Rites, Reminders, and Golf

Dear Friends in Christ:

The Penitential Rite of Mass usually takes one of two forms common to the practice of the liturgy. We typically do one of the following:

1. Pray the Confiteor, which begins, I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned... This is followed by the prayer of absolution by the priest, (although these words lack the efficacy of the sacrament of penance (GIRM 51), they are a fitting reminder that we all seek God’s mercy, especially as we come together to celebrate his sacred mysteries), May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. This then is followed by repeating Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.