Reconciliation Liturgy
INTRODUCTORY RITES
GATHERING HYMN
Choose a hymn that is familiar to the congregation that speaks about God’s endless mercy and steadfast love.
SIGN OF THE CROSS
All make the sign of the cross in the usual manner saying:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
INTRODUCTION TO THE LITURGY AND SACRAMENT
First, let us extend the warmest greetings to you as you come to celebrate God’s unconditional love in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In this liturgy, let us acknowledge our own sinfulness, bring it into the light of God’s love and be courageous in accepting the bountiful mercy of Christ. St. Paul also calls us to “be reconciled to God”; let us therefore ask God for the grace of sincere repentance so we can turn away from sin and truly live as children of the light.
Our relationship with God is strongly connected to our relationship with each other. Just as our relationships with others can be hurt and damaged, so too with our relationship with God. The Gospel of this Liturgy provides us with a wonderful image of God as the father of the prodigal son. As the son said that he had, “sinned against heaven and against you,” so too do we sin against God and each other. While we are far off from God, God sees us and is filled with compassion; God runs out to meet us and puts His arms around us. The father desires to celebrate the return of his lost son and so too in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, God, through the ministry of the priest, desires to celebrate our joyful return and our commitment to turn away from sin.
Simply put, this is a celebration of God’s unconditional love and desire to take us back no matter how long or how far off we have wandered. God takes the initiative in all relationships, but this is particularly true in reconciliation. As St. John says: “God is love!” This love overflows in God’s heart and at this very moment He is running out to meet us with open arms.
Inspired by the Spirit of the crucified and risen Lord let us seriously examine our hearts and return to the Father with open arms!
OPENING PRAYER
Let us pray.
Pray in silence for a brief period. Then pray:
Father,
you call us out of darkness into light,
out of self-deception into truth,
out of death into life.
Send us your Holy Spirit
to open our ears to your call.
Fill our hearts with courage
to be able to set out into the deep with your Son.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Response: Amen
CELEBRATION OF THE WORD OF GOD
If it is desirable to use other readings, the ritual states that they should be chosen to illustrate the following:
a) the voice of God calling us back to conversion and ever closer conformity with Christ;
b) the mystery of our reconciliation through the death and resurrection of Christ and through the gift of the Holy Spirit;
c) the judgment of God about good and evil in our lives as a help in the examination of conscience.
READING
Ezekiel 36:16, 23-28 The Renewal of Israel – “I shall sprinkle upon you clean water, put my spirit within you, and make you walk according to my commands.”
PSALM
Psalm 51: 1-11 Prayer for Cleansing and Pardon – “Have mercy, Lord cleanse me from all my sins.” This response could be used either at the beginning and the end or after each division of the Psalm.
Response: Have mercy, Lord cleanse me from all my sins
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
If not sung it is omitted.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia
GOSPEL
Luke 15:1-3, 11-32 “This brother of yours was dead, and has come to life.”
HOMILY
The homily, taking its theme from the scriptural text, should lead the penitents to examine their conscience and to turn away from sin and toward God. It should remind the faithful that sin works against God, against the community and one’s neighbours, and against the sinner him/herself. Therefore it would be good to recall:
a) the infinite mercy of God, greater than all our sins, by which again and again God calls us back to God’s self;
b) the need for interior repentance, by which we are genuinely prepared to make reparation for sin;
c) the social aspect of grace and sin, by which the actions of individuals in some degree affect the whole body of the Church;
d) the duty to make satisfaction for sin, which is effective because of Christ’s work of reparation and requires especially, in addition to works of penance, the exercise fo true charity toward God and neighbour.
REFLECTION ON OUR LIVES IN LIGHT OF THE GOSPEL
Following the example of the prodigal son, who “came to himself”, the questions below are offered for you to reflect upon your life by the light of the Gospel. Knowing and trusting that you are God’s beloved child, allow the Holy Spirit to surface where you have behaved contrary to the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ in thoughts, words and deeds.
In relation to God:
● Is your heart set on God, so that you really love God above all things?
● Are private prayer and Sunday Worship with the community a priority?
● Have you love and reverence for the name of God?
● Are you hesitant or ashamed to witness to your faith in God in your daily life?
● Are you making an effort to grow spiritually? How? When?
● How are you responding to your baptismal commitments to witness to Christ and to be a person of faith, hope and love?
