COMMUNAL PENANCE SERVICEFOR THE SEASON OF LENT

Outline of the Rite

Rite of Reconciliation of Several PenitentsWith Individual Confession and Absolution

Introductory RitesOpening HymnGreetingIntroductionOpening Prayer

Celebration of the Word of GodFirst ReadingResponsorial Psalm[Second Reading]Gospel AcclamationGospelHomilyExamination of Conscience

Rite of ReconciliationLitany of RepentanceLord’s PrayerConcluding PrayerIndividual Confession of Sin and AbsolutionProclamation of Praise for God’s MercyConcluding Prayer of Thanksgiving

Concluding RiteBlessingDismissalClosing Hymn

PREPARATION

Schedule Hospitality Ministers to welcome the assembly as they arrive and to distribute worship aids.

Schedule at least two readers to proclaim the reading(s) and to read the Examination of Conscience. A reader or deacon may lead the Litany of Repentance.

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Provide a musician and cantor(s) to lead the assembly in song. Instrumental music may be played during individual confession.

Prepare the Lectionary with the appropriate readings clearly marked.

Prepare a suitable environment conducive to prayer and reconciliation. Candle(s) in the sanctuary should be lit.

Prepare stations for confessors.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:36)

INTRODUCTORY RITES

OPENING HYMN

GREETING

Presider: Grace, mercy, and peace be with youfrom God the Fatherand Christ Jesus our Savior.

All: And with your spirit.

INTRODUCTION

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Presider: In these or similar words…

My brothers and sisters,

As we continue our journey through Lent, we are mindful of Pope Francis’ theme forthe Jubilee Year of Mercy: “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

In order that we might enter into the grace of this Lenten season and the grace of this Jubilee Year, it is important to recognize and acknowledge our need for God’s mercy because of our own sinfulness. If we open our hearts and receive the gift of

God’s mercy, then, like Him, we must extend compassion, mercy, and forgiveness to others.

COLLECT

Presider: Let us pray.

All pray in silence.

Almighty and merciful God,you have brought us together in the name

of your Son to receive your mercy and grace in our

time of need.

Where sin has divided and scattered,may your love make us one again;where sin has brought weakness,may your power heal and strengthen;

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where sin has brought death,may your Spirit raise to new life.

Give us a new heart to love you,so that our lives may reflect the image of

your Son.May the world see the glory of Christrevealed in your Church,and come to knowthat he is the one whom you have sent,Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord. Amen.

(ROP, 100)

CELEBRATION OF THE WORD OF GOD

The following are suggested readings. Alternative readings may be selected. The homilist may wish to use one, two, or three readings. If only one is chosen, it is

preferable that it be the Gospel.

First Reading Ephesians 4:1-3, 17 – 32 (text provided below)

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 51

Gospel Acclamation

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;You have the words of everlasting life.

Gospel Luke 6:36-38

Homily

Examination of Conscience

The assembly is now invited to make an examination of conscience. This can be done in silence or by using the examination of conscience below. One reader alone

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may read the examination or two readers might alternate between questions. Allow a brief period of silence between each one.

Presider: Sisters and brothers,let us call to mind our failingsso that we may seek God’s forgiveness.

Reader 1:

Do I “live a life worthy of the calling I have received”? Do I show “humility, gentleness and patience” to those

in my family, at work, and in the world? Do I “make every effort to preserve unity” in family and

in my Church?

Reader 2:

Do I strive to “set aside my former way of life” and try to avoid sin?

Do I lie? Do I speak the truth even when it is difficult to do so?

Do I resist God? Do I pray to know his will?

Reader 1:

Do I lose my temper? Do I “let the sun go down on my anger”?

Do I judge quickly and harshly? Do I live the compassion of Christ?

Do I offer the gift of mercy and kindness to those in need?

Do I steal? Am I honest in my business dealings?

Reader 2:

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Do I gossip or say evil things? Have I slandered the reputation of another?

Do I hold onto bitterness, passion, and anger? Do I forgive as the Lord has forgiven me? Is there

someone I need to forgive?

Reader 1:

Am I “intent on things of earth” or “things of heaven”? Am I too busy? Do I make time to pray? Do I

participate in the Sunday Eucharist weekly? Do I “harbor evil desires”? Am I faithful to my

spouse?

Reader 2:

Do I use foul language? Does peace “reign in my heart”? Do I actively work for

peace in my family and in the world? Do I “dedicate myself to thankfulness”? Do I regularly

express my gratitude to God and those around me? Do I care for God’s creation?

