A Strange Question About Confession

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tamna

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Maybe this is a strange question but here goes:

I live in a place where English is not the primary language. The local priests do not speak English and I have yet to learn to local language.

My question is that if I go to confession with a priest who I do not understand and who does not understand me, is the/my Confession valid? What about Penance? What do I do if the priest assigns penance and I don’t understand what he is saying, what do I do?

Maybe my question has been answered before and I just haven’t found it yet. If this is the case, I apologize for the duplication.

PAX
 
tamna said:
Maybe this is a strange question but here goes:

I live in a place where English is not the primary language. The local priests do not speak English and I have yet to learn to local language.

My question is that if I go to confession with a priest who I do not understand and who does not understand me, is the/my Confession valid? What about Penance? What do I do if the priest assigns penance and I don’t understand what he is saying, what do I do?

Maybe my question has been answered before and I just haven’t found it yet. If this is the case, I apologize for the duplication.

PAX
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Yes, valid.
 
this is why I think the formal absolution should be spoken in Latin. Hopefully the confessor can (and will) speak Latin when a vernacular wouldn’t be understood.
 
Neithan said:
this is why I think the formal absolution should be spoken in Latin. Hopefully the confessor can (and will) speak Latin when a vernacular wouldn’t be understood.
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Regardless of the language, valid.
 
I cannot imagine how you can go to confession where you and the confessor do not speak the same language. How will the priest know what you have confessed? How will he know if it’s one of those situations where he would be justified in withholding absolution? If he does not know what you have confessed how can he prescribe a suitable penance? Like you say how will you know what penance you have been given?

Are you aware that is it legitimate to use a interpreter at confession (Can. 983 §2)*. The interpreter is bound by the seal of confession in the same way as the priest.

*Source: vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__P3G.HTM
 
Thank you, everyone, for replying.

I was unaware of the “interpreter” clause in Canon Law. Although, I must admit being somewhat hesitant to ask for one. This is especially true since the only person in my local area, that I’m currently aware of, with English ability advanced enough to interpret for a Confession is my wife. I’m sure you can understand the potential problems with asking her to interpret!

It’s reassuring to know that a Confession, in the situation I described, would at least be valid.

Thanks, again.

Tamna
 
Also the priest doesn’t really need to understand your confession. Ultimately you are confessing to Jesus Christ. There was never a requirement for the priest to understand your confession. Of course this may hamper receiving spiritual guidance and even understanding what your penance is. Having confession in Latin wouldn’t solve those problems either.
 
tamna said:
Maybe this is a strange question but here goes:

I live in a place where English is not the primary language. The local priests do not speak English and I have yet to learn to local language.

My question is that if I go to confession with a priest who I do not understand and who does not understand me, is the/my Confession valid? What about Penance? What do I do if the priest assigns penance and I don’t understand what he is saying, what do I do?

Maybe my question has been answered before and I just haven’t found it yet. If this is the case, I apologize for the duplication.

PAX
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The Priest ordinarily needs to know what the sins ARE…etc…

There are some ways that one can seek to confess…

One can confess via a translator…who would also be required to never reveal your sins…

Sometimes you can find a priest who understands just enough to be able to do fine.
And English has become very much the New Latin…the universal Language. One will prob. find some priest who knows enough (I know I have in pilgrimages etc in various places in Europe…one just needs to ask around)

Or…If you do not have any mortal sins… I think you could perhaps a dictionary and confess just one venial sin that you did for sure…and are sorry for…and also get the words for “all the sins of my life”…

( of course if you have mortal …all of them can be looked up …“murder” and hold up two fingers for the 2 persons you murdered…)
 
Wow - I can’t imagine your struggle!!! That said, I have lived in a foreign country with a different language and if you make an effort, they’re usually very willing to make an effort back!

I would highly recommend BookCat’s dictionary suggestion.

I would go into the dictionary, find the words you need, and learn numbers 1-10, the word for week, month, and occasionally.

Then write down your confession on paper with the words you need. For example (used in German)

blasphemy - blashphemie - 1x - einz
adultery - ehebruch - 2x - zwei

When you go in for confession, I would say the opening prayers in your native tongue (until you learn them in the new language). This will ensure that the priest knows you do not speak the language as your native tongue. Then I would go down your list confessing the above (or whatever else). Obviously at this time clarifications aren’t going to be possible nor will you be able to receive guidance…but it’s better than nothing and no Sacrament!

When it comes to absolution and penance, I would also learn the words for native language’s prayers (rosary, Hail Mary, decade, and Our Father specifically). If you can, let the priest know in advance that you know what those words mean so he can use them effectively for your penance.

As you already know in a foreign country it’s all about learning the basics to get what you need most. If my husband could make it through 4 years in Germany learning only how to ask for a beer, the restroom, and a taxi you can surely conquer this!!! 🙂
 
HAnne said:
Wow - I can’t imagine your struggle!!! That said, I have lived in a foreign country with a different language and if you make an effort, they’re usually very willing to make an effort back!

I would highly recommend BookCat’s dictionary suggestion.

I would go into the dictionary, find the words you need, and learn numbers 1-10, the word for week, month, and occasionally.

