A Penitential Celebration for Advent Advent is a penitential season, when we are called to hear the voice of the Baptist, who invites us to be washed clean and prepare for the coming kingdom of our God. It would be suitable to have at least one penitential celebration during the Advent Season, which may include an opportunity for individual confession and absolution. If individual confession and absolution is included in this service, it takes place at the point indicated below. The faithful should remain in church, gathered in prayer, while others confess and are absolved, so that the community may give thanks together and be dismissed to do the good works that proclaim the power of grace in our lives. Some thought should be given to how this time is best organised, in order to hold the community in prayer. Meditations, reflections, scripture readings, hymns, chants or suitable music may be used; but they should be used sparingly and not continuously, so that there is opportunity for silence and prayer. INTRODUCTORY RITES Opening Hymn A suitable hymn may be sung as the ministers process to the altar. Greeting and Introduction In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. The Lord, who comes into our midst, be with you. And also with you The presider briefly introduces the celebration. Opening Prayer Let us pray Eternal Son of God, creator of the human family and our redeemer, come at last among us as the child of the immaculate Virgin, and redeem the world. Reveal your loving presence by which you set us free from sin in becoming one like us in all things but sin, for you live and reign for ever and ever.
LITURGY OF THE WORD First Reading Any of the Scriptural passages appointed in the Lectionary for the season of Advent would be suitable for proclamation. The following are suggestions: A reading from the prophet Malachi 3:1-4 The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his Temple The Lord God says this: Look, I am going to send my messenger to prepare a way before me. And the Lord you are seeking will suddenly enter his temple; and the angel of the covenant whom you are longing for, yes, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. Who will be able to resist the day of his coming? Who will remain standing when he appears? For he is like the refiner s fire and the fuller s alkali. He will take his seat as refiner and purifier; He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and then they will make the offering to the Lord as it should be made. The offering of Judah and Jerusalem will then be welcomed by the Lord as in former days, as in the days of old. This is the Word of the Lord Thanks be to God. Responsorial Psalm It would be suitable to sing the psalm (or a scriptural hymn) such as Psalm 84:1-13 Let us see, O Lord, your mercy, and give us your saving help. Gospel Acclamation Alleluia, alleluia! I am coming quickly, says the Lord, and will repay each one according to their deeds. Come Lord, Jesus! Alleluia! Gospel Reading A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 3:10-18 What must we do? When all the people asked John, 'What must we do?' he answered, 'If anyone has two tunics he must share with the man who has none, and the one with something to eat must do the same.' There were tax collectors too who came for baptism, and these said to him, 'Master, what must we do?' He said to them, 'Exact no more than your rate.' Some soldiers asked
him in their turn, 'What about us? What must we do?' He said to them, 'No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your pay!' A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to think that John might be the Christ, so John declared before them all, 'I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his threshing-floor and to gather the wheat into his barn; but the chaff he will burn in a fire that will never go out.' As well as this, there were many other things he said to exhort the people and to announce the Good News to them. This is the Gospel of the Lord Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ RITE OF RECONCILIATION Examination of Conscience A period of time should be spent in making an examination of conscience. This may take place in silence, but it would be good for the priest or another minister to help the faithful by a brief reflection. The following is a suggested form: P: The Lord says: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart. R: Is my heart set on God, so that I really love him above all things, and am I faithful to his commandments, as a son or daughter loves a father? God has spoken to us through his Son. Is my faith in God and in the Church s teaching firm and secure? Have I had love and reverence for God s holy name? Do I keep Sundays and feast days holy? P: The Lord says: Love others, as I have loved you R: Have I a genuine love for my neighbours for my family, my parents, my husband, my wife, my children, for the less fortunate? Does my life reflect the mission I received in confirmation, to spread the Gospel and to promote the good and prosperity of the community in which I live, to give of my best in my work or profession? Have I the right attitude to authority, to responsibility, to truth, to justice, to property, to the reputation of others? P: Christ our Lord says: Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. R: Where is my life really leading me? Is it characterised by growth in the life of the Spirit, by prayer, by receiving the sacraments, by listening to God s
word, by self-denial? How have I used my time, my health, my strength, my talents? Have I been patient in accepting life s disappointments and sorrows? Have I kept my body and senses pure and chaste as a temple of God s spirit? Is my conscience formed by the word of God and the teaching of the Church? Do I enjoy true freedom through following the law and promptings of God s Spirit? Act of Repentance P: My brothers and sisters, let us confess our sins and pray for each other, that we may be healed. I confess to Almighty God P: Jesus Christ in his mercy pardons our offences against God and reconciles us with the church which we have wounded by out sins. Therefore let us pray to him, the victor over sin and death, saying: Lord Jesus, be our salvation. P: You came from God as our wisdom and justice, our sanctification and redemption. P: Though you were rich, you became poor for our sake, so that by your poverty we might become rich. P: Jesus, life of all mankind, you came into the world to give us life, life in its fullness. P: You became the source of salvation for all who believe in you. P: You are the mystery hidden for endless ages but now made visible, and proclaimed to the world. P: You are the One who takes our flesh in the womb of the Virgin. P: You are born as one of us, to set us free. The Lord s Prayer P: 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 P: Let us pray Lord our God,
maker of the heavens, as we look forward to the coming of our Redeemer grant us the forgiveness of our sins. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. [Time for individual confession and absolution Then the penitents go to the priests designated for individual confession, and confess their sins. Each one receives a fitting act of satisfaction and is absolved. After hearing the confession and offering suitable counsel, the priest extends his hands over the penitent s head and gives him/her absolution. Everything else which is customary in individual confession is omitted. When the individual confessions have been completed, the other priests stand hear the one who is presiding over the celebration. The latter invites all present to offer thanks and encourages them to do good works which will proclaim the grace of repentance in the life of the entire community and each of its members.] CONCLUDING RITES Concluding Prayer of Thanksgiving P: Let us pray Lord our God, on the first day of creation you made the light that scatters all darkness. Let Christ, the light of lights, hidden from all eternity, shine at last on your people and free us from the darkness of sin. Fill our lives with good works as we go out to meet your Son, so that we may give him a fitting welcome. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Blessing and Dismissal P: The Lord be with you And also with you P: May the Father bless us, for we are his children, born to eternal life. Amen.
P: May the Son show us his saving power, for he died and rose for us. Amen. P: May the Spirit give us his gift of holiness and lead us by the right path for he dwells in our hearts. Amen. P: May almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. P: The Lord has freed us from our sins. Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God. A final hymn may be sung.