Dear friends, as promised, I am sending you a brief account of our penitential liturgies. I continue my exploration of catechesis in this particular "psychic" world that fascinates me and keeps revealing new things.
For Confirmation, I have decided to extend the preparation over two years to help the young people grow in responsibility.
Tana Pelagallo - Sister of Nazareth (Emmanuel Community of Fede e Luce in Acerra)
Over two consecutive years, we celebrated a penitential liturgy for several young people (ages 18–30) approaching the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the first time.
First Penitential Celebration
We used two enlarged images from J. Vanier's book I Met Jesus: Jesus rescuing a lamb caught in thorns; Jesus tending his flock.
Three young people receiving the sacrament for the first time were represented by three cardboard lambs bearing their names, placed before the first image among a small thicket of thorns.
The celebration opened with the hymn "Give Us, Lord, a New Heart." We then explained the images.
After the Gospel reading of the lost sheep (Luke 15), the celebrant—Father Enrico Cattaneo, S.J., who had come from Naples—offered a brief homily and led everyone in saying the "I confess to almighty God" with special gestures.
Then, one by one, the three young people took their lambs and approached confession. During each confession, Father Enrico, wearing a red stole symbolizing the Blood of Jesus, placed the stole upon the young person's head.
When the confessions ended, each young person placed his or her lamb among flowers before the second image—Jesus tending his flock.
Father Enrico offered the final blessing, and we closed with hymns and celebration.
Second Celebration
This liturgy began with the hymn "Come, Come, Spirit of Love," followed by Father Enrico's explanation of the rite.
This time one young person was receiving the sacrament for the first time. He became the central figure in a pantomime of the Prodigal Son, performed during the Gospel reading (Luke 15).
Father Enrico played the role of the father in the parable and clothed the returning son in a white alb.
The parable of the Prodigal Son was acted out a second time. But instead of following the Gospel text, the pantomime was accompanied by an explanation of the Sacrament of Reconciliation:
the son's departure = sin;
his misery and labor with pigs = repentance;
his return to the father = confession and the clothing in white.
After the confessions, the assembly sang "Wonderful is the Mercy of the Lord," and we continued with celebration and joy.