Then write down your confession on paper with the words you need. For example (used in German)

blasphemy - blashphemie - 1x - einz
adultery - ehebruch - 2x - zwei

When you go in for confession, I would say the opening prayers in your native tongue (until you learn them in the new language). This will ensure that the priest knows you do not speak the language as your native tongue. Then I would go down your list confessing the above (or whatever else). Obviously at this time clarifications aren’t going to be possible nor will you be able to receive guidance…but it’s better than nothing and no Sacrament!

When it comes to absolution and penance, I would also learn the words for native language’s prayers (rosary, Hail Mary, decade, and Our Father specifically). If you can, let the priest know in advance that you know what those words mean so he can use them effectively for your penance.

As you already know in a foreign country it’s all about learning the basics to get what you need most. If my husband could make it through 4 years in Germany learning only how to ask for a beer, the restroom, and a taxi you can surely conquer this!!! 🙂
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Yah, but the vast majority of Germans know at least some English, the two languages are related so it’s the easiest foreign language for them to learn.
 
tamna said:
Maybe this is a strange question but here goes:

I live in a place where English is not the primary language. The local priests do not speak English and I have yet to learn to local language.
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What is the primary language of the priests? That may help get some additional ideas for you.

~Liza
 
LilyM said:
Yah, but the vast majority of Germans know at least some English, the two languages are related so it’s the easiest foreign language for them to learn.
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I wasn’t trying to compare the two. I speak 3 foreign languages fluently and another 9 at least enough to get around and understand. I’m saying I know the ins and outs of learning a language and that it can be done.

We do not know the language the OP is trying to learn. The bottom line is it is a list of how to possibly help and encouragement.

Where we lived in Germany, no, they did not know any English. It was a small, rural community in Bavaria where their German is more like “ancient” German than modern day. Sort of like trying to speak in fluent Shakespeare. English was not a priority for them nor was attempting to communicate in it.

When a native English speaker makes even the most remote attempt at trying to communicate in the natural language of another country, even to someone who is fluent in English, it looks well on that person and they will often make EVERY attempt to try to communicate back in either language. This has been true in every country I have visited as well as people who I have helped with translating for here in America.

The OP making the effort is what will matter to the priest - not if he can do it 100% correctly or accidentally confesses to painting a sheep green. When effort is made on one side, it is often received very well on the other - regardless of the language it is made in.
 
Sorry if this has been brought up.

You know, you can write down your Confession and give the list to the priest and receive absolution all the same.

So perhaps you can write your sins (and other parts to Confession, such as “Bless me Father, for I have sinned…”) on the computer, plug them into google translate (or something similar) and do Confession that way for the time being.

Just an idea. 🤷
 
coolduude said:
Sorry if this has been brought up.

You know, you can write down your Confession and give the list to the priest and receive absolution all the same.

So perhaps you can write your sins (and other parts to Confession, such as “Bless me Father, for I have sinned…”) on the computer, plug them into google translate (or something similar) and do Confession that way for the time being.

Just an idea. 🤷
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No - you can not do this. Your sins must be confessed with your own voice. You can not just write them down.

~Liza
 
lizaanne said:
No - you can not do this. Your sins must be confessed with your own voice. You can not just write them down.

~Liza
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But you can do both at the same time. You confess them and the priest understands.
 
Matthew_Holford said:
There must be an exception for people that cannot speak.
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Agreed. The way I see this situation is as someone who is mute and must use sign language to communicate their confession. The “translation” would be written word or someone else speaking it. However, if they are uncomfortable with a translator the only other option would be to write it down.

I would hate to see someone who lost their voice tragically to not be able to confess until they learned sign language and found a priest who could sign. Or worse, the validity of their confession being questioned because of their inability to speak.

Similarly, the OP has lost the ability to use his “voice” to confess due to a language barrier. Surely God and the Church are understanding and come at these situations from positions of love.
 
lizaanne said:
No - you can not do this. Your sins must be confessed with your own voice. You can not just write them down.

~Liza
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False.
Michelle Arnold:
Yes, a confession and can be written out and handed to the priest instead of spoken aloud. And yes, it can be written out beforehand. (In fact, I very much doubt that many priests would have the time or inclination to allow someone to write out his confession within the confessional.) If this is done, the paper should be given back to the penitent and the penitent should take care to destroy it to preserve the confidentiality of his confession.

The only caveat I would add is that writing out confessions can aggravate the scruples of scrupulous people. If someone is writing down his confession in order to keep a “log” of his sins, he should be encouraged instead to verbally confess all the sins he can remember and to trust that God will forgive him any sins he inadvertently forgot to mention.
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forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=290622&highlight=Writing+Confession
 
So I’m going to think outside of the box for just a second…

what if you did write it all down, have your computer interpret ((i do not think I used the right word right there, sorry my mind is blank on the correct spelling) for you, then surely you might could read those words. Though it would not be fluent, but at least try to say your confession in the priest’s language…end with "I do not speak your language "

I don’t know…it will be an adventure either way. 😃 And valid, I would think.

Interpret: that’s the word…
 
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