Liturgy: The Penitential Rite and the Kyrie

The Penitential Rite is an important part of the Mass; the only time it can be omitted is when it is replaced by the Rite of Blessing and Sprinkling Holy Water, or if Mass was preceded by part of the Liturgy of the Hours (see the GILH, nn. 94-96). The Kyrie is separate from the Penitential Rite. The rubrics for the Penitential Rite are:

After the introduction to the day's Mass, the priest invites the people to recell their sins and to repent of them in silence. He may use these or similar words:

A. As we prepare to celebrate the mystery of Christ's love, let us acknowledge our failures and ask the Lord for pardon and strength.

B. Coming together as God's family, with confidence let us ask theFather's forgiveness, for he is full of gentleness and compassion.

C. My brothers and sisters, to prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries, let us call to mind our sins.

A pause for silent reflection follows.

After the silence, one of the following three forms is chosen:

A.
All say: I confess to almighty God,
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have sinned through my own fault
They strike their breast:
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done,
and in what I have failed to do;
and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin,
all the angels and saints,
and you, my brothers and sisters,
to pray for me to the Lord our God.

The priest says the absolution:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
The people answer:
Amen.

B.
The priest says:
Lord, we have sinned against you:
Lord, have mercy.
The people answer:
Lord, have mercy.
Priest:
Lord, show us your mercy and love.
People:
And grant us your salvation.

The priest says the absolution:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
The people answer:
Amen.

C.
The priest (or other suitable minister) makes the following or other invocations:
[Note: Eight texts are provided in the Sacramentary. Text i is shown below.]

Priest:
You were sent to heal the contrite:
Lord, have mercy.
People:
Lord, have mercy.

Priest:
You came to call sinners:
Christ, have mercy.
People:
Christ, have mercy.

Priest:
You plead for us at the right hand of the Father:
Lord, have mercy.
People:
Lord, have mercy.

The priest says the absolution:
May almighty God have mercy on us,
forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
The people answer:
Amen.

That is the Penitential Rite. Then the Sacramentary describes the Kyrie:

The invocations, Lord, have mercy, follow, unless they have already been used in one of the forms of the act of penance.

V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.
V. Christ, have mercy. R. Christ, have mercy.
V. Lord, have mercy. R. Lord, have mercy.

OR:

V. Kýrie, eléison. R. Kýrie, eléison.
V. Chríste, eléison. R. Chríste, eléison.
V. Kýrie, eléison. R. Kýrie, eléison.

My impression is that only Form C of the Penitential Rite contains the Kyrie; thus, it is required after Form A (the Confiteor) and Form B. Seeing as how the Pope had the Kyrie invoked by the choir after Form B [in the Mass of the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God], I would guess I am correct in that regard. Furthermore, to use multiple forms of the Penitential Rite (such as Form A followed by Form C) is incorrect; the Confiteor (Form A) must be followed by the Kyrie, not by Form C of the Penitential Rite.

I find it bizarre that the Sacramentary does not just come right out and say "The Kyrie follows unless Form C of the Penitential Rite was used." Instead, it says it in a roundabout way: "... unless they have already been used." Which form(s) of the Penitential Rite use the "Lord, have mercy", "Christ, have mercy", "Lord, have mercy" invocations? My understanding is that only Form C uses them. Form B, although it uses "Lord, have mercy", does not use the other invocations. Form C contains the Kyrie, the other two do not.