The Sacrament of Penance

by Rev. Gabriel Baltes, O.S.B.  |  02/12/2023  |  A Message from Our Pastor

Dear Parishioners,

On April 25, 2022 the Vatican Congregation of Divine Worship and the Disciple of the Sacraments, which is the body of cardinals and bishops responsible for the translation and implementation of all liturgical rites, approved a new translation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. You may recall that, for several years now the church has been revising all our liturgical texts so that they would be in closer conformity to the official Latin texts from which they are translated. The actual textual changes in the “new” Rite of Penance, now called “The Order of Penance,” are minimal.

The most noticeable is found in formula of absolution that the priest offers for the penitent. What is also new are the various options and suggestions which the rite offers for Communal Penance Services. There is also a greater selection of biblical texts that can be read at both, communal as well as individual celebrations of this Sacrament. This new translation may be used as early as Ash Wednesday, February 22, 2023, and must be used by Divine Mercy Sunday, April 16, 2023.

While the apparent changes in this new Order of Penance are few, the publication of its revision affords  an ideal opportunity to catechize (or re-catechize) our people on the significance of this Sacrament. It is also a logical time to renew our own appreciation for this ritual celebration of God’s mercy so that we can deepen and /or re-discover its power to nurture the conversion and change of heart that are constant features in the Christian life.

To that end, I will be offering two evening classes on the Sacrament of Penance during the season of Lent. The first of these is on Tuesday, March 14, at 7:00 PM and will focus on the history of this sacrament. We will see how, since the days of the early church, the sacrament of Penance has taken on a variety forms and expressions that emerged from different cultures and local needs – a testimony to the flexibility of the sacrament itself. The second class will be on Tuesday, March 21 at 7:00 PM and will explain the revised Order of the sacrament. We will also attempt to understand the continued value of this sacrament and look at the rediscovery it seems to be enjoying. Both sessions will be held in Room 22 in the Parish Center. The classes are open to all adults of the parish at no cost. I recommend that people RSVP for these classes by calling Karen Eldrenkamp at the Parish Office, 630- 963-4500 ext. 4514 so that we will have an adequate number of handouts. This is not essential for attendance however.

It is my hope that these sessions will help all of us appreciate the evolution of Penance as a sacrament that continues to be a powerful expression of God’s merciful love. As I tell our school children every time we prepare them for going to confession… This sacrament is not about how bad human beings are, but about how Good God is.