A Reading from the book of Wisdom       5:  1-16

Love justice, for wisdom will not enter an evil soul nor live in a body subjected to sin.

The virtuous man stands up boldly to face those who have oppressed him,

Those who thought so little of his sufferings. And they, at the sight of him, will shake with cowards' fear; amazed he should be saved so unexpectedly.

Stricken with remorse, each will say to the other, say with a groan and in distress of spirit: 'This is the man we used to laugh at once, a butt for our sarcasm, fools that we were! His life we regarded as madness, his ending as without honor.

How has he come to be counted as one of the sons of God? How does he come to be assigned a place among the saints?

Clearly we have strayed from the way of truth the light of justice has not shone for us, The sun never rose on us. We have left no path of lawlessness or ruin unexplored, we have crossed deserts where there was no track, but the way of the Lord is one we have never known. Arrogance, what advantage has this brought us? Wealth and boasting, what have these conferred on us? All those things have passed like a shadow, passed like a fleeting rumor. Like a ship that cuts through heaving waves leaving no trace to show where it has passed, no wake from its keel in the waves.  Or like a bird flying through the air leaving no proof of its passing; it whips the light air with the stroke of its pinions, tears it apart in its whirring rush, drives its way onward with sweeping wing, and afterwards no sign is seen of its passage Or like an arrow shot at a mark, the pierced air closing so quickly on itself, there is no knowing which way the arrow has passed.  So with us: scarcely born, we have ceased to be; Of virtue not a trace have we to show, we have spent ourselves on wickedness  instead.'

Yes, the hope of the godless is like chaff carried on the wind, like fine spray driven by the gale; it disperses like smoke before the wind, goes like the memory of a one-day guest. But the virtuous live forever, their recompense lies with the Lord, the most High takes care of them

This is the word of the Lord.

A reading from the book of Ecclesiasticus            Sirach 28; 1-7

Forgive your neighbour when he hurts you, and then your sins will be forgiven when you pray.

He who exacts vengeance will experience the vengeance of the Lord, who keeps strict account of sin? Forgive your neighbour the hurt he does you, and when you pray, your sins will be forgiven. If a man nurses anger against another, can he then demand compassion from the Lord? Showing no pity for a man like himself, can he then plead for his own sins? Mere creature of flesh, he cherishes resentment.

This is the word of the Lord.

A Reading from the prophet Isaiah     5: 1-7

The vineyard became my delight.  He looked for grapes, But it yielded wild grapes.

My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug the soil, cleared it of stone,
And planted choice vines in it. In the middle he built a tower, he dug a press there too.
He expected it to yield grapes, but sour grapes were all that it gave.
And now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, I ask you to judge between my vineyard and me. What could I have done for my vineyard that I have not done? I expected it to yield grapes. Why did it yield sour grapes instead?
Very well, I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge for it to be grazed on, and knock down its wall for it to be trampled on. I will lay it waste, unpruned, undug; overgrown by the briar and the thorn. I will command the clouds to rain on it. Yes , the vineyard of the Lord Sabaoth is the House of Israel, and the men of Judah that chosen plant. He expected justice, but found bloodshed, integrity, but only a cry of distress.

This is the word of the Lord.

A reading from the prophet Isaiah             43: 22-28

On account of me your iniquities are blotted out.

Thus says the Lord: Jacob, you have not invoked me, You have not troubled yourself, Israel, on my behalf. You have not brought me your sheep for holocausts,

Nor honoured me with sacrifices. I have never burdened You with oblations, Nor  troubled you for incense. You have spent no money on fragrant cane for me,

You have not filled me with the fat of your sacrifices.

Instead you have burdened me with your sins, Troubled me with your iniquities.

I it is, who must blot out everything And not remember your sins.

Cast your mind back, let us judge this together; state your own case and prove your innocence. Your first father sinned; your mediators have revelled against me. Your princes have profaned my sanctuary. So I have handed Jacob over to the ban, and Israel to insults.

This is the word of the Lord.

Or any other reading for reconciliation

Responsorial  Psalm         Psalm 84

R Let us see, O Lord, your mercy and give us you’re saving help

1.  O Lord, you once favored your land
And revived the fortunes of Jacob,
You forgave the guilt of your people
And covered all their sins.
You averted all your rage,
You calmed the heat of your anger.    R.

