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Category Archives: Rite of Penance
Messing Up Important Words
A social media friend posted somewhat negatively on this article from last week’s OSV. Another friend, a lay colleague in liturgy, commented: It really is important that the priest gets the minimum words right! God’s mercy is not bound by … Continue reading
Posted in Ministry, Rite of Penance
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Absolution Shift Away From Old English
Is it the nicer-sounding words? The grasping for something of English-Germanic wordsmithing that comes up empty? I’ve commented elsewhere here and in social media about the Liturgiam Authenticam shift in English translations to words of French origin. Therefore, closer to … Continue reading
Posted in Rite of Penance
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Reconciliation Lectionary: Psalm 119:169-176
Many years ago we started a look at Bible readings for Reconciliation. This was never nearly as popular as the Scriptures for funerals and weddings. (But I had to keep my focus on religion somehow.) Newcomers to this site, few … Continue reading
Posted in Rite of Penance, Scripture
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More Forms For Penance
Sometimes I think the reference to married couples and their families as the Domestic Church is lip service. In churches on the parish level, there is often a plethora of acts of worship and sacramental life. When the domestic form is cited, … Continue reading
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On Reconciliation and Penance
What to look at next on this site? I suppose I could focus exclusively on the “Way of Beauty” document from 2006. That will continue daily for an estimated two to three months. It’s a good document; quite interesting. A … Continue reading
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Reconciliation Lectionary: Exodus 19:1-6a
During the season of Lent, the Office of Readings gives us long narratives from the book of Exodus. We think Ten Commandments, plus the hundreds that follow. But much of the first half of the book continues the Genesis narrative. … Continue reading
Reconciliation Lectionary: Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b, 64:2-7
Parish reconciliation this past weekend, and an eye-opener for me. The pastor chose two readings from the First Sunday of Advent this year. I’m familiar with the citations here, “rend the heavens and come down,” the no-ear, no-eye passage, and … Continue reading
Is Penance Working?
An interesting thread disappeared at PrayTell in which the blog author asked a direct and challenging question: Is the Sacrament of Penance working for Catholics? I would say yes–for a small minority of us. I would say that there’s no … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Rite of Penance
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Reconciliation Lectionary: Job 14:13-17
In preparing my parish’s summer Bible study, I’ve gone deeper into the book of Job than ever. In the midst of the whining, lament, sarcasm, accusations, and preaching, I’ve found the occasional gem. What do you make of this passage? … Continue reading
Holy Saturday Confessions
Some parishes offer a confessor’s time. Others do not. Sometimes the reasons for either are good. Or well-intentioned. For the record, a celebration of the Sacrament of Penance is not forbidden on Holy Saturday. I can’t honestly recall a parish … Continue reading
Posted in Holy Week, Rite of Penance
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Reconciliation Lectionary: Matthew 22:34-40
A similar passage may be found in Mark, at 12:28-34. We covered that one on this post. The Lucan parallel is in verses 25-28 of that Gospel’s tenth chapter. That brief passage is not given as an option in the … Continue reading
Open Thread on Accounts and Guarantees
From our occasional commenter, Dick Martin cited Hebrews 10:9-14(NKJV): (T)hen He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through … Continue reading
Posted in Rite of Penance
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The Armchair Liturgist: Slowing Prayers
The Benedictine monks at St Martin’s Abbey have a careful pace to the psalms and certain texts, like the Lord’s Prayer. I was caught a few times, but even in a smallish community of twenty-something, it’s easy to get back … Continue reading
Posted in Rite of Penance, The Armchair Liturgist
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Reconciliation Lectionary: Micah 6:7-15
Continuing from the first part of Micah, chapter six, we come to the conclusion offered by the prophet on the question of what should we do to be just, in the right, or “good” in God’s eyes. Earlier the prophet … Continue reading
Catholic Sensibility 
Creepy Confessions
I have never had a bad experience at the Rite of Penance, but I’ve heard from people who have. Those people are pretty much all women. That’s a subjective observation, as guys seem to complain less frequently about confessors. So … Continue reading →