Angered while in line for confession

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housewife said:
Ok?

Bad temper? He could have told you nicely…don’t you think? 🤷 Do you know him well? Is he like that all the time? Maybe he was having a bad day, but he could have told you nicely anyways. You would have understood.
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I think he is a nice man, a man of God. but, he really lost it!

I had seen him several times before that and still go to him now and then.

But, never with my child as I am afraid my child will fear confession.
 
mercygate said:
Turns out that I found a priest who puts up with me and now I ALWAYS go to the same person by appointment. Yup: it’s a phone call. But I NEVER have to stand in line. 😃 😃 😃
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You can make a confession by phone? hmmm interesting
 
JFonseka said:
The word of JoseMaria Escriva

“You are upset about the lack of charity towards you from your neigbour?, Imagine how upset God is about the lack of charity from you towards him” 😃
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I cant seem to find this quote in anything written by Josemaria Escriva…

Where did you find it?
 
Linnyo said:
wow! A queue for confession? I’ve never seen that!:eek:
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We sometimes have a small one, but the official hours are NOT before any Mass, and I’ve never had to wait more than fifteen minutes or so. There are usually two or three priests ‘on duty.’
 
Wait a minute, confession by phone?

I dont know if that is Okay actually…
 
housewife said:
Anyhow, the lady with her two children was up next, and one of those men almost argues with her that its his turn because he was there first. I was so outraged! Finally the man comes out and he apologizes to the lady.

Bottomline, 4 people cut us off by the time they finished it was my turn it was already time for Mass to begin.

Has anyone being through this?
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Yes.

One time there was a long line and this woman barged right up to the beginning of the line, exactly when one of the penitents had just left the confessional, then went directly into the confessional.

I got so mad I ended up adding the sin of anger to my list of sins and had to confess that one too when I got my confession heard.

Another time with another really, really long line this woman (not the same one I just mentioned) asked the person at the head of the line if they could go ahead and I started seething at that one too, and had to confess another sin of anger.

In the examination of conscience I use it says to wait your turn. I don’t understand quite why people treat this sacrament this way. Seems very disrespectful to themselves, to other people and to God to act like this.

I suspect people who do like this really need to be at confession, however, so maybe I should be glad for them that at least they got there. Maybe during confession some parishes should have a “take a number” machine like they have at the highway department, or a discreet sign that says something concerning courtesy and waiting your turn.

That’s very sad that that man didn’t have the manners to go to the end of the line when it was pointed out to him that there were others ahead of him.

Yet too this whole scene, in a way, reminds me of the prodigal son parable. To me the person barging in line is like the prodigal son returning while the self-righteous brother is the one patiently waiting in line. I do need to learn to soften my heart towards my neighbor.
 
LISA_Annette said:
Yes I have been in this situation, and I started praying Hail Mary’s in a loud whisper. My husband came up from behind me, as he arrived later to confession, and whispered at me"Hey, Hey slow down! Why all the fervent prayer?!" I guess he thought I must have done somethingREALLY bad:D I told him I could hear everything the person was confessing! I had to put my hands over my ears!:eek:
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Yes, I have experienced this more than once and it distracts
me when I am in the confessional because I wonder if I can
be heard or not. I stand back as far as I can so as not to hear
anyone else. I think this fact may have people think twice about
going back as soon as they would have otherwise. 😦
 
Donna_Mc said:
Yes, I have experienced this more than once and it distracts
me when I am in the confessional because I wonder if I can
be heard or not. I stand back as far as I can so as not to hear
anyone else. I think this fact may have people think twice about
going back as soon as they would have otherwise. 😦
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Our confessionals are concrete bunkers underground. It’s pretty safe.

😃
 
housewife said:
Your kidding right? :confused: Just want to make sure because the idea seems pretty funny, but you never know…:confused: LOL!
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I’m not totally kidding—they’re in the basement of another building made of cinderblocks, and have heavy, heavy doors.
 
Sailor_Kenshin said:
I’m not totally kidding—they’re in the basement of another building made of cinderblocks, and have heavy, heavy doors.
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That is so creepy! You should get a lighter penance just for going there!

I dont know if I could do that unless I was in the military or had no other choice.
 
Hellisreal said:
That is so creepy! You should get a lighter penance just for going there!

I dont know if I could do that unless I was in the military or had no other choice.
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I actually think it’s kind of cool—there is ZERO chance of being overheard. 😛
 
I can relate to that. I go to confession a couple times a month, so I see this sort of thing a lot. Its kind of “funny” how people can get mean and nasty and cut in line, especially when they are there for confession. I have heard people standing in line bashing the new Bishop we got several months ago, that really made me mad, I wasn’t sure if I should have said anything or not. If I had it may have turned into a brawl, wouldn’t that be cute? We too only have one priest at our parish. We have confession at 11a.m. and Mass is at 4:30, so it works out well (unless its lent). I know how you you feel though. I guess we can pray for them and offer it up.
 
crenfro said:
Yes
In the examination of conscience I use it says to wait your turn. I don’t understand quite why people treat this sacrament this way. Seems very disrespectful to themselves, to other people and to God to act like this.

I suspect people who do like this really need to be at confession, however, so maybe I should be glad for them that at least they got there.
That’s very sad that that man didn’t have the manners to go to the end of the line when it was pointed out to him that there were others ahead of him.

Yet too this whole scene, in a way, reminds me of the prodigal son parable. To me the person barging in line is like the prodigal son returning while the self-righteous brother is the one patiently waiting in line. I do need to learn to soften my heart towards my neighbor.
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I understand your ambivalence—your wanting to be understanding at the same time that you are upset at the inconsiderate way people act in confessional lines. the truth of the matter is, sometimes,* not always*, people tend to take a different attitude in church, as in “I can do this, and nobody will mind—they will understand—afterall we are Chrisitians…” They demand more of YOU than of themselves in the “courtesy department”, thinking that if YOU get angry, "well that is just wrong of you to be mad at me—where are your Christian values???"truth be said, they might be so distraught over their sins, they disregard the fact that others have feelings and concerns that brought them there. In this situation, it is best to just be understanding—understanding does not *presuppose they were right *in their actions, but that it is best to just let it go. In time hopefully, people like this will become more aware of others feelings through the working of the Holy Spirit.
 
Just so everyone knows, not all anger is sinful. St. Paul talks of letting anger be without sin (Ephesians 4:26), and in Mark 3:4-5 even our Lord Jesus looked at people with anger. Maybe the type of “anger” experienced by the OP is really “righteous indignation”, and sometimes that is necessary to motivate people to right the wrongs in the world.

From what I’ve read in the cathechism - someone correct me if I’m wrong - the problem is when you start wishing people harm.
 
Norseman82 said:
Just so everyone knows, not all anger is sinful. St. Paul talks of letting anger be without sin (Ephesians 4:26), and in Mark 3:4-5 even our Lord Jesus looked at people with anger. Maybe the type of “anger” experienced by the OP is really “righteous indignation”, and sometimes that is necessary to motivate people to right the wrongs in the world.

From what I’ve read in the cathechism - someone correct me if I’m wrong - the problem is when you start wishing people harm.
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This makes perfect sense. We are not perfect, therefore, feelings of anger that could be felt “positively” can, in turn, make us do positive things. For instance, you see an injustice being done to someone, it upsets you to the point that you become angered and try to do something to help make things better. There is the “negative” anger, which can make you do bad things, too. Bottomline, the way you put it, there is 2 types of anger, the good kind and the bad kind I would say… 😉

I can say that my anger made me put things clear by letting them know, even though the people cutting did not understand, but atleast I tried to make it clear to them for the sake of everyone there 😃
 
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