When did they change confession?

In "What is a Sacrament? New Wine, Old Wineskins," (Religion Teacher's Journal, Februray 2007) Sr. Linda Gaupin writes:

Catechists and teachers must be people who themselves have been transformed by sacraments and who live the sacramental life. It also goes without saying that they know the meaning of sacrament as set forth in the revised sacramental rites of the church. In my ministry of forming catechists it is not uncommon to find catechists who are unaware that the ritual forms of reconciliation have changed from “Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.”

Apparently she was right about the amount of formation we still need to do. Ever since the article appeared, she has been getting e-mails from catechists (and from DREs and priests!) asking when the sacrament of reconciliation changed. Here is her response:

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The sacrament was revised following the Second Vatican Council. It was published in Latin in 1973 for the universal Church and issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship. Pope Paul VI approved the revised Rite of Penance and ordered it to replace "the pertinent titles of the Roman Ritual hitherto in use." The decree issuing the rite states: "The Rite in its Latin original is to come into force as soon as it is published. Anything the contrary notwithstanding" [Decree].

The English translation of the revised Rite of Penance was approved by the Congregation for Divine Worship in 1975. The Bishops’ Committee on the Liturgy [BCL] recommended that the new rite not be introduced until adequate catechesis had been done for clergy and the faithful. To allow time for a full and authentic catechesis, they delayed the effective mandatory date for implementation until the First Sunday of Lent, 1977. To facilitate this catechesis the BCL prepared The Rite of Penance: Study Book Edition. This book contained the entire official rite plus introductory material to acquaint priests and religious educators with the richness of the meaning of the sacrament as well as the renewal of penance in the church.

In the revised Rite of Penance there are three sacramental forms.

1. The first is entitled the "Rite of Reconciliation of Individual Penitents." This is the sacramental ritual that is to be used between a penitent and the priest.
2. The second sacramental form is used when several pentitents are present. It is entitled "Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with General Confession and Absolution." This ritual form can be found in the Rite of Penance.
3. The third sacramental form is entitled "Rite for Reconciliation of Several Penitents with General Confession and Absolution." This form is generally not permitted for use in the United States.

I trust this helps. You may want to contact your diocesan director in the worship office of your diocese if you need further assistance with this.

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Click here for a list of resources on the sacrament of reconciliation.