CHICAGO STUDIES
color is determined), receives the penitent at the place designated for administration of this Sacrament of Penance and greets him with words which would allay his nervousness or fear; he then invites him to sit or kneel. (The traditional confessional is not ruled out but freedom would be given for other arrangements, e.g. a small conference room in the church or in some other buildings.) 2) It is desired that the minister and penitent pray together for a short time. 3) Then the minister can give the penitent a blessing with a formula such as this: "The Lord be in your heart so that you might confess your sins with a contrite spirit." 4) The penitent would then confess his sins. 5) Having received his confession, the minister would remind the penitent of the mercy of God, encourage him to a true or deeper contrition and counsel him in the way to amend his life. 6) The minister should then exhort the penitent to make reparation for his offenses against God, his neighbor and himself. He would impose upon the penitent an apt penance as would be suggested by pastoral charity. 7) When the penitent has accepted the penance, the minister would say: "May the almighty and merciful Lord grant you the fruit of true penance, the amendment of your life, the grace and consolation of the Holy Spirit, and perseverance in good works." The penitent would respond "Amen" to this or a similar formula. 8) The minister stands, if he wishes, and extending his hands (or at least raising his right hand) over the kneeling or' bowed penitent says one of the following formulas of absolution: a) "May our Lord Jesus Christ, who offered himself to his Father for us and who gave to his Church the power to forgive sins, absolve you from your sins by the grace of the Holy Spirit and restore you to the perfect peace of the Church. He who Jives and l'eigns forever and ever." b) "May our Lord Jesus Christ, who redeemed the world by his passion and resurrection, remit your sins by the grace of the Holy Spirit and through my ministry, and restore you to the full life of the Church. He who lives and reigns forever and ever." c) "May our Lord Jesus Christ remit you your sins by my ministry and fully restore you to the peace of the Church. He who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit." The penitent responds "Amen." ( Consilium will decide whether only one of these formulas should be used or whether the minister would