2.   Revive us now, God, our helper!
Put an end  o your grievance against us.
Will be angry  with us forever;
Will your anger never cease?   R.

3. Will you not restore again our life
that your people may rejoice in you?
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and  give us your saving help. R.

4. I will hear what the Lord God has to say,
A voice that speaks of peace,
Peace for his people and his friends
And those who turn to him in their hearts.
His help is near for those who fear him
and his glory will dwell in our land.   R

5. Mercy and faithfulness have met;
justice and peace have embraced
Faithfulness shall spring from me earth
And justice look down from heaven.    R

6 The Lord will make us prosper
and our earth shall yield its fruit
Justice shall march before him
and peace shall follow his steps     R.

 A reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans    13: 8-14
Let us cast away the works of darkness and put on the weapons of light.

Avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations. All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as your­self. Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neigh­bour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments. Besides, you know 'the time' has come: you must wake up now: our salvation is even nearer than it was when we

 were  converted. The night is almost over, it will be daylight soon let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the day­time: no drunken orgies, no promiscuity or licentiousness, and no wrangling or jealousy. Let your Armour be the Lord Jesus Christ; forget about satisfying your bodies with all their cravings.

This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke           15: 4-7

Share my joy: I have found my lost sheep.
At that time Jesus spoke this parable to the crowd:
'What man among you with a hundred sheep, losing one, would not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he
not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when .he got home, call together his friends and neighbours? "Rejoice with me," he would say, "I have found my sheep that was lost."
In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.'

This is the Gospel of the Lord.   All   Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

OR

Gospel: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke         15: 11-32

Your brother here was dead, and has come to life

At that time Jesus spoke this parable to the crowd: 'A man had two sons. The younger said to his father, "Father, let me have the share of the estate that would come to me." So the father divided the property between them. A few days later, the younger son got together everything he had and left for a distant country where he squandered his money on a life of debauchery.

'When he had spent it all, that country experienced a severe famine, and now he began to feel the pinch, so he hired himself out to one of the local inhabitants who put him on his farm to feed the pigs. And he would willingly have filled his belly with the husks the pigs were eating but no one offered him anything. Then he came to his senses and said, "How many of my father's paid servants have more food than they want, and here am I dying of hunger! I will leave this place and go to my father and say: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called your son; treat me as one of your paid servants." So he left the place and went back to his father.

'While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity. He ran to the boy, clasped him in his arms and kissed him tenderly. Then his son said, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son." But the father said to his servants, "Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the calf we have been fattening, and kill it; we are going to have a feast, a cele­bration, because this son of mine was dead and has come back to life; he was lost and is found." And they began to celebrate. Now the elder son was out in the fields, and on his way back, as he drew near the house, he could hear music and dancing. Calling one of the servants he asked what it was all about. "Your brother has come," replied the servant, "and your father has killed the calf we had fattened because he has got him back safe and sound." He was angry then and refused to go in, and his father came out to plead with him; but he answered his father. "Look, all these years I have slaved for you and never once disobeyed your orders, yet you never offered me so much as a kid for me to celebrate with my friends. But, for this son of yours, when he comes back after swallowing up your property he and his women you kill the calf we had been fattening." 'The father said, "My son, you are with me always and all I have is yours. But it was only right we should celebrate and rejoice, because your brother here was dead and has come to life; he was lost and is found." '

This is the Gospel of the Lord. All   Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ

Homily: The eucharistic banquet as the culmination of our reconciliation with God and each other. 

Form of Examination of Conscience

In an examination of conscience, before the sacrament of penance, each individual should ask himself these questions in particular:

1.What is my attitude to the sacrament of penance? Do I sincerely want to be set free from sin, to turn again to God, to begin a new life, and to enter into a deeper friendship with God? Or do I look on it as a burden, to be undertaken as seldom as possible?

2. Did I forget to mention, or deliberately conceal, any grave sins in past confessions?

3. Did I perform the penance I was given? Did I make repara­tion for any injury to others? Have I tried to put into practice my resolution to lead a better life in keeping with the Gospel?   Each individual should examine his life in the light of God's word.

