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Text Box: THE BASILIAN FATHERS The Society of Clerks Secular of Saint Basil at Holy Innocents Orthodox Church ~ Retreat House ~ 25401 Lorin Wall Road Holden, Louisiana 70744 U. S. A. (225) 294-2233 / (504) 298-3867 CONFESSION AND ABSOLUTION We have experienced an increase in Roman Catholics seeking Sacramental Confession and Absolution from us. Apparently it has become customary or common for an increasing number of Roman Catholic priests to use variations in the form for administration of absolution. Again, apparently, some of these variations in form are so nebulous or vary so greatly from the traditional as to leave the penitent unsure as to whether or not they have been given absolution. Absolution is not the place for innovation. One should be very careful to adhere to the approved form, which is: O Lord God, of the salvation of Thy servants, gracious, bountiful and long-suffering, who repentest Thee concerning our evil deeds, and desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live: Show Thy mercy now upon Thy servant N., and grant unto him (her) an image of repentance, forgiveness of sins, and deliverance, pardoning his (her) every transgression, whether voluntary or involuntary. Reconcile and unite him (her) unto Thy holy Church, through Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom also are due unto Thee dominion and majesty, now, and ever, and unto ages of ages. Amen.

Text Box: After this prayer the Priest pronounceth the Absolution over the Penitent, who kneeleth humbly, saying as follows, in completion of the Holy Sacrament of Confession: May our Lord and God Jesus Christ, through the grace and bounties of His love towards mankind, forgive thee my child, N., all thy transgressions. And I His unworthy Priest, through the power given unto me by Him, do forgive and absolve thee from all thy sins, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Depending on circumstances it is permissible for the first portion to be omitted. The last paragraph, however, should be as hereinabove written. This is not the only approved form. But any form used should be one which has been in common use and approved for several hundred years by The True Church. We have cards with this printed on it available by sending a SASE to The S.S.B. c/o Holy Innocents with such a request. These cards are also available on our web site in the files area, file name ABSOLUT4.ZIP (in Microsoft Publisher format) + SERMONS It would serve every person who gives a sermon without having prepared it with diligence, OR extensive thought and contemplation - which means much more than five minutes, OR who teaches (delivers) a sermon without it being written out, OR without at least extensive notes, to tape record or even better videotape each such sermon and then listen to it or watch it without interruption. You may well be embarrassed or even

Text Box: horrified at what you hear, or see and hear. A well prepared sermon completely written out, or at the very least with extensive notes, is always much better than an extemporaneous sermon - even though many who usually give extemporaneous sermons usually believe their extemporaneous sermons are much better than a (or their) sermon which is written out. Very often there is more than a minor element of pride underlying those who prefer giving extemporaneous sermons. “I know this stuff,” they think to themselves. Concurrent there often is an equally strong element of laziness, good old common sloth, inspiring the preference of an extemporaneous sermon over a written sermon. After all, writing the thing requires time, effort, and - gasp! - thought!! Horror or horrors, mental activity is required! Those who prefer the seeming or actual spontaneity of the extemporaneous sermon forget that the purpose of a sermon is to accurately teach. It may be entertaining to some extent, but entertainment is not its purpose. Accurate, viable, timely, and useful instruction as to how to avoid eternal damnation and how to attain eternal salvation are the sole purpose of a proper sermon. It is not unusual for an extemporaneous sermon to be so long, to consume such a great amount of time, that the congregation is in no mood to attend to the business of being in Church - which is to worship God and “get some holies”, and possibly a few other things. It is not unusual for the one giving an extemporaneous sermon to “mis-speak” or say something which is not accurate or even (and unfortunately, often) teach something which is totally in error; often being totally unaware of the error. One who properly writes a sermon will use the occasion to check what is being written, what is being taught. The finished product is available for review - and the writer will be well served to

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