Date of Award
10-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Santa Clara : Santa Clara University, 2025
Degree Name
Licentiate in Sacred Theology (STL)
Director
Eduardo C. Fernandez, S.J.
Abstract
This project seeks to examine the theological intention of the Penitential Act of the Roman Rite of Paul VI. All too often, through the improvised words of its introduction and the concluding absolution prayer, the Penitential Act is overly penitential and therefore it obscures the more accurate focus on God's mercy, especially as it is offered throughout the celebration of the Eucharist. In other words, this project attempts to offer a robust theological investigation so as to inform the ars celebrandi of priest-presiders. After an initial and broad introduction to what is meant by ars celebrandi, the project then marches through a historical overview of the Penitential Act, especially in light of the impressive work of the Second Vatican Council's Sacrosanctum Concilium. The historical argument of Chapter 1 also offers a brief review of the antecedents of the Penitential Act in the early and medieval Church. Ultimately, the work of Group 10 of the Consilium and the various interventions of Pope Paul VI are examined to best understand its theological intention. Indeed, as the history records, the Penitential Act of the Roman Rite of Paul VI is, in many respects, an innovation in the Church's liturgy. Chapter 2 investigates the current Roman Missal's formula for the Penitential Act. This chapter looks in depth at each of its four components, especially the words of introduction and the concluding prayer of absolution. Furthermore, the chapter argues that Form B best captures the essence of the Penitential Act. Finally, the project concludes by offering several ways to best utilize and enhance this component of the Introductory Rites, both within the parameters of the current Roman Rite and looking to more comprehensive reforms. In the area of the former, the project offers several ars celebrandi options for both the words of introduction and choosing which of the forms to use and when. The latter summarizes two proposals for revamping the Introductory Rites. The project concludes with a more creative proposal that seeks to modify the concluding absolution prayer so that the theological intention of the Penitential Act is made clear.
Recommended Citation
Pennacchia, Jonathan P., "Obscured Mercy in The Penitential Act: Toward an Understanding of the Intention of the Roman Rite" (2025). Jesuit School of Theology Dissertations. 178.
https://scholarcommons.scu.edu/jst_dissertations/178
