Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Roman Catholic Church Three Bridges NJ
“From the Pastor” Bulletin Article Series
4. The New GIRM. Penitential Rite - A: Confiteor & Absolution
In 49 weeks we’ll begin using the new GIRM or Revised General Instruction for the Roman Missal. Each week until then I’ll explain what will change and why it’s changing, step by step
Normally Mass begins with a Penitential Act; the celebrant will say: “Brethren [brothers and sisters], let us acknowledge our sins, that we may prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries.” Sometimes, especially in the Easter Season, the Rite of Sprinkling with blessed holy water may take place, to remind us of our Baptism. Otherwise, after a brief pause, all take part in one of three Acts of Penitence. ‘Older’ Catholics may be quite familiar with this revised version of the Confiteor, which is Option A. After a brief pause, all pray together:
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,
And, striking their breast, they say:
through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault;
Then they continue:
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.
The absolution of the Priest follows:
May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.
The people reply: Amen.
Since this prayer of absolution lacks the efficacy of the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is required to take away grave or mortal sin, the priest does NOT make a sign of the cross over the people; nor should the people make the sign of the cross over themselves.
Some ask: why such emphasis on our sinfulness? Why do we grovel before God that “I have greatly sinned?” Well, these words come from the great King David: “And David said to God, ‘I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing!’” [1 Chronicles 21:8] All who hope to one day meet David - and the One who was born in David’s City, Bethlehem, and into David’s royal lineage - must confess their guilt as did David!
Another question is: why the triple repetition of our guilt: “through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault?” As you will notice in the revised translation, the poetic ‘flow’ in the original Latin texts has been restored, as has the repetitious, rhythmic use of the same word or phrase, often three times, which creates an element of gradual intensity. For instance, while we are guilty, guilty, GUILTY ... God is Holy, Holy, HOLY! Hebrew and Aramaic have no superlatives, no way to say holy, holier, holiest - so they repeat things – just as Jesus often says “Amen, amen I say to you ...” to get our full and undivided attention!
Why are we directed to strike our breast during the Confiteor; why do some strike their breast three times during the Lamb of God litany? Striking one’s breast is a biblical custom that expresses sorrow for one’s sins - or sorrow and grief over losing someone through death. It is an outward sign of an internal reality; if it is just for show, or lacks meaning, it is useless; if it is a sign of a person’s true disposition, it is a prayer!
In the parable of the tax collector and the self-righteous Pharisee, who praised himself before the Lord, we read: “... the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, 'O God, be merciful to me a sinner.'” [Luke 18:13] So when we confess our sins and guilt, we strike our breast in humble repentance.
In Luke’s account of Christ’s Passion and Death we read, “When all the people who had gathered for this spectacle saw what had happened, they returned home beating their breasts.” {Luke 23:48] So after the un-bloody sacrifice of the Paschal Mystery on Calvary, which happens on the Altar in the Eucharist, some strike their breast in humble adoration and thanks. However, the rubrics only direct us to strike our breast during the Confiteor.
Rev. Thomas J. Serafin - The New GIRM Article # 4 1