COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICE

Transcription

1 COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICE FOR THE SEASON OF LENT Outline of the Rite Rite of Reconciliation of Several Penitents With Individual Confession and Absolution Introductory Rites Opening Hymn Greeting Introduction Opening Prayer Celebration of the Word of God First Reading Responsorial Psalm [Second Reading] Gospel Acclamation Gospel Homily Examination of Conscience Rite of Reconciliation Litany of Repentance Lord s Prayer Concluding Prayer Individual Confession of Sin and Absolution Proclamation of Praise for God s Mercy Concluding Prayer of Thanksgiving Concluding Rite Blessing Dismissal Closing Hymn 1

2 PREPARATION Schedule Hospitality Ministers to welcome the assembly as they arrive and to distribute worship aids. Schedule at least two readers to proclaim the reading(s) and to read the Examination of Conscience. A reader or deacon may lead the Litany of Repentance. Provide a musician and cantor(s) to lead the assembly in song. Instrumental music may be played during individual confession. Prepare the Lectionary with the appropriate readings clearly marked. Prepare a suitable environment conducive to prayer and reconciliation. Candle(s) in the sanctuary should be lit. Prepare stations for confessors. 2

3 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36) OPENING HYMN GREETING INTRODUCTORY RITES Grace, mercy, and peace be with you from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. And with your spirit. INTRODUCTION In these or similar words My brothers and sisters, As we continue our journey through Lent, we are mindful of Pope Francis theme for the Jubilee Year of Mercy: Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. In order that we might enter into the grace of this Lenten season and the grace of this Jubilee Year, it is important to recognize and acknowledge our need for God s mercy because of our own sinfulness. If we open our hearts and receive the gift of God s mercy, then, like Him, we must extend compassion, mercy, and forgiveness to others. 3

4 COLLECT Let us pray. All pray in silence. Almighty and merciful God, you have brought us together in the name of your Son to receive your mercy and grace in our time of need. Where sin has divided and scattered, may your love make us one again; where sin has brought weakness, may your power heal and strengthen; where sin has brought death, may your Spirit raise to new life. Give us a new heart to love you, so that our lives may reflect the image of your Son. May the world see the glory of Christ revealed in your Church, and come to know that he is the one whom you have sent, Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen. (ROP, 100) CELEBRATION OF THE WORD OF GOD The following are suggested readings. Alternative readings may be selected. The homilist may wish to use one, two, or three readings. If only one is chosen, it is preferable that it be the Gospel. First Reading Ephesians 4:1-3, (text provided below) 4

5 Responsorial Psalm Psalm 51 Gospel Acclamation Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life; You have the words of everlasting life. Gospel Luke 6:36-38 Homily Examination of Conscience The assembly is now invited to make an examination of conscience. This can be done in silence or by using the examination of conscience below. One reader alone may read the examination or two readers might alternate between questions. Allow a brief period of silence between each one. Sisters and brothers, let us call to mind our failings so that we may seek God s forgiveness. Reader 1: Do I live a life worthy of the calling I have received? Do I show humility, gentleness and patience to those in my family, at work, and in the world? Do I make every effort to preserve unity in family and in my Church? Reader 2: Do I strive to set aside my former way of life and try to avoid sin? Do I lie? Do I speak the truth even when it is difficult to do so? Do I resist God? Do I pray to know his will? 5

6 Reader 1: Do I lose my temper? Do I let the sun go down on my anger? Do I judge quickly and harshly? Do I live the compassion of Christ? Do I offer the gift of mercy and kindness to those in need? Do I steal? Am I honest in my business dealings? Reader 2: Do I gossip or say evil things? Have I slandered the reputation of another? Do I hold onto bitterness, passion, and anger? Do I forgive as the Lord has forgiven me? Is there someone I need to forgive? Reader 1: Am I intent on things of earth or things of heaven? Am I too busy? Do I make time to pray? Do I participate in the Sunday Eucharist weekly? Do I harbor evil desires? Am I faithful to my spouse? Reader 2: Do I use foul language? Does peace reign in my heart? Do I actively work for peace in my family and in the world? Do I dedicate myself to thankfulness? Do I regularly express my gratitude to God and those around me? Do I care for God s creation? 6

7 General Confession of Sins Rite of Reconciliation Brothers and sisters, let us call to mind the goodness of our Father, and acknowledge our sins so that we may receive his merciful forgiveness. The deacon or another minister invites all to kneel. I confess to almighty God, and to you my brothers and sisters, 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; 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. Litany of Repentence The response, Lord, have mercy may be sung. All stand. The Lord is merciful. He makes us clean of heart and leads us out into his freedom when we acknowledge our guilt. Let us ask him to forgive us and bind up the wounds inflicted by our sins. 7

8 Deacon/Minister: Deacon/Minister: Deacon/Minister: Deacon/Minister: Deacon/Minister: Deacon/Minister Deacon/Minister You came to call sinners. Lord, have mercy. You forgave the many sins of the woman who showed you great love. Lord, have mercy. You did not shun the company of outcasts and sinners. You carried back to the fold the sheep that had strayed. You called Zacchaeus to repentance and a new life. You promised Paradise to the repentant thief. You are always interceding for us at the right hand of the Father. 8

9 Lord s Prayer Now in obedience to Christ himself, let us join in prayer to the Father, asking him to forgive us as we forgive others. Our Father Concluding Prayer Father, our source of life, you know our weakness. May we reach out with joy to grasp your hand and walk more readily in your ways. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Individual Confession and Absolution The presider or other minister might tell the assembly where the confessors will be located. Some brief words regarding the manner of confessions should be given. The assembly may be advised to remain in church if there is to be a common ending. Quiet instrumental music might be played during this time. Proclamation of Praise for God s Mercy After all have had the opportunity for confession and absolution, the assembly is invited to join in singing/praying a psalm, litany, or hymn of praise. A musical setting of any of the following scripture passages could be used or any other appropriate song. Psalm 28:6-7 Psalm 103:1-4, 8-18 Psalm 32:1-7, Psalm 119 Psalm 54 Psalm 136:1-9, 13-14, 16, Psalm 66 Psalm 145:1-21 Psalm 95 Isaiah 61:10-11 Psalm 98:1-9 Jeremiah 31:10-14 Psalm 100:1-5 Daniel 3: Luke 1:46-55 (Magnificat) 9

10 Concluding Prayer of Thanksgiving All holy Father, You have shown us your mercy and made us a new creation in the likeness of your Son. Make us living signs of your love for the whole world to see. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. CONCLUDING RITE Blessing May the Lord guide your hearts in the way of his love and fill you with Christlike patience. Amen. May he give you strength to walk in newness of life and to please him in all things. Amen. May almighty God bless you, the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit. Amen. 10

11 Dismissal Deacon/ The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace. Thanks be to God. Ritual texts taken from the Rite of Penance, English translation 1974, 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass, second typical edition 1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001, and excerpts from the New American Bible 1986, 1970, Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. Washington, DC. All rights reserved. 11

12 First Reading Ephesians 4:1-3, A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians. Brothers and Sisters, I, then, a prisoner for the Lord urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace. So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart, they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess. That is not how you learned Christ, assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth in Jesus, that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God s way in righteousness and holiness of truth. Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun set on your anger, and do not leave room for the Devil. 12

13 The thief must no longer steal, but rather labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with one in need. No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. The Word of the Lord. 13