The Sacrament of Penance

January 27, 2023
Author: Hannah DeVivo

Peace be with you!

As you may have seen, there is an updated version to the Rite of Penance in the Catholic Church. Today we will talk about the Order of Penance, the changes, and the steps of the Sacrament.

What is the Order of Penance?

In 2021, the Catholic Bishops in the United States voted on whether to change the wording in the ritual for the sacrament of penance. Formerly known as “The Rite of Penance”, The Order of Penance is the Second Typical Edition of The Order of Penance and has been approved by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and confirmed by the Apostolic See. The book contains the full and integral text of the new edition of the Order of Penance: the new orders for reconciling penitents, numerous Scripture readings, examples of penitential celebrations, and guidance for the examination of conscience. It is available for pre-order here.

What Changes were Made and Why?

The reason for changing the wording is to make sure that it is as close to the original Latin text as possible. When it comes to languages, each one can have its own set of nuances, emotions, and deeper meanings behind a single word. This makes translating articles of a serious nature, such as religious literature, all the more delicate work. It is of the utmost importance that the translated text conveys as much of the original intent as possible.

The main difference is that the title changed from the Rite of Penance to the Order of penance. The other changes are in the words of the ritual text. In the prayer of Absolution that the priest says at the end of confession, there are a few differences:

Prayer of Absolution

Current Text

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.		Revised Text

God, the Father of mercies,
Through the Death and Resurrection of his Son
Has reconciled the world to himself
And poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins;
Through the ministry of the Church
May God grant 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.


When will the Changes go into Effect?

The USCCB has established:

  • February 22, 2023 (Ash Wednesday) as the date the new translation may begin to be used
  • April 16, 2023 (Second Sunday of Easter / Divine Mercy Sunday) as the date it must be used

After this final date no other translation of the rite may be used.


The Four steps in the Sacrament of Penance

The Sacrament of Confession is also referred to as confession or reconciliation. It is the means through which God forgives us of our sins. There are four steps to full completion of the Sacrament:

  1. Contrition: First, the sinner experiences true remorse for his or her sins.
  2. Confession: Next, they go to confession, tell their sins to the priest, and express their inner remorse.
  3. Absolution: The priest may offer words of comfort, encouragement, and/or tips to avoid the sin(s) going forward. He prescribes a penance, and the offender recites the Act of Contrition. The priest, through the power of his ordination, pronounces the words of absolution.
  4. Satisfaction: After confession, the penitent completes the penance given to them by the priest

I hope this article was able to answer some questions you may have. May God bless and keep you.

Before You Go

Do you frequently receive the Sacrament of Penance?

How do you feel after confession?

Did you learn anything new in this article?

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