I.                               The Lord says: 'You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart.'

1 Is my heart set on God, so that I really love him above all things and am faithful to his commandments, as a son loves his father? Or am I more concerned about the things of this world? Have I a right intention in what I do?

2. God spoke to us in his Son. Is my faith in God firm and secure? Am I wholehearted in accepting the Church's teaching? Have I been careful to grow in my understanding of the faith, to hear God's word, to listen to instructions on the faith, to avoid dangers to faith? Have I been always strong and fearless in professing my faith in God and the Church? Have I been willing to be known as a Christian in private and public life?

3. Have I prayed morning and evening? When I pray, do I really raise my mind and heart to God or is it a matter of words only? Do I offer God my difficulties, my joys, and my sorrows? Do I turn to God in time of temptation?

4. Have I love and reverence for God's name? Have I offended him in blasphemy, swearing falsely, or taking his name in vain? Have I shown disrespect for the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints?

5. Do I keep Sundays and feast days holy by taking a full part, with attention and devotion, in the liturgy, and especially in the Mass? Have I fulfilled the precept of annual confession and of communion during the Easter season?

6. Have I taken the Body and Blood of the Lord with reverence and understanding?

7. Have I ever taken the Body and Blood of the Lord Unworthily? 

8. Are there false gods that I worship by giving them greater attention and deeper trust than I give to God: money, super­stition, spiritism, or other occult practices?

Priest or reader   Lord have mercy.    All Answer   Lord have mercy.

II.   The Lord says: 'Love one another as I have loved you.'

1. Have I a genuine love for my neighbours? Or do I use them for my own ends, or do to them what I would not want done to myself? Have I given grave scandal by my words or actions?

2. In my family life, have I contributed to the well being and happiness of the rest of the family by patience and genuine love? Have I been obedient to parents, showing them proper respect and giving them help in their spiritual and material needs? Have I been careful to give a Christian upbringing to my children, and to help them by good example and by exercising authority as a parent "/Have I been faithful to my husband (wife) in my heart and in my relations with others?

3. Do I share my possessions with the less fortunate? Do I do my best to help the victims of oppression, misfortune, and poverty? Or do I look down on my neighbour, especially the poor, the sick, the elderly, strangers, and people of other races?

4. Does my life reflect the mission I received in confirmation? Do I share in the apostolic and charitable works of the Church and in the life of my parish? Have I helped to meet the needs of the Church and of the world and prayed for them: for unity in the Church, for the spread of the Gospel among the nations, for peace and justice, etc.?

5. Am I concerned for the good and prosperity of the human community in which I live, or do I spend my life caring only for myself? Do I share to the best of my ability in the work of promoting justice, morality, harmony, and love in human relations? Have I done my duty as a citizen? Have I paid my taxes?

6. In my work or profession am I just, hard-working, honest, serving society out of love for others? Have I paid a fair wage to my employees? Have I been faithful to my promises and contracts?

7 Have I obeyed legitimate authority and given it due respect?

8. If I am in a position of responsibility or authority, do I use this for my own advantage or for the good of others, in a spirit of service?

9. Have I been truthful and fair, or have I injured others by deceit, calumny, detraction, rash judgment, or violation of a secret?

10. Have I done violence to others by damage to life or limb, reputation, honour, or material possessions? Have I involved them in loss? Have I been responsible for advising an abortion or procurng one? Have I kept up hatred for others? Am I estranged from others through quarrels, enmity, insults, and anger? Have I been guilty of refusing to testify to the innocence of another because of selfishness?

11. Have I stolen the property of others? Have I desired it unjustly and inordinately? Have I damaged it? Have I made restitution of other people's property and made good their loss?

12. If I have been injured, have I been ready to make peace for the love of Christ and to forgive, or do I harbour hatred and the desire for revenge?

Priest   or  reader      Christ  have mercy .      All   Answer:    Christ have mercy.

III.    Christ our Lord says: 'be perfect as your Father is perfect

1. Where is my life really leading me? Is the hope of eternal life my inspiration? Have I tried to grow in the life of the Spirit through prayer, reading the word of God and meditating on it, receiving the sacraments, self-denial? Have I been anxious to control my vices, my bad inclinations and passions, e.g., envy, love of food and drink? Have I been proud and boastful, thinking myself better in the sight of God and despising others as less important than myself? Have I imposed my own will on others, without respecting their freedom and rights?

