311. Can this sacrament be celebrated in some cases with a general confession and general absolution? (part 1)
(Comp
311) In cases of serious necessity (as in imminent danger of death)
recourse may be had to a communal celebration of Reconciliation with general
confession and general absolution, as long as the norms of the Church are
observed and there is the intention of individually confessing one’s grave sins
in due time.
“In brief”
(CCC 1497) Individual and integral confession of grave sins
followed by absolution remains the only ordinary means of reconciliation with
God and with the Church.
To deepen and explain
(CCC 1480) Like all the sacraments, Penance is a liturgical
action. The elements of the celebration are ordinarily these: a greeting and
blessing from the priest, reading the word of God to illuminate the conscience
and elicit contrition, and an exhortation to repentance; the confession, which
acknowledges sins and makes them known to the priest; the imposition and
acceptance of a penance; the priest's absolution; a prayer of thanksgiving and
praise and dismissal with the blessing of the priest. (CCC 1481) The Byzantine
Liturgy recognizes several formulas of absolution, in the form of invocation,
which admirably express the mystery of forgiveness: "May the same God, who
through the Prophet Nathan forgave David when he confessed his sins, who
forgave Peter when he wept bitterly, the prostitute when she washed his feet
with her tears, the Pharisee, and the prodigal son, through me, a sinner,
forgive you both in this life and in the next and enable you to appear before
his awe-inspiring tribunal without condemnation, he who is blessed for ever and
ever. Amen."
On reflection
(CCC 1482) The sacrament of Penance can also take place in
the framework of a communal celebration
in which we prepare ourselves together for confession and give thanks together
for the forgiveness received. Here, the personal confession of sins and
individual absolution are inserted into a liturgy of the word of God with
readings and a homily, an examination of conscience conducted in common, a
communal request for forgiveness, the Our Father and a thanksgiving in common.
This communal celebration expresses more clearly the ecclesial character of penance.
However, regardless of its manner of celebration the sacrament of Penance is
always, by its very nature, a liturgical action, and therefore an ecclesial and
public action (Cf. SC 26-27). [IT CONTINUES]
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