Rite for Individual Reconciliation

Basic Rite for Reconciliation of an Individual

Once the penitent enters the confessional or reconciliation room, the minister greets the penitent, who then makes the sign of the cross. The minister invites the penitent to trust in the mercy, compassion and forgiveness of God, in words like, ‘may God, who has enlightened every heart, help you to know your sins and trust in his mercy’. Then he proclaims a short passage from the scriptures which proclaims God’s mercy and calls people to conversion. The penitent then describes to the minister the sins for which he or she is sorry, making sure to give the number and kind of all serious, mortal sins. After this the minister offers helpful counsel and encouragement to the penitent and proposes an act of penance, appropriate to the penitent and the sins confessed. The penitent then expresses sorrow for sin by praying one of several prayers appropriate for this. After this prayer, the minister extends hands over the penitent and prays the prayer of absolution. The confession is concluded as the minister proclaims praise for God and dismisses the penitent with words like, ‘Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. Response – His mercy endures for ever. The Lord has freed you from sin. Go in peace.’ Or ‘The Lord has freed you from sin. May he bring you safely to his Kingdom in Heaven. Glory to him for ever.’


The above is what is stated in the Rite of Reconciliation. So, in practice, the following steps are to be taken:

1 Greeting & Welcome of Priest
2 Reading of Short Passage from Scripture.
3 The Penitent says: ‘Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.’ Then he or she states how long since the last confession and confesses the sins for which he or she is sorry, making sure to give the number and kind of all serious, mortal sins.
4 The minister offers helpful counsel and encouragement to the penitent and proposes an act of penance, appropriate to the penitent and the sins confessed.
5 The penitent then expresses sorrow for sin by praying the Act of Contrition or another prayer appropriate for this.
6 The minister extends hands over the penitent and prays the prayer of absolution.
7 The confession is concluded as the minister proclaims praise for God and dismisses the penitent with words like, ‘Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. Response – His mercy endures for ever. The Lord has freed you from sin. Go in peace.’ Or ‘The Lord has freed you from sin. May he bring you safely to his Kingdom in Heaven. Glory to him for ever.’