FORGIVENESS AND RECONCILIATION - #5

How do you address God? How do you call upon God? The Roman Catholic tradition was streamlined and simple. Latin prayers address God as Domine (Lord) or Domine Deus (Lord God).When you take inventory at day's end, what words do you speak to God to express your thanksgiving for the day's blessing and to ask for forgiveness for any shortcomings? The contrition prayers of the 1973 Rite of Penance address God as Father, but also include Trinitarian and Christ-centered prayers.

The fifth contrition prayer says, "Father of mercy, like the prodigal son I return to you and say: 'I have sinned against you and am no longer worthy to be called your son.' Christ Jesus, Savior of the world, I pray with the repentant thief to whom you promised Paradise: 'Lord, remember me in your kingdom.' Holy Spirit, fountain of love, I call on you with trust:'Purify my heart, and help me to walk as a child of light.'" This prayer is exquisitely rich. It is a prayer of encounter. The prayer focuses the penitent on three divine qualities. God is addressed first as a Father of mercy, then as Christ Jesus, Savior of the world, and finally as Holy Spirit, fountain of love. The prayer presumes that God acts according to God's (Trinitarian) nature. God is trustworthy and faithful to commitments which God made with the baptized.

The prayer then presents three figures seeking a new start and a fresh beginning. The first figure is the lost son. He returns to his father's home and acknowledges that he has been an alien. He appeals to his father. The penitent also turns to God as a prodigal father. The second figure is the good thief hanging in crucifixion next to Jesus. He turns to Jesus and asks that he be given a place in the lush oriental garden called the kingdom. He appeals to Christ as savior. The penitent also turns to Christ as savior. The third figure is the child asking for a purified heart. She turns to the Spirit and asks that her heart be purified and that darkness might yield to light. She appeals to the Spirit as the fountain of love. The penitent also turns to the Spirit, the fountain of love. The praying of this contrition prayer enables the penitent to identify with biblical characters and makes them contemporary soul mates.

The next contrition prayer is distinctive. It is directed simply and straightforwardly to Christ."Lord Jesus, you opened the eyes of the blind, healed the sick, forgave the sinful woman, and after Peter's denial confirmed him in your love. Listen to my prayer: forgive all my sins, renew your love in my heart, help me to live in perfect unity with my fellow Christians that I may proclaim your saving power to all the world." The penitent turns to Jesus as healer. He ministered to the blind, the sick, the sinful woman, and Peter. Encounter with Christ brings the biblical penitent the wonderful blessing of sight, health, forgiveness, and confirming love. The Jesus who acted in history continues to act. He hears the contemporary penitent. He forgives sins, renews divine love in the heart, unifies the person with fellow Christians, and helps her proclaim God's saving power.