Act of Contrition said Communally

[PietroPaolo]

I attended a “penance service” where father had everyone recite the Act of Contrition together before hearing confessions. He, and several other priests, then heard individual private confessions and gave individual absolution. My question: Does this “out of order” arrangement affect the validity of the Sacrament?

 

[Sirach2]

I attended a “penance service” where father had everyone recite the Act of Contrition together before hearing confessions. He, and several other priests, then heard individual private confessions and gave individual absolution. My question: Does this “out of order” arrangement affect the validity of the Sacrament?

No, it is really a common practice, providing they do NOT give communal absolution. It must be granted to each individual. That is the whole purpose of confessing privately, since they must determine whether to bind or loose. Some confessions may not be absolvable.

 

[chefmomster2]

It is actually quite common. If you have only venial sins and are truly sorry, etc. this may be sufficient for God to forgive you. However, the priest would NOT give absolution unless you had a private confession.

 

[tawny]

No, it is really a common practice, providing they do NOT give communal absolution. It must be granted to each individual. That is the whole purpose of confessing privately, since they must determine whether to bind or loose. Some confessions may not be absolvable.

Agree.

 

[pianistclare]

I attended a “penance service” where father had everyone recite the Act of Contrition together before hearing confessions. He, and several other priests, then heard individual private confessions and gave individual absolution. My question: Does this “out of order” arrangement affect the validity of the Sacrament?

Commonplace around here. When a couple of hundred people show up for Confessions with 12 priests or so…it saves time and is always done in conjunction with a very nice Examination of Conscience as part of the service.
Peace.

 

[PaulfromIowa]

It is necessary for the penitent to have contrition. It is not necessary for anyone to say an Act of Contrition out loud or in any particular format.

 

[z_0101]

Quite common, when we have confessions for our children’s CCD/PRE classes, we have a lot of students and only three preists (one usually visiting just for the occation ) if each child had to say the act individiually, we would be there three or four hours ; however, each and everyone of my class goes in individually and then I follow too…