Third Rite of Reconciliation

[Stella]

I know that this was one of the topics that was hoped by some countries to be subject of synodal discussions going forward. Myself I don't have a problem going to confession in the confessional, but I know just soooo many fellow Catholics who just find it too awkward and daunting. For a few years up until about 5 years ago our local parish offered the 3rd rite before Easter and Father said he would keep offering until the Bishop ordered him not to, which eventually happened. It was such a well attended rite and I would get as many people as I could to go which they were grateful for. That's the thing. People want this ritual reconciliation with Christ but it's daunting.

Is there any possibility that the 3rd rite might ever become the norm for the sake of these poor souls?

[BobCatholic]

https://www.catholicweekly.com.au/fr-fl ... y%E2%80%9D.

Frankly, except in GRAVE EMERGENCIES like the first case - I'm questioning if this is valid.

The second case, easily happens when we have a ton of people who forgot that confession exists during normal times and attend.

[peregrinator]

I don't know if the so-called "third rite" is invalid or merely illicit when used in ordinary circumstances (and having a lot of people in a church for a "penance service" or what have you is an ordinary circumstance), but it's definitely invalid if the penitents don't have the intention of going to individual confession.

[Doom]

Grave necessity would be a circumstance where individual confession is impossible but death is very likely, for example, just prior to the landing at Normandy, or a team of firefighters about to enter a burning building. Anything short of this and it cannot be justified.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

I agree with ... with ...

It's less than three weeks until Christmas!

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Offering the third rite without grave reason is unkind kindness. No matter how uncomfortable people are, they *need* that one-to-one with Jesus. They *need* to name their sins out loud and say out loud that they want to be done with them. Letting them skip that in the name of "kindness" is radically unkind, even if it were sacramentally valid.

[Stella]

Offering the third rite without grave reason is unkind kindness. No matter how uncomfortable people are, they *need* that one-to-one with Jesus. They *need* to name their sins out loud and say out loud that they want to be done with them. Letting them skip that in the name of "kindness" is radically unkind, even if it were sacramentally valid.

From what I understand, the reasoning being offered by the national synods that have included the topic, is that this era is unique and might qualify as a ‘grave reason’ to warrant the third rite not necessarily as a norm but a special concession. People have lost a lived sense of God’s grace and the efficacy of the Sacraments as the means of receiving that grace. Yet there remains a desire for a ritual of reconciliation.

Yes it would be unkind to give someone poison instead of medicine, but since the third rite is medicine could the gratuitous healing like the leper who returned to thank Christ (Luke 17), work in reverse?

As of this point in time though, the third rite is reserved only for the traditional ‘grave reasons’.

[Kage_ar]

Even for those grave reasons - a plane is going down for instance - the person lives through it, they are still required to go to a priest for confession ASAP.

The good ole Advent and Lent "community penance services" give people a chance to go to a priest they do not know (I loathe crowds, so, those services are like torture for me).

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

The thing is, we don’t get to make up the sacraments; they are established by Christ, at least in their essentials. Confession of faults to a priest is an essential part of the sacrament that we can’t disregard out of a misplaced sense of kindness. Only when there is a practical impossibility is it dispensed, and then only on the condition of a confession as soon as reasonably possible.

[BobCatholic]

From what I understand, the reasoning being offered by the national synods that have included the topic, is that this era is unique and might qualify as a ‘grave reason’ to warrant the third rite not necessarily as a norm but a special concession. People have lost a lived sense of God’s grace and the efficacy of the Sacraments as the means of receiving that grace. Yet there remains a desire for a ritual of reconciliation.

I see the "third rite" outside of extraordinary circumstances (extraordinary meaning a plane going down; Normandy; etc.) is the opposite of what those promoting it as a concession are saying.

[Vern Humphrey]

Father William Corby rode his horse out in front of the Irish Brigade when they attacked at Antietam and rode up and down the line under fire administering absolution. At Gettysburg he gave the brigade absolution under the condition that "they not turn their backs on the flag."

In his autobiography he wrote that he intended his absolution to extend to both sides, north and south.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

There's a statue of him on the battlefield at Gettysburg. Since he was a member of the Holy Cross order (CSC), there's a copy of that statue at Notre Dame, near the football stadium. He has his hand raised giving absolution, but in context it looks like he's calling for a fair catch, so the statue is nicknamed "Fair Catch Corby." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaplain_ ... Gettysburg

[gherkin]

A heroic man. It's a shame he served on the wrong side, but I guess even those d___ Yankees deserved priests.