Penitential Rite

[pax]

For the first one, I would assume that it is indeed possible since your protestant friend was by his baptism incorporated into the Catholic Church even though he doesn't know it.

For the second, the penitential rite can take place outside of Mass. In the current celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours it can be said as part of Compline and a priest does not have to be present. Since mortal sins can technically be remitted by an act of perfect contrition (with intention to confess asap), it would probably be safe to assume venial sins can be remitted by a good act of contrition.

 

[Paul S]

For the first one, I would assume that it is indeed possible since your protestant friend was by his baptism incorporated into the Catholic Church even though he doesn't know it.

But we don't know if any particular Protestant is still in the Catholic Church or not.

 

[pax]

But we don't know if any particular Protestant is still in the Catholic Church or not.

As long as someone is validly baptized they are incorporated into the Catholic Church (albeit imperfectly). God would obviously be the ultimate judge on the issue. I don't think the penitential rite of Mass works exopere operanto, anyway. I would imagine its efficacy is dependent on the devotion of the participants.

 

[geocajun]

First of all, before I ask any follow up questions, I have read that the Penitential Rite at Mass remisses all venial sins. Is this correct?

The words of the penitential rite are the penitent asking God for forgiveness, and asking his brothers and sisters and Our Lady to pray for them to God.
Asking God for forgivness is sufficient to receive forgiveness for a venial sin, and someone else can even pray for your forgiveness for venial sins.
So if someone is honestly asking for forgiveness they will receive it.
The purpose of the penitential rite is to help us prepare ourselves to receive the Eucharist by expressing contrition, asking forgiveness, and calling to mind our unworthyness, and that we need others to help us resist sin.

If so, I've got several other questions.

1) Does one have to be a Catholic for remision of sins in the Penitential Rite? For example, if I have a Protestant friend who goes to Mass with me, would all of his venial sins be remissed?

If he prays the prayer with a true contrition, earnestly asking God for forgiveness, then yes.

2) Can the Penitential Rite take effect on any place outside of Mass? If I were to say it on my own at home, would I still recieve remission of my sins? Or with my family?

The penitential rite is a liturgical rite of the Church, thus it is a "public work", not a private prayer. You could say the prayer at home and that would be fine.
You can also do an examination of conscience, and say an act of contrition each night (do this! you may not wake up the next day) and ask God to forgive you. This is sufficient for the forgiveness of venial sins. Also using Sacramentals such as holy water (bring some home in a bottle) with the proper disposition will also remove venial sins.

 

[Dream]

Alright, thanks Geo.

When you say pray an act of contrition each night, should it the formal act of contrition:

O My God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.

Or can it just be a prayer in which I ask for forgiveness of my sins?

 

[geocajun]

DT, you can make your own act of contrition. The traditional "act of contrition" is a good model to use when making your own, however a simple "Lord have mercy on me, a sinner" will suffice.

 

[Paul S]

As long as someone is validly baptized they are incorporated into the Catholic Church (albeit imperfectly). God would obviously be the ultimate judge on the issue. I don't think the penitential rite of Mass works exopere operanto, anyway. I would imagine its efficacy is dependent on the devotion of the participants.

God is the Judge, but a person who persists in schism, heresy, or apostasy is no longer Catholic, even if he was baptised. These sins can, of course, be forgiven, but a non-Catholic who has committed these sins and does not become Catholic obviously shows no sign of repentance.

Regarding the original two questions, I asked my priest about this, and he said a non-Catholic who participates in the penitential rite with the proper disposition does receive forgiveness of venial sins. He also said any sort of act of contrition can remit venial sins, so the Confiteor prayed outside of Mass would work.

 

[Dream]

God is the Judge, but a person who persists in schism, heresy, or apostasy is no longer Catholic, even if he was baptised. These sins can, of course, be forgiven, but a non-Catholic who has committed these sins and does not become Catholic obviously shows no sign of repentance.

Regarding the original two questions, I asked my priest about this, and he said a non-Catholic who participates in the penitential rite with the proper disposition does receive forgiveness of venial sins. He also said any sort of act of contrition can remit venial sins, so the Confiteor prayed outside of Mass would work.

Alright, thanks a lot Paul. I greatly appreciate it.

 

[Spence06]

Hey I too asked my priest and I will just quote him.

"1) for a Protestant to benefit from the efficacy of the Sacrament, he/she would need to:
A) be properly disposed, and
B) have presented himself/herself spontaneously.
If those conditions are presented, his/her sins would be remitted

2) the Penitential rite sometimes takes place outside Mass. In those cases, sins are remitted. You cannot say it yourself at home or anywhere else, unless it is just a private prayer for forgiveness, in which case it does not guarantee remittance of sin.

Hope this helps"

 

[geocajun]

Hey I too asked my priest and I will just quote him.

"1) for a Protestant to benefit from the efficacy of the Sacrament, he/she would need to:
A) be properly disposed, and
B) have presented himself/herself spontaneously.
If those conditions are presented, his/her sins would be remitted

spence, the penetential rite is not a "Sacrament" - if your Priest told you it was, then he was wrong.

2) the Penitential rite sometimes takes place outside Mass. In those cases, sins are remitted. You cannot say it yourself at home or anywhere else, unless it is just a private prayer for forgiveness, in which case it does not guarantee remittance of sin.

Hope this helps"

It should be said that Sacramental confession does not even gaurtunee forgiveness... it has to do with the condition of ones heart (contrition).

 

[Spence06]

spence, the penetential rite is not a "Sacrament" - if your Priest told you it was, then he was wrong.

I know he didn't mean for it to come off that way. I believe the OP had to do with the Mass in itself. Thats why he told about what he did.