Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession)
“I didn’t know the Episcopal Church had confession.” That’s something one might hear from lots of people both inside and outside of the Episcopal Church. Part of the reason for this lack of familiarity with confession is lack of familiarity with the Book of Common Prayer itself. Former Presiding Bishop, Frank T. Griswold pointed out that one of the unintended consequences of providing the Sunday liturgy in an easy-to-use leaflet or booklet form is that congregations become increasingly unfamiliar with the contents of the Book of Common Prayer. Taken as a whole, the Prayer Book, with its daily, weekly, and annual cycles, is the ritual celebration of the seasons of our lives from birth to death in the light of the Gospel.
Within the pages of the Prayer Book, one finds the rite for confession, called the “Reconciliation of a Penitent”. In its Catechism (also in the Prayer Book), the Episcopal Church teaches that, along with Confirmation, Ordination, Matrimony and Unction, the Reconciliation of a Penitent is one of the sacramental rites that have evolved in the Church under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Like Baptism and Holy Eucharist, these five other sacramental rites are also means of grace, although they are not necessary for all persons in the same way that Baptism and the Eucharist are.
The classical Anglican way of thinking and speaking about confession in the presence of a priest is that, “All may, some should, none must.” The “Exhortation” to Holy Communion found in the Book of Common Prayer directs that before receiving Holy Communion all Christians should certainly examine their lives and conduct by the rule of God’s commandments, that we should acknowledge our sins before God with the “full purpose of amendment of life”, being ready to make restitution for all injuries and wrongs done us to others, and that we need to be ready to forgive those who have offended us. Being reconciled with one another, we can then come to the “banquet of the most heavenly Food”.
For many Anglicans, the forms of corporate confession of sin, such as in General Confession of the Eucharistic Liturgy, are sufficient and enable them to do what the “Exhortation” directs. For others, however, it is all too easy, as former Presiding Bishop Griswold has argued, “to murmur the familiar penitential phrases along with the rest of the congregation without any real sense of personal sinfulness or, for that matter of God’s healing and reconciling mercy and forgiveness proffered through the words of absolution”. This is why there is an important and intrinsic value to private confession in the presence of a priest. The “Exhortation” puts it like this: “And if, in your preparation, you need help and counsel, then go and open your grief to a discreet and understanding priest, and confess your sins, that you may receive the benefit of absolution, and spiritual counsel and advice; to the removal of scruple and doubt, the assurance of pardon, and the strengthening of your faith”.
In other words, the purpose and goal of Reconciliation in the presence of a priest is so that I as an individual might be able to experience a sacramental encounter with God’s mercy and compassion. The rite of Reconciliation is intended to be an occasion of joyful release and return to the One whose forgiveness is without bounds; “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our sins from us” (Psalm 103:12). A “penance”- restitution or reparation for the harm one has done- may at times be in order after acknowledging one’s sins, but often simply a genuine act of thanksgiving for the fact that the “Lord has put away all your sins” is an appropriate response to the experience of absolution and forgiveness.
If you are unfamiliar with confession in the presence of a priest, don’t worry; the priest will guide you through the rite. Also, be assured that the goal of the priest, as minister of Word and Sacraments, is certainly not to shame you, not to pry into your life, and not to exercise control over your actions. You are a free and responsible son or daughter of God! The goal of the priest is to lead you to a sacramental encounter with Christ where in the beauty and truth radiating from him you can find healing, forgiveness and health for your soul.
To help you prepare for confession, you might reflect on the Decalogue or Ten Commandments (conveniently found in the Book of Common Prayer, pp. 317-318) and on the Beatitudes found in Matthew’s Gospel (5:2-12).
Below you will find Form I of the rite of The Reconciliation of a Penitent found in the Prayer Book (p. 447 ff for the two forms):
The Penitent begins: Bless me, for I have sinned.
The Priest says: The Lord be in your heart and upon your lips that you may truly and humbly confess your sins: In the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Penitent
I confess to Almighty God, to his Church, and to you, that
I have sinned by my own fault in thought, word, and deed, in things done and left undone; especially __________. For these and all other sins which I cannot now remember, I am truly sorry. I pray God to have mercy on me. I firmly intend amendment of life, and I humbly beg forgiveness of God and his Church, and ask you for counsel, direction, and absolution.
Here the Priest may offer counsel, direction, and comfort.
The Priest then pronounces this absolution
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who has left power to his Church to absolve all sinners who truly repent and believe in him, of his great mercy forgive you all your offenses; and by his authority committed to me, I absolve you from all your sins: In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
or
Our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered himself to be sacrificed for us to the Father, and who conferred power on his Church to forgive sins, absolve you through my ministry by the grace of the Holy Spirit, and restore you in the perfect peace of
the Church. Amen.
The Priest adds: The Lord has put away all your sins.
Penitent Thanks be to God.
The Priest concludes: Go (or abide) in peace, and pray for me, a sinner.