Forgive me, brothers and sisters

[Khoria Anna]

On Cheesefare Sunday (the last Sunday before Lent begins on Clean Monday), the priest turns to the deacon and says, "Forgive me, my brother NAME, for all my sins and offences against you. The deacon responds, "You are forgiven. Please forgive me all my sins and offences against you" The deacon then stands on the priest's left. Then one, by one, individual members of the congregation using the same formula ask the priest for forgiveness and the priest grants it and asks for forgiveness for his own offences against that person. Then, the same formula with the deacon. Congregants then their places to the left of the deacon, forming a long line, through which each member goes. By the end of the service, each person has asked forgiveness of every other person and has granted forgiveness to every other person. It's a very emotional and beautiful service, and a great preparation to, or follow up after, one's individual Confession. It does not replace the Sacrament of Penance.

[Khoria Anna]

Oops! submitted a duplicate. Forgive me.

[Woodstock]

God forgives!

We also had a forgiveness service at church. Father gave a great explanation of what to do and why we do it, what is expected of each of us during the Fast, what the fasting expectations are, and warned us if we refused to forgive another it was just as prideful as those who refused to ask for forgiveness. He prostrated three times and asked us to forgive him for any sin he had committed, intentional or not, each time he prostrated. He explained how we can sin or offend someone unintentionally and the need to ask forgiveness even if we don't think we need to. He discussed the need for conversion of heart and how important this first week of the fast is and he encouraged everyone to take advantage of the Lenten services and of Confession.

Having set things right with each other, we can now enter the Great Fast focused on our relationships with God.

"Take heed to yourselves. If thy brother sin against thee, reprove him: and if he do penance, forgive him. And if he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day be converted unto thee, saying, I repent; forgive him."
Luke 17:3-4

"For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences.
But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.
And when you fast, be not as the hypocrites, sad. For they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.
But thou, when thou fastest anoint thy head, and wash thy face;
That thou appear not to men to fast, but to thy Father who is in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret, will repay thee.
Lay not up to yourselves treasures on earth: where the rust, and moth consume, and where thieves break through and steal.
But lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven: where neither the rust nor moth doth consume, and where thieves do not break through, nor steal.
For where thy treasure is, there is thy heart also."
Matthew 6:14-21

[Quackers]

Originally Posted by Khoria Anna

On Cheesefare Sunday (the last Sunday before Lent begins on Clean Monday), the priest turns to the deacon and says, "Forgive me, my brother NAME, for all my sins and offences against you. The deacon responds, "You are forgiven. Please forgive me all my sins and offences against you" The deacon then stands on the priest's left. Then one, by one, individual members of the congregation using the same formula ask the priest for forgiveness and the priest grants it and asks for forgiveness for his own offences against that person. Then, the same formula with the deacon. Congregants then their places to the left of the deacon, forming a long line, through which each member goes. By the end of the service, each person has asked forgiveness of every other person and has granted forgiveness to every other person. It's a very emotional and beautiful service, and a great preparation to, or follow up after, one's individual Confession. It does not replace the Sacrament of Penance.

Thank you for the explanation. I've never heard of this before, but it sounds beautiful. What an awesome thing to do! Is this something that is done solely in Eastern Catholic parishes, Orthodox parishes, or both? Even though I'm new at this, I would like to participate if I may. I've been allowing numerous health and personal problems to negatively affect my mood and how I interact with people, so I would like to say the following:

Please forgive me to all those on these forums whom I have offended either involuntarily or voluntarily. Also, I forgive all who have offended me, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

[Diak]

It is done in both Orthodox and Greek Catholic parishes. This is an example of Ukrainian Greek Catholic usage in English:

RITE OF FORGIVENESS

The priest (or other clergy if present) kneels facing the faithful and says:
Bless me, brothers and sisters, and forgive me a sinner all the sins which I have committed this day, and every day of my life, in thought, word and deed.

All: May God forgive you, reverend Father(s)!

The faithful kneel and say together:
All: Bless us, reverend Father(s), and forgives us sinners all the sins we have committed this day and every day of our lives in thought, word, and deed.

Clergy: May God forgive you and have mercy on you!

Now, all approach and venerate the icon, and then exchange forgiveness with everyone, saying: Forgive me! Response: God forgives! Forgive me and pray for me!
FDRLB

[Quackers]

Originally Posted by Diak

It is done in both Orthodox and Greek Catholic parishes. This is an example of Ukrainian Greek Catholic usage in English:

RITE OF FORGIVENESS

The priest (or other clergy if present) kneels facing the faithful and says:
Bless me, brothers and sisters, and forgive me a sinner all the sins which I have committed this day, and every day of my life, in thought, word and deed.

All: May God forgive you, reverend Father(s)!

The faithful kneel and say together:
All: Bless us, reverend Father(s), and forgives us sinners all the sins we have committed this day and every day of our lives in thought, word, and deed.

Clergy: May God forgive you and have mercy on you!

Now, all approach and venerate the icon, and then exchange forgiveness with everyone, saying: Forgive me! Response: God forgives! Forgive me and pray for me!
FDRLB

Very interesting, and beautiful. Thank you.

[dessert]

My signature says it all as God's grace, covers much as I think of this past year. Hoping to change.

"Lord Jesus, I surrender this season of Lent to you. fill me with your prescence, and help me to embrace your calling with joy. Thank you for your faithful love, and for the grace you give me even when I can't see it!".

[Edmac]

The Foregiveness Sunday Vespers are indeed awesome, and
something that the Western Church should contemplate. It would
be (as far as I know) and entirely new thing for them and would
have to be done at a Tuesday Vespers service,since for them
Lent starts on a Wednesday, while for us of the Byzantine Churches it starts at sundown on the previous Sunday. In my
parish, at the end of Vespers, all ask forgiveness of all, giving
the triple holy kiss. It would be well if families were to adopt this
as a home ritual (whatever the brand of their Catholicism), for
whom do we more often offend and by whom are we more offended
than by our nearest and dearest?

Let us ask forgiveness of our dead, as well.The Lord will see
to it that they know, for they live in Him.

Edmac

[Servus Pio XII]

Forgive me, too...a tardy sinner.

[Pious Mat]

Forgive me, brothers and sisters, I am a poor sinner!

Thought I'd include this hymn from the Kontakion for everybody:

Master, Teacher of wisdom,
Bestower of virtue,
You teach the thoughtless and protect the poor:
Strengthen and enlighten my heart.
Word of the Father,
Let me not restrain my mouth from crying to you:
Have mercy on me, a transgressor,
O merciful Lord!

I love this Eastern concept, and I especially love the focus on the Expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the gravity or original sin, something many Latins could learn from.

Also, I'd like to say this good ol' Latin prayer for everybody:

Confíteor Deo omnipoténti, beátæ Maríæ semper Vírgini, beáto Michaéli Archángelo, beáto Ioánni Baptístæ, sanctis Apóstolis Petro et Paulo, ómnibus Sanctis, et vobis, fratres: quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo et ópere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa. Ideo precor beátam Maríam semper Vírginem, beátum Michaélem Archángelum, beátum Ioánnem Baptístam, sanctos Apóstolos Petrum et Paulum, omnes Sanctos, et vos, fratres, oráre pro me ad Dóminum Deum nostrum.

Happy Lent to all our Eastern Brothers!