest and penitent may choose other readings from scripture.
(Sample:) 1 John 1:6-7, 9
If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.
Alternative Readings
CONFESSION OF SINS AND ACCEPTANCE OF SATISFACTION
Where it is the custom, the penitent says a general formula for confession (for example, I confess to almighty God) before he/she confesses his/her sins.
I confess to almighty God,
and to you, father
that I have sinned through my own fault
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, father
to pray for me to the Lord our God.
[NTRM:
I confess to almighty God
and to you, father,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin,
all the Angels and Saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.]
If necessary, the priest helps the penitent to make an integral confession and gives him suitable counsel. He urges him to be sorry for his faults, reminding him that through the sacrament of penance the Christian dies and rises with Christ and is thus renewed in the paschal mystery. The priest proposes an act of penance which the penitent accepts to make satisfaction for sin and to amend his life.
The priest should make sure that he adapts his counsel to the penitent's circumstances.
PRAYER OF THE PENITENT AND ABSOLUTION
The priest then asks the penitent to express his sorrow, which the penitent may do in these or similar words:
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.
Or:
Lord Jesus, Son of God
have mercy on me, a sinner.
Other prayers of the penitent may be chosen.
ABSOLUTION
Then the priest extends his hands over the penitent’s head (or at least extends his right hand) and says:
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,
and of the Holy Spirit.
The penitent answers: Amen.
[Latin:
Deus, Pater misericordiárum,
qui per mortem et resurrectiónem Fílii sui
mundum sibi reconciliávit
et Spíritum Sanctum effúdit in remissiónem peccatórum,
per ministérium Ecclésiæ indulgéntiam tibi tríbuat et pacem.
Et ego te absólvo a peccátis tuis
in nómine Patris et Fílii + et Spíritus Sancti.
The penitent answers: Amen.]
PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE OF GOD AND DISMISSAL
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:
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.
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.