● Do you turn to God only when you are in need?
In relation to my neighbours:
● Are you quick to forgive and slow to judge?
● Do you use others as a means to an end?
● Do you take care of the poor, sick, and defenceless?
● Are you sincere and honest in your dealings with others?
● Have you been the cause of another’s committing sin?
● Are there any relationships that are causing you concern at this time?
● Do you care for and respect the environment in which you live?
In relation to myself:
● Do you truly live as a Christian and give a good example to others?
● Do you really believe that you are made in the image and likeness of God and therefore are one of God’s wondrous
creations?
● Are you too concerned about yourself, your health and your success?
● What do you spend most of your time thinking about?
● Have you kept your senses and your whole body pure and chaste as a temple of the Holy Spirit?
● Do you bear grudges; do you contemplate revenge?
● Do you seek to be humble and be an instrument peace?
When you have finished your reflection those of you who feel called to experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation may go to one of the available priests.
RITE OF RECONCILIATION
GENERAL CONFESSION OF SINS
The general confession of sins begins with the following invitation:
Coming together as God’s family,
with confidence let us ask the Father’s forgiveness,
for he is full of mercy and compassion.
A pause for silent reflection follows. You are now invited to make a general confession of sins in the following manner:
Lord Jesus, you came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father:
Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of sin and division:
Christ, have mercy. Christ have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you intercede for us with your Father:
Lord, have mercy. Lord have mercy.
HYMN
All join in a litany or suitable song to express confession of sins, heartfelt contrition, prayer for forgiveness, and trust in God’s mercy.
THE OUR FATHER
All pray together in the words that Jesus gave us.
RECEPTION OF THE PENITENT
When you go the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the priest will welcome you warmly and encourage you. He acts in the name of the merciful Lord. Together with the priest make the sign of the Cross saying:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
The priest helps you to put your trust in God, using these or similar words:
May the grace of the Holy Spirit fill your heart with light, that you may confess your sins with loving trust and come to know that God is merciful.
Response: Amen
CONFESSION OF SINS AND ACCEPTANCE OF SATISFACTION
At this stage, you may confess your sins. If necessary, the priest will help you to make your confession and may give suitable counsel.
PENANCE
The priest will assign to you an act of penance.
PRAYER OF THE PENITENT
The priest, after imposing a penance, asks you to say the Prayer of the Penitent to show that you are sorry for your sins and that you are resolved to set out on the path of conversion:
Loving Father,
I am sorry for my sins with all my heart.
In making bad choices and in failing to do good,
I have sinned against you.
By the saving death and resurrection of your Son,
free me from my sins.
I promise with your Holy Spirit’s help,
to turn away from sin and reform my life .
May your peace take root in my heart
and bring forth a harvest of justice, truth and love. Amen.
ABSOLUTION
The priest then gives absolution saying:
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.
Response: Amen
The penitent returns to his or her seat and waits for all present to experience the Sacrament.
PSALM OR HYMN OF PRAISE
At the end of individual confession of sins it is fitting for all to sing a psalm or hymn or to say a litany in acknowledgement of God’s power and mercy, for example the canticle of Mary (Luke 1:46-55), or Psalm 136:1-9, 13-14, 16, 25-26, or Psalm 51:12-19, etc.
CONCLUDING PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING
After the song or praise or the litany, the priest concludes the common prayer:
Almighty and merciful God,
how wonderfully you created us
and still more wonderfully remade us.
You do not abandon sinners
but seek them out with a father’s love.
You sent your Son into the world
to destroy sin and death
by his passion,
and to restore life and joy
by his resurrection.
You sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts
to make us your children
and heirs of your kingdom.
You constantly renew our spirit
in the sacraments of your redeeming love,
freeing us from slavery to sin
and transforming us ever more closely
into the likeness of your beloved Son.
We thank you for the wonders of your mercy,
and with heart and hand and voice
we join with the whole Church
in a new song of praise:
Glory to you
through Christ
in the Holy Spirit,
now and for ever.
Response: Amen
CONCLUDING RITE
Then the priest blesses all present:
May the Lord guide your hearts in the way of his love and fill you with Christ-like patience. R. Amen.
May the Lord give you strength to walk in newness of life and to please him in all things. R. Amen.
May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.
The priest then dismisses the assembly:
The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace. R. Thanks be to God.
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