The Ministry of Reconciliation
May 01, 2010
Penance (sacramental confession) is often associated with Lent; but confession of sin is appropriate no matter the season of the church year. This is one of the lesser known sections of the Prayer Book referred to as Reconciliation of a Penitent, a.k.a. “penance” or “confession.” While some have thought this practice to be strictly Roman Catholic, it is also very much at home in the Episcopal/Anglican tradition. One will find a rite for penance/confession in The Book of Common Prayer, 1662 of the Church of England, a “parent edition” our Prayer Book. The Book of Common Prayer, 1979 was the first of the four American Prayer Books to reintroduce it. We actually have multiple opportunities for confession in the Episcopal Church. We’re all very familiar with general confession said by the congregation and priest during the Sunday Eucharist before the passing of the peace, and in the Morning & Evening Prayer rites; but next time you pick up your Prayer Book leaf through pages 447 through 452. Here you’ll find two rites for sacramental confession, one which bears the stamp of the Western church and one that has an Eastern Orthodox flavor. As always, The Book of Common Prayer explains itself best. The following is what the Prayer Book has to say about sacramental confession:
“The ministry of reconciliation, which has been committed by Christ to his Church, is exercised through the care each Christian has for others, through the common prayer of Christians assembled for public worship, and through the priesthood of the Church and its ministers declaring absolution. The Reconciliation of a Penitent is available for all who desire it. It is not restricted to times of sickness. Confessions may be heard anytime and anywhere. Two equivalent forms of service are provided here to meet the needs of penitents. The absolution in these services may be pronounced only by a bishop or priest. Another Christian may be asked to hear a confession, but it must be made clear to the penitent that absolution will not be pronounced; instead, a declaration of forgiveness is provided. When a confession is heard in a church building, the confessor may sit inside the altar rails or in a place set aside to give greater privacy, and the penitent kneels nearby. If preferred, the confessor and penitent may sit face to face for a spiritual conference leading to absolution or a declaration of forgiveness. When the penitent has confessed all serious sins troubling the conscience and has given evidence of due contrition, the priest gives such counsel and encouragement as are needed and pronounces absolution. Before giving absolution, the priest may assign to the penitent a psalm, prayer, or hymn to be said, or something to be done, as a sign of penitence and act of thanksgiving. The content of a confession is not normally a matter of subsequent discussion. The secrecy of a confession is morally absolute for the confessor, and must under no circumstances be broken.”
I invite you to consider this tremendous resource given to the church through virtue of its history and tradition and provided by the church to all its people. Please contact me at any time if you’d like to discuss the benefits of this sacrament for your spiritual journey.
Grace & peace,
Fr. Rod+
“The ministry of reconciliation, which has been committed by Christ to his Church, is exercised through the care each Christian has for others, through the common prayer of Christians assembled for public worship, and through the priesthood of the Church and its ministers declaring absolution. The Reconciliation of a Penitent is available for all who desire it. It is not restricted to times of sickness. Confessions may be heard anytime and anywhere. Two equivalent forms of service are provided here to meet the needs of penitents. The absolution in these services may be pronounced only by a bishop or priest. Another Christian may be asked to hear a confession, but it must be made clear to the penitent that absolution will not be pronounced; instead, a declaration of forgiveness is provided. When a confession is heard in a church building, the confessor may sit inside the altar rails or in a place set aside to give greater privacy, and the penitent kneels nearby. If preferred, the confessor and penitent may sit face to face for a spiritual conference leading to absolution or a declaration of forgiveness. When the penitent has confessed all serious sins troubling the conscience and has given evidence of due contrition, the priest gives such counsel and encouragement as are needed and pronounces absolution. Before giving absolution, the priest may assign to the penitent a psalm, prayer, or hymn to be said, or something to be done, as a sign of penitence and act of thanksgiving. The content of a confession is not normally a matter of subsequent discussion. The secrecy of a confession is morally absolute for the confessor, and must under no circumstances be broken.”
I invite you to consider this tremendous resource given to the church through virtue of its history and tradition and provided by the church to all its people. Please contact me at any time if you’d like to discuss the benefits of this sacrament for your spiritual journey.
Grace & peace,
Fr. Rod+