What are the rituals of reconciliation?

Answer 1

Steps in the Rite of Reconciliation The penitent can go to confession privately behind a screen or face-to-face with the priest.

1. Begin by making the Sign of the Cross and greeting the priest: Bless me father, for I have sinned." 2. Then continue: "My last confession was..." (Weeks, months, years). 3. Confess your sins to the priest. He will help you make a good confession. If you are unsure of how to confess, or you feel uneasy, ask him to help you. Answer his questions without hiding anything out of fear or shame. Place your trust in God, a merciful Father who wants to forgive you. 4. Following your confession of sins, say: "I am sorry for these and all of my sins." 5. The priest will then assign you a penance and offer advice to help you to be a better Catholic. The penance imposed will take into account your personal situation and support your spiritual good. It may be a prayer, an offering, works of mercy, service, or sacrifice; but it joins us in some way to Christ and to the cross. 6. Say an Act of Contrition, expressing sorrow for your sins. "Oh my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended you. And I detest all my sins because of your just punishments. But most of all, because I have offended you, my God, who are all good and deserving of my love. I firmly intend, with the help of your grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen." 7. The priest, acting in the person of Christ, then will absolve you from your sins by saying the Prayer of Absolution, to which you make the Sign of the Cross and respond, "Amen." 8. The priest will offer some proclamation of praise, such as "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good," to which you respond, "His mercy endures forever." 9. The priest will then dismiss you. Because sin often harms others, you must make satisfaction for your sins by completing your assigned penance.

The humility required in confessing and completing penance helps us to submit again to God's will and follow Him more closely. Confession is a blessing, offering peace, a clear mind, and a hopeful heart.

Answer 2

The sacrament of Reconciliation is often called "confession". This is the where a penitent (or sinner) comes before a priest and confesses their sins to God. Once the confession is made and absolution requested the priest absolves them, on Gods commandment, of their sins.

First reconciliation is when a Catholic first undertakes the sacrament.

For more information take a look at some of the sources and references

Answer 3

What follows is the approved ritual for individual Confession and Absolution in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church. The numbers preceding each paragraph refer to where the information may be found within the Rituale Romanum: one of the three major liturgical books of the Church. (The others are the Pontificale Romanum and the Lectionary.) RITE FOR RECONCILIATION OF INDIVIDUAL PENITENTS Congregation for Divine Worship The following text of ritual form "A" (individual absolution) is that approved for use in the United Sates by the NCCB and confirmed by the Holy See. Not all the optional texts are included. RECEPTION OF THE PENITENT 41. When the penitent comes to confess his sins, the priest welcomes him warmly and greets him with kindness. 42. Then the penitent makes the sign of the cross which the priest may make also. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The priest invites the penitent to have trust in God, in these or similar words: May God, who has enlightened every heart, help you to know your sins and trust in his mercy. The penitent answers: Amen. Other forms of reception of the penitent may be chosen from nos. 67-71. READING OF THE WORD OF GOD (OPTIONAL) 43. Then the priest may read or say from memory a text of Scripture which proclaims God's mercy and calls man to conversion. A reading may also be chosen from those given in nos. 72- 83 and 101-201 for the reconciliation of several penitents. The priest and penitent may choose other readings from scripture. CONFESSION OF SINS AND ACCEPTANCE OF SATISFACTION 44. Where it is the custom, the penitent says a general formula for confession (for example, I confess to almighty God) before he confesses his sins. If necessary, the priest helps the penitent to make an integral confession and gives him suitable counsel. He urges him to be sorry for his faults, reminding him that through the sacrament of penance the Christian dies and rises with Christ and is thus renewed in the paschal mystery. The priest proposes an act of penance which the penitent accepts to make satisfaction for sin and to amend his life. The priest should make sure that he adapts his counsel to the penitent's circumstances. PRAYER OF THE PENITENT AND ABSOLUTION 45. The priest then asks the penitent to express his sorrow, which the penitent may do in these or similar words: My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against you whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In his name, my God, have mercy. Other prayers of the penitent may be chosen from nos. 85-92. Or: Lord Jesus, Son of God have mercy on me, a sinner. ABSOLUTION 46. Then the priest extends his hands over the penitent's head (or at least extends his right hand) and says: God, the Father of mercies, through the death and 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. The penitent answers: Amen. PROCLAMATION OF PRAISE OF GOD AND DISMISSAL 47. After the absolution, the priest continues: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. The penitent concludes: His mercy endures for ever. Then the priest dismisses the penitent who has been reconciled, saying: The Lord has freed you from your sins. Go in peace. Or [93]: May the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of all the saints, whatever good you do and suffering you endure, heal your sins, help you to grow in holiness, and reward you with eternal life. 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. W. Amen. Or: Blessed are those whose sins have been forgiven, whose evil deeds have been forgotten. Rejoice in the Lord, and go in peace. Or: Go in peace, and proclaim to the world the wonderful works of God who has brought you salvation. Provided Courtesy of: Eternal Word Television Network www.ewtn.com

Answer 4

Please see the complete article on the USCCB website below:

Answer 5

The confessing of one's sins to the priest.