2. What use have I made of time, of health and strength, of the gifts God has given me to be used like the talents in the Gospel? Do I use them to become more perfect every day? Or have I been lazy and too much given to leisure?

3. Have I been patient in accepting the sorrows and disappoint­ments of life How have I performed mortification so as to 'fill up what is wanting to the sufferings of Christ’? Have I kept the precept of fasting and abstinence?

4. Have  I taken the Body and Blood of  the Lord with reverence  and true understanding of what I am receiving?

5. Have I kept my senses and my whole body pure and chaste as a temple of the Holy Spirit consecrated for resurrection and glory, and as a sign of God's faithful love for men and women, a sign that is seen most perfectly in the sacrament of matrimony?

 6. Have I dishonoured my body by fornication, impurity, un­worthy conversation or thoughts, evil desires, or actions? Have I given in to sensuality? Have I indulged in reading, conversa­tion, shows, and entertainments that offend against Christian and human decency?  Have I encouraged others to sin by my own failure to maintain these standards?  Have I been faithful to the moral law in my married life?

7. Have I gone against my conscience out of fear or hypocrisy?

8. Have I always tried to act in true freedom of the sons and daughters off God according to the law of the sprit, or am I the slave of forces within me?

Priest  or  reader         Lord have mercy           All   Answer     Lord have mercy

Shorter Examination Of Conscience

For use with young people

Forgive me Lord, for my sinful Thoughts

For thinking the worst of people

For wrongly judging and even condemning others

For thinking I am better than others

For all my unjust or impure thoughts

Lord, for all the ways I have thought badly of others, I am truly sorry.

Forgive me, Lord for my sinful words.

For joining in gossip or scandal

For degrading people by swearing or name calling

For creating fear in others through my outburst of anger.

For using your name in vain, Lord

For all the ways my words have wounded or damaged other, I am truly sorry.

Forgive me, Lord for the sinful things I have done.

For hurting people out of spite

For physically assaulting another

For stealing or cheating

For the way I have used others for my own ends

For anything I have done to make others think less of them or me

But most of all You Lord, I am truly sorry.

Forgive me, Lord for the things I have failed to do.

For all the opportunities I miss, to show kindness or consideration to others.

For the ways I am thoughtless of the needs and feeling of others especially in the family

For my lack of prayer and commitment throughout the day

For refusing to use my gifts and talents for the good of others

For the many areas in my life, through my apathy, blindness or indifference, I am truly sorry.

Examination of Conscience the number used is at the choice of the presider.

After each section a period of silence should be included so that each person may examine their own conscience.

Act of repentance said by all now follows

Priest invites the people to pray saying.

Coming together as God’s family,  with confidence let us ask the father’s forgiveness,  for  he is full of gentleness and compassion.

All now say : 1 )   I confess      or     2 )   Our Father 

The penitents now come forward for absolution to the priest.

As they come forward they say to the priest

Forgive me Lord for I am a sinner

and mention their sins 

OR 

Bless me Father for I have sinned

and mention their sins

During this part of the service various hymns may be sung.

When all penitents have received absolution the priest invites all present to say together the common Penance

Common Penance

I Love you Jesus, my love above all things,
I repent with all my  whole heart for having offended you;
Never let me be parted from you again,
and do with me what you will.

Concluding Prayer

God and Father of us all,
you have forgiven our sins and sent us your peace.
Help us to forgive each other
and to work together to establish peace in the world.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

All    Amen.

Or

Lord Jesus Christ,

your loving forgiveness knows no limits.

You took our human nature to give us an example

of humility and to make us faithful in every trial.

May we never lose the gifts you have given us,

but if we fall into sin lift us up by your gift of repentance,

for you live and reign for ever and ever.

All    Amen.

Blessing and dismissal

May the lord guide your hearts in the way of his love and fill you with Christ-like patience

All Amen.

May he give you strength to walk in newness of life and to please him in all things

All  Amen.

May almighty God bless you, the father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit

All   Amen.

Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament now follows

O Salutaris, Tantum Ergo,  Adoremus In Aeternum or   English version of these hymns.

Concluding Hymn    HON 75   God forgave my sin or one of choice form list attached.