Some thirty years now have passed since the new Rite of Penance was promulgated after the Second Vatican Council to renew the Sacrament of Reconciliation and encourage a more fruitful reception of the sacrament. Three forms of the Rite have been made available to cover a wide variety of contingencies: private confession with individual absolution, a communal penance service with private confession and absolution, and a communal penance service with general absolution. Still, the results have been less than encouraging. For a variety of reasons, Catholics are not receiving this sacrament as often as they did before the Council, and many are asking why. Father Maloney researches the matter in depth and, in the light of history along with insights culled from the experience of the Eastern Churches, has come up with some conclusions which point in a direction that gives hope for a revitalization, indeed a rediscovery, of this beautiful sacrament of God’s mercy, love, and peace.
About the Author: George A. Maloney, SJ, is no stranger to readers of works on prayer in the Roman Catholic and the Russian Byzantine Rite traditions. Alba House has published many of his books, including Called to be Free, The Mystery of Christ in You, The Spirit Broods Over the World, God’s Incredible Mercy, and Called to Intimacy.
ISBN-10: 0-8189-0691-X
ISBN-13: 978-0-8189-0691-6
Book: 143 pages
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Author: |
George A. Maloney, SJ |
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Copyright: |
1994 |
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First Printed: |
03-02-1994 |
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Reprint: |
1996 |