An Olde Tyme Confession

[AuntMartha]

Hi,

I had an interesting experience yesterday at confession. This is the thrid time I’ve gone since returning home recently. The first two times, I had younger priests and they were very calm and kind, not at all like what I remembered from my youth. For example, one time my sister went to confession after missing Mass a couple of times, and the priest yelled at her so loud you could hear it outside the confessional!

Anyway, when I went yesterday, the elderly priest at my parish (who is sort of retired, but he still does morning Mass often and obviously hears Confession too) was hearing confession. One of my sins was that I did miss Mass last Sunday due to having the extended family over for Father’s Day - it was from lack of planning on my part. If I had done all my cleaning in a timely manner, I wouldn’t have been running around frantically getting things ready Sunday morning. So I have learned my lesson on that.

When I confessed this, he really took me to task, which he was right to do. But it was very surprising to me. I think my eyes popped open as he was speaking. Whew! It was like the old days.

So I was wondering if other people have had a priest give 'em what for, like the old days.

 

[Kelly]

I have to say after reading your post, that I am very thankful that I didn’t live in the “old days”. I am a post Vatican II kid, but I was away from the the Church for a number of years, when I returned I had a lot of grievous sins to confess, and also a lot of wounds that needed to be healed. If a priest had yelled and screamed at me, I think I would have left the Church that day and never returned. The priest is acting “in persona Christi” in the Sacrament of Reconciliation not on his own authority, I don’t think it is his place to yell and scream at a sincere penitent.

 

[Anima_Christi]

I’m only 19, but I also had this experience awhile back with an older retired priest who still says daily masses and hears confessions. My penance was a whole rosary, too!

 

[StephanieC]

I have actually felt* relief* whenever a priest responds sternly during confession. I feel almost like, “Yes, that’s right, Stephanie! A sin is still a sin, and your butt does belong in this confessional!”

I think I had gotten used to priests (seemingly) half-dozing through my confessions, and then telling me to “say an Our Father and think about how much God loves you” for penance. When I moved to another part of the country and got a more stern response, it helped me remember: *I should be living like I want to get to heaven! *

 

[Psalm45_9]

AuntMartha:

So I was wondering if other people have had a priest give 'em what for, like the old days.

Yes, I came out of the confessional crying, which is why I will NEVER go to confession there again.

 

[Giannawannabe]

Wow AuntMartha!!! I’ve NEVER had that kind of response. I usually get the touchy/feely, one Our Father or Hail Mary penance.

I don’t think I’d like to be yelled at, but a firmer response with a more difficult penance would be fine.

BTW, after you got over being stunned by Father’s response to your confession, how did you feel? I would imagine that you would really try NOT to commit that particular sin again!

 

[Detroit_Sue]

There’s an old retired priest at the parish I go to for confession, and I always pray I don’t get him.(I rarely go to my own parish, because the lines are always out the door and it’s hit or miss if you will be heard before Mass. This is a good thing!) After every sin you mention, he says, “Is that all?” which is very distracting. Then if you start your Act of Contrition in the confessional, he will “overtalk” you with absolution & tell you to make your Act of Contrition in the pew, along with the one Our Father he gives you for penance.

I wish I had a confessor who took me to task on things.

 

[Livnlove55]

Kelly:

I have to say after reading your post, that I am very thankful that I didn’t live in the “old days”. I am a post Vatican II kid, but I was away from the the Church for a number of years, when I returned I had a lot of grievous sins to confess, and also a lot of wounds that needed to be healed. If a priest had yelled and screamed at me, I think I would have left the Church that day and never returned. The priest is acting “in persona Christi” in the Sacrament of Reconciliation not on his own authority, I don’t think it is his place to yell and scream at a sincere penitent.

When I came into the Church last February, I had 35 years worth of many mortal sins to confess. I thank God for my awesome pastor who simply listened quietly and then touched me with the love and forgiveness of Christ as he laid his hands on my head and absolved me of all my many sins. “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more…”

I once heard a tape by Fr. Larry Richards in which he said that priests who yell at penitents in the confessional are going to spend most of their eternity in purgatory. I believe it.

I also have heard that the more holy a priest is, the more loving and gentle and kind he will be in the confessional. I believe that, too…
In His love,
Rhonda

 

[Shinobu]

Kelly:

I have to say after reading your post, that I am very thankful that I didn’t live in the “old days”. I am a post Vatican II kid, but I was away from the the Church for a number of years, when I returned I had a lot of grievous sins to confess, and also a lot of wounds that needed to be healed. If a priest had yelled and screamed at me, I think I would have left the Church that day and never returned. The priest is acting “in persona Christi” in the Sacrament of Reconciliation not on his own authority, I don’t think it is his place to yell and scream at a sincere penitent.

I’m sorry to say that I would act the same. I would probably cry and run out. When you open your heart like that having someone yell could be devastating.

 

[Yonnie]

AuntMartha:

Hi,

I had an interesting experience yesterday at confession. This is the thrid time I’ve gone since returning home recently. The first two times, I had younger priests and they were very calm and kind, not at all like what I remembered from my youth. For example, one time my sister went to confession after missing Mass a couple of times, and the priest yelled at her so loud you could hear it outside the confessional!

Anyway, when I went yesterday, the elderly priest at my parish (who is sort of retired, but he still does morning Mass often and obviously hears Confession too) was hearing confession. One of my sins was that I did miss Mass last Sunday due to having the extended family over for Father’s Day - it was from lack of planning on my part. If I had done all my cleaning in a timely manner, I wouldn’t have been running around frantically getting things ready Sunday morning. So I have learned my lesson on that.

When I confessed this, he really took me to task, which he was right to do. But it was very surprising to me. I think my eyes popped open as he was speaking. Whew! It was like the old days.

So I was wondering if other people have had a priest give 'em what for, like the old days.

I’m amazed you were taken to task for a sin that the vast majority of “Catholics” wouldn’t even consider a grave sin let alone going to confession for. I myself have gone to confession for missing mass but have had this experience.

 

[Ter]

Yonnie:

I’m amazed you were taken to task for a sin that the vast majority of “Catholics” wouldn’t even consider a grave sin let alone going to confession for. I myself have gone to confession for missing mass but have had this experience.

I would say that that is why the priest took her to task. He is probably trying to get home to as many Catholics as possible that missing Mass on Sunday is a serious matter to counteract this attitude.