FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION - #1

In 1961 I entered the Passionist community because the Passion and cross of Jesus captivated my imagination. Passionist monasteries, retreat centers, and parishes were known as places of refuge for serious sinners. From day one the community stresses that our mission was forgiveness and reconciliation for sinners. Passionist brothers and priests were to show compassion and kindness when we met people broken by suffering and pain.

I have heard mighty testimony for thirty years. I have listened as some people voiced sin and shame before the face of God. Others have spoken about suffering in sacramental prayer and in fifth step settings. I have never yelled at anyone in confession - thank God, by the grace of God. I have never refused absolution -there but for the grace of God go I. There is healing in mutual sharing. God's reconciling embrace is available. I am grateful, too.

Obviously confession ain't what it used to be. No longer are groups of Catholic school children marched over before first Friday, class after class. No longer are there lines of anxious teenagers worrying about purity and big penance on Saturday afternoon. No longer are there very long lines of seasoned adult sinners tallying extra-inning scores for anger, gossip, and assorted fantasies. The confession business is a mere trickle of its former self. People no longer feel compelled to submit to what feels like a visit to the ecclesiastical dentist for a spiritual root canal.

Where does that leave us? Forgiving each other seven times seven times is still a significant part of the gospel. It is still good advice to put down one's gift at the altar, to go off and be reconciled with sister or brother, and then take up the gift and offer it to God at the communion table. The dilemma is this: how do modern American Catholics go about forgiveness and reconciliation today?

I could reassert the old verities. I could recommend that we return to formats and forums of a former era. I suspect this will not do unless forgiveness and reconciliation are framed anew.

Some things have changed. Our Church redid the Rite of Penance in 1973. The document is a collection of several rites. It is noteworthy in several ways. "First, the communal dimension was restored to the celebration of penance, so that even individual reconciliation is seen within the context of the ministry of reconciliation that is part of the entire Church. Second, the word of God is given a formal place within the celebration of these rites, including the rite celebrated with a priest and a single penitent...Third, the texts, including the standard formula for sacramental absolution, have been judiciously revised and supplemented with alternative tests. There is a greater biblical orientation in the texts -for example, in some alternatives to the act of contrition...There is a greater sense that this mystery is about healing human imperfection than about condemnation. The texts in combination with accompanying gestures display a rite marked by care and human concern, that is focused on reconciling penitents more than merely forgiving their sins (Dennis C.Smolarski, S.J. Sacred Mysteries. Sacramental Principles and Liturgical Practice, 87-88).

This topic is so important that I want your input. If you have questions you want answered, contact me.