Rite of Reconciliation

General Confession of Sins

Presider: Brothers and sisters,let us call to mind the goodness of our Father, and acknowledge our sinsso that we may receive his merciful forgiveness.

The deacon or another minister invites all to kneel.

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All: 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,through my fault, through my fault,through my most grievous fault;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.

Litany of Repentence

The response, “Lord, have mercy” may be sung. All stand.

Presider: The Lord is merciful. He makes us clean of heart and leads us out into hisfreedom when we acknowledge our guilt. Let us ask him to forgive us and bind up the wounds inflicted by our sins.

Deacon/Minister: You came to call sinners. Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon/Minister: You forgave the many sins of the womanwho showed you great love. Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon/Minister: You did not shun the company of outcasts and sinners. Lord, have mercy.

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All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon/Minister: You carried back to the fold the sheep that had strayed. Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon/Minister: You called Zacchaeus to repentance and a new life. Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon/Minister You promised Paradise to the repentant thief. Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Deacon/Minister You are always interceding for us at the right hand of the Father. Lord, have mercy.

All: Lord, have mercy.

Lord’s Prayer

Presider: Now in obedience to Christ himself, let us join in prayer to the Father,asking him to forgive us as we forgive others.

Our Father…

Concluding Prayer

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Presider: Father, our source of life,you know our weakness.May we reach out with joy to grasp your hand and walk more readily in

your ways.Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Individual Confession and Absolution

The presider or other minister might tell the assembly where the confessors will be located. Some brief words regarding the manner of confessions should be given. The assembly may be advised to remain in church if there is to be a common ending. Quiet instrumental music might be played during this time.

Proclamation of Praise for God’s Mercy

After all have had the opportunity for confession and absolution, the assembly is invited to join in singing/praying a psalm, litany, or hymn of praise. A musical setting of any of the following scripture passages could be used or any other appropriate song.

Psalm 28:6-7 Psalm 103:1-4, 8-18Psalm 32:1-7, 10-11 Psalm 119Psalm 54 Psalm 136:1-9, 13-14, 16, 25-29Psalm 66 Psalm 145:1-21Psalm 95 Isaiah 61:10-11Psalm 98:1-9 Jeremiah 31:10-14Psalm 100:1-5 Daniel 3: 52-57

Luke 1:46-55 (Magnificat)

Concluding Prayer of Thanksgiving

Presider: All holy Father,You have shown us your mercyand made us a new creationin the likeness of your Son.Make us living signs of your lovefor the whole world to see.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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CONCLUDING RITE

Blessing

Presider: May the Lord guide your hearts in the way of his love and fill you with Christ-like patience.

All: Amen.

Presider: May he give you strength to walk in newness of life and to please him in all things.

All: Amen.

Presider: May almighty God bless you,the Father, and the Son, + and the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen.

Dismissal

Deacon/Presider: The Lord has freed you from your sins.

Go in peace.

All: Thanks be to God.

Ritual texts taken from the Rite of Penance, English translation © 1974, 1975, International Commission on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass, second typical edition © 1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001, and excerpts from the New American Bible © 1986, 1970,

Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. Washington, DC. All rights reserved.

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First ReadingEphesians 4:1-3, 17-32

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesians.

Brothers and Sisters,

I, then, a prisoner for the Lordurge you to live in a mannerworthy of the call you have received,with all humility and gentleness,with patience,bearing with one another through love,striving to preserve the unity of the spirit

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through the bond of peace.

So I declare and testify in the Lordthat you must no longer live as the Gentiles do,in the futility of their minds;darkened in understanding,alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance,because of their hardness of heart,they have become callousand have handed themselves over to licentiousnessfor the practice of every kind of impurity to excess.

That is not how you learned Christ,assuming that you have heard of himand were taught in him,as truth in Jesus,that you should put away the old self of your former way of life,corrupted through deceitful desires,and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,and put on the new self,created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.

Therefore, putting away falsehood,speak the truth,each one to his neighbor,for we are members one of another.

Be angry but do not sin;do not let the sun set on your anger,and do not leave room for the Devil.

The thief must no longer steal,but rather labor,doing honest work with his own hands,so that he may have something to share with one

in need.

No foul language should come out of your mouths,but only such as is good for needed edification,that it may impart grace to those who hear.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.

All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and revilingmust be removed from you,along with malice.

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And be kind to one another, compassionate,forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.

The Word of the Lord.

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