Starting on Ash Wednesday, the Prayer of Absolution that a priest prays with, for, and over a contrite penitent changed. The Rite for Penance was recently revised and updated with a new translation. Similar to 2011 when the prayers of the Mass were updated with a revised translation of the Latin text (which actually did not change), the same has happened with the Rite of Penance. The changes are small and largely impact only the priest who now has to memorize the new text after praying the old one thousands of times. So, if you come to confession in the next few weeks (or months), you are likely to see the priest using a notecard for a while. Priests could begin using the new text starting on Ash Wednesday. The new text must be used on Divine Mercy Sunday (Sunday after Easter – 16 April 2023). The new and old texts are shown below with the altered words emphasised.
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Prior Prayer of Absolution God, the Father of mercies, through the death and the resurrection of his Son has reconciled the world to himself and sent the Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God give you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
Revised Prayer of Absolution God, the Father of mercies, through the Death and Resurrection of His Son has reconciled the world to Himself and poured out the Holy Spirit for the forgiveness of sins; through the ministry of the Church may God grant you pardon and peace, and I absolve you from your sins in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
On some level, one may wonder why these small change matter. In part, I can agree, especially since the essential words of “I absolve you of your sins in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit” have not changed. Neither has the immense, free, and total gift of God’s grace and forgiveness bestowed – sent – poured out – in this tremendous Sacrament of Mercy. That is the same; that is eternal! On the other hand, being attentive to the text reminds us that the Sacraments – all seven of them – are not just ours here at Holy Family or in the Archdiocese of Indianapolis or even in the USA. The Sacraments are truly catholic, that is universal. And in that regard, it is important that translations into local languages throughout the Church around the world convey the same truth and meaning, that translations build up, support, and sustain the common Communion in Faith. This is not rigorous uniformity but authentic unity. What we say is an expression of what we pray. And what we pray is an expression of what we believe. Prayer and belief are closely interdependent and intertwined. And what we profess to believe about the power to forgive sins through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit at the commissioning and ordination of a priest is of immense importance – yesterday, today, and tomorrow. We are mere stewards of the Faith we have graciously received, not masters nor authors. That has strong implications for the way we interact with and live our Catholic Faith. We are part of something greater than ourselves and even greater than our age – our day – our time – our culture – our understandings. We are even now participating in the Eternal Truth of God. And if this is important for something as small as these minor translated words, then how much more so for more pressing and larger areas of Faith and Morals.
The evil one trades in lies & division, whereas Christ unites in Truth & Love.
Confession Times at Holy Family
Tuesday 5:30-5:55p
Saturday 8:30-9a & 4-4:55p
Sunday 5-5:55p
In the Garden at the Cross
Saturday 08 April from 8a-10a
Deanery Lenten Penance Services
St Mary Lanesville, 09 March @ 7p
St Michael Bradford, 14 March @ 6:30p
St Mary-of-the-Knobs, 15 March @ 7p
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, 22 March @ 7p
St Mary, New Albany, 22 March @ 7p
St John Paul II, 23 March @ 6:30p
St Anthony Clarksville, 29 March @ 7p
St Michael Charlestown, 29 March @ 7p
St Francis Xavier Henryville, 30 March @ 6:30p
Nothing Less than saints for the Holy Family of God.
Holy Family, Source of Reconciliation, Pray for us.
~ Fr Jeremy M. Gries