A Strange Confession Day

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Yesterday at confession, the priest told me some things that sounded, well kind of unorthodox. I’m not really sure I should explain this over this forum, or thread, perhaps some who are wise in our Church could PM me and I could tell you.

I mean, I was actually blown away at his comments. So strange they were, and then at the end, he started talking really really fast, didn’t ask me to say the prayer of sorrow for my sins, and told me to (I think) for a penance spend a few moments in front of the blessed sacrament thanking God for his blessings. I don’t even know what that meant?? You mean before the tabrenacle, or before the sacrament during communion? So today , after I took communion at Mass, I just kneeled while everyone else was still going up and taking Him, and singing, and i thanked Him and talked to Him while He was present. Did I accomplish my penance??

Over all I was sratled at what he told me about my sins, some of it was good, but other parts sounded really unorthodox. So maybe I could talk to one or a few of you. Or if so I can just post it on this thread. But I really would like to talk about it anyway. I just feel embarressed to post it openly.

Please help me?
 
Hi The Catholic, I understand your apprehensiveness. If you don’t get a willing listener via PM and still don’t want to publicly post about specifics, another option for you is to go to a different priest for confession, review any new sins and then mention your last confession, relating to him, fairly concisely, what happened in your last reconciliation and asking whether or not it was, to use a inappropriate term, kosher.

In Christ,
mp
 
The_Catholic said:
Yesterday at confession, the priest told me some things that sounded, well kind of unorthodox. I’m not really sure I should explain this over this forum, or thread, perhaps some who are wise in our Church could PM me and I could tell you.

I mean, I was actually blown away at his comments. So strange they were, and then at the end, he started talking really really fast, didn’t ask me to say the prayer of sorrow for my sins, and told me to (I think) for a penance spend a few moments in front of the blessed sacrament thanking God for his blessings. I don’t even know what that meant?? You mean before the tabrenacle, or before the sacrament during communion? So today , after I took communion at Mass, I just kneeled while everyone else was still going up and taking Him, and singing, and i thanked Him and talked to Him while He was present. Did I accomplish my penance??

Over all I was sratled at what he told me about my sins, some of it was good, but other parts sounded really unorthodox. So maybe I could talk to one or a few of you. Or if so I can just post it on this thread. But I really would like to talk about it anyway. I just feel embarressed to post it openly.

Please help me?
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I am sorry you had such a weird experience, Catholic! And I PM’ed you but I understand if you are already discussing it with someone else—you don’t have to tediously re-write—I just hope you get your reassurance.

Sometimes preists give me this kind of penance, but then you are left with a question—did I do it the “right way”? the fact is, he gave you a direction for penance and you* followed *it, so be at peace:thumbsup: I think that you fulfilled your penance with good intentions and right attitude.
 
If it helps, you can say the Act of Contrition outside of confession itself, so that’s not a problem.

I would have interpreted spending a few minutes before the Blessed Sacrament to mean outside of Mass, some prayer time in front of the tabernacle. But overall you did your best and that’s all anyone can ask.

I don’t know what to tell you about the unorthodox advice. I think MP has a good idea in taking it to another priest.
 
I have been given the penance of spending time before the Blessed Sacrament at some of my confessions in the past. Since confession is before the Vigil Mass (confessions heard from 2:30-3:30 p.m. and Mass is at 4:00 p.m.), I just go to the kneeler in front of the tabernacle (chairs are available too) and pray before Jesus in the tabernacle. The tabernacle in my church is not in the sanctuary, but there are kneelers and chairs in front of the tabernacle.

If your parish has an Adoration Chapel where the Blessed Sacrament is on the altar in a Monstrance, you could also go there and pray before Him in the Adoration Chapel. My parish does not have an Adoration Chapel.
 
I am hoping too and praying you will get an aswer to your questions either by public thread or private messaging to another CAF member. We can always say to Father in Confession “I dont understand you, Father” or “Father could you say that again a bit slower for me, you were speaking too fast for me”…things of that nature are fine. In fact we should never be afraid to say anything at all in Confession within the bounds of reason. Asking questions re our confession in any way is definitely within reason. Sometimes we dont really realize how confused we are until we have left the Confessional … I have had this and made an appointment with Father and spoken about it and got it all cleared up and I was peaceful and happy again by having a talk with him and it was simply that I had not quite clearly understood Father’s words - his meaning. There is not a person alive not subject to confusion even perhaps under the best of circumstances. It can happen.
Whatevery approach you do take, I really hope that you will resolve your questions and be at Peace and happy.
If Father says as penance to spend a few moments in front of the Blessed Sacrament, do just that wherever the Blessed Sacrament may be and usually there is a tabernacle where Confession is being heard…spend a moment or two outside the Confessional and before The Blessed Eucharist in the tabernacle…be it 20 seconds expressing your sorrow at sin, or two hours. Sometimes time factors or other things does limit the amount of time we have. For example, I dont have a car and have to abide by bus timetables. If there is no residing tabernacle…spend “a few moments” at least in sorrow next time you are before The Blessed Sacrament. You may like to extend that time at home for example. That’s fine if you have also spent or plan to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament as Father stipulated.
Should by the very remotest chance you cannot fulfill your penance for some reason, simply mention that in your next Confession and perform some penance of your own which you are able to perform If by the remote chance you forget your penance and remember at some later date - just mention you forgot at the very next Confession you make.
The Catholic Church in her theology is entirely merciful, understanding and compassionate mirroring the Heart of Jesus Himself.
Am hoping all will be cleared up for you entirely.

Blessings and with much Peace …Barb:)
 
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