Angered while in line for confession

[Norseman82]

We usually have two priests hearing confessions. I wish one would open an “express lane” like they have at the grocery store: three sins or less in this line, everyone else in the other line!

That reminds me of the old Zayre commercials - in fact, I had a skit ready for SNL (if there are 3 or more people in line for confession, we’ll open a new confessional for you!).

But in all seriousness, when someone is taking long in confession, I just say to myself that it’s my duty to exercise patience, since it could be a heaven/hell situation we are dealing with here. Additionally, the last time I was at confession (last week), the person in front of me took somewhat long, and it seemed that the priest went quickly with me.

 

[hasikelee]

I go to confession at one parish where I am frequently frustrated because the priest will start lecturing/talking for up to half and hour per person!

The only way I am able to partake in the sacrament is to use my lunch hour so I miss the sacrament completely if I’m not the first or second person!

People come out sweating lol.

 

[VAC]

I think it’s a good thing that there is actually a line of people waiting for confession to get angered about. I’ve only seen confession lines form at pennance services during Advent and Lent.

 

[LISA_Annette]

I could tell that many of us were nervous. It was really obvious. Yes, those who cut us off just made it worst. I am starting to believe that maybe I just got more nervous rather than angry…

I wouldn’t sweat it—anxiety is often mistaken for anger, anyway. Don’t be too hard on yourself.

 

[Hellisreal]

WOW!

Um, you can go to a Traditional Mass and you will see several priests in the confessional DURING the Mass!

That kinda got me off guard being a in a Novus Ordo parish most of my life.

They are more like our Eastern Orthodox (not in union with Rome) in the sense that there is a lot more standing, walking around. When I went to confession during the week (yes, we have weekday confessions at 3:00)

You have to get there at 2:30 to get in. Even then, you cant count on it.

I have never seen a late Mass due to confession in my life.

 

[LISA_Annette]

For those who end up not making confession because time ran out…have you ever approached the priest after mass and asked him to hear your confession? I’ve done this a few times and have NEVER been turned away. Just because there is a posted time for confessions doesn’t mean that the priest will only hear confessions at the designated time. If he isn’t busy (usually between masses there is 15 - 20 minutes of down time) ask.

What a nice priest.

 

[LISA_Annette]

That reminds me of the old Zayre commercials - in fact, I had a skit ready for SNL (if there are 3 or more people in line for confession, we’ll open a new confessional for you!).

But in all seriousness, when someone is taking long in confession, I just say to myself that it’s my duty to exercise patience, since it could be a heaven/hell situation we are dealing with here. Additionally, the last time I was at confession (last week), the person in front of me took somewhat long, and it seemed that the priest went quickly with me.

yes, I can see where someone might have just made a spur of the moment decision to go to confession after being away from the Sacrament for years, and it might be more comfortable for him/her to use the anonymous form: behind the screen. Making an appointment in that case might not be first in that person’s mind. And Jesus is calling this ONE lamb back into his fold…I guess I could go another time. Good, Good, GOOD perspectives I have seen on here! I am so happy to be learning to NOT sweat the piddly stuff(as I usually do, and most likely will have to pray about for the rest of my life )

 

[blessedstar]

I can’t believe what I’m reading!

For someone who is decrying judgment, you certainly are doing a good job at judging housewife (imposing personal penances - give me a stinkin’ break!)

Why would I judge her?

I didn’t express for her to pray for the others inline as a penance to judge her, but to help see that we are all sinners and need each other to bear with each other. That penance she might carry out for the souls of others not necessarily for her own soul. That penance isn’t imposed, we should all do penance for each other.

As you can see I am a sinner so pray for me and do some penance for me and I will do likewise for you.

In the Living Prayer of my life

 

[Liberanosamalo]

This is a bone of contention with me. I don’t have my children every weekend. So there have been times I’ve tried to take my teenagers (in between school activities, testing, extra-curriculars and weekend swaps.)

We have gotten to one of the few parishes that has posted confession times. We have been early in line. And two priests once took 1.5 hours to hear three confessions in front of us. And then they stopped to have Mass.

It’s very frustrating when you have teenagers who don’t want to go anyway and they are sitting there and you’re afraid they’re going to just bolt out of the church because it’s taking too long.

If a priest in the confessional sees that it’s going to take too long, and he knows his is one of the few parishes around that does confessions, why can’t he suggest those people come back and make an appointment for further counselling and attention, absolve them and get it moving? I have watched two, five, ten people walk away from the line when it moves like that, and wonder if they ever came back or if the moment of grace was lost for good.

 

[gmarie21]

This is a bone of contention with me. I don’t have my children every weekend. So there have been times I’ve tried to take my teenagers (in between school activities, testing, extra-curriculars and weekend swaps.)

We have gotten to one of the few parishes that has posted confession times. We have been early in line. And two priests once took 1.5 hours to hear three confessions in front of us. And then they stopped to have Mass.

It’s very frustrating when you have teenagers who don’t want to go anyway and they are sitting there and you’re afraid they’re going to just bolt out of the church because it’s taking too long.

If a priest in the confessional sees that it’s going to take too long, and he knows his is one of the few parishes around that does confessions, why can’t he suggest those people come back and make an appointment for further counselling and attention, absolve them and get it moving? I have watched two, five, ten people walk away from the line when it moves like that, and wonder if they ever came back or if the moment of grace was lost for good.

What diocese are you in? Have you looked on masstimes.org to find confession times in your area? I know of confession times for about 4 - 5 parishes within 5 miles but there are many other parishes within 10 -15 minutes that I’m sure offer confession. At times, if I NEED to go and didn’t make it to one of the local parishes, I drive an hour to the city where I know confession is heard beginning an hour before mass, during mass, and after mass (continual) until every last person in line has confessed. If it’s that important, you do what you must.

