Ashes to Reconciliation: A Reconciliation Prayer for Lent (Article 450)
Carole Goodwine
Marilyn Kielbasa

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OVERVIEW

This prayer can be used during the first week of Lent or any time the sacrament of Reconciliation (also called the sacrament of Penance) is discussed or celebrated.

Suggested Time: 30 to 45 minutes, depending on the size of the group

Group Size: This strategy works best with a group of up to fifteen participants. If your group is larger, recruit adults to help.

Materials Needed

• a pillar candle and matches
• 2-by-3-inch pieces of paper, one for each person
• pens or pencils
• a Bible
• empty coffee cans, one for every fifteen people
• a pitcher of water
• tin pie pans, one for every fifteen people
• a tape or CD player, and a recording of reflective music or a Lenten hymn

PROCEDURE

Preparation. Before the young people arrive, set up a prayer space in the middle of your meeting place. It should include a pillar candle (preferably the parish's Easter candle) and matches, a Bible, an empty coffee can for every fifteen people in the group, a pitcher of water, a tin pie pan for every fifteen people, and a tape or CD player set to play a recording of reflective music or a Lenten hymn.

1. Gather the young people in a circle around the prayer space. Light a pillar candle. Distribute a small piece of paper and a pen or pencil to each person, but tell the young teens not to write anything until they are instructed to do so. Ask them to close their eyes and listen as you read Matt. 3:1-3.

2. When you finish reading, tell the young people to keep their eyes closed and invite them to consider in what areas of their life they need to repent or reform and what changes they can make. After a few seconds of silence, read the following examen, pausing briefly for each response from the group:

Leader. For the times we have ignored our classmates who feel lonely or left out, we pray . . .
All. O God, forgive us.

Leader. For the times we have been rude or disrespectful to our parents, teachers, or other adults who care for us, we pray . . .
All. O God, forgive us.

Leader. For the times we have wasted food or taken for granted what we have, we pray . . .
All. O God, forgive us.

Leader. For the times we have used other people for our own pleasure or gain by inappropriate behavior or by gossiping or fighting, we pray . . .
All. O God, forgive us.

Leader. For the times we have put ourselves down, forgetting that we are created in God's image and should reflect that image to all we meet, we pray . . .
All. O God, forgive us.

Leader. For the times we have not paid attention at Mass or during prayer, we pray . . .
All. O God, forgive us.

After a minute or so of silence, tell the young people to write on their piece of paper one thing they will change.

3. Collect all the papers in one or more coffee cans and burn them. (Put no more than fifteen papers in a single can.) Be sure to have a pitcher of water handy in case the flames get too large. Pour the burned ashes from each coffee can into a tin pie pan and stir them around. Allow about 5 minutes for them to cool. While the ashes are cooling, play some quiet reflective music or a Lenten hymn, and invite the young people to listen in silence and think about the change they will be making. If you think your group will find it difficult to handle 5 minutes of silence without something to help them focus, distribute blank paper and ask the young people to write down other changes they hope to make.

4. When the ashes have cooled, take them to each person and ask, "Are you ready to repent, to leave your sinful ways and to follow the Gospel?" After the young person responds, "Yes," make the sign of the cross on his or her forehead with ashes.

5. After all the young people have been marked with ashes, gather the group near the candle, and explain that the candle represents the light of Christ, who came into the world to forgive sins. Read Dan. 9:3-4. Then say the following prayer:

Forgive us, O God, for we have sinned against you and your commandments. May we use your guidance to become more faithful followers of the teachings of Jesus. We ask this in the name of Jesus, who taught us to pray for forgiveness. And so we pray together . . . [Conclude with the Lord's Prayer.]

ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES

• Invite a priest to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation with the participants before anointing them with ashes.
• Before you read the passage from Matthew's Gospel, lead the group to list on poster board or newsprint the ways people their age sin. Display this poster for their reference as they think about the area in their life that needs reform.

SCRIPTURAL CONNECTIONS

• Ezek. 18:30-32 (Turn away from sin.)
• Matt. 3:1-4 (Reform your life.)
• Luke 7:44-50 (Your sins are forgiven.)