 

[gmarie21]

Yes, I would love to do that and even set up an appointment for during the week. The problem is that I have a 2 and a 3 year old and I don’t have anyone to babysit them. Yesterday, my hubby got out early from work so I told him for us to go on Saturday Mass instead so that I could go to confession right before. We took our 2 boys and I guess, that too, added to the frustration. I had them in the back of my mind thinking that we had gotten there almost 2 hours before Mass started and I was afraid that they would grow impatient (kids stuff, you know).

I know I need to relax. Next time, if something happens, well, like others posted, maybe its not time for me to confess. That I might not be spiritually ready. But then I think that maybe I should do whatever I can so that I do confess…oh well, now I am confused…

Why not bring your toddlers with you? while, it isn’t ideal, it can be done (I’ve brought my dd with me many times in her short, nearly 3 years, outside my womb). It isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible, especially if you bring something to preoccupy them (books, food, drink, quiet toy).

 

[gmarie21]

What a nice priest.

It wasn’t just one priest, it’s happened at a number of parishes in different parts of the country. Many priests, if they don’t have something else they need to be attending to, will gladly hear confession.

 

[housewife]

Why not bring your toddlers with you? while, it isn’t ideal, it can be done (I’ve brought my dd with me many times in her short, nearly 3 years, outside my womb). It isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible, especially if you bring something to preoccupy them (books, food, drink, quiet toy).

You mean into the confession? I had thought about that before, but I really don’t like to get them worried. Sometimes I cry during confession. I get emotional and I worry that they see tears in my eyes and start to wonder what is wrong with their Mommy. I might try it one of these days by setting an appointment for confession instead. Unless I see that they fixed that line, then I will take a chance right before Saturday Mass. I sure won’t take it so wrong next time when someone cuts me off. It is kind of like “fighting” for your place and at the same time one should not “fight”. I can get confused of rather should I stay quiet and not tell them where the line is and let caos form inside everyone else waiting in line for their turn or should I kindly let the cutters know that their is a line in case they did not know. I would say the second one is the best one.

 

[Sina]

I was a little upset yesterday at confession because of the lack of privacy. I went to a Church that I never go to and sat down fairly close to the confessional to pray and wait my turn, there were only a couple of people ahead of me. As I was sitting there, you could hear everything that was going on inside of the confessional due to a window in the door that is just filled in with a screen I am good at blocking things out and I continued to pray. But once I got in there I became a bit self-conscious. Were the people outside, waiting in line or doing their penance listening to my confession?! All the other confessionals I have been in have solid doors so you can’t hear anything. Needless to say, I don’t think I will be returning there, at least not for confession. Has anyone else been in this situation?

Yessss I have this situation with my home parish. I DISLIKE it so much. I sit very far away from the confessional that is being used so I can’t hear anything that is said but I can still her murmurs. I am very self conscious when I am in there… I practically whisper. Some people sit right next to the curtain ( we ONLY have a curtain! ) The church is nearly 100 years old though, so I guess nobody has complained lately about the lack of privacy?

We also don’t form lines… everyone sits in the pews which is a bit difficult for me because I always have to look around to see who is going in and when I should go… maybe I also need to find somewhere else to go. At least the lines aren’t long where I go?

 

[HOPEFUL_IN_UK]

Exactly! I was there praying not to feel the way I was and I just could not help it. It was ironic how we were in line to confess and we just all seem to be getting a bit angry at what was going on. I, too thought that the man must have confessed that he cut off someone. He came out all apologetic. It seems that he knew he was cutting off…Then I felt bad for him thinking that maybe he just had to go to confession so bad the he had to do what he had to do. Forget about “ladies first”.

Maybe he was feeling bad before confession because of awareness of some serious sin… it would appear that he exited the confessional in a much better frame of mind!

 

[JFonseka]

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”

 

[mercygate]

As a convert from the Episcopal Church, where I had the same confessor for 18 years, and always had to make an appointment, the thing I dreaded most about becoming Catholic was the assembly line for confession.

I HAVE been in the position of waiting before Mass only to run out of time and have the priest walk out of the confessional just as my turn came up. :crying:

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.

 

[mercygate]

Once I was unable to confess because the guy ahead of me took so long that the time ran out, Mass had to start.

Cheer up — at least your church has people going to confession. One summer day, I walked in and found I was the only parishioner there. I walked into the confessional and said to Father, “Low turn out today, huh?” He answered, “No, actually this is more than usual.”

At least he was THERE. My first month as a Catholic, I showed up 7 minutes past the posted start time. 30 minutes later, I asked a fellow praying his rosary whether he had come for confession, and he said: “Oh. Father was here but he left at about 5 after the hour.”

If I were a Catholic priest, I would schedule myself for confession at least 3 hours a week. It’s probably the only time they can be assured of a free, uninterrupted hour!

 

[Hellisreal]

I was YELLED at by a Priest for taking my toddler in with me! I said, but I was told by,

and that set him off. He said: But I am the Priest, and your friend is not!

I never brought my child again, and tried to start a ministry for moms to take turns to watch each others kids so we could go to confession.

My pastor would not have it printed in the bulletin.

I did try, and will not give up.

 

[housewife]

I was YELLED at by a Priest for taking my toddler in with me! I said, but I was told by,

and that set him off. He said: But I am the Priest, and your friend is not!

I never brought my child again, and tried to start a ministry for moms to take turns to watch each others kids so we could go to confession.

My pastor would not have it printed in the bulletin.

I did try, and will not